1. How Often Do I Need to Sharpen Skates?
It is recommended that skates be re-sharpened after approximately 30 hours of skating (depending on usage and care).
2. What to Wear / Equipment?
3. Preschool/CanSkate Report Cards
Skaters enrolled in Preschool and CanSkate (A, B & C) receive Report Cards detailing their progress throughout the year. Preschoolers receive 2 Report Cards in December and April; CanSkaters receive 1 Report Card in April.
It is very important that skaters keep their Report Cards so that they may be updated as the skater progresses through the CanSkate program. Skaters will be asked to return their Report Cards to the USC Office in February for update.
4. CanSkate Badges?
If your skater receives a white ‘badge slip’ (indicating their successful completion of a CanSkate level), please take the badge slip to the USC Office. Marg will then provide your skater with the appropriate CanSkate badge.
5. What Happens After CanSkate?
Once a skater has completed the CanSkate program, they can advance to the STARSkate program which offers skaters an opportunity to develop their figure skating skills in four areas : Ice Dance, Skating Skills, Free Skate and Interpretive.
Within each category, skaters may be assessed through a Skate Canada sanctioned process called “Test Stream”. Advancement within the STARSkate program requires the successful completion of levels within the four skating categories.
A brief overview of the categories, levels and the Tests can be found by downloading a copy of STARSkate at USC.
6. STARSkate Badges, Pins, Medals
Once a skater has completed the CanSkate program and enters the STARSkate program, their performance is assessed through a Skate Canada sanctioned process called “Test Stream”.
Badges and pins for successful completion of levels within STARSkate/Test Stream are available for order at an additional charge. Please see Marg Quigley in the USC Office if you would like to order any STARSkate badges/pins.
7. Private Lessons
USC membership means our coaches are available to you for private, one-on-one lessons.
At the CanSkate level, skaters are coached in a group format. Private coaching is not required - it is up to the parents and their skaters to decide whether or not they wish to supplement their group lessons with private one-on-one coaching.
Once a skater has completed the CanSkate program and enters the STARSkate program, private coaching is required. With the exception of Pre-Intermediate STARSkate, there are no longer structured group lessons. Coaching is done on a one-on-one basis.
Lessons for CanSynchro and CanPowerSkate are provided in group format.
Private lessons are typically provided in 15 minute time slots, with the remainder of the session time to be used for individual practice. Where skill levels are similar, lessons may be shared between skaters (please check with your coach for applicability). As a skater progresses, they may choose to work with more than one coach, to cover a range of disciplines (dance, choreography, free skate, skills, interpretive).
Fees for private coaching are set by the coaches and may vary depending on coaching qualifications, years of experience, etc. Fees are billed and settled directly with the coaches.
If you are interested in private coaching, please contact the coach directly. Click here for information about our coaches.
8. Choosing a Coach
Consider a favourite CanSkate coach, follow a personal recommendation, review our Coaches' qualifications, or refer to the Club Office for advice.
9. Definitions of Coaching Disciplines
CanSkate: Fundamental movements and basic skating skills for those learning to skate.
Choreography: Arrangement of steps that connect technical jumps/spins to creative body movement, to interpret a music selection.
Interpretive: Creativity and movement to music, with emphasis on performance over technical.
Dance: Set pattern of steps to prescribed music, incorporating timing, musicality, rhythm structure and skills.
Free Skate: Combines technical elements with creativity and movement to music.
Skills: Skating movements, edges and turns, on a pattern.
Power Skating: Balance, power, agility, speed and endurance for hockey and ringette players.
10. Children's Fitness Tax Credit
Starting in 2007, the Government of Canada allows a non-refundable tax credit on eligible amounts of up to $500 paid by parents to register a child in an eligible program of physical activity. The credit applies for children who are under the age of 16 at any time during the year.
It is important to note that the tax credit applies to session fees paid any time in the calendar year regardless of the period that the skating fees may apply to. (For example: Fees paid in 2008 for 2009 sessions are eligible for the 2008 tax credit.)
Further details regarding this tax credit are available on the Government of Canada website:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/whtsnw/fitness-eng.html
USC issues official income tax receipts in January.
