This 30-minute class is designed for preschool aged children (ages 3 and 4) who have little or no skating experience.

CSA Approved Hockey Helmets are required for all participants in this program.

About Pre-CanSkate

Pre-CanSkate groups are a component of CanSkate. Pre-CanSkate participants work on the essentials needed to move safely and effectively on the ice, allowing them to rotate to the different learning stations. There are eight basic elements designed to prepare skaters for Stage 1 of CanSkate:

• Fall down & get up

• Balance on two feet

• Move forwards

• Make Snow

• Move backwards

• Two-foot twist

• 360 degree march

• Two-foot jump

Once a Pre-CanSkate participant achieves their Pre-CanSkate ribbon they will move onto our 50-minute class (note there is a pro-rated cost increase at this point). This may require them to change groups or remain in the same group depending on the session and how other skaters are progressing in their group.

All participants are required to provide their own skates and CSA approved hockey helmet. Waterproof pants or snow pants are recommended as skaters may spend some time sitting on the ice and or falling.

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This 50-minute class is designed for children (ages 4 to 11) from first steps to Stage 3 or 4. 

CSA Approved Hockey Helmets are required for all participants in this program.

About CanSkate

Our CanSkate program will offer skaters the opportunities to build strong skating basics for all ice sports. Skaters will be placed in small groups and encouraged to learn and advance by working through each of the stations at their own pace. Skaters are grouped according to age and skill level and may change groups from time to time during the program. 

Speed, flexibility, and solid basics are the most important aspects to be trained for the skater in this stage. This is accomplished by ensuring increased movement on the ice, using strategies such as circuits, Fast Track, effective warm-ups and cool downs. Providing good element progression circuits where the elements recur on several stages to develop the element to a higher level of proficiency at each level is essential.

• Once a skater has completed two out of three Stage 3 ribbons they are eligible to move to either our Future Stars or Advanced CanSkate program.
  
  

All participants are required to provide their own skates and CSA approved hockey helmet. Waterproof pants or snow pants are recommended as skaters may spend some time sitting on the ice and or falling.
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This 50-minute circuit-based class is designed for skaters working on CanSkate Stages 4-6 who wish to continue to develop their fundamentals for hockey, ringette, speed skating or just for fun! 

CSA Approved Hockey Helmets are required for all participants in this program unless they have completed ALL 3 ribbons in Stage 5.

About Advanced CanSkate

Advanced CanSkate continues to build on the strong basics developed in the CanSkate program. Skaters are focusing on forward and backward crosscuts, edge and turn development. Skaters will begin learning more sport-specific skills as they progress through the Advanced CanSkate program. The more time a skater spends on the ice, the more chance for progression! Skaters benefit from working together in a group environment. 

The Advanced CanSkate program is open to all skaters who:

• have at least 2 out of 3 ribbons from CanSkate stage 3

• want to continue working on the higher CanSkate badges

• want to improve their skating skills for hockey, ringette, speed skating, or just for fun!

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This 50-minute circuit-based class is designed for skaters working on CanSkate Stages 4-6 who wish to continue to develop their fundamental skating skills for figure skating.  

CSA Approved Hockey Helmets are required for all participants in this program unless they have completed ALL 3 ribbons in Stage 5.

About Future Stars

Future Stars is designed for skaters who are interested in figure skating and want to build on the strong foundation developed in the CanSkate program. This fully-coached program will support the development of skills from CanSkate Stage 4 to 6. Skaters will begin learning more sport-specific skills as they progress through the program. 

Skating twice a week is encouraged at this level. The more time a skater spends on the ice, the more chance for progression! 

The Future Stars program is open to all skaters who:

• have completed at least 2 out of 3 ribbons from CanSkate stage 3

• want to improve their fundamental skating skills for figure skating

Future Stars Add-On:

Skaters in the Future Stars program are able to purchase the Future Stars Add-On for additional private lesson time. For more information on how these lessons work, please contact futurestars@rideauskating.ca

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This 30-minute class is designed for skaters ages 12 and older from first steps to Stage 5 of CanSkate.

CSA Approved Hockey Helmets are required for all participants in this program.

About Teen/Adult CanSkate

Our Teen/Adult CanSkate program gives skaters ages 12 and older the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of skating at their own pace. The learning environment supports social connections and sense of community needed to thrive as a teen/adult skater. 

While the ice surface is shared with our CanSkate program, the Teen/Adult CanSkate will travel through circuits on the ice, learning at their own pace and with only teen/adult skaters on their circuit. 

• Teen/Adult skaters who have competed two out of three Stage 3 ribbons are welcome to join our Future Stars or Advanced CanSkate program.

• Teen/Adult skaters who have completed Stage 6 are welcome to join our StarSkate program. 
  
  

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