2021 SkateDC Weekend Schedule
DC Skates will begin and end at Freedom Plaza, unless otherwise noted. Skates depart 15 minutes after the group-up times.
The Saturday Morning Indian Head Trail skates begin in White Plains, MD and Free Skate Lessons will be on Georgia Ave.
If necessary weather changes and announcements will be posted on the Facebook Event discussion.
Friday, October 1
Friday Night Skate: Monument Loop, with DC-ICE
• 7:00 pm Skate Meets at Freedom Plaza.
Level: 12-mile intermediate skate, with early bailout options.
WAR's traditional FNS will skate by the field of flags Covid memorial (on the National Mall September 17 - October 3). Click here for more information, or to dedicate a flag for a lost loved one.
Bring your lights and see the monuments of DC all lit up at night! We'll warm up with a nice easy skate to the Capitol and skate along the National Mall and museums to the National Monument. We will then head to the Lincoln Memorial through the World War II Memorial. This is a perfect steady 5.5 mile skate for beginners. Those wanting a bit more distance will proceed on to Hains Point with the option to take the 3-mile loop (12 mile total skate) or sit by the water and enjoy the crisp air (8.5 mile total skate). The skate is mostly flat on good pavement with a small slope coming down from the Washington Monument and a 40 yard small slop from the Lincoln to Ohio Drive. Please feel free to jazz up with lights, so you can see and be seen!
Led by: Sharyn
Saturday MORNING, October 2
Three options to choose from for the morning event:
Marathon,
Half-Marathon, 10K, and Fun Skates
Half-Marathon, 10K, and Fun Skates
Skate Meets in White Plains, MD
• 9:00 am (check-in)
• 10:00 am races start
(details below)
SKATE GEORGIA AVE OPEN STREETS
10:00 am Skate Meets at Freedom Plaza.
Intermediate distance: 9.5 mi
Advanced distance: 14 mi
(details below)
Learn to Skate
10:00 am - 10:50 am @ Georgia Avenue NW & Arkansas Avenue
Skate Lesson Presentation at the Lyft Class Zone
Noon - 3:00 pm @ Georgia Ave NW near Morton Street
We'll have a special all day free "Learn to Skate" clinic
(details below)
SATURDAY MORNING Option 1:
Indian Head Rail Trail - Marathon,
Half-Marathon, 10K, and Fun Skates
Half-Marathon, 10K, and Fun Skates
Skate Meets in White Plains, MD
• 9:00 am (check-in)
• 10:00 am races start
All ability levels
Payment required for the marathon or half-marathon, but no registration or payment required for the 10K or for a fun skate of any distance.
A SkateDC first! We'll have a road trip and a race. Compete in the marathon, half-marathon, or 10K through Skater's Quest, or choose your own distance for a fun out-and-back skate on this smooth, wide trail with natural scenery. The start and finish will be at the White Plains end of the trail, and the turnaround will be determined by your event distance.
So why register?
The money goes to support DC-ICE.
Finishers will get a medal featuring the SkateDC logo.
Top finishers will get prizes.
Results will be posted on the Skater's Quest website.
SATURDAY MORNING Options 2&3:
OPEN STREETS INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED SKATES
10:00 am Both Skates Meet at Freedom Plaza.
We'll explore the city, which will be bustling with activity! We'll group-up at Freedom Plaza an hour before the Women's March meets there (so we should still be able to find each other). We'll then head to Open Streets DC, where three miles of Georgia Avenue will be closed to cars and open to music, dancing, yoga, double dutch, and more. WAR will even be hosting a "learn to skate" clinic! We'll then travel back along Beach Drive through Rock Creek Park, and return to Freedom Plaza. The Women's March leaves from there at 1:30 PM to head to the Supreme Court, so interested skaters can check out that scene between WAR's Saturday skates.
Intermediate distance 9.5 miles
The advanced skaters will continue from the Skate Clinic on a route, led by Chris, that will take them through Rock Creek Park on the way back to Freedom Plaza.
Led by: Jon (Intermediate) & Chris (Advanced)
Learn to Skate Clinic
10:00 am - 10:50 am @ Georgia Avenue NW & Arkansas Avenue
Skate Lesson Presentation at the Class Zone Lyft
Noon - 3:00 pm @ Georgia Ave NW near Morton Street
We'll have a special all day free "Learn to Skate" clinic at DC's "Open Streets DC" massive street fair. Come find our "Skate Instruction" booth on Georgia Ave NW near Morton Street Just south of the Petworth Metro.
Stop by for a lesson or just to "say hi"
Led by: Andrew & Danny
Saturday, October 2 AFTERNOON
SkateDC Weekend Quad Rollout
• 4:30 pm Skate Meets at Freedom Plaza.
Level: 5-mile beginner skate.
This DC skate route is designed for Quad and beginner inline skaters! Skate downtown DC, including iconic art in Blagden Alley, Chinatown's friendship gate, BLM plaza, and the White House. Snap a photo at an iconic spot, and learn some new moves at the newly-rebuilt Shaw skate park. No dangerous hills, and more good pavement than bad. We'll end the route at a fun bar and restaurant in Dupont Circle.
> Click here to RSVP to this skate on Facebook
> Click here for the route
Led by: David
SUNDAY, October 3
Intermediate/Advanced Skate to Anacostia
• 10:00 am Skate Meets at Freedom Plaza.
Level: 12-mile intermediate skate then optional add-on
It goes from Freedom Plaza to the RFK skate park, then to the Anacostia Skate Pavilion, then back to Freedom plaza via the new Frederick Douglass Bridge for a 12.1 mile skate.
After we get back to Freedom Plaza, we’ll have another route planned for the advanced skaters who want more mileage. See you at 10:00 am on Sunday at Freedom Plaza!
Led by: Jon (Intermediate) & Chris (Advanced)
Ditching a scheduled skating event? Weather issues? Stop by our many monuments and museums that are FREE to visit!
For reference, the 2019 schedule and routes are at the link here.