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Order Your Skate Aids Now — Before Winter Sells Out
Winter is coming — and the beginners are coming with it. As the festive season approaches, ice rinks across the country fill with first-timers, families and once-a-year skaters, and the rinks that give them a great experience are the ones that get them back. Skate aids are at the heart of that.
But here’s what every rink manager needs to hear right now: if you’ll need skate aids this winter, order them now, not in December.
Marshalls International supplies around 85% of the UK’s ice rinks, and our Skate Mates are trusted on ice up and down the country. We’d love to supply yours too — but this is our busiest season, stock is limited, and the order books are filling fast. Here’s why acting early matters.
Why now, not later
Demand for skate aids is seasonal, and it’s concentrated. Every rink preparing for a busy winter wants the same equipment at the same time — and however much stock we hold, it isn’t infinite. Every year the pattern is the same: the rinks that get exactly what they need are the ones that ordered early, and those that leave it until the rush choose from what’s left. Getting your order in now means it’s here, checked and ready, well before your first busy session.
Trusted on 85% of the UK's rinks
There’s a reason so many rinks come to us. We supply around 85% of the UK’s ice rinks, our Skate Mates are the largest range in Europe, they’re made in the UK, and they’re built to take the daily punishment of a busy public session — knocked, leaned on, dropped and stacked, day after day, for years. When you order from Marshalls, you’re not taking a chance on an unknown; you’re choosing the range the overwhelming majority of British rinks already rely on.
What leaving it late actually costs
Being short of skate aids in the middle of a busy December session is a genuine problem. It means beginners stuck on the barrier, shuffling round the perimeter and never really skating — exactly the experience that stops them coming back. It means families who don’t enjoy their visit, and the lukewarm reviews and word of mouth that follow. Winter is when you have the most first-timers and the biggest opportunity to win them over; being under-equipped at that moment is the most expensive time of all to be short.
Bought once, earning for years
Here’s the reassuring part: a skate aid is one of the best-value pieces of equipment a rink can own. Buy it once and it works for years — spread across the thousands of sessions it will support, it’s one of the cheapest things in the building, while directly influencing whether customers come back. It isn’t a seasonal cost; it’s a long-term asset that quietly earns its keep every single session, winter after winter.
A Skate Mate for every skater
The range covers every age and confidence level, so every visitor is catered for:
- Penguins — the classic, perfect for younger beginners finding their feet.
- Polar bears and walruses — larger and sturdier, with more to hold on to for older children and adults.
- Snowmen — cheerful and confidence-building, coaxing older children onto open ice.
- Ride-on options — for the very youngest skaters and family sessions.
Winter is when it matters most
It’s worth remembering why this is a winter conversation specifically. Through the festive weeks, the proportion of complete beginners on your ice is at its highest of the year — school groups, Christmas parties, families and once-a-year skaters, most of whom have barely skated before. That’s exactly when skate aids do the most work, and exactly when running short causes the most damage. Get set up before that wave arrives, and every one of those first-timers gets the experience that brings them back.
The cheapest marketing you'll ever buy
There’s a commercial angle worth spelling out. No advertising campaign persuades people like a genuinely good experience shared with friends and family. A first-timer who has a brilliant time posts the photos, tags your rink and tells everyone; one who spent the session clinging to the boards quietly doesn’t come back. Skate aids sit right at the heart of that difference — which makes a well-stocked fleet one of the most cost-effective pieces of marketing a rink can invest in, without it ever looking like marketing.
Not sure what you need?
If you’re unsure how many skate aids your rink needs, or which mix, we’re glad to help — it’s the kind of thing we advise on every day. The right number comes down to your session sizes, your age profile and how much of your winter footfall is beginners. Tell us how your rink runs and we’ll help you get it right, so you order enough to avoid a queue on a busy session without over-buying.
Why quality lasts
It’s tempting to look at price alone, but a cheap skate aid is a false economy. On a busy public rink an aid is pushed, dropped, stacked and knocked into the boards dozens of times a day, and a poorly made one cracks, fades or becomes unstable long before the season’s out — and a wobbly skate aid does the opposite of its job. Ours are made in the UK and built for exactly that daily reality, which is why they last for years, and why they’re the ones you’ll find on the busiest ice in the country.
Order yours now
The message is simple: don’t leave it to December. Count your fleet, decide what you need, and get your order in while stock lasts and there’s time to spare. Browse the full range at iceskateaid.com, or get in touch with the Marshalls team and we’ll help you choose the right mix and quantity for your rink — and make sure it’s ready long before the first skater steps on the ice.
frequently asked questions
When should I order skate aids for winter?
As early as possible. Demand peaks as the season approaches and stock is limited, so ordering now means your skate aids are ready well before your busy winter sessions rather than caught in the rush.
Why order skate aids from Marshalls International?
We supply around 85% of the UK's ice rinks. Our Skate Mates are the largest range in Europe, made in the UK and built to take daily use for years — the range the majority of British rinks already rely on.
What happens if I leave it too late?
You risk being short during your busiest sessions, which means beginners stuck on the barrier, families who don't enjoy their visit, and the repeat custom and recommendations you lose as a result.
Are skate aids good value?
Yes. Bought once, a skate aid works for years. Spread across the thousands of sessions it supports, it's one of the cheapest pieces of equipment in the building — and one of the most effective at driving repeat visits.
Where can I order skate aids for my rink?
The full Skate Mates range is available to order at iceskateaid.com, or contact the Marshalls International team and we'll advise on the right mix and quantity for your rink.
