Icescape Ice Skating IOI Mall Review: Is This Olympic Sized Rink Worth It?

Skate your days away
By: agnes
March 16, 2022

Watching people ice skate is such a beautiful view to our eyes. But is ice skating really that easy? Ice skating is all about balancing on a thin blade. And while it may take a few days for you to get used to it, eventually you will get the hang of it. In Malaysia, there are many ice skating rinks that you can visit to try out the sport. But one that stands out to us is the Icescape Ice Skating IOI Mall, the biggest Ice Skating Rink in Malaysia. This Olympic sized rink has even been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records. However, is a session at this famous rink worth the price? Here at Glitz, we’re giving you a full Icescape Ice Skating IOI Mall review, and a few tips on how you can skate better.

Icescape Ice Skating IOI Mall Review

Pic Cred: Icescape

According to the Malaysia Book of Records, Icescape is Malaysia’s largest ice-skating rink. The rink, which is located on the first floor of IOI City Mall, has a 30m by 60m ice surface with a stunning glass view. The largest ice surface in Malaysia accommodates everything from leisure skating to speed skating and even ice hockey. Furthermore, it’s an ideal spot for staging high-profile performances and tournaments. They offer a wide range of lessons, from basic skating for the very beginning to professional standards. In addition, they also provide skating facilities and everything you need for a fun time on the rink.

Pricing

Pic Cred: Icescape

In our Icescape Ice Skating IOI Mall review, we’re going to run you through the pricing. Though we feel that the price is a bit on the pricey side, we understand the reason behind it. It’s not every day that you get to skate on an Olympic sized skating rink. Thus, expect to pay quite a bit. However, the bright side of this is that there’s no time limit. But the downside is the ice resurfacing time that changes which can be a party pooper to your skating fun. On the other side, if you’re bringing your children along, they do provide a penguin for RM30 per hour. This is honestly perfect because then you won’t need to supervise your child all day long.

Ice Skating Academy

Pic Cred: Icescape

One thing that stood out to us in our Icescape Ice Skating IOI Mall review is the Ice Skating Academy. I mean, if you want to take up classes anywhere, there’s no better place than here. This is because not only do they have one of the best coaches, they also provide you with the actual ice skating rink size at the Olympics. You’ve got to dream big, right? Every session is 30 minutes long and you get to choose if you want group or individual sessions. We recommend going for group sessions first for the basics. Then, get the private 1 on 1 sessions when you’re ready to compete.

Here’s How To Ice Skate Like A Pro

1. Dress Properly

Pic cred: Unsplash / Joseph Costa

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to ice skate like a pro, you need to dress like one too. Your first ice skating experience will be influenced by how you dress. Your clothing must provide you with comfort, warmth, and security. Here are some things you should and should not be doing when it comes to dressing properly for ice skating:

  • You should not be wearing thick socks: This is the most common error people make because so many sources promote it. Furthermore, many are frightened of their feet being chilly. However, thick socks are not breathable and will restrict your motions. In addition, the thickness makes it difficult to maintain your balance. Instead, you should wear normal socks that reach just above the boot.
  • Do dress in layers: depending on how quickly you’ll be moving, you may require more or less warmth; dress in layers so you can readily remove or add layers as needed. As a beginner, avoid wearing jeans because they restrict movement and, if the ice is wet and you fall, it will be very uncomfortable.
  • Wear gloves: they’ll keep your hands warm and protect them if you fall.
  • Don’t wear a dangling scarf or hat: don’t wear anything loose that could fall and injure someone else.

2. Choose The Proper Skate Size

Pic cred: Unsplash / Weston M

Now that you’ve got the dressing down, it’s time to focus on your skates. It’s crucial to have the appropriate skate size. Here are some pointers when it comes to choosing the proper skate size. If they’re too tiny, your toes and feet may get sore quickly, and you’ll want to take them off, making the experience unpleasant. On the other hand, you won’t have sufficient ankle support if they’re too big, and you’ll be more likely to get hurt. Therefore, get one that is comfortable and isn’t excessively tight. Here’s a tip: make sure that you’re able to move your toes. This is to avoid numbness after skating for long hours.

3. Never Look Down

Pic cred: Unsplash / Karl Hörnfeldt

It’s astonishing how many people who are new to skating spend all of their time staring down at their feet rather than forward. But we understand, you want to know what your feet are doing the entire time. However, when you glance down, you lose control of your direction and your body weight shifts forward. This will cause you to lose balance and maybe even collide with someone in front of you. Instead, keep your head up and look ahead so you can notice who or what is in your way. 

4. Lower Your Gravity

Pic cred: Unsplash / Lucas Van

Even if you don’t have skates, you know that bending your knees is more stable than standing straight when someone pushes you. This is because you will have more balance and control if you decrease your centre of gravity. As a result, when you ice skate, it is recommended that you bend your knees. You can do this even just a little but it will definitely help to maintain your balance. Don’t believe us? Try it the next time you go ice skating. After you’ve lowered your gravity, you can try opening up your feet a little. Then, balance your body weight from one side to the other. By doing this, you can now skate from side to side and push forward.

5. Don’t Skate Against The Crowd

Pic cred: IOI Properties

We understand that when you’re skating, you may want to skate in whichever direction you prefer. However, it is important to note that there are usually rules when it comes to skating. You will be directed to either skate clockwise or counterclockwise and we advise that you follow it. If you try to skate the wrong way around the ice rink, you will injure others and potentially yourself. Nevertheless, if there are lesser people around you then you are free to skate in any direction. But it’s still important to take note of who is in front of you to avoid a collision.

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