It was a beautiful New Years Day 2026 in Buffalo, NY. The sky was sunlit blue with beautiful white fluffy clouds. Not a storm in sight despite the winter storm warning in Buffalo for the day before. It was too pretty of a winter day to stay indoors. I decided to go ice skating at Buffalo’s Canalside. And why not? I had a pass for free admission and skate rental.
It was no surprise that there was a nice crowd of people at the rink. It had been a while since I’d been to Canalside’s ice rink, and it didn’t take long to refamiliarize myself. Upon entering the admissions and rental pavilion, I went to the cashier and showed my admissions voucher. I was given a blue “coin” for skate rental and asked to fill out the online waiver form. I then exchanged my blue coin for a pair of size 8 ice skates.
Next was for me to change out of my boots and into the skates, but where to put my boots? Lockers were available that took four quarters to use. I did not have four quarters on me, so I went to the cashier. For a $1 credit card purchase, I was given four quarters. With skates on and boots in the locker, I headed for the ice. Note: A locker is not necessary if you are comfortable leaving your boots inside or outside the pavilion as I saw many pairs of boots out in the open.
As I headed toward the ice rink’s entrance, I noticed a line and then realized the rink was empty. It was being conditioned by the Zamboni. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Zamboni at work. I enjoyed watching the Zamboni move its way around the ice and seeing the “new” ice appear in its trail. Finally, the ice was smoothed out, and the rink was ready for skaters!
I was out of my comfort zone when I initially got on the ice. It had been a long time since I’ve ice skated. I was stiff as a board and reminded myself to loosen up and relax. After I while, I was getting better. I found that taking baby steps was the best way to move forward on the ice (Noting that baby steps is probably the best way to move forward in just about anything in life).
The timer on the rink lets everyone know how much time there is left to skate. Each time I went around, I noticed that about 3 minutes had passed. It took me roughly 3 minutes to make it around the whole rink! I did not count how many times I went around the rink, but I was skating for about 45 minutes to an hour. That means I skated at least 15 times around!
As I skated around the rink, I noticed stiff beginners like me, baby skating their way across the ice, and I did not feel alone. There were skaters of all ages and skill levels. I saw little kids skating like professionals. I saw a girl practicing her pirouette. There were some kids that whooshed and swooshed right in front of me. There were skaters waving their arms to keep their balance and others who fell after losing it.
I saw teenagers huddling, couples cuddling, and moms and dads taking pictures of their kiddos. I saw penguin helpers and ice walkers assisting little people along their icy paths. I enjoyed seeing the skaters who skated with ease, turning and spinning about. Maybe one day, I could do the same. As I made it around the ice, I became more confident and at ease.
After a while, I took a break to clear my nose. It is always good to have tissues handy. This time, I didn’t so I left the ice and got some napkins from one of the tables outside of Nosh & Nibble snack shack. I did not buy anything to eat or drink because I was saving my appetite for home. After taking care of my nose and getting some extra napkins, I headed back onto the ice.
I did not stay on the ice for too much longer as my body was signaling for me to stop. My feet, specifically the inner sides, were starting to hurt. After I got home, I found blisters on the insides of my feet from them rubbing against the inside of the skates. Next time, I’m going to wear, and I recommend, thick socks and bandages on the inside of my feet to help protect the skin from blistering.
Once my feet started to hurt, it was time for me to go. I had fun though. I was proud of myself for having skated for nearly an hour. I went back inside the pavilion to change back into my boots and to return the skates. I had a great time at the Canalside ice rink and would go again. I’m grateful to Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Rich Entertainment Group for the free passes.
I’d like to mention the other ice activities available at the rink. There are bumper inflatables that looked like fun as well as a section for the ice sport, curling. There are also igloo rentals that offer some warmth from the cold weather. More information on these and other activities can be found on The Ice at Canalside page by clicking here.
Thank you for reading my article. I have added a gallery of photos taken on the way to and while at The Ice at Canalside. Pictures include Buffalo City Hall, the tricycle on the rooftop of the Explore & More building, and Shark Girl. Enjoy!
Monica Nelida 
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