What is CanSkate?

CanSkate is an engaging learn-to-skate program that emphasizes fun, participation, and foundational skill development. Rooted in Sport Canada’s long-term athlete development (LTAD) principles, the program highlights:

• Speed and Flexibility: Integrating components that concretely develop speed and flexibility, featuring the Fast Track and specific speed drills, along with activities to enhance flexibility.
• Edges, Turns, and Stroking Basics: Focusing on edges, turns, strong pushes, and glides, with sport-specific skills introduced later in the program.
• Skill Progression and Repetition: Reinforcing skill progressions as skaters develop, with skills repeated at various stages and increasing performance requirements.

Who’s it for?

CanSkate is ideal for beginners of all ages, whether children or adults, and for those looking to improve their basic skills for figure skating, hockey, speed skating, or recreational skating.

What will you learn? - The ABCs of Skating

The Skate Canada Learn to Skate Program is based on fundamental movements and four components (Speed, Extreme, Spins & Spirals, and Hockey/Ringette) reconfigured into three fundamental areas: Balance, Control, and Agility.

• Agility: Turn, jump, and skills from Extreme, Spins & Spirals, and Hockey/Ringette.
• Balance: Forward skating and skills from Extreme, Spins & Spirals, and Hockey/Ringette.
• Control: Stopping, backward skating, and skills from Extreme, Speed, Spins & Spirals, and Hockey/Ringette.

What can you expect? - Action, Movement, and Fun!

CanSkate uses a nationally-tested curriculum and proven delivery methods to ensure skater success in developing stronger basic skills quickly. Lessons are conducted in a group format with a coach-to-student ratio of up to 1:10. Skaters progress at their own pace, and coaches keep sessions lively with colorful teaching aids, signage, circuits, station rotations, Fast Track, Fun Zone, and upbeat music. This dynamic environment promotes learning through movement and fun. Badges, ribbons, and other incentives mark progress and reward effort and participation. Once a skater achieves the Balance, Control, and Agility ribbons for a certain stage, they earn the badge for that stage.

What do you need to participate?

Bring skates, a CSA-approved hockey helmet (no bike helmets), long pants, mittens, and a warm sweater or jacket. Dress in layers—it can get warm! A cold skater is not a happy skater.

At the Rink

• Name Tag Table: When you enter the arena, pick up your name tag from the table at the beginning of each session and return it at the end. Name tags must be worn each session.
• Dressing Rooms: After picking up your name tag, head to your dressing room and be ready to hit the ice when the coaches open the doors!