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Programs
The Halifax Skating Club offers programs from learn-to-skate to elite competitive skating.
Full details on each program are available on the Skate Canada website.
The schedules & fees for each program are available on our Schedule & Fees page.
CANSKATE is Skate Canada's flagship learn-to-skate program, designed for children 4-13 years. The program focuses on fun, participation, and basic skill development for figure skating, hockey, ringette, and speed skating.
CanSkate at the Halifax Skating Club:
Beginner to Skate Canada Badge 3
- develops fundamental skating skills such as forward and backward skating, stopping, turning, edges, crosscuts, posture, pushing, gliding
- uses a group lesson format led by a NCCP Certified Professional coach and assisted by trained Program Assistants
- uses continuous movement through games, drills, circuits and daily assessments
Skaters must wear a helmet and gloves when participating in CanSkate levels 1 to 4 (no tapered bicycle helmets permitted).
Advanced CANSKATE:
Badge 3 and over
- uses a group lesson format led by a NCCP Certified Professional coach and assisted by trained Program Assistants
- fewer skaters than on the CanSkate badges 1 to 3 sessions
- private lessons available on request
Skater must where a helmet when participating in CanSkate level 4 (no tapered bicycle helmets permitted). A helmet is a parental decision on Badges 5 and 6. Skaters must wear gloves.
CANPOWERSKATE is taught by nationally certified coaches and is an excellent complement for those athletes playing hockey or ringette, or wishing to do so in the future. The power skating program includes CanPre-Power and CanPowerSkate.
CanPre-PowerSkate is designed for young skaters, four to six years of age, who can stand up on skates and move forward (shuffle, walk or glide) but who may not be ready for CanPowerSkate Level 1. Pre-Power develops basic skating abilities in a power skating-specific environment, including balance skills, forward and backward skating, stopping, turning, and agility skills. The Pre-Power program includes three progressive levels complete with its own awards to encourage participation and motivate skaters. Pre-Power has been designed to run concurrently with CanSkate sessions. The three levels in CanPre-Power are similar to CanSkate Badges 2, 3, and 4/5. Skaters must have passed the CanSkate Badge1 or equivalent and be able to skate, not just walk, forward.
CanPowerSkate is geared to skaters aged six and older who already have basic forward and backward skating skills and are able to stop on command without using the boards. CanPowerSkate is a high-energy program focussing on balance, power, agility, speed, and endurance. Skaters progress through six skill levels of gradually increasing complexity. Levels 1 to 3 focus on the fundamentals of skating. Levels 4 to 6 develop the skater's technique, speed, agility, stride and acceleration, and skating with the puck or ring. Skating evaluation involves time trials of skills skated in a circuit. The evaluation mark combines skill performance and test time. Based on the mark, the skater receives a Bronze, Silver or Gold award bar for each Level.
CanPowerSkate is taught by NCCP certified Skate Canada member coaches trained and certified at a CanPowerSkate Coaches Course. The coach to skater ratio is 1:10.
Power skaters must wear helmets and full protective hockey/ringette gear. Sticks are necessary, but skaters do not need pucks or rings.
Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition
Most figure skaters in the Halifax Skating Club are progressing through the Skate Canada STARSkate program. StarSkate teaches figure skating skills in a group and/or private lesson format.
The STARSkate program offers the opportunity for skaters of all ages to develop figure skating skills in four areas: Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Style, and Interpretive. Skaters develop their skills and abilities in each level progressively and sequentially and may test and be recognized for their skills through the Skate Canada nationally standardized testing system. Information about the testing levels is available on the StarSkate page of the Skate Canada website. StarSkaters may choose to compete in local inter-club competitions and provincial StarSkate competitions. The most successful competitors can advance to the national StarSkate competition.
Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or competitive skating. Skaters who test and pass at least the Primary Level tests (up to Junior Bronze) may also train to become skating coaches.
The Halifax Skating Club places its skaters into groups of similar skill level. We offer Junior, Intermediate and Senior skating sessions.
Junior Skaters are working mainly on the Preliminary skills, dances, and free style program. Junior Skaters must have passed CanSkate Badge 6 and but have not yet passed any part of the Preliminary Free Skate. Junior instruction uses a small group lesson format of 30 minutes (usually with no more than five skaters in a group) taught by HSC coaches. Skaters may arrange for private or semi-private instruction for the remainder of the session. Junior Skaters typically skate two or more sessions each week. Skaters may test their progress by taking Skate Canada tests at specially arranged test days throughout the year. At this level, wearing a helmet is a parental decision. Skaters must wear figure skates.
Session fees include ice costs, badges, group instruction and stroking lessons. Private and semi-private coaching fees and test fees are extra.
Intermediate
In the Halifax Skating Club, Intermediate Skaters are skaters who have passed at least half of the Preliminary Free Skate but have not yet passed any part of the Senior Bronze Free Skate. Lessons are either private or semi/private. The HSC head coach coordinates coaching assignments for HSC skaters. Intermediate skaters usually skate three or more sessions each week. Skaters may test their progress by taking Skate Canada tests at specially arranged test days throughout the year.
Session fees includes ice costs, and stroking lessons. Coaching fees and test fees are extra.
Senior
Senior skaters are the most advanced skaters in the club. These skaters are working on their higher level Skate Canada tests (Junior Silver and higher) or are in the competitive skating system. Skaters must have passed at least half of the Senior Bronze Free Skate. With the exception of stroking, all lessons are private lessons. Skaters are usually taking their instruction from one or more of the HSC coaches, coordinated by the HSC head coach, but may also work with coaches not associated with the Club. Senior skaters are typically skating at least four sessions each week. As with the intermediate session, fees include ice costs and stroking lessons while coaching fees and test fees are extra.
Metro area skating clubs collaborate in offering Intermediate and Senior sessions. Skaters register with and pay fees to their home club but may skate in several different rinks in the Metro area. This arrangement improves scheduling flexibility for all our skaters and helps to keep registration costs down.
Synchronized or "synchro" skating involves groups of twelve or more skaters performing skating routines as a unit to musical accompaniment. The routines involve executing circles, blocks, lines, wheels and intersections while skating with quality edges, power and flow.
There are two streams of Synchronized Skating in Canada: recreational and competitive SynchroSkate. Both streams can lead a team to national level events. Details about the SynchroSkate program are available on the Skate Canada website.
The Halifax Skating Club participates with other clubs in the Metro area in a synchronized skating team.
The Halifax Skating Club encourages its skaters to participate in other activities that develop their strength, posture, flexibility, and stamina. The club will arrange for off-ice training opportunities for its skaters in activities such as pilates and yoga when numbers warrant it. The club does offer skating-specific off-ice training to help its skaters learn and refine skills in preparation for on-ice sessions.
Jump Class
Jump Class is a technical jump-training program taught by Club coaches. It takes place once a week in Studio One at the Clayton Park Nubody's on Dutch Village Road across the street from the Centennial Arena. The program fee includes use of facility and coach's fee for classes only.
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