Skating lessons
Benefits of skating lessons
- Learn skating skills while building confidence in a supportive environment
- Make friends with like-minded interests
- Experience the joy of improvement and try something new
- Improve joint flexibility, cardiovascular health end muscle strength
- Enhance coordination, balance and body awareness
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Fall registration dates
Due to repair closures and annual maintenance and cleaning, registration has been split into two waves. Facilities currently closed for repairs:
- Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre
- Canyon Meadows Aquatic & Fitness Centre
- Sir Winston Churchill Aquatic & Recreation Centre
- Wave 1 - Programs, classes and lessons begin in September.
- Wave 2 - Programs, classes and lessons begin in October but could change based on reopening dates.
- 6 a.m. — Online (virtual waiting room opens at 5:30 a.m.)
- 8:30 a.m. — By calling the Customer Service Centre at 403-268-3800 (option 1)
- During business hours — At any City-operated Aquatic & Recreation or Arts facility
Types of skating lessons
You can register online, in person at our Aquatic facilities, or by calling
403-268-3800 (option 1).
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Through drills and activities, kids with little or no experience skating will be shown basic techniques to gain more confidence on the ice. They will learn the proper way to fall and stand up, march on ice and glide forward.
Age: 3 - 15 years
Prerequisite: None
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Kids with some experience skating will improve their coordination and balance on the ice. Through drills and activities, they will learn how to skate forwards, snowplow stop, walk backwards and do walking crossovers.
Age: 3 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Skating lessons 1 or equivalent.
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Kids who are confident with the basics of skating will continue to increase their skills and learn new ways to move in this skating lesson. Through drills and activities, they will learn one-foot glides, L-push, forward and backward sculling and backwards skating.
Age: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Skating lessons 2 or equivalent.
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This skating lesson is for kids who can confidently skate forwards and know how to skate backwards. It will help increase their edge control and speed. Through drills and activities, they will learn forward circle thrusts, forward slalom, backward glides, how to change skating direction and edge control on a turn.
Age: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Skating lessons 3 or equivalent.
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Kids who are strong forward and backward skaters will continue to increase their skating skills and learn different ways to stop. They will learn two-foot stops, backward snowplow stops, backward circle thrusts and forward crossovers through drills and activities.
Age: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Skating lessons 4 or equivalent.
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Skaters will refine their skills and continue to increase their speed in this skating lesson. Kids who can confidently do forward crossovers and skate in both directions will learn how to do crossovers in a figure eight pattern, one-foot stops and C-turns through drills and activities.
Age: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Skating lessons 5 or equivalent.
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In this single skating lesson, skaters will work with an instructor to develop skills of their choosing from any skating level. They could work on forward and backward skating, turns, gliding and crossovers.
Age: 4 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Skating lessons 1 or equivalent.
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In this single class, individuals with little or no experience skating will be shown basic techniques to gain more confidence on the ice. You will learn the proper way to fall, stand up and march on the ice.
Age: 3+
Prerequisite: None
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You will join your preschooler on the ice and learn how to assist them while they learn to skate and build their confidence. They will learn the proper way to fall and stand up, march on ice and forward glide through fun drills, games and activities. You should only have one child with you on the ice. If you are not comfortable on skates, ice cleats will be provided.
Ages: 3 - 5 years + adult
Prerequisite: None
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Preschool skaters with little or no experience can gain confidence and have fun developing their skating skills. Learn the proper ways to fall, stand up, march on ice, forward glide and more.
Ages: 3 - 6 years
Prerequisite: None
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Preschool skaters with basic experience will have fun learning forward skating, snowplow stops, walking backwards, walking crossovers and more.
Ages: 4 - 6 years
Prerequisite: Completion of level 1 (or equivalent)
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Skaters with little or no experience can gain confidence and have fun developing their skating skills. Learn the proper ways to fall, stand up, march on ice, forward glide and more.
Ages: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: None
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Skaters with basic experience will have fun learning forward skating, snowplow stops, walking backwards, walking crossovers and more.
Ages: 4 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Completion of level 1 (or equivalent)
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Experienced skaters can develop skills such as forward skating one foot glide, L-push, forward and backward sculling, backwards skating and more.
Ages: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Completion of level 2 (or equivalent)
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This level is for skaters with strong forward skating and moderate backwards skating skills. Learn skills such as forward skating one foot glide, L-push, forward and backward sculling, backwards skating and more.
Ages: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Completion of level 3 (or equivalent)
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This skating level is for skaters with strong forward and backward skating skills. Children will learn two foot stops, backwards 1/2 snowplow stops, backwards circle thrusts, forward crossovers and more while participating in drills and activities.
Ages: 8 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 4 or equivalent skating ability
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In this beginner skating lesson, you will learn the basics of skating to become more confident on the ice. Through drills and activities, you will learn how to stand, fall, push forwards and backwards, and stop.
Ages: 16+ years
Prerequisite: None
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This advanced, 1 time (max 5 participants) skate lesson will help skaters develop specific skills. Skaters may request to work on skills reflected in levels 4 - 6 such as forward and backwards circle thrusts, forward slalom, backward skating with glides, turning forward to backwards, one- and two-foot stops, forward crossovers and more. Participants must bring a CSA approved helmet, ice skates, gloves/mittens.
Ages: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Completion of level 3 or equivalent
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This beginner, 1 time (max 5 participants) skate lesson will help skaters develop specific skills. Skaters may request to work on skills reflected in levels 1 such as falling/standing, marching on ice, forward gliding and more. Participants must bring a CSA approved helmet, ice skates, gloves/mittens.
Ages: 4 - 12 years
Prerequisite: None
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This intermediate, 1 time (max 5 participants) skate lesson will help skaters develop specific skills. Skaters may request to work on skills reflected in levels 2 & 3 such as forward and backward skating, snowplow stops, one foot glides, sculling and more. Participants must bring a CSA approved helmet, ice skates, gloves/mittens.
Ages: 6 - 12 years
Prerequisite: Completion of level 1 or equivalent
About our skating instructors
Our instructors have strong hockey/figure skating backgrounds. Some may also hold certificates from the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Figures Skating, CanSkate, other Hockey Certification and/or Nationally recognized HIGH FIVE Certification.
All our Instructors hold current Intermediate First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) level “C” and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certifications.
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What are skating lessons like?
Our program focuses on the basics required to make skating a lifetime activity. Our instructors teach skating through games and fun activities.
On the first day of classes, participants will be assessed on their abilities. This ensures their progress throughout the session is optimized.
Multiple lessons will be held on the ice simultaneously. Specific viewing areas are provided for parents to watch while lesson is in progress.
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Come prepared
We recommend you arrive a minimum of 15 minutes prior to lesson start time to be dressed and prepared for the lesson.
The following gear is required for skating lessons:
- Hockey helmet - helmet must be Canadian Safety Association (CSA) approved. Hockey helmet with full face cage is recommended. Bicycle helmets are NOT permitted
- Lace-up skates - Ensure skates are sharpened (new skates do not come sharpened). Skates with buckles are not recommended
- Gloves or mittens
- Snow pants and jacket are recommended
- Refer to participant skate & helmet recommendations found at calgary.ca/recreationforms under skating, and view our equipment videos for additional information on helmets, skates & Hockey equipment
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More skating lessons
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Our lessons help all skill levels and ages learn the fundamentals of playing hockey and ringette. Lessons are at select arenas only.
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Our lessons help experienced young skaters learn the fundamentals of figure skating. Lessons are at select arenas only.