Fairfax Ice Arena wants your first day on the ice to be safe, memorable and fun. Please read the important information below to know what to expect on your first day and to start your skating journey off right.

Arrive 15–20 minutes before your class time to check-in at the lessons office and get on the right pair of skates. Plan on coming to your group lesson start date and time unless you have received a phone call or email letting you know that your class has been cancelled or rescheduled.

Attend Orientation: Parents, guardians and caretakers of new Fairfax Ice Arena students must attend a quick orientation with staff during the first 10–15 minutes of their students' first day of class.

Claim your practice card: A practice card is public skate admissions and skate rentals that are included with your current purchase of group lessons. Pick-up your practice card when you check-in for your first day of group lessons at the Lesson Office. Skaters and or parents, guardians and caretakers of students are responsible for their practice cards. Learn more about practice cards in our group lesson policies section.

What to wear:

We recommend dressing in layers and wearing clothing that are easy to move in, and keeps you dry (snow pants are great for beginners). Students in beginner classes do spend some time sitting and kneeling on the ice, and touching the ice.
Thin or medium weight long socks. Please do not wear two pairs of socks. You want to skate with one pair of socks that will help circulate air in the skates and keep your feet dry. The thickness of your socks will affect the size of your ice skate rentals. HOT TIP: Be consistent with your socks so you are not having to try on different skate rental sizes before your class.
Gloves
A jacket
We strongly recommend wearing a helmet and protective gear. We provide free helmet rentals for adults, teens and kids. You may bring your own helmets for best fit (bicycle helmets with a rounded back work well), and knee, elbow, and crash pads, and wrist guards without an outer plastic shell.
Hair should be worn out of and away from the face.

What to bring:

These items are nice to have on hand for your skater and for all guests watching their skaters:

Jackets. The rink area does get very cold especially if you are just standing still.
Wear closed-toe shoes. There are people walking around with sharp ice skate blades.
Extra set of clothes, gloves and socks for the skater
A small hand towel
Tissues
Bandaids
Reusable water bottle

Skates

Ice skate rentals are included and are available for the student's use during your group lesson. Let the staff at the skate rental counter know your shoe size.

Skate fit is important and critical to a safe and successful skate: Skates come in full sizes only. You will need to get skates that are a half to a few sizes smaller than your shoe size. Skates should fit snug and tied all the way up and tied tightly so that your ankle is supported.
Example: if you wear a size 6 in shoes, you will be handed a size 5 skate rental. If you wear a size 6.5 in shoes, you will be handed a size 6 in skate rental. Kids shoe size 3 and under will have about the same size for their skates.
If you have your ice skates on and are finding it difficult to walk in them while you are in the lobby area, you will need to ask for a different pair. Simply return the ice skate rental you have and trade them for a different ice skate rental. Let the staff at the skate rental counter know what was wrong with the pair that you are returning so they can better assess your needs.
HOT TIP: if there is a pair of ice skate rentals that you like skating with, there is a number on the sole of each pair of skate rentals. You can ask for this number and if they are available, you can get the same pair to skate with for your class.
At the end of class, return your skates properly with the laces tucked inside the boot.

Etiquette:

Do not interrupt or distract group lessons, coaches, and students on and off the ice.
Do not stand in front of or near the entrance doors to the ice rink. For your safety and the safety of emergency personnel, skaters, coaches, and staff getting on and off the ice, keep the entrance pathways to the ice rink clear.
Do not leave your items unattended. We have lockers available.
Leave benches clear of items so others who are coming in for the next class can sit and put on their skates.
Do not walk or stand on the ice without any ice skates. Please go to the lesson office in the lobby and see a staff or manager to reach someone who is on the ice.
Only currently registered students taking their group lessons, coaches, managers and staff are allowed on the ice during group lesson time.
No flash photography, professional cameras and camera tripods are allowed.
Please do not capture students who are not your own children.
No large items are allowed such as personal folding chairs, large bags, camera tripods, signs, etc...

Do I receive a confirmation or a reminder?
Fairfax Ice Arena does not send any email confirmations or reminders. If you did not receive a receipt when you registered, you can log on to your account and see your transaction receipt online: go to "my page" and then "my activities." You can also get a reprint of your receipt at the lesson office. If you are having issues with logging into your account, please contact the Lesson Office at (703) 323-1132.

How do I know whether my class has been cancelled or not?
If you have registered for a class, make a note of the class information and plan on coming to your group lesson start date and time unless you have received a phone call and message telling you that your class has been cancelled or rescheduled. If you receive a call and message about your class, please return our call as soon as possible to reschedule. The lesson office only emails or makes calls for classes that are cancelled, rescheduled or if there are any time changes.

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about group lessons, read our group lesson policies.

GROUP LESSON POLICIES

What to expect on your first day of group lessons

Contact
(703) 323-1132
officemanager@fairfaxicearena.com

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Location
3779 Pickett Rd.
Fairfax, VA 22031

GROUP LESSON POLICIES