Cost of ice skating in Singapore

Click here to download the Excel template

Introduction

One of the biggest barriers to pursuing ice skating is the cost. Even in countries with better access to rinks and skating programs, the sport still comes with a hefty price tag. Before I started, I wished that there was a way to know how much this would cost me in the longer term.

In this post, I try to break down the costs of learning ice skating in Singapore, at least for the first one or two years. I talk about the different cost components as well as the estimated costs of each component.

Note: All costs listed in this post are in Singapore dollars.

Who is this post for?

I am writing from the perspective of an adult who just started learning figure skating in Singapore. Thus, this post will be most suitable for beginner adult ice skaters in Singapore who can skate at least 2 – 4 hours a week.

Otherwise:

• If you are interested in pursuing a competitive route in figure skating, or pursuing other disciplines like speed skating or ice hockey, there will be additional cost components which are not covered in this post. For the competitive route, please refer to the bonus section in this post titled “Additional costs of going competitive” for more information.
• If you are a parent researching the costs of ice skating for a younger child in Singapore, most of the information is still relevant. The only differences in the breakdown might be in equipment and clothing as your child outgrows them more quickly than an adult would.
• For figure skaters outside of Singapore, I believe most of the components are the same. However, the individual costs of each component will vary widely depending on where you live.

Still, I hope that you will find my free Excel template useful in working out the costs for your unique situation.

💁‍♀️Breakdown of ice skating costs in Singapore

1. Lessons

Lessons or coaching fees make up the bulk of skating costs, especially as a new skater. While it is possible to teach yourself some skills, it’s practically unheard of to pursue higher levels of ice skating without a coach.

In Singapore, there is a standard skill progression that skaters can follow while learning. Skaters usually start in one of the 4 levels of Basic Learn to Skate. After that, skaters can choose to move on to pursue 4 levels of Advanced Figure lessons. If skaters wish to continue beyond that, they will have to find a coach to take individual lessons with to cover more advanced spins, jumps, and moves in the field. Lessons are typically 30 minutes long and come bundled with 2 hours of practice before or after. Click here to view more details about classes at the Rink at JCube.

Learn to Skate group lesson = $171.20/pax for 5 lessons
Advanced Learn to Skate Figure Skating = $214/pax for 5 lessons
Individual lesson = $74/pax for 1 lesson

While individual lessons are definitely more expensive, it does not mean that the Return on Investment (ROI) from group lessons is higher. The main benefit of individual lessons is the ability to get instant feedback, which may help skaters progress faster than they would in a group lesson. Ultimately, the decision of whether to start individual lessons earlier is a personal one which you will have to make on your own.

2. Rink Fees

Practicing outside of class is also part of the learning process. While admission and skate rentals are included in the lesson fees, if skaters wish to practice outside of class times, the costs of those are listed below:

Regular public rink admission for 2 hours = $14
Skate rental = $4 (or free, see money tip 2 below!)
Skater play pass = $196 for 20 sessions within 6 months ($9.80/2 hour session)

3. Equipment

This list of items could go on forever but I’ll point out some that are specific to ice skating. The prices of these will vary a lot based on where you live and your personal choices. Here are some estimates from my limited experience.

• Entry level skates: $400 – $800 (e.g. entry-level Edea Overture skates will set you back $450)
• Skate guards: $15 – 45
• Skate soakers: $20
• Skate bag: $40
• Skate sharpening: $30 (to be sharpened every 20 hours of ice time)

A mini segue about skates

Note: I’m going to go a bit in-depth about getting your own skates so if you’re not interested, you can skip this section

The most expensive piece of equipment any skater will have are their skates. Skates can be quite a personal choice and ideally, you would talk to a coach or a skate tech that you trust to find out what skate will be right for you. In Singapore, there are no physical skate shops so the only option is to order online and have it shipped from overseas. If you are already taking classes at the rink, find a coach you trust and ask them for their recommendation on what skate you should get. They are generally very friendly and can help you with shoe sizing and coordinating the delivery of your skates. Once your skates arrive, they can also help you with fitting, adjustments, and blade sharpening.

While it’s tempting to consider second hand skates, I think the pros and cons should be thoroughly considered before going with that option. For adults in particular, I think it makes more sense to invest in your own pair of skates since you will not grow out of them like a child would. Skates breakdown over time, so second hand skates may no longer be able to support your weight or the level of skills you want to achieve. The key idea is to think about the skates as an investment in your safety and your longevity in the sport.

I understand the difficulty in deciding whether to get your own pair of skates. I was worried about whether I would do “well enough” in the sport to justify the high price tag. I was also worried that I would lose interest in the sport after a while and my skates would sit at home unused. Eventually I just had to commit because there was no way of knowing what my skating journey would be like. The thing is, once I bought my skates, I knew that I couldn’t just quit on a whim anymore. I had to continue for at least the next two years if I didn’t want my investment to go to waste. Now that I’ve skated in my own skates for about a month, I can safely say that they were worth every penny and feel worlds apart from the rentals I was skating in before.

Other items

Other items that you likely already have include:

• Hand towel for cleaning the blades
• Clothing items for skating (tops, bottoms, jackets, gloves, socks)
• Running shoes, skipping rope, etc. (items used for off-ice warm ups)

This list could go on forever but this second list of items are more easily found than the specialised items I’ve mentioned previously. In Singapore, one shop you can order from is ChowSkates, an online store run by one of the Rink’s coaches.

📝 Crunching the numbers on ice skating

Click here to download the Excel template to check our the numbers for yourself

Notes:

• I’ve assumed that equipment will last at least 2 years so I’ve depreciated them over 2 years. The cost per year will thus be 50% of the actual cost.
• I’ve also compared the difference in costs between buying rink entrance tickets individually ($14/piece) as opposed to buying a Skater Play Pass ($196 for up to 20 sessions within 6 months).

The cost of year 1

The assumptions used are as follows:

1. Take and pass all 4 levels of Basic Learn to Skate on the first try (Weeks 1 – 20)
2. Take and pass all 4 levels of Advanced Figure on the first try (Weeks 21 – 40)
3. Take 30 minute weekly individual lessons after completing Advanced Figure Level 4 (Weeks 41 – 52)
4. Go for 1 extra practice session a week on public ice
5. Sharpen your skates once every 2 months
6. Purchase Edea Overtures as your beginner skate at $450
7. Rockerz skate guards
8. Regular soakers
9. Edea skate bag
10. Estimate of clothing costs (i.e. gloves, socks, pants, tops, etc.)

The cost of year 2 onwards (skating 2 times a week)

The assumptions used are as follows:

1. Take 30 minute weekly individual lessons
2. Go for 1 extra practice session a week on public ice
3. Sharpen your skates once every 2 months
4. Purchase Edea Overtures as your beginner skate at $450
5. Rockerz skate guards
6. Simple soakers
7. Edea skate bag
8. Estimate of clothing costs (i.e. gloves, socks, pants, tops, etc.)

Cost of year 2 onwards (skating 3 times a week)

The assumptions used are as follows:

1. Take 30 minute weekly individual lessons
2. Go for 2 extra practice sessions a week on public ice
3. Sharpen your skates once every 1 – 2 months
4. Purchase Edea Overtures as your beginner skate at $450
5. Rockerz skate guards
6. Simple soakers
7. Edea skate bag
8. Estimate of clothing costs (i.e. gloves, socks, pants, tops, etc.)

TLDR: Final comparison table

💰 Tips for Ice Skating on a budget

Money tips

1. Take group classes at first. It’s a lot cheaper and it will give you a sense of whether you want to continue. It’s also a great way to meet new people who are at your skill level and you can lift each other up as you all progress.
2. If you don’t have your skates yet, and you’re not doing a lesson, when you scan your ticket at the ticketing counter, ask if they have the Passioncard promo for the ice skates. Sometimes, they still have the promo available and you will get to rent the skates for FREE. So just try your luck. Of course, you’ll need a Passioncard to make use of this promo.
3. Try to invest in skates early. This makes progress more efficient as you can get used to your new skates and have a more consistent experience on the ice. Also account for potential delays in receiving your skates since they are shipped internationally. Unfortunately there isn’t really a way to avoid the high upfront costs of the skating boots. If you take care of them well, I think it’s possible that they last for about 2 years.
4. If you are a university student, you can look up your school clubs. I started skating because of the subsidised skating lesson costs provided by the NTU Ice Skating Club. I believe NUS also has their own ice skating club. Do join those clubs as more interest will help secure better benefits. This is great for students especially if you don’t have your own income yet.
5. Use what you already have. This applies mostly to clothing. If you really need to buy them, socks and gloves are generally inexpensive. For clothing, you can search up Carousell, where I have found some quality leggings for sale. It’s good for the planet and your wallet. One tip you may want to consider is looking up Carousell listings with brand names like Uniqlo. Go to the store and try out your size. Then find out if there are any pieces in your size being sold on Carousell. You never know. As for storing your skates, you can use any bag. If you happen to have a duffel lying around at home, use it.

Making the most of your ice time

1. Invest time in maintaining your overall fitness with off-ice routines. I think it’s important not to underestimate the physicality of the sport. I understand the frustration of only being able to skate a certain number of hours a week. As a working adult, we have to fit our work schedule with the available ice times and oftentimes deal with crowded public sessions. So it’s all the more important that we plan and follow through on off-ice routines which can help make the most of the limited ice time we have.
2. Set aside time to reflect on every on-ice session you have and make plans for the next session.

🎁 Bonus: Additional costs of going competitive

As I’ve mentioned earlier, I don’t have any competitive experience as a figure skater and so I’m unable to provide specifics on the additional costs that are required. In general, listed below are some additional cost components for pursuing a competitive track.

Equipment:

• Off-ice spinners
• Crash pads and protective gear for practicing (though this is useful for beginners too!)

Lessons/Ice time/Other fees:

• Choreography sessions
• Off-ice sessions (for strength and conditioning)
• Advanced ice sessions (In Singapore, there are SISA sessions for association members and open sessions)
• Dance lessons (e.g. ballet, ballroom, etc.)
• Sports therapy

Competition fees:

• Competition entrance fees
• Travel fees (Airfare, accommodation, food, and other expenses for skater, family, and coaches)
• Music editing fees (e.g. The Skating Music Guy)

If you would like to learn more about the costs of competitive figure skating, check out this conversation on skating podcast In The Loop.

Ways to fund competitive skating

The reality is that most skaters are funded by their parents. Figure skaters typically have to start at a very young age in order to achieve success at international competitions. Even in nations where skating is more popular, such as Japan, skaters often have to fund their own way until they gain enough success to warrant state sponsorship. Until then, young skaters rely on their parents and older skaters work regular jobs outside of training.

In Singapore, pursuing any sport competitively is still considered atypical. There are some programmes in place that aim to provide promising athletes with financial support. This includes the Sport Excellence Carding and the Sport Excellence Scholarship. However, the 2022 batch of this elite programme which boasts 76 athletes, does not include any winter sports athletes. There’s probably a bigger conversation to be had around Singapore and sports excellence but that’s for another time.

Conclusion

If you haven’t already, click here to download the Excel template and calculate how much ice skating will cost for you

Figure skating was something that I’d always wanted to do but the stars never aligned for me until I turned 22! I’m so grateful now that I have a stable income that allows me to pursue it. I hope that this post was useful for you, if you are at a crossroads and are interested to learn more about the sport.

If you made it to the end of this post, you’re probably interested in other ice skating things. Click here to see my other posts about ice skating on this blog. If you have any other questions about ice skating in Singapore or about this post, drop it in the comments below and send me a note through my contact form!

I know there are a lot of passionate ice skaters in Singapore and I wish that there was a way to make it easier for new skaters to join the community. I hope that this post can help in some way to support the ever-growing interest in ice skating in Singapore.

Ciao! See you on the ice ~~