Wild ice skating is near

With colder temperatures on the way, Alaskans know what’s next: Wild ice skating — a phenomenon where skaters glide across frozen lakes and waterways in the backcountry.

Owner of Anchorage-based Ermine Skate, Paxson Woelber, discovered the sport by accident. “I was living in Chicago and stumbled on a video of skaters weaving down a frozen creek through the trees,” he said. “I wasn’t even sure what kind of skates they were on, but it was eye-opening.”

At the time, Woelber said he thought of skating as an indoor activity. That changed when he returned to Alaska in 2014. 

“This outdoor skating looked thrilling and intentional,” he said. “It wasn’t something you’d just do by chance; it was the kind of experience you’d seek out.” 

After buying his first pair of Nordic skates, Woelber was hooked. That passion eventually led him to start Ermine Skate, which now produces Nordic skates for the growing community of wild ice enthusiasts.

For newcomers, Woelber said half the challenge — and half the fun — is finding good ice. 

“You’re generally trying to catch ice after it’s formed but before it gets snowed over,” he said. With more people taking up the sport, skaters now share reports through Facebook groups like Wild Ice Skating Club of Alaska and NordicSkate-SouthCentral Alaska.

Woelber suggested beginners start on maintained ice before heading into the backcountry. “Westchester Lagoon in Anchorage is a great place to practice and get your skating legs,” he said.

Safety, he added, should never be overlooked. “Carry self-rescue picks around your neck, skate with a partner, and keep a warm change of clothes in a dry bag,” Woelber said. “And wear a helmet. Ice is hard, and falls can happen fast.”

Eagle River resident Rachel Dubriwny said one of her most memorable outings was an after-work skate with a friend to a local creek. 

“Skating at sunset on a frozen creek, surrounded by sparkling frost and glowing mountains, was an experience I’ll never forget,” she said.

Stories like hers are what draw many Alaskans to wild ice skating each winter — the chance to pair adventure with the magic of frozen landscapes.

Dubriwny said anyone can try wild ice skating, as long as they are willing to accept some risk. 

“Think ice skating in a mall, which has very low risk, compared to skating across a hundred-foot lake that’s fed by a glacier,” she said. “Safety aside, though, I think it’s a very accessible sport with relatively low costs, really just requiring some balance and a little determination.”

Woelber said Ermine Skate has made it a priority to give back to the community. The company has donated skates to many local groups. It has also partnered with the Food Bank of Alaska during Black Friday sales to help provide thousands of meals.

More information on Ermine Nordic skates is available on their website, and you can find them in Anchorage at AMH and the Hoarding Marmot, which also offers rentals.