2025 Skate America: Lake Placid (official 5.6.2025)

[DORISPULASKI]

Amtrak goes to Burlington VT, too

60 miles by road to Lake Placid

 

[BlueRidge]

@BlueRidge dragged me to LP in 2009 while my life was a complete mess, she would not let me cancel. But it is wise for us not to drive together, I’m way too fast or she’s way too slow, take your pick.

And I still get crap for not standing for Rachel Flatt.

I made you go even when it turned out you hadn't booked the flight you thought you had in August of that year.

But I actually loved the drive from Albany to Lake Placid. Even though it was November, the weather was beautiful and so was the scenery. And there were few cars on the road. (Don't ask about the drive on the crowded highway to Greensboro in the rain... )

I'd love to go again but I'm just not up for the travel and arrangements for doggy and all that.

 

[apgold]

As I live in Manhattan, I just take AmTrak to Westport and then hire a car. You can also fly into Adirondack Regional Airport, or Albany or Montreal, and then take the bus or hire a car. Guess it depends where you're coming from.

I'm also in Manhattan - is there a specific car service you use or just reserve an Uber or Lyft in advance? I would plan to come up on the 13th and there is only one train that arrives in Westport at 2:36PM.

 

[kwanette]

@BlueRidge dragged me to LP in 2009 while my life was a complete mess, she would not let me cancel. But it is wise for us not to drive together, I’m way too fast or she’s way too slow, take your pick.

And I still get crap for not standing for Rachel Flatt.

Rachel who won the free skate?

 

[kwanette]

I'm also in Manhattan - is there a specific car service you use or just reserve an Uber or Lyft in advance? I would plan to come up on the 13th and there is only one train that arrives in Westport at 2:36PM.

In 2009 a van picked us up in Westport..part of the Amtrak ticket..In 2017..same..On way back Monday a big bus picked people up at their lodgings to get to Westport.

 

[nylynnr]

I'm also in Manhattan - is there a specific car service you use or just reserve an Uber or Lyft in advance? I would plan to come up on the 13th and there is only one train that arrives in Westport at 2:36PM.

I just use uber, but there are car services in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. I've used several but cannot remember names; I would google for taxi services near Westport.

 

[ice coverage]

In 2009 a van picked us up in Westport..part of the Amtrak ticket..In 2017..same..On way back Monday a big bus picked people up at their lodgings to get to Westport.

But as apgold already knows: As of 2019 (or earlier), the Amtrak van/bus option between Westport and LP no longer has been available.

Yes, it was operating at the time of 2017 Skate America, and I was glad to make use of it.
It was defunct by the time of my next trip to Lake Placid, in Aug 2019 for the Junior Grand Prix.
(And still defunct when I traveled to LP in Sep 2022; in Jul 2023; and in Jul 2024. I checked each time to see whether it had been revived, and it had not.)

I just use uber, but there are car services in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. I've used several but cannot remember names; I would google for taxi services near Westport.

Not doubting you ... but based on my experience (and/or bad luck? ), I myself would not dare to rely on Lyft/Uber in LP. Whenever I have tried to place an order in LP, both apps always have given me some kind of message that no drivers are available.

 

[PRlady]

Rachel who won the free skate?

The very same.

Let’s just say that with the exception of Mirai for whom I suffered, I like the current crop of US women much better.

 

[kwanette]

The very same.

Let’s just say that with the exception of Mirai for whom I suffered, I like the current crop of US women much better.

Many of us suffered for Mirai..

 

[kwanette]

But as apgold already knows: As of 2019 (or earlier), the Amtrak van/bus option between Westport and LP no longer has been available.

Yes, it was operating at the time of 2017 Skate America, and I was glad to make use of it.
It was defunct by the time of my next trip to Lake Placid, in Aug 2019 for the Junior Grand Prix.
(And still defunct when I traveled to LP in Sep 2022; in Jul 2023; and in Jul 2024. I checked each time to see whether it had been revived, and it had not.)



Not doubting you ... but based on my experience (and/or bad luck? ), I myself would not dare to rely on Lyft/Uber in LP. Whenever I have tried to place an order in LP, I always have gotten some kind of message that no drivers are available.

That's too bad.

 

[myhoneyhoney]

So if you’re coming from California, which airport for arrival? I’ll most likely rent a car.

 

[YukiNieve]

I do not feel like taking Cape Air again - it was too scary for me, lol.
Driving really depends on the weather and road conditions. Such unpredictability makes me, someone who is not a risk-taker, nervous.
Well I have time to think about this...

BTW the schedule for the 2025 Skate America website does not list exhibition.
I hope they just list competitions and have not eliminated exhibition like Skate Canada?

 

[peibeck]

Well West Coast PACS and the Ice Dance final are in Henderson (Las Vegas neighbor). That sounds more appealing.

 

[Lanie]

So if you’re coming from California, which airport for arrival? I’ll most likely rent a car.

Not living in LA anymore but I'd probably fly into Albany or maybe Burlington? But driving in that potential weather scares me. I looked into flying CLT-BOS then Cape Air to LKP but what a pain in the ass, and expensive.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Well West Coast PACS and the Ice Dance final are in Henderson (Las Vegas neighbor). That sounds more appealing.

I thought about it briefly too, but the bad thing about it is it’s usually all weekdays so it requires a lot more vacation time.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I don't. I feel like most athletes are not quite competition ready in early October and the performances often reflect that.

Yeah, but what does that have to do with the price of tomatoes? Some host country has to go in that slot… Lol.

 

[myhoneyhoney]

Not living in LA anymore but I'd probably fly into Albany or maybe Burlington? But driving in that potential weather scares me. I looked into flying CLT-BOS then Cape Air to LKP but what a pain in the ass, and expensive.

Sounds hellish. I’ll pass. Thank you!

 

[YukiNieve]

Beginning May 1, 2025, Plattsburgh International Airport will offer service between Plattsburgh, NY, and Washington-Dulles via Contour Airlines. Round-trip, nonstop flights will be available daily. You can easily access Lake Placid from Plattsburgh by car, bus, or train.

Traveling to Lake Placid

www.lakeplacid.com

It'd be about one hour drive from Plattsburgh, NY to Lake Placid on the Google map.
The aircraft of Contour Airline (I never heard of) seems to be bigger than Cape Air.
I don't know what they mean by "train" though.

 

[PRlady]

Hmmm. Contour Air from Dulles is obviously convenient for me. But I’m much more afraid of small planes than driving. Will see just how big those planes are and whether they even run in November.

 

[tony]

Hmmm. Contour Air from Dulles is obviously convenient for me. But I’m much more afraid of small planes than driving. Will see just how big those planes are and whether they even run in November.

They do, and they seem to be 30-person planes.

Meanwhile, there's a Thursday to Sunday round trip ticket on Allegiant for $110, direct flight, from Fort Lauderdale to Plattsburgh. If they would open up a Wednesday to Monday flight, I would very much consider going. But the Sunday flight time, considering the trek back to the airport, would miss the entire day of skating.

 

[PRlady]

They do, and they seem to be 30-person planes.

Meanwhile, there's a Thursday to Sunday round trip ticket on Allegiant for $110, direct flight, from Fort Lauderdale to Plattsburgh. If they would open up a Wednesday to Monday flight, I would very much consider going. But the Sunday flight time, considering the trek back to the airport, would miss the entire day of skating.

Given the FD and women’s’ final Sunday, I checked and there are reasonable flight times Friday-Monday. I might miss a bit of pairs short depending when it starts but can live with that. Hmmmm.

 

[Dobre]

We took a little hopper plane that fit about 8-10 people, including the pilot, from the Boston Airport to the Lake Placid airport. Then a pre-ordered taxi into town. Our trip to Lake Placid was just wonderful--in August for the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships, maybe 6 years ago?

There was an ice-cream shop with frozen chocolate-covered cheesecake.

 

[YukiNieve]

Cape Air (Boston's Logan Airport - Adirondack Regional Airport) only had 7-8 people, IIRC. Whether it is comfortable depends on the weather and pilot (and one's level of tolerance and adventurous mind). The plane to LP took several nosedives before reaching stability and I almost screamed.. The plane coming back was much more stable from the beginning.The mountain view was gorgeous. If you like roller-coasters kind of rides (I don't), you should be fine.

Now how can I get to Lake Placid from Plattsburgh?
Private shuttle seems quite expensive for one-hour ride and bus service (Adirondack Trailways) says it'd take 6.5 hours. Why?

 

[PRlady]

TBH if several of us get to Plattsburgh about the same time we can share cost of rental car. If my husband comes we need one anyway so he can visit his friend in Willsboro instead of being condemned to watching all the skating.

 

[Aimless]

I am going by god! Just reserved at the Devlin.

 

[Aimless]

Any reasoned estimate of when tickets will go on sale? Days, weeks, months?

 

[apgold]

Any reasoned estimate of when tickets will go on sale? Days, weeks, months?

Tickets went on sale in June for last year's SA, so I imagine it would be similar timing. The assignments also come out in June, so hopefully we will know who is competing beforehand.

I hope Bradie and the Shibs will be there, they competed in 2017.

 

[ChristineB]

I do not feel like taking Cape Air again - it was too scary for me, lol.
Driving really depends on the weather and road conditions. Such unpredictability makes me, someone who is not a risk-taker, nervous.
Well I have time to think about this...

BTW the schedule for the 2025 Skate America website does not list exhibition.
I hope they just list competitions and have not eliminated exhibition like Skate Canada?

No exhibition, sadly!

 

[jägerbomb]

Why does USFS insist on stretching out Grand Prix events over three days?

Do a Friday-Saturday event and let folx have Sunday as a travel day, seeing as how inaccessible Lake Placid is.

I hope SkAm revisits Vegas sometime soon as I rather enjoyed slumming it off the strip (winning dollar store Tupperware at the casino, mind you).

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Why does USFS insist on stretching out Grand Prix events over three days?

Do a Friday-Saturday event and let folx have Sunday as a travel day, seeing as how inaccessible Lake Placid is.

I hope SkAm revisits Vegas sometime soon as I rather enjoyed slumming it off the strip (winning dollar store Tupperware at the casino, mind you).

I think I may be a minority here, but I really love it when they do that, I also love when they used to be the original dance. I like it when everything’s not crammed in, granted people who travel they have to spend for an extra hotel night, but that’s what I did when I went to the skate Americas 20 years ago.