Did You Know You Can Inline Skate in Lake Placid This Summer?
I have several reasons you should...plus, a new skate update and a recommendation for healing footwear.
Hi everyone,
Again, welcome to my Substack! I want to thank my friends, followers, and curious folks who wanted some Lake Placid content in their email boxes.
And especially thank you to my first paying subscriber!
I hope to provide value for you all.
In today’s newsletter, I’ll write about one of Lake Placid’s great underrated summer activities, update you about my quest to find figure skates that fit (a long story for another post) and recommend my favorite footwear for recovering from injury.
Onward!
Here are five reasons I love inline skating on the Lake Placid Olympic Speed Skating Oval (and why you will, too).
I never thought of myself as an inline skater.
I always stuck to ice, whether in the Olympic Center on my figure or short track speed skates or out on the Oval in my clap skates (those are the long track blades that disconnect in the back to make a “clapping” sound).
But since the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) opened the Oval for inline skating last summer, I quickly realized that, despite my lack of experience with inline “racing” skates, it was a thrilling new way to experience the Oval in the warmer months while I waited for the winter season to roll around (pun intended).
Here are five reasons I’m enjoying it and think you’ll like it too.
It extends the Oval season (sort of)…
Most people who know me know that the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval is one of my favorite places in Lake Placid, other than the Olympic Center.
I used to mourn the end of the Oval speed skating season, which typically began in December and was often over by March.
During those three months, I would watch the weather forecast with trepidation, hoping for days above 30 F but not too sunny (to melt the ice) or too cold (to freeze us skaters).
I knew the season would end once the ice melted significantly, and I would have to wait another 8-9 months to skate again.
Now, a few months after the ice melts, we can do laps on the track again - what a way to make the most of the warm weather!
The temperatures are warmer.
Despite being a multiple-winter sport athlete, I don’t enjoy the cold.
When my mom and I used to manage the Lake Placid Skate Shop across the street from the Oval, we often had customers who didn’t want to skate because of the weather.
They wanted to experience the venue and try skating but didn’t want to freeze (or fall on the slippery ice).
Now, inline skating on the Oval is the best of both worlds. You can enjoy the track, take a few laps, and enjoy the views, but the temperatures are much more…temperate.
Tip: Although it’s typically in the 60s-70s during the time of the sessions, I recommend bringing a hoodie or light jacket - once the sun goes down, it can sometimes get chilly, especially if you are moving fast!
You can enjoy the sunset!
I think this is an undersold aspect of the inline skating experience.
The Oval happens to be located at a great vantage point for prime sunset views over the mountains.
Sunset has been around 8:35 here lately, so if you are still skating during the 7 - 9 pm session, you can inline skate and enjoy the frequently spectacular colors simultaneously!
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feb52717a-ff9a-47b9-b008-0ddee7f5a6d1_4032x3024.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa43a9af4-d41c-4650-9532-e92a6bd0a8e2_5712x3213.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0fabb273-6cd7-4743-b6d0-174d8d6af1b5_4032x2268.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f3acbec-660f-4cff-b772-78db50acf089_5712x3213.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1c170a70-aaa4-44a7-a6a2-bf0925ba2169_5712x3213.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c4a15a6-da7d-4d30-92a1-ac394de3f3c7_4032x2268.jpeg)
The history
Where else can you inline skate on the same track where Olympic sports history was made?
The Oval is best known as the site of Eric Heiden’s five gold medal skates in the 1980 Games, a feat primarily overshadowed by the 1980 Miracle on Ice in the Olympic Arena just up the hill.
While the public inline sessions mostly attract newbie inline skaters tentatively learning to roll along, I will sometimes see more seasoned skaters trying to power along speed-skater-style. They must have watched a video of Heiden or other Olympic speed skaters, perhaps in the Olympic museum, and want to push themselves.
It’s a great, low-impact exercise.
With a knee edema from last year’s near-bike accident, I can’t train as much as I’d like.
Inline skating is great because I don’t twist my knee (which aggravates the issue), and there’s little impact.
It keeps me in skating practice while I’m temporarily off the figure skating ice.
If nothing else, I can get my heart rate up and bit and get moving.
Skater’s Frequently Asked Questions (SFAQ)
Q: What’s the surface like?
A: The concrete surface is rougher than, say, concrete flooring in a warehouse, but it’s not bumpy or overly complicated to navigate.
Q: Is it super busy? Will I be able to skate without feeling crowded?
A: The most skaters I’ve seen at a session so far have been about 50, and there was still plenty of room. Even if there are more skaters than that, the beauty of a 400-meter oval is that there is space to spread out.
Q: What if I don’t have skates?
A: You can rent comfortable inline skates at the Oval.
Q: I’m a beginner. Is there anything I should know?
A: Even seasoned skaters should wear knee and elbow protection and a helmet. Fortunately, the Oval rents protective equipment as well.
For apparel, something comfortable that you can move easily in (athleisure is best). I know from personal experience it’s best to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty or torn if you fall. Do know that due to the Oval design, there aren’t any boards to hold for balance. I recommend getting the feel of the inlines off the surface (on the rubber matting around the edges of the Oval) before getting out there. Make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart, bend your knees, and start by “walking” on the rollerblades instead of trying to push right away. It’s ok to go slow! This basic tutorial is a good one.
Ready to skate?
Sessions are 7 pm - 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays throughout June. In July, sessions are at the same time but run from Tuesday to Saturday.
See this page for further information, including pricing and exact schedules.
My new skate update!
Over the last few months, I realized my skates weren’t working for me.
My foot problems worsened. My injured knee hurt. Even after stretching and punching out spots in the toe box, I still felt pressure and acute pain in my bunions whenever I wore them.
So I haven’t skated since March, partially because my sports med doc recommended six weeks of rest but mainly because the skates were slowly crippling me.
Considering the old ones lasted me for several years and STILL show no signs of breaking down or breaking in (they are a 100 stiffness, which means they could stand triple and even quad jumps), I don’t feel wrong about the change.
It’s time.
I got my fitting done, and in a month or two, I should have skates to return to the ice. I’ll let you know when I get them!
Lake Placid Skater recommends
These are items I’ve used (or continue to use) that improve my life. Please note that I don’t receive commissions or referral fees for these recommendations.
With my current foot and knee issues, I’ve had to be very careful about what I put on my feet. “Normal” shoes tended to be too tight in the toe box, press uncomfortably on my bunions, or not offer enough cushioning for my joints.
Enter OOFOs.
They are the only shoes I wear now, and although they aren’t the most stylish, the comfort makes up for it.
Dubbed “recovery shoes,” they incorporate “Revolutionary OOfoam technology” that they claim absorbs 37% more impact than traditional foam footwear.
I discovered them six years ago in the Downtown Disney Shopping District in Orlando, Florida. I wore them exclusively throughout the Disney parks, and for the first time, my feet didn’t hurt.
Now, I wear their sandals, sneakers, and slides every day. I even have a pair of slippers that I wear around the house (my mom has the same pair, and she rarely takes them off).
My favorite is the OOMEGA OOLALA SANDAL. I have a pair in tan, and they are platform due to the extra padding. Walking on them is literally like walking on clouds.
They are expensive, but in my opinion, they are worth it.
Thanks, everyone, for reading, and I look forward to connecting next week!