Registration
Print a registration form. If you complete the registration form at home, please drop off two copies with payment to our skating office located in the Troy Murray Arena in Servus Place. Office hours are as follows: Monday- Friday 2-4pm.

Due to increased numbers, space for Session #3 classes (January to March) will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register in person in the skating office between 2-4pm, Monday to Friday to reserve your place in Session #3.

NOTE: Your space is not reserved until payment is received. Thank you!

Equipment Tips and Guidelines (from the Canskate Toolkit TK1-34)

Skates

• Skates should be fitted with only one pair of tight fitting socks or tights (the some pair that will be worn when skating.
• Skates will generally be approximately one size smaller than your street shoes.
• Skates need to fit properly, provide firm ankle support and consist of good quality leather
  Moulded skates should be avoided as they are inflexible in the cold and allow the skater less control.
• Ideally blades will be screwed on. Riveted blades are fairly common check to see that the mounting is centered. The blade should feel centered when walking.
  
• Checking the fit
  • pull the laces of the boots very loose through the instep
  • slide the foot forward to the front of the boots so that the toes touch the end but are not cramped (they should not curl under)
  • have skater stand with weight evenly distributed over both feet ("like a soldier")
  • bend knees but do not lift heels
  • the space at the back of the heel should be no more than a pencil width.
    
• Tie laces loosely over the toe and the front of the foot and snugly over the ankle and instep.
• Skates should fit snugly around the ankle with some room for movement of the toes.
• There should be no looseness or creases in the boot.
• The tongue should be well padded and wide enough to cover the front of the ankle and stay in place.
• Have the skater walk around in the skates off of the ice; they should feel comfortable.
• Have skates sharpened before you leave the store.

Sharpening

• Skates should be sharpened when purchased.
• As blades can be expensive to replace it is recommended that a reputable sharpener be used. Ask one of the club volunteers for recommendations.
• Re-sharpen skates after approximately 30 hours of skating (depending on, use, care and the personal preference of the skater).
• The bottom toe pick should NOT be removed. This is part of the design of figure skates, it is used for performance of some skills and is essential to proper balance.
• Figures skates cannot be sharpened like hockey skates. Be careful to take your figure skates to a professional who knows how to sharpen them!

Care of Skates

• Wear protective guards when walking to.and from the ice surface.
• Dry blades and sole plate using a cloth (i.e. towel) immediately following use.
• Always remove guards for storage between sessions.
• Unlace skates sufficiently before removing them so that the back of the boot will not break down or rip.
• Air out boots following use.

Helmets

• Helmets are recommended for beginners of any age.
• The helmet fit should be snug.
• Both the strap and the helmet should be adjustable.
• Look for helmets made of hard plastic with a thick sponge layer.
• Look for helmets approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) as they provide assurance of the best quality and safest design.
• A hockey helmet is required as it is designed to withstand repeated bumps and protect against penetration. The design is also more appropriate to the types of falls in skating. CYCLING HELMETS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Clothing

• Clothing should provide warmth, allow for movement and provide some protection against falls.
• Ski suits are generally worm and dry but may restrict movement.
• Layering of sweat suits, sweaters, ski jackets and long underwear or leotards is recommended. Properly fitted snow pants will keep younger children dry.
• Warm mittens or gloves are a must.
• Long scarves should not be worn as they can be a danger.

Further Information
If you are new to figure skating, here are some explanations of the different elements of the instructional programme:

Adult Program
Will teach to suit the level of the class. We are taking calls for spring and summer groups based on demand. However, the next designated Adult class will not be until September.

Warm-up
It is important to get into the life-long habit of warming up, increasing your range of motion, and stretching before physical activity. It is highly recommended that all skaters attend warm-up sessions regularly. Running shoes and skating attire are required.

Edge Class
The focus of this class will be to improve the basic edge quality of skating and to improve posture on the ice. Exercises will progress from being preformed in isolation to being skated in formation to music.

Stroking
The purpose of stroking class is to push the skater's endurance for the duration of the fifteen minutes using a variety of stroking patterns and exercises.

Interpretive
Skaters will be able to move creatively to music in a comfortable environment.

Stations
In addition to many skaters learning a skill at the same time, the skaters also benefit by demonstrating to the rest of the group and thus, motivating each other to improve their skills.

Synchronized Skating
The class will introduce skaters to synchronized skating and prepare them for numbers that will be used at the year-end Carnival. Synchronized skating brings a team aspect into skating and due to the nature of the discipline the more skaters the merrier, so be sure to give it a try!

Off-ice Floor Class
The class will cover off-ice jumping, floor ballet, and will introduce selected yoga poses all focused on increasing co-ordination, posture and flexibility.

Off-ice Fitness
This class offers programmes designed to improve cardiovascular endurance and core stability.