Skate smart: prevent (unnecessary) injuries.
When skating, you’re standing on two narrow, sharp blades — on slippery ice. Even the best skaters fall sometimes. In most cases, nothing serious happens. Still, it’s wise to protect yourself as much as possible to reduce the risk of injury in the event of a fall.

Many skaters think: “I never fall, so why should I wear protection?” The answer is simple: the biggest risk on the ice rink isn’t falling on your own — it’s someone else falling and taking you down with them. This usually happens unexpectedly,

* To minimize injuries while skating, you can take a few precautions:

  • Always wear gloves while skating. Choose cut-resistant gloves (made of Kevlar or Dyneema)
  • Wear a helmet, or if you don’t have one, at least a hat — better something than nothing
  • Don’t skate with bare ankles — wear socks or preferably cut-resistant ankle guards
  • Avoid carrying items that could cause injury in a fall
  • Please follow the ice rink’s rules and regulations

Gloves
Gloves protect your hands from the cold and rough ice surfaces. Most importantly, they offer protection from cuts caused by the blades of other skaters. The best protection comes from gloves made of cut-resistant materials such as Kevlar or Dyneema.

Clothing
In general: don’t skate with bare arms or legs. Wear clothing that covers your entire body.

Helmet
Every year, people suffer concussions — and sometimes worse injuries — from falls on the ice. These injuries are often preventable by wearing a helmet. Ideally, wear a skating helmet. There are helmets designed for skating that comply with ISU (International Skating Union) standards. Inside the helmet, look for a sticker stating: ASTM F1849.
No skating helmet? A bike or ski helmet also offers protection — as long as it doesn’t have a sharp point at the back.

Ankle Guards
Many experienced skaters skate with bare ankles — not a good idea. Always protect your ankles. The best option is ankle guards made from cut-resistant materials like Dyneema or Kevlar.

Eye Protection
Especially when skating in groups, it’s important to wear solid sports glasses to protect your eyes.

Shin Protection (advanced skaters)
In skating groups (or “pelotons”), there’s always a chance someone might kick their leg too far back and hit your shin. This can cause painful injuries since the skin and bone there are thin and vulnerable. For this reason, IJsbaan Haarlem recommends cut-resistant shin guards, especially if you skate in groups (also known as “trains”).

Protection in Marathon and Mass Start Races (Competitive skaters)
For marathon and mass start events, cut-resistant hand, ankle, shin, and neck protection is mandatory, as well as an approved helmet. Many skaters already opt for full-body cut-resistant suits, which are already mandatory in short track speed skating.

Ensure Your Skates Have No Sharp Tips/Points
Make sure your skates do not have sharp or exposed tips at the front or back of the blades. The ends of the blades must be rounded, similar to the shape of a 10-euro cent coin. This is mandatory in marathons and short track events, and is checked by the jury.