The programs below are from the recently-ended 2020-2021 season. Click program name to go to the desciption. We will sent out notices on social, our website, and MailChimp when we update the programs in preparation for the 2021-2022 season.
- Parent and Tot – Learn to Skate
- CanSkate
- PrePower Skate
- Rising Stars
- STARSkate
- Hockey Skills
- Adult Learn to Skate
- Adult Power Skating
Parent and Tot – Learn to Skate
Ages 3 to 5 years
This program is designed especially for new young skaters who need assistance on the ice (from a Parent due to Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing rules). It introduces children to the on-ice fundamental movements: posture/stance, pushing, gliding, stopping, turning, spinning and jumping.
Learn to Skate graduates enter CanSkate with an advantage of having learned the fundamentals of the sport at an early age. All skaters and parents must wear a snug-fitting hockey helmet, CSA approved. No other helmets are acceptable.
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CanSkate
Ages 5 years and older
The CanSkate program incorporates fun with the basics of skating forwards and backwards, stopping, turning, jumping, spinning, and edges. The program consists of 6 Stages taught in order of difficulty to ensure a natural skills progression.
CanSkate 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 ribbons as you learn fundamental skating skills.
Lessons are given in a group format and led by a 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.
Canskate Instructors and Program Assistants teach small groups of skaters working at the similar skill levels. Since skaters progress at their own rate, groups will be changing constantly.
All skaters must wear a snug-fitting, CSA approved hockey helmet. No other style of helmet is acceptable. Clothing should provide warmth, allow for movement and provide some protection from falls. Layering of sweatshirts, sweaters, ski jackets, warm waterproof pants and long underwear or leotards is recommended. Warm mittens or gloves are a must. Long scarves are not advised.
CanSkate Graduates
Some of the best skaters in the world learned to skate with CanSkate including Olympic figure skaters, Olympic speed skaters, men’s and women’s Olympic hockey players and NHL players.
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Olympic and World ice dance champions.
Patrick Chan, Olympic medalist and World men’s figure skating champion.
Ivanie Blondin, Olympic and World long track speed skater.
Matt Duchene, NHL Colorado Avalanche and Olympic hockey team gold medallist.
Jeff Skinner, NHL Carolina Hurricanes, NHL Rookie of the Year and former Canadian juvenile men’s figure skating medallist.
For 2019-20 Season, CanSkate classes began the week of October 10th. Register | Back to Top of Page
PrePower Skating
Ages 5 years and older
Pre-Power is designed for young skaters who can stand up on skates and move forward (shuffle, walk or glide) who may not be ready for CanPowerSkate Level 1. PrePower helps develop basic skating abilities in a power skating-specific environment, including balance skills, forward and backward skating, stopping, turning and agility skills. Pre-Power has been designed to run concurrently with CanSkate sessions.
All skaters must wear a snug-fitting hockey helmet, CSA approved. No other style of helmet is acceptable. Clothing should provide warmth, allow for movement and provide some protection from the falls. Layering of sweatshirts, hockey sweaters, warm waterproof pants and long underwear recommended. Warm gloves are a must. Hockey gear is not necessary. No hockey sticks. Sticks will be provided when needed.
For 2019-20 Season, PrePower classes began the week of October 6th.
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Rising Stars Academy
Prerequisite CanSkate graduate or by invitation only
The Rising Stars Academy Program is intended as an introduction to figure skating. The program is the next stage of development for skaters 10 years of age and younger, with the desire to pursue competitive skating. Team coaching, jump technique, spins, off-ice, artistic figures, games and prizes are all part of the Program. It combines a fun and enthusiastic atmosphere to learn the basic skills of figure skating at a young age. Rising Stars is designed to be a bridge between the CanSkate and StarSkate programs for younger skaters.
Acceptance into the Program
Skaters wishing to join the Rising Stars Academy Program must demonstrate a competent skill level for their age. Entrance into the program is “by invitation only.” Skaters are talent- identified and selected from our CanSkate program. Potential Junior Star participants are invited to a trial session to be assessed by a Club Coach. Successful candidates will be awarded an official invitation to the program and information regarding program registration.
Rising Stars are considered part of the Figure Skating Club and will be invited to attend any and all Meeting’s, Special Events, Fundraisers and Volunteer Commitments.
Program Requirements
The program is entirely instructed by our NCCP-certified professional coaches and includes on-ice and off-ice (dryland) lessons. Skaters must skate a minimum of two days per week to participate in the Rising Stars Academy program. Each lesson day will consist of a 45 minute on-ice session and a 30 minute off-ice (dryland) session. The Rising Stars Academy program is offered 3 days per week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Evenings.
Skaters are required to wear proper figure skating skate boots and attire. Upon completion of the program, skaters will be ready to enter the Skate Canada StarSkate Program.
Equipment Standards
All skaters participating in the Rising Stars Academy Program must have proper figure skating boots and attire. The appropriate equipment is an important part of timely and proper skill acquisition and development. Female skaters are expected to wear figure skating skirts/dresses with tights or fitted leggings. Hair must also be securely fastened. Males may wear fitted pants (no jeans or sweatpants). No baggy clothing or bulky jackets and no hoods are permitted. A warm pair of gloves is recommended.
Any questions regarding proper fitting skates, maintenance and attire may be answered by our coaching team.
The Fall 2020 Rising Stars session begins the week of October 10. Register | Back to Top of Page
STARSkate & Competitive
The Skate Canada STARskate & Competitive Programs provide opportunities for skaters to compete in a variety of competitions from the local to the national and international level. Skaters can compete primarily in singles, pairs, interpretive and dance from Star 1 to Adult levels.
STARskaters work through testing disciplines from Star 1 to Gold levels. They may advance compete in local, regional, sectional, provincial and national levels. Adult competitions include national and international invitational meets.
Skaters who exhibit aptitude for competitive skating may test in the competitive disciplines of Juvenile to Senior and may advance from club competition to sectional, divisional and national championships and beyond.
Star 1 & 2
Once a skater has been invited by the Director(s) of the school to “Graduate” from the Rising Stars Academy Program (RSA) they are in in possession of the basic skating skills to pass a Star 1 Free skate, Dance and Skills tests. After they have been assessed by an accredited skating judge (their coach) they will be placed on our Starskate session.
STARSkate offers opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills. Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating skills in a group and/or private lesson format in a progressive and sequential manner and includes specifically designed awards and incentives. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada Tests through a nationally standardized testing system.
The session is offered on 1/3 of the ice during Rising Stars & Hockey Skills session. This is aimed to inspire the next generation of skaters into our club. This is a developmental phase for our young athletes where advanced patterns and specific jump and spin techniques are introduced, trained as well as perfected.
The Starskate Program runs with the exact same schedule as the RSA program seeing as both include small group lessons.
Skaters will be grouped according to their levels, abilities and overall commitment to skating. The frequency of the skaters lessons and the coaching staff they work with will depend on the parents availability to make it to group lessons as well as their athletes commitment to the sport. Both the athletes potential will be assessed and then a clear path given to those athletes who wish to pursue a competitive figure skating path.
My philosophy is that everyone deserves a chance to use this sport as an opportunity to learn grow and change into the person they wish to become. The Bracebridge Club will customize each of its skater’s education in the sport in order to offer them both a welcoming and healthy way to use their love for figure skating as the bridge to becoming the person they want to be.
Intermediate Session (STAR 2 to 4)
For those skaters in STAR 2 to 4 who had solos last year and plan on competing and/or are taking tests this season.
OPEN / Advanced Sessions (STAR 3 and up)
This is a fast paced session designed for the competitive skaters with specific goals and objectives. This session is only for skaters who have passed all Star 1 & 2 Tests and are planning on competing in the star 3 and over categories for this upcoming competitive season.
This session is open for those skaters working on all Dance, Skills, Artistic and Freekskate Disciplines.
*** This session is currently available to all of those Out of Club skaters and their coaches. There is no formal instruction offered on this session and therefore any lessons given are based on a private coach NCCP certified Skate Canada coach who is in good standing with the club and Skate Canada only.
All competitive and advanced recreational skaters are encouraged to consider these sessions for additional training time.
Off-Ice: This session will consist of sport specific fitness, off-ice jumps, flexibility, core stability and an outside hire from a local dance school to teach our skaters fundamentals in both dance and movement.
The Fall 2020 STARSkate session begins the week of September 21. Register | Back to Top of Page
Hockey Skills
An action-packed, high energy instructional power skating program geared to hockey and ringette skaters that focuses on balance, power, agility, speed and endurance. Skills, techniques and conditioning drills are taught in a progressive format that emphasizes how the skills apply to game situations. CanPowerSkate provides an alternative to figure skating and is an excellent complement for those athletes playing on hockey or ringette teams. Hockey Skills will be taught as one group with individualized instruction within the group. Instruction is not based on age, but rather skill set.
Prerequisite
Children/Teens must be able to skate one width of the ice with a glide. This is not a learn to skate program, it is assumed that participants have achieved a competent level of skating ability.
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Adult Learn to Skate
Adult Learn to Skate introduces adults to the on-ice fundamental movements: posture/stance, pushing, gliding, stopping, turning.
All skaters must wear a snug-fitting hockey helmet, CSA approved. No other helmets are acceptable.
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Adult Power Skating
An action-packed, high energy instructional power skating program geared toward reconditioning prior to the upcoming hockey season. Full hockey equipment with proper CSA approved helmet and full face mask are required.
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