Ice Skating Services
Corporate ice skating in Turkey: a group event on an indoor rink; a winter activity that needs no snow, sits inside the city and starts everyone from the same point (zero). For year-end and winter events; 6–60 people, skates included, run in English.
Last updated:
About Ice Skating
Ice skating is the one corporate winter event that does not wait for snow. Skiing and snowboarding mean going to the mountains, hitting the season and setting aside two days; ice skating happens on an indoor rink inside the city, in two hours, on any November-to-March evening. And it has one more quality: the great majority of adults in Turkey have never skated, so everyone starts from zero — an equality rarely found in a team event, and one that extends to a visiting group from countries where skating is common only if they are honest about it.
How a session runs
- Equipment and briefing (20 min). Skates, helmet (optional but recommended), wrist guards; falling and getting up — falling on ice is normal and is taught first, in English.
- Barrier and first steps (20 min). Walking along the barrier with the instructor, letting go, straight glide.
- Group games (40 min). Chain skating (hand in hand, as a team), relay, "pass the bottle on ice" — games that need no skating skill but ask for balance and cooperation.
- Free skating and mini tournament (30 min). A short-distance race for those who want it; free rink for the rest.
- Hot drinks and close (20 min). At the rink café.
The Istanbul programme includes rink hire (private session), skates, helmet, instructor and game master.
Why a team skates
In an event where everyone starts from zero, hierarchy disappears for a while: the manager and the intern both cling to the barrier in the first ten minutes. Chain skating — six to eight people hand in hand, the person at the front steering — is both ridiculous and functional; the chain's speed is limited by the slowest person and everyone feels that physically. Whoever falls gets up, a hand is offered to whoever falls, nobody is left alone. That is what separates ice skating from other winter formats such as bowling and go-karting: they are built on competition, ice skating on shared incompetence.
Where and when
Indoor rinks exist in Istanbul (a few shopping centres and sports complexes), Ankara, İzmir and some big cities; rink booking and a private session are arranged by us. A private session means the rink is reserved for the group alone — no mixing with a public session, games can be set up. Season: indoor rinks are open year-round, but corporate demand concentrates between November and March; December fills early for year-end events. In winter some cities set up temporary outdoor rinks; those are considered too. For a delegation in Istanbul in winter, it is a two-hour evening activity with a 30-minute transfer and nothing to pack beyond gloves.
Who it is for, safety
No experience is needed; low fitness is enough. Falling is part of the format and is practised deliberately in the first 20 minutes; helmet and wrist guards are provided, thick gloves and long trousers are needed (ice is wet and cuts). Skating is not recommended for wrist, knee or back conditions; those participants take the game-master or team-captain role at the rink side. No participation in pregnancy. A health declaration is requested. There is no age limit; at a family day children skate on the same rink as adults with penguin supports.
Its place in a winter programme
The afternoon block of a year-end event, the pre-dinner activity (the rink café combines with dinner) or a station in a winter wellness day. For teams wanting snow and mountains, the skiing and snowboarding hubs describe the residential programme; ice skating is their in-city, single-evening, "everyone comes" counterpart.
Frequently asked questions
Can a team that has never skated do it?
Yes, and that is the essence of the format: the great majority of adults in Turkey have never skated, so everyone starts from zero. The first 20 minutes are falling, getting up and barrier work; the games ask for balance and cooperation, not skating skill.
Is falling dangerous?
Falling is part of the format and is practised deliberately in the first 20 minutes. Helmet and wrist guards are provided; thick gloves and long trousers are needed. Skating is not recommended for wrist, knee or back conditions; those participants take the game-master role at the rink side.
Where is it done?
On indoor rinks in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and some big cities; booking and a private session are ours. A private session means the rink is reserved for the group alone; no mixing with the public and games can be set up. Transfer from a hotel is short.
How does it differ from skiing?
Skiing needs mountains, snow, a season and at least two days; ice skating happens inside the city, on an indoor rink, in two hours, on any winter evening. For teams wanting snow, the skiing and snowboarding hubs describe the residential programme.
How many people, and how long?
6–60 people; 15–20 participants per instructor. A session is 2–2.5 hours: equipment and briefing in English, barrier work, group games, free skating and mini tournament, hot drinks. Rinks fill early in December.
Does it combine with dinner?
Yes; rink cafés combine with dinner and ice skating is set up as a pre-dinner activity. It can also be the afternoon block of a year-end event or a station in a winter wellness day.