Prerequisites

Ages 6+; skaters must have basic forward and backward skating skills ie. be able to skate the length of the rink using alternate strides and be able to stop on command without use of the boards.
*Note: All CanPOWERSkate skaters are required to wear full hockey gear, including CSA approved helmets.

Lesson Format

50-60 minute classes including:
- a stationary warm up
- a slow moving warm up
- a skill review
- new skill instruction and practice
- conditioning and power skating drills
- a cool down period

Skills

Levels 1 - 3: focus on the fundamentals of skating such as:
- forward balance skills (on flats)
- hockey side stops (both sides)
- forward skating & backward skating
- backward balance skills (on flats and edges)
- backward stop (two feet)

Levels 4 - 6: place additional focus on the acquisition of efficient technique, speed, agility, technical aspects of stride and acceleration and skating with the puck/ring.

Evaluation

Evaluated based on skill level; skaters are timed as they perform a test involving skills in a course-like pattern, receiving a mark combining their skill performance plus test time (determines whether the skater receives a Bronze, Silver or Gold award bar for that Level)
*Note: The amount of time a skater takes to complete the entire program may depend upon age and ability. The number of hours spent on ice in CanPowerSkate and in-game situations also contributes greatly to their progress.