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
2024 spring & summer registration dates
Registration for spring & summer programs, classes and day camps:
- Summer day camp registration is open
- Program and class registration is open
- Certification registration registration is open
Ensure your Live and Play account is ready on registration day by logging in and verifying your information is up to date. Get ready to register.
Registration will open:
- 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.
Upcoming facility closures
Programs, classes and swimming lessons will not be offered at the following facilities while they undergo repairs:
- Bob Bahan Aquatic & Fitness Centre: closed this spring and summer.
- Canyon Meadows Aquatic & Fitness Centre: closed this summer.
- Sir Winston Churchill Aquatic & Recreation Centre: closed this summer.
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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Support your child on the ice while they learn basic skills for skating, build their confidence and play on ice with new friends. Practice through fun games, drills, and activities.
Ages: 3 - 6 years
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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This skating level is for skaters who can perform forward crossovers in both directions and skate confidently with speed. Children will learn forward crossovers in a figure eight pattern, one foot stop, mohawk turns and more while participating in drills and activities.
Ages: 6 - 15 years
Prerequisite: Completion of level 5 (or equivalent)
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Learn the skills fundamental to skating and build your confidence in a supportive environment.
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
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This beginner, 1 time (max 5 participants) skate lesson will help skaters and parents develop specific skills to set their children up for success in skating. You may request tips and tricks reflected in level 1 such as falling/standing, marching on ice, forward gliding and more. Skaters must bring a CSA approved helmet, ice skates, gloves/mittens. Ice cleats will be provided for parents.
Ages: 3 - 4 years + Adult
Prerequisite: None
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.
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.
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
More skating lessons
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Our lessons help all skill levels and ages learn the fundamentals of playing hockey. 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.