“Wear pillows” is the advice Dan Swan jokingly gives to first-time ice skaters.

The Outing Centre, located on the west side of the Student Recreation Center, rents out cross-country skis, figure and hockey skates and snowshoes for those who desire winter fun.

The East Lagoon is the most popular place to skate. The nearest ice rink is a half-hour’s drive away, said Jared Grandon, an Outing Centre employee and freshman undecided major.

When the ice is thick enough, students can be seen skating figure-eights on the lagoon. A layer of ice about 10 to 11 inches needs to cover the lagoon for skating on it to be safe, said Dan Swan, manager of the Outing Centre. There was no ice thick enough for skating last year. NIU grounds has the responsibility of checking the ice thickness and plowing the ice surface.

The use of snowshoes requires about seven or eight inches of snow. Good cross-country skiing needs a fairly open outdoor area. One popular place is the DeKalb Park District Forest Preserve, a 15 minute drive from campus.

The skates and skis come in a variety of sizes, including children’s sizes. No half sizes are available.

Demand for winter rentals began after Winter Break, Swan said. About 50 pairs of skates were rented on Friday, Jan. 24. Since late last week, the temperatures have begun to rise, but plenty of time is left for freezing weather this winter.

The Outing Centre checks outdoor conditions every day and can alert potential skaters to unsafe conditions. NIU Grounds often displays signs by the lagoons if the ice is too thin to support skating.

For those who have never participated in winter sports, Swan recommends dressing warmly – for instance, wear two pairs of socks, preferably made of wool instead of cotton. He tells first-timers not to rush and to bring an experienced friend along.

The Outing Centre also sponsors outdoor clinics and trips so students can improve their skills. Students can sign up for an e-mail list so they can keep track of upcoming events.

“Students always complain about having nothing to do, but here are fun things to do that don’t involve sitting around in a dorm room,” Grandon said.

For students, figure or hockey skates cost $1 per day or $2 for the weekend. Cross-country skis (including poles and shoes) cost $5 per day or $10 per weekend.

Faculty, staff and alumni pay one-and-a-half times that rate, and the general public pays double.