Ermine Skate

10/27/2026

For ice enthusiasts in the Anchorage area, consider supporting the Airport Heights Elementary ice rink this winter! This community-funded rink helps introduce a lot of kids to skating in an underserved (Title 1 school/predominantly lower-income) area.

Help support the next generation of Alaska skaters

10/26/2026

A big thank you to Anchorage mayor Suzanne LaFrance for speaking at Ermine’s grand opening! We’re honored to be part of this city’s winter tourism, outdoor recreation, and small business communities.

10/25/2026

Our storefront grand opening was a huge success and full of surprises. We're beyond excited to head into the 2026/27 Nordic skating season with the support of our Anchorage and Alaska communities. It's a privilege to build North America's Nordic ice skate industry here.

For those who missed the event, stop by our midtown Anchorage storefront during our posted hours. We're open!

Photos courtesy Cale Green of Alaska News.

10/19/2026

The Ermine team wishes everyone a happy Alaska Day. We're honored to call this place home.

10/18/2026

Meet Ermine owner Paxson Woelber. Ermine is the product of a life spent focused on outdoor recreation, art, and design, coupled with the support of family, friends, teachers, manufacturing partners, retailers, and customers. We're heading into the 2026/27 season with a bigger team, larger space, and our best lineup of products yet, and we're grateful to everyone who has helped make it happen.

10/15/2026

We've been asked a surprising number of times whether Ermine invented Nordic skates. The answer is no. What we think of as Nordic skates today (long, removable skates employing free-heel Nordic ski boots and bindings) were the result of development in Scandinavia starting in the late 1980s. They effectively represent the merging of three technologies: free-heeled speed skates, Nordic ski boots and bindings, and removable long-distance touring skates designed for wild ice.

Ermine didn't invent the sport. What we have done is innovate and nudge the sport and equipment in new directions. We're both proud of what we've created in Alaska and forever indebted to the Scandinavian makers who came before us and work alongside us today.

10/13/2026

Ermine's new Anchorage storefront and manufacturing space is purpose-built for Nordic skates and wild ice. Over the last eight months, we've been hard at work making this the second-best place to be for wild ice skaters (the best place being on the ice, of course).

10/08/2026

Join Ermine for the grand opening of our Anchorage location! Check out new Nordic skates and ice poles, meet the expanded team, and be first to hear some very exciting announcements for the upcoming season. And yes, you better believe we'll be cutting that ribbon with a Nordic skate!

The opening is Wednesday, October 21, from 6-8pm. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch. We can't wait to see you all there!

09/18/2026

We're just a few short weeks away from the sights, sounds, colors, and textures of wild ice season!

09/09/2026

Yep, we’re opening a store in midtown Anchorage! This project has been in the works for several years, and we’re thrilled to say it’ll be a core part of our 2026-27 season. We’re currently open by appointment only for in-person pickups, and plan to have a public launch party in mid-October. This is gonna be a big year for Ermine, and we’re stoked for you all to be a part of it!