Ages 6 & Up
Classes teach the FUNdamentals of ice skating and provide the best foundation for figure skating and hockey. Six progressive levels introduce forward and backward skating, stops, edges, crossovers, and turns. All classes will be well-structured with a focus on proper skill development taught in a positive, FUN, and social environment. After the completion of Basic 4, skaters are encouraged to purchase their own figure skates and enroll in our Aspire class if they wish to pursue training as a figure skater and transfer to Learn to Play if they wish to pursue hockey.
Basic 1
Beginners with no previous instruction or experience are introduced to basic skills, including falling, standing, marching, dips, basic gliding, rocking horse swizzle, and backward wiggles. On-ice and off-ice instruction is used to build confidence.
Basic 2
Skaters learn moving dips, basic gliding, backward wiggles, forward swizzles, beginning snow plow stop motion, and two-foot hops in place.
Basic 3
Skaters learn beginning forward stroking, forward pumps on a circle, forward to backward two-foot turns on a circle, backward one-foot glides, backward snowplow stop, and forward slalom.
Basic 4
Skaters learn forward outside and inside edges on a circle, forward crossovers, backward pumps on a circle, backward one-foot glides, T-stop and T-push, and forward lunges. After the completion of Basic 4, skaters are encouraged to purchase their own figure skates and enroll in our Aspire class if they wish to pursue training as a figure skater and transfer to Learn to Play if they wish to pursue hockey.
Basic 5
Skaters learn backward stroking, backward outside and inside edges on a circle, backward crossovers, forward outside three-turn, and hockey stop. Skaters are encouraged to enroll in our Aspire class along with Basic 5.
Basic 6
Skaters learn forward inside mohawk, forward inside three-turn, backward to forward two-foot turns, two-foot spin, and bunny hop. Skaters are encouraged to enroll in our Aspire class along with Basic 6.
Learn to Skate USA®'s Free Skate curriculum introduces skaters to the beginning elements of higher-level figure skating, including progressive skating skills, transitions, spins, jumps, and more. At this point in a skater's journey, he or she can choose to pursue a recreational or competitive approach to figure skating. At this level, skaters should join our Aspire Program and become a member of the Birmingham Figure Skating Club to begin their transition into the sport.
Pre-Free Skate
Skaters learn backward outside mohawk, forward inside mohawk, forward and backward combinations, forward and backward pivots, 1-foot spins, waltz jump, and mazurkas.
Free Skate 1
Skaters learn forward power stroking, forward outside and inside edges, backward outside three-turns, forward pivot, forward spiral, one-foot spin from crossovers, half flip, and ballet jump.
Free Skate 2
Skaters learn alternating forward outside and inside spirals, backward outside and inside edges, waltz jump-ballet jump sequence, forward and backward crossovers figure eight sequence, beginner backspin, and half lutz.
Free Skate 3
Skaters learn backward crossovers to back outside edges, alternating Mohawk/crossover sequence, backward inside three turns, Waltz three-turns, advanced back scratch spin, toe loop, and salchow. Waltz jump toe loop combination (bonus).
Free Skate 4
Skaters learn forward power three-turns, back spirals, Waltz 8 pattern, forward upright spin to backward upright spin, sit spin, 1/2 loop jump, loop jump, and flip jump.
Free Skate 5
Skaters learn backward outside three-turn mohawk, five-step Mohawk sequence, twizzle, Choctaw, camel spin, waltz jump-loop jump combination, and Lutz jump. (bonus loop loop jump combination).
Free Skate 6
Skaters learn forward power pulls, choreographed step sequence, brackets, camel-sit spin combination, layback or attitude spin or cross-foot spin, Waltz jump-half loop-Salchow jump sequence, split jump, and Axel.