In recent years, skating has experienced a surge in popularity as many Americans have recognized the ice skate as a useful tool for pre-slicing frozen pizzas. Oven-prep your next meal the fun way with today's Groupon: for $6, you get ice skating and skate rental during Friday night skate (up to a $12 value) at the Sharks Ice facilities in San Jose and the Sharks Ice–operated Oakland Ice Center. This deal will also be valid at the Sharks Ice facility in Fremont when it resumes Friday night public-skate sessions on April 1.

Operated by Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, Sharks Ice skating centers professionally maintain solid-water rinks and facilities to accommodate a full range of activities. Each Friday night (7:30–9:30 p.m. in San Jose; 7:15–9:15 p.m. in Oakland) customers have full run of the centers' Olympic-sized rinks for public skating and fashionable displays of warm, Cosby-inspired outerwear. In addition to skating amenities, each Sharks Ice center features a full-service pro shop that sells NHL athletic apparel and other skate supplies and accessories. The centers also feature public snack bars and spacious public areas for socializing and frigid recitations of 18th-century Russian poetry. Sharks Ice San Jose also houses Stanley's Sports Bar, a full bar and restaurant overlooking the three rinks. Skate rental is included, but if you prefer to bring your own foot-blades, the general admission price without today's Groupon is $8, which still makes the Groupon the better deal. Hours are subject to change, so please call ahead to confirm.

Reviews

Sixty Yelpers give the Sharks Ice facility at San Jose a 4.5-star average, 24 give the Sharks Ice facility at Fremont a rating of 3.5 stars, and 45 give the Oakland Ice Center an average of four stars. Seven Insider Pagers give Sharks Ice at San Jose a four-star rating, three more give Sharks Ice at Fremont an average of three stars, and another three give the Oakland Ice Center a four-star average. Sharks Ice has more than 1,500 Facebook fans.

• This is a great place to take your kids. Perfect spot for a rainy day or even a sunny day! The people that work there are helpful and friendly. – cindy f., Oakland location, Yelp, 01/17/2011
• The facility is new and clean. Staff is very friendly and helpful. A delight to deal with. – Neil R., San Jose location, Yelp, 06/07/2009