Christmas Presents for Ice Skaters
Holiday Gifts for Figure Skaters and Speed Skaters
Here are some last-minute holiday gift ideas for the ice skating athlete on your Christmas list.
Serious athletes will appreciate any financial help they can get that will help them further their training. If your budget is as limited as the skater’s that you’re buying for, consider pooling funds with other friends and family members to give a more substantial gift.
Gift Cards
Competitive skaters generally have appetites and traveling expenses that are equally huge. Gift cards work like pre-paid calling cards and are available for purchase at many drug stores and supermarkets.
Popular gift cards this season include eateries, airlines, online music, department stores, and even amusement parks. Subway Sandwiches, for example, offers $15-$25 gift cards. Southwest airlines has a $50 gift card too. MP3 music cards, like for I-tunes, are offered at varying dollar amounts.
Gift Certificates
Just about every retail establishment offers gift certificates, and many include bonus discounts or added value. For example, some clothing stores and fast food places allow you to purchase a $15 gift certificate for $10.
Certificates to Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Starbucks and even grocery stores (like Safeway) are popular this season. Make sure the gift certificate is redeemable at stores in the skater’s home town. This is usually not a problem with franchises, but many stores are independently owned, so their gift certificates must be redeemed on site. Don’t forget to ask the pro shop at your skating rink if they offer gift certificates for apparel or equipment.
Consider giving your hard-working athlete a certificate to their favorite health spa or salon. You can generally choose to give amounts from $5 or $10 on up. It’s nice if you can give skaters enough money for a massage or pedicure foot treatment. This is generally around $35, although every establishment is different.
Rink Time
Sponsor practice ice time or coaching fees for your ice skater. Figure skating and speed skating clubs will be able to tell you how much a skater needs for a day or week of lessons and practice ice. Let your loved one know in a card about the coaching or ice credit waiting for her at the rink.
Blade Sharpening
Athletes who seriously train their skating usually sharpen their skates at least three times a month. Specialty sharpening services average around $10 to $20. The pro shop at your skater’s rink can tell you how much your skater will spend each time he sharpens his blades.
Bus or Rail Tickets
If your loved one uses public transportation to and from the rink, consider giving him or her fare tickets for Christmas. From California to Calgary, train and bus stations have fare kiosks that travelers must visit in order to obtain fare cards. If you go there yourself, you can put any amount, $1 or more, on the bus ticket and then give the ticket to the skater in a nice card.
A bus or train ticket might not sound like a very fun gift, but many figure and speed skaters put themselves through college and pay for their own training while trying to break through the top ranks of their sport. Every bit of financial support helps them be able to focus more on their passion and developing their talent.
Apparel or Equipment
Ask a skater’s coach, friends, or training partners if they need on or off ice training equipment or apparel. Most serious skaters have their equipment customized, so you can sponsor but not purchase things like boots, blades, skin suits or costumes and helmets.
Many athletes can use a replacement of their current running shoes (copy down the size and brand while she’s on the ice, but get a gift receipt just in case the skater’s size or needs have changed.) Skaters can usually use jackets, caps or ear bands, mittens, legwarmers, gear bags and bunga pads (available in pro shops and online dance catalogs like Discount Dancewear). Don’t forget about chapstick, lotion and travel toiletries too.
Would your skater enjoy a turtleneck or sweatshirt from their national governing body? Skate Canada and the USFSA, for example, offer apparel items that help support their athletes. Brian Boitano’s fan club does the same to benefit his charity. Other pro athletes have established foundations supported by sales of similar gift items. Tour groups, such as Stars on Ice, sell calendars and other fun skating items. Don’t forget about your neighborhood direct distributor that often sells things like lotions for tired feet and sports gear. Check delivery times, however, if you’re in a time crunch.
Vitamins and Supplements
Support free enterprise by buying vitamins and supplements from a direct distributor. Independent business owners for XS, for example, sell healthy vitamin energy drinks, meal replacement bars, and protein puddings and powders. Ask friends and family members if they know anyone who sells vitamins and sports supplement. It’s not difficult to find people in most neighborhoods who may have extra merchandise on hand from such a home-based business.
Note of Caution: Make sure you buy from a reputable company that lists every single ingredient in their products – even binders and fillers. Athletes on the world circuit must carefully avoid products that contain stimulants or other substances disallowed by their governing body. This usually includes certain herbs or growth-hormone simulation products.
Keep this in mind when buying any vitamin or sports supplements for your skater – especially at retail establishments like bulk grocery outlets. Nutrition is a primary concern for all serious figure skaters and speed skaters, so replacement of their currently used vitamins and supplements is still a nice idea for stocking stuffers and last-minute gift items.
