CanSkate

What is CanSkate? CanSkate is a dynamic learn-to-skate program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. Based on Sport Canada’s long term athlete development (LTAD) principles, CanSkate centers on physical literacy and the fundamental skills needed to take part in any ice sport or to skate as a recreational activity.

Who’s it for? For beginners of all ages, as well as for those wishing to improve their basic skills whether their focus be for figure skating, hockey, speed skating or just skating for fun.

Who teaches it? NCCP-trained professional coaches, assisted by trained program assistants.

What will you learn? A complete series of balance, control and agility skills taught in six stages of learning that pertain to hockey, ringette, speed skating and figure skating as well as general recreational skating. CanSkate uses nationally-tested and proven curriculum and delivery methods that guarantee skater success in developing stronger basic skills and developing them faster.

What can you expect? Action, movement and fun! Lessons are given in a group format. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, upbeat music and a wide variety of activities that create a motivational environment and promote learning. Badges, ribbons and other incentives are used to benchmark skaters’ progress and reward effort and participation.

Junior Group

Junior group is ONLY available in our Fall/Winter session.

Junior Group is a program for skaters who have completed CanSkate badge 5. This group introduces the skaters to Stroking, Skills, dance and Free Style.

STROKING This is done at the beginning of each lesson.  We use this time to work on knee bending, power and strength. 

SKILLS This is similar to dance.  Skills help develop the skaters edges and power.  There are three parts to each skill test. 

DANCE Dance works on edges, timing, and expression (both facial and body).  Dance is skated with a partner.  Our Group Clinic coach partners each skater in lesson. When ready to test, the skater is paired with a coach.

FREE STYLE Free style consists of both jumps and spins.  The jumps at this level become more demanding and more detailed for skaters.  Spins become also more detailed and harder.  We will focus on waltz jumps, salchows, toe loops and loops.  More advanced skaters will also work on flips, lutz and start on the Axel.  The spins that will be focused on will be the scratch spin (the one foot spin), backspin, and sit spin.

StarSkate

STARSkate offers opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of ice dance, skating skills, free skate and interpretive skating. 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.

Skater Development

Pointe-Claire Skating Club follows the skater development program that was created by Skate Canada.  Skaters will be invited to be part of this program. 

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Adult Learn to Skate

Private Lessons

Skaters at the Junior level and above are strongly recommended to take private lessons, but this is not an enforced policy.  Skaters will advance more quickly if they are on the ice more than 1 hour a week.

There are different sides of skating. There is the STARSkate side and the Competitive.  The STARSkate side is what our Junior group is currently working on.  Skaters in this group are gearing towards skating tests and small competitions.