CanSkate
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Is Skate Canada's flagship learn-to-skate program, designed for beginners of all ages. When you sign up for CanSkate you will be in a program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. You will earn badges and other incentives as you learn fundamental skating skills. Lessons are given in a group format and led by an NCCP certified professional coach. Professional coaches are assisted by trained Program Assistants.
The coach to student ratio is a maximum of 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, music and a wide variety of activities that create a fun environment and promote learning. CanSkate is the feeder program to all other Skate Canada Skating Programs, and is presented by BMO Financial Group, reflecting their commitment to grassroots development.
Why sign up for CanSkate?
CanSkate is Canada's only national learn-to-skate program. It was developed by experts to teach the fundamentals of skating in a progressive and sequential manner.
When you/your child registers for a CanSkate program at your local Skate Canada club, you also become a member of Skate Canada, the national sport governing body for figure skating in Canada. Membership benefits in the CanSkate program can include: badges, stickers, tattoos, colouring sheets, parent information sheets, progress updates and report card, special Canskate events and club functions, BMO Canskater of the Year award program and opportunity to be talent-scouted.
Program Structure
The CanSkate program focuses on the development of six fundamental movements organized in six stages of learning, with an optional 7th level for skaters who want to move into figure skating. The skills are arranged in progressions, from very simple to the more complex. Each stage has a primary focus. Once the skills on each stage are mastered, a badge is awarded.
The series of badges include
Stage badges, Fundamental Movement badges and Fitness badges.
Stage 1:
Beginners – this involves basic balance skills, walking backwards and forwards, falling down and getting up, quarter bend turns, and two-foot jumping.
Stage 2:
This level focuses on forward gliding. Push/glide sequence, two foot sculling, two-foot half-turn, two-foot spin, two-foot jump from a glide, and forward snowplow are introduced.
Stage 3 :
This level focuses on backwards as well as forwards gliding. Forward slalom, backward push/glide sequence, backward two-foot sculling, backward snowplow, two-foot half turns from a glide, and two-foot jump from a backward glide are introduced.
Stage 4:
This level introduces skaters to the use of their edges. Skaters learn forward and backward glides on a curve, forward walking cross-cuts, backward slalom, forward two-foot side stops, turning forward to backward on a curve both on two feet and on one foot, forward one-foot spin, and two-foot sit-spin, and two-foot half-turn jumps.
Stage 5:
This level focuses on increasing the skater’s power. Skaters learn forward and backward circle thrusts, one-foot side stop, turning backward to forward on a curve while changing feet, one-foot backward spin, one-foot forward to backward jumps, and forward power jumps.
Stage 6:
This level focuses on increasing the skater’s speed. Fast perimeter stroking forward and backward, backward crosscuts, circle stroking with crosscuts and turns, back toe-assisted jump and rotating power jump.
Stage 7:
This is an optional enrichment level, adding progressives, chases, rolls and swing rolls, simple set patterns step sequences, as well and focusing on improving the skater’s power, speed, and technique in execution of all skills.
Once a Canskater has reached Stage 5 in Canskate, they may be ready for our Junior Program.
Please consult with a Club Coach.