Empire Skate Club of New York

Empire Skate Club of New York

Empire Skate Club of New York is a nonprofit inline-skating organization dedicated to strengthening New York City’s skating community through social skates, training, trips, clinics, advocacy, and community events. The club organizes activities for experienced urban skaters as well as members interested in fitness, speed skating, regional skate travel, and meeting other inline skaters.

Tuesday Night Skate

Empire’s longest-running weekly activity is the Tuesday Night Skate, a year-round street skate that operates when roads and weather conditions are suitable. The group begins gathering at approximately 7:45 PM and normally departs at 8:00 PM from the General Sherman statue at Grand Army Plaza, Fifth Avenue and East 60th Street, beside Central Park’s southeast entrance.

The Tuesday route is intended for intermediate and advanced skaters who are comfortable skating after dark in New York City traffic. Destinations can include neighborhoods and landmarks across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and nearby New Jersey. Participants should be able to stop reliably, control speed, manage hills and changing street surfaces, and remain with the group.

Weekend and seasonal skating

From spring through autumn, Empire commonly organizes weekend group skates in New York City and the surrounding tri-state area. Routes and distances vary by leader and may range from moderate city outings to longer destination skates. The club may also schedule winter outings when conditions allow.

Empire’s broader program includes the annual Big Apple Roll, speed-skating training through Empire Speed, social gatherings, and opportunities to join skating trips hosted by other clubs. Individual schedules can change, so participants should use the official calendar and Instagram updates rather than assuming that a previous route or meeting plan is still current.

Before joining: review the official Empire Skate Club website for the latest activity, skill expectations, weather decision, route notes, protective-equipment guidance, and contact information. Bring properly maintained inline skates, a helmet and other suitable protection, water, and lights or reflective equipment for night skating.