Winter sports flounder without ice, as lugers stall in slush and skaters struggle to lift legs strapped to synchronized swimmers. Celebrate a slippery slope with today’s Groupon to WinterSkate from Boulder Creek Events at The Village at FlatIron Crossing in Broomfield and at the Twenty Ninth Street mall in Boulder. Choose between the following options:

• For $16, you get an ice-skating outing for four (up to a $32 value).
• For $21, you get an ice-skating outing for six (up to a $48 value).
  
  

Each outing includes: * Admission to open-skate sessions (up to a $5 value each) * Ice-skate rental (a $3 value each)

The engineers at Boulder Creek Events freeze smooth, outdoor ice rinks and beckon skaters to etch wispy designs on the surfaces. Seven days a week, the open-skate schedule stretches from late morning to midevening to facilitate visits and finally touch its toes. After lacing up rental skates, patrons can link arms with friends for a few laps around the rink, basking in the sun’s rays and the air’s arctic bite. Youths balance easier atop the parallel blades of double-runner rental skates, and bodies resist the cold when warmed by treats and teacup dragons sold at the concession counter. Those who already have pairs may wear their own blades.