Ice Skating Takes Pune by Storm: The New Fun and Fitness Community Hub |
Cool air, upbeat music, vibrant ambience, and the sound of skates slicing across ice. That is exactly what you walk into when you enter the ice-skating rinks in the city. What once felt like something you would only see in a film or series is now slowly becoming a part of Pune’s weekend to-do activities. Easy access and growing curiosity drawing Punekars to the iceSince the Indian Women’s Ice Hockey team’s bronze win at the IIHF Women’s Asia Cup in 2025, interest in ice sports seems to have gone up. And the number of people at Pune’s ice-skating rinks is proof. You don’t need to be a pro to try ice skating. There are coaches to help you at the rinks, and you can practice, or even fall, laugh, and get up to try again. You don’t even need to worry about gear, either, as you are provided with skates and safety equipment. “I never imagined I would get to ice skate in India,” said Sahil Hariyani, an IT professional who recently spent his Sunday ice-skating. “It feels surreal at first, but it quickly turns into a really fun and memorable experience,” he added.
The arena keeps plastic seals and penguins to help people skate without losing their balance and falling. (Image credits: Jignesh Mistry)
Finding your balanceOnce you are ready to ice skate, remember that the first few minutes are usually all about fear. Think wobbly feet and tiny screams. Then slowly, something clicks. “I am very scared to ice skate, because I know I will fall at least once. But I am excited to try,” said homemaker Swati Rout just before stepping onto the ice. For many beginners, there is reassurance in knowing that help is always around. “Most of the people are teens and young adults. We, thankfully, have not had many injury-related incidents because we take a lot of precaution. There is always a staff member looking out for every skater. “It’s thrilling, and something people should try at least once,” says Yash Patole, ice skating instructor. There are some moments of triumph, too. MBA student Viren Gaikwad shared, “Balance is everything. You have to slow down, stay calm, and let your body adjust to the ice. Once you get that, it becomes exciting.”A social escapeMore than a sport or an activity, the rink has become a place to unwind, chill, celebrate, or simply feel like you are on a mini winter holiday. “When we launched, the response was unbelievable. Quickly, we started seeing repeat visitors and a lot of excitement around ice skating,” says Ajeenckya Chavaan, general manager of an ice-skating rink in Sangamwadi. And it isn’t just casual visitors. “We even had an academy approach us to use our rink for practice. We see athletes coming every week for their 45 minute practice sessions,” he adds.
P52 Ice Skating Arena, Phoenix Mall of the Millenium, Wakad. (Image credits: Jignesh Mistry)
Points to remember:
- Trained instructors are present during sessions
- Ask for help in terms of balance, posture, and basic gliding
- Listen to the instructions carefully
- Safe support equipment is available for learners
- Learn the basics even if you are just there for fun
Cost:Weekdays: Rs 500-799-plus/hourWeekends: Rs 600-899-plus/hourIncludes: Skates, safety gear, trained guides, rink accessHappy Hours (Monday – Thursday, 11 am-4 pm): Rs 300-plus (depends on individual skating rinks)Includes:Skating access, jackets, gloves, boots, staff assistance, safety gear
P52 Ice Skating Arena, Phoenix Mall of the Millenium, Wakad (Image credits: Jignesh Mistry)
“This experience is really great. I never thought I would get to see something like this in Pune. Ice skating always felt like a far-fetched thought here”– T. Sanjeet Subudhi, an entrepreneur“Guests often tell our staff they want to learn and understand the basics. Many of them actually come back again just to get better”– Ajeenckya Chavaan, GM of an ice skating rink
