Learn to Skate

Snowplow 1:

• Sit and stand up, on-ice 
• March in place 
• March forward (8 steps) 
• March forward, then glide on two feet (2 seconds) 
• Dip in place

Snowplow 2 (must pass Snowplow 1):

• Dip while moving (2 seconds) 
• Backward Wiggles 
• Forward Swizzles (3 in a row, no two-foot glide in between) 
• Beginning snowplow stop, in place (right and left) 
• Two-foot hop, in place (3 times)

Snowplow 3 (must pass Snowplow 2):

• Rocking Horse (Forward, Backward, Forward) 
• Forward Swizzles (6 in a row, with a two-foot glide in between) 
• Backward Swizzles (3 in a row, no two-foot glide in between) 
• Standstill T-Push (right and left) 
• Moving forward snowplow stop (2 feet)

Snowplow Sam 4 (must pass Snowplow Sam 3)

• Forward skating
• Backward two-foot glide, length of skater's height
• Backward swizzles (4-6 in a row)
• Rocking horse - one forward, one backward swizzle, repeat twice
• Two-foot turns from forward to backward, in place (both directions)
• Two-foot hop, in place

Basic 1:

• Sit and stand up, on-ice 
• March forward, then glide on two feet (3 seconds) 
• Dip while moving (2 seconds) 
• Forward Swizzles (6 in a row, with a two-foot glide in between) 
• Backward Wiggles 
• Beginning snowplow stop, in place (right and left)

Basic 2 (must pass Basic 1 or Snowplow 3):

• Scooter pushes (right and left)
• Forward one-foot glides (right and left, 2 seconds) 
• Rocking Horse 
• Backward Swizzles (6 in a row, with a two-foot glide in between) 
• Two foot turns in place (both directions) 
• Moving forward snowplow stop (right and left)

Basic 3 (must pass Basic 2):

• Beginning forward stroking 
• Forward half Swizzle pumps on a circle (clockwise and counterclockwise, 6 in a row) 
• Moving forward to backward two-foot turns on a circle (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Forward Slalom (both feet in the same direction at the same time) 
• Forward pivots (clockwise and counterclockwise)

Basic 4 (must pass Basic 3):

• Forward outside edge on a circle from pumps (right and left, 3 seconds) 
• Beginning two-foot upright spin from pivot (1 revolution) 
• Forward crossovers (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Backward half Swizzle pumps on a circle (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Backward one-foot glides (right and left, 2 seconds)

Basic 5 (must pass Basic 4):

• Backward outside edge on a circle from pumps (right and left, 3 seconds) 
• Backward crossovers (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Forward outside three-turn (right and left, 2 seconds before and after the turn) 
• Advanced two-foot upright spin from pivot (3 revolutions) 
• Side toe hop (right and left)

Basic 6 (must pass basic 5):

• Forward inside three-turn (right and left, 2 seconds before and after the turn) 
• One-foot upright spin from pivot (2 revolutions) 
• Bunny hop (right and left) 
• Forward spiral on a straight line (free leg knee above the hip, 2 seconds) 
• Forward lunge on a straight line (skating leg parallel, 2 seconds)

Academy Prep (must pass Basic 6):

• Outside edge (serpentine pattern)
• Inside edge (serpentine pattern)
• Power Stroking
• Crossover-mohawk-back crossover
• Waltz Jump
• Identify Salchow, Toe Loop, Loop jumps
• 1-foot spin (5 revolutions)
• Backward 3-turns

Specialty: Power Skating & Synchro (must have passed Basic 3)

• Power Skating utilizes skating skills to help produce stamina and endurance. Synchronized Skating is a form of skating that introduces different ways to move as a group across the ice. In this combined class, skaters will increase their upper body and lower body strength, allowing them to advance their skating ability in a FUN and UNIQUE way!
• For skaters in levels Basic 4 & above
• Example Skills:
• Block - Forward stroking then a snowplow stop in a shoulder hold
• Circle - Forward pumps into a two-foot glide
• Wheel - Forward 3-spoke or 4-spoke wheel using forward or backward pumps to rotate in either direction using a shoulder hold
• Intersection - Two lines of skaters in a shoulder hold using forward stroking into two-foot glide to pass between each other
• Forward & Backward power stroking & crossovers
• Two-foot forward & backward power pulls
• Consecutive swizzle hops

Off-Ice Conditioning (must be at level Basic 4 or above)

• Example class topics:
• Strength exercises
• Cardio & Stamina training
• Land Jumps
• Spin Positions

Stretch & Flexibility Class (Off Ice) (must be at level Basic 4 or above)

• Class Focus:
• Increasing flexibility in hips & back
• Learn stretches for typical areas of tightness to relieve strain
• Practice healthy stretching practices to limit or negate injury from occurring 

Hockey 1:

• March forward, then glide on two feet 
• Forward swizzles (6 in a row) 
• V-Start 
• Forward one-foot pushes 
• Beginning snowplow stop, in place (right and left)

Hockey 2 (Must pass Hockey 1 or Snowplow 3):

• Forward crossovers (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Forward strides using 45 degree V-Push, focus on good recovery and alternating arm drive 
• Crossover starts 
• Backward skating 
• Moving forward snowplow stop (right and left)

Hockey 3 (Must pass Hockey 2):

• Backward one-foot glides (right and left, 2 seconds) 
• Backward crossovers (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• One-foot edge turning 
• Pivot turns 
• Hockey stops

Hockey 4 (Must pass Hockey 3):

• Quick starts using forward V-start
• Backward one-foot glide, right and left
• Forward crossover glides (clockwise and counter-clockwise). Hold feet in crossed position for 2 counts
• Backward crossover glides (clockwise and counter-clockwise). Hold feet in crossed position for 2 counts
• Forward crossovers on circle, clockwise and counterclockwise (4-6 each)
• Backward crossovers on circle, clockwise and counterclockwise (4-6 each)
• Hockey stops (stopping to the left and to the right, with speed)

Hockey Power Skills (Must pass Hockey 4 or Basic 5):

• Focus on building speed, stamina, endurance, and explosive power needed for competitive hockey while keeping attention on technical form, edge work, and proper body alignment.
• Example Exercises:
  • Powerful backward C-cuts
  • Forward alternating power crossovers with wide step transitions
  • Backward alternating power crossovers with wide step transitions
  • Forward power hockey turns/tight turns, 180-degree & 360-degree turns
  • Lateral pivots: forward to backward and backward to forward
  • Fast stops and starts using powerful, full strides and quick hockey stops
  • Fast backward skating with quick backward V-stops (2-feet and 1-foot stops)

Adult 1:

• Falling and recovery on ice
• Forward marching
• Forward two-foot glides
• Forward Swizzles (4-6 in a row) 
• One forward swizzle + one backward swizzle (rocking horse)
• Dip
• Forward snowplow stop, two feet or one foot

Adult 2 (must pass Adult 1):

• Forward skating across the width of the ice
• Forward one-foot glides (right and left)
• Forward slalom
• Backward skating
• Backward swizzles (4-6 in a row)
• Two-foot turns in place

Adult 3 (must pass Adult 2):

• Forward stroking using blade properly
• Forward half Swizzle pumps on a circle (6-8 in a row, clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Moving forward to backward + backward to forward two-foot turns on a circle (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Backward skating into a long two-foot glide
• Forward chasses on a circle (clockwise & counterclockwise)
• Backward snowplow stop (right and left)

Adult High

Adult 4 (must pass Adult 3):

• Forward outside edge on a circle from pumps (right and left) 
• Forward inside edge on a circle (right and left)
• Forward crossovers (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Backward one-foot glides (right and left)
• Backward half Swizzle pumps on a circle (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Hockey stop, both directions

Adult 5 (must pass Adult 4):

• Backward outside edge on a circle from pumps (right and left) 
• Backward inside edge on a circle (right and left)
• Backward crossovers (clockwise and counterclockwise) 
• Forward outside three-turn (right and left) 
• Forward swing rolls
• Beginning two-foot spin

Adult 6 (must pass Adult 5):

• Forward stroking with crossover end patterns
• Backward stroking with crossover end patterns
• Forward inside 3-turns (right and left)
• Forward outside to inside change of edge on an axis (right and left)
• T-stop (right OR left)
• Lunge
• Two-foot spin into a one-foot spin

Adult Hockey Power Skills (must pass Adult 4 or play in Rookie League):

• Focus on building speed, stamina, endurance, and explosive power needed for competitive hockey while keeping attention on technical form, edge work, and proper body alignment.
• Example Exercises:
  • Powerful backward C-cuts
  • Forward alternating power crossovers with wide step transitions
  • Backward alternating power crossovers with wide step transitions
  • Forward power hockey turns/tight turns, 180-degree & 360-degree turns
  • Lateral pivots: forward to backward and backward to forward
  • Fast stops and starts using powerful, full strides and quick hockey stops
  • Fast backward skating with quick backward V-stops (2-feet and 1-foot stops)