Skating Lessons

3-12 years old and 13 years and up

For skaters with developmental and/or physical disabilities who haven’t yet learned to skate or for skaters who need some extra support. Children are exposed to a wide variety of skills based on their ability.

2-5 years old with an adult

Our instructor will work with you and your child to develop their basic skating skills using games and activities. Children follow the Gliders program and can transition to the appropriate level when they are ready to skate independently. One parent per child. Skate and helmet rental are included in the program price. 

Intro to Gliders

This class is for children new to skating. In this level, children receive a facility tour, learn about safety on ice, how to fall down and stand up, and walk on ice without assistance, along with other building blocks to progress to the next level.

Gliders 1

This class for children who can stand and walk on the ice independently. Children learn to glide ½ meter, turn on the spot and hop. Pre-requisite: Intro to Gliders or an evaluation.

Gliders 2

Children learn to skate the width of the ice, glide longer and snowplow stop. Pre-requisite: Gliders 1 or an evaluation.

Gliders 3

Children will confidently skate backward the width of the rink, become more proficient with forwards and backwards stopping and learn to one-foot glide. Pre-requisite: Gliders 2 or an evaluation.

Gliders 4

Children learn forward and backward sculling, T-pushes, backward two-foot glides and one-foot glides on a curve. Pre-requisite: Gliders 3 or an evaluation. 

Gliders 5

Children develop their backwards skating skills and learn forward T-pushes and inside edges. Pre-requisite: Gliders 4 or an evaluation.

Gliders 6

This advanced level challenges the skater by introducing forward edges, backward one-foot gliding, forward circle thrusts and backward C-pushes. Pre-requisite: Gliders 5 or an evaluation.

Gliders 7

Children master forward inside edges, backward one-foot glides and backward C-pushes. Pre-requisite: Gliders 6 or an evaluation.

Blades 1

This class is for children new to skating. In this level, children learn about safety on the ice, how to fall down and stand up and walk on the ice independently forwards and backwards. Children learn 2 foot glides.

Blades 2

Children work on building confidence and speed while developing their stride. Skaters learn forward stopping, forwards sculling, backwards skating and backward stops. Pre-requisite: Blades 1 or an evaluation.

Blades 3

Children work on mastering stopping forwards and backwards. Skaters learn backwards sculling and backwards one foot glides. Pre-requisite: Blades 2 or an evaluation.

Blades 4

Children continue to develop stopping skills and learn T-pushes, inside edges, forward pumping and backwards one foot glide. Pre-requisite: Blades 3 or an evaluation.

Blades 5

Children learn forward circle thrusts, walking crossovers, two-foot turns, backward one-foot glides, and backwards pumping. Skaters continue to work on their forward inside and outside edges. Pre-requisite: Blades 4 or an evaluation.

Blades 6

Children learn backwards circle thrust, forward inside edges, side-stops, backward inside edges and two-foot jumps. Pre-requisite: Blades 5 or an evaluation.

Blades 7

Children learn forward crossovers, backwards c-steps, backwards outside edges and 3-turns. Pre-requisite: Blades 6 or an evaluation.

Blades 8

Children learn forward c-steps, backward crossovers, waltz jump, forward two-foot skiing.  Skaters explore basic hockey and figure skating skills. Pre-requisite: Blades 7 or an evaluation.

Level 1

This level is for absolute beginners and those who can walk to glide.  Learn how to safely fall down and stand up.  Skaters are introduced to stopping, gliding and turning.

Level 2

Learn sculling, backwards skating and backwards glides. Advanced skaters will progress to cross-overs and direction changes. Pre-requisite: Teen Level 1 or an evaluation.

Level 1

This level is for absolute beginners and those who can walk to glide. Learn how to safely fall down and stand up, walk on the ice without assistance and are introduced to stopping, gliding and sculling.

Level 2

Learn sculling, backwards skating and backwards glides. Advanced skaters will progress to cross-overs and direction changes. Pre-requisite: Adult Level 1 or an evaluation.

Children & Youth

Intro To Figure Skating (6-12 years old)

Skaters learn beginner figure skating skills such as advanced edgework, turns, waltz jump and one foot spin. Pre-requisite: Blades 6 or evaluation. 

Intro To Figure Skating (13-17 years old)

Skaters learn beginner figure skating skills such as advanced edgework, turns, waltz jump and one foot spin. Pre-requisite: Blades 6 or evaluation. 

Intro To Hockey (5-8 years old)

Learn the fundamentals of ice hockey while improving skating speed, balance and control. Stick-handling, shooting and passing are incorporated in fun games and drills. Helmet with face cage, hockey gloves and a stick are required (full hockey equipment is optional). Pre-requisite: Gliders 5 or Blades 4 or evaluation.

Intro To Hockey (8-12 years old)

Learn the fundamentals of Ringette while improving skating speed, balance and control. Ring-handling, shooting and passing will be incorporated in fun games and drills. Helmet with face cage, hockey gloves and a stick are required (full equipment is optional). Pre-requisite: Gliders 5 or Blades 4 or evaluation.

Intro to Ringette (8-12 years old and up)

Learn the fundamentals of Ringette while improving skating speed, balance and control. Ring-handling, shooting and passing will be incorporated in fun games and drills. Helmet with face cage, hockey gloves and a stick are required (full equipment is optional). Pre-requisite: Gliders 5 or Blades 4 or evaluation.

Hockey Skills & Scrimmage (12-16 years old)

This program is participants with previous hockey experience (skills development or team play). Sessions include skating and puck drills followed by a supervised scrimmage. Hockey gear and helmet with full cage required. Pre-requisite: Teen 3, Blades 6, or evaluation.

Power Skate 1 (9-12 years old)

Participants will develop stronger stride and glide mechanics, improve weight transfer, balance and edge control. Through progressive skill-building exercises, skaters will build confidence, agility and power. Pre-requisite: Blades 7 or evaluation.

Adult

Figure Skating 1 (18 years old and up)

This introductory class provides an opportunity to learn beginner figure skating skills such as advanced edgework, turns, waltz jump and one foot spin. Pre-requisite: Youth 2 or Adult 2 or evaluation.

Hockey 1 (18 years old and up)

Learn fundamentals of ice hockey while improving skating speed, balance and control. Class focusses on learning individual skills: stick-handling, passing and shooting. This program is designed to be taken multiple times. Pre-requisite: Adult 2 or evaluation.

Hockey 2 (18 years old and up)

Learn teamwork, game sense and positioning through drills and scrimmages. This course is for those who have mastered individual skating and hockey skills. This program is designed to be taken multiple times. Helmet with facial protection (minors require full cage), hockey gloves and a stick are required. Full hockey gear recommended. Pre-requisite: Hockey 1 & Adult 3 or evaluation.

Power Skate 1 (18 years old and up)

Participants will develop stronger stride and glide mechanics, improve weight transfer, balance and edge control. Through progressive skill-building exercises, skaters will build confidence, agility and power. Pre-requisite: Adult 3 or evaluation.

Ringette 1 (18 years old and up)

Learn fundamentals of ringette while improving skating speed, balance and control. Class focusses on individual skills: ring-handling, passing, shooting and checking. This program is designed to be taken multiple times. Helmet with face cage (hockey or ringette), hockey gloves, hockey skates and a ringette stick are required. Additional protective gear recommended. Pre-requisite: Adult 2 or evaluation.

Please wear warm clothing, gloves and a CSA-Approved hockey or ski helmet. Helmet rentals are free of charge and are mandatory for City of Burnaby skating lessons. 

• Please keep in mind that hockey skates will be 2 sizes smaller than your shoe size and figure skates will be one size smaller than your shoe size. Skates need to fit snug for the best experience. 
• For children, take the insole out and have your child stand with their heel at the back of the insole. There should be very little insole showing in front of the toes.
• Tying skates are different than tying shoes. Skates should be tied tight and all the way to the top. If you have any questions regarding skate sizing or tying, please talk to an arena staff member.

• Only purchase skates with laces. Avoid buckles.
• Do not purchase skates that “grow” (sizing is adjustable).
• Buy skates that are comfortable.  
• New skates require sharpening before skating.  We recommend that you sharpen used skates before getting on the ice.

• Dry skate blades after skating.
• Always unlace skates fully to put on or take off your feet.
• Use skate guards when not in use.
• Air skates out until completely dry (boot and blade).
• Sharpen skates regularly. Ask our staff if you need a sharpening!