Trade your office for the ice

Can a lap around the Olympic Oval at lunch make your afternoon better?

Every day, staff and faculty take their lunch break (well, they should), but often it’s a quick bite to eat and back to work. The Oval wants to show everyone that lunch time is the perfect opportunity to refresh and re-energize on ice.

The Oval has regular public skating and most weekdays, including a lunchtime skate from 12 to 1 p.m. Most skaters at that time are University of Calgary staff and faculty. It’s one of the unique campus perks: access to our very own 400-metre Olympic ice surface.

“A lunchtime skate at the Oval is like a cold brew for the brain — refreshing, energizing and maybe just the perfect antidote to the midday blahs. It gets you moving, clears your head and sends you back to work recharged,” says Oval director Mark Messer.

Recreational skating offers a surprising mix of physical, mental and social benefits, from cardio, and motor skills to stress relief and a much-needed brain break. It’s also a fantastic workout for your legs, all while being an easy activity anyone can do (even if you need a skate aid). The act of physically leaving your desk, putting away your phone and doing something completely unrelated to work for an hour can have tremendous value. 

“A lunchtime skate makes good sense. It interrupts prolonged sitting and gives people an opportunity to move, change their environment and engage in something enjoyable," says Dr. Patricia Doyle-Baker, DrPH, PhD, a professor with the Faculty of Kinesiology. "While lunchtime skating hasn’t been specifically studied, the broader evidence suggests that active breaks can support well-being by reducing fatigue and improving how people feel. The Oval adds the fun factor. A few laps and a few laughs can turn the lunchtime blahs into a genuine reset.” 

That time on the ice also makes you better at getting back to work.

"Taking breaks to engage in physical activity during the workday is not merely a distraction," says Kinesiology dean Dr. Nick Holt, PhD. "Workplace physical activity has been associated with improved health outcomes, reduced stress and even increased productivity. Even short periods of physical activity can lead to mental and physical health benefits.” 

In addition to the health benefits, skating is just a great social break. Sure, staff can walk around campus, but, in the winter, the Oval is safe, fun, indoors and a great alternative to walking. 

“I’ve been skating for 10 years at the Oval," says Laura Telfer, one of the Oval's many public skaters. "When I started, I was terrible. The skate staff encouraged me to use a skate aid (which looks like a big red walker on ice) and, little by little, I got better. Then my friends joined me and it’s been so much fun. I even invited my boyfriend out once. I’m no speed skater but I think I’m pretty good on skates now.” 

Taking a lunch break doesn’t have to mean eating at your desk while answering emails. Sometimes, an hour away, a little movement and a few laps on the fastest ice in the world with colleagues might be exactly the reset you need for the afternoon ahead.

Ready to take a lunchtime lap?

Recreational public skating is free for UCalgary students with a valid UCID card. Staff and faculty can skate for $7.25 per visit, or purchase a noon season pass for $49.50. The Oval also has skate and helmet rentals available for those who need them.

Skate times and more information are available at oval.ucalgary.ca.