Mount Vernon – Ice Skating Classes

CLASSES FOR TOTS

Mom or Dad and Me (3-5 yrs)
For those students who have not had organized instruction in skating. Students will work on standing, falling, properly, getting up properly and marching in a standing position.

Snowplow Sam 1 (3-6 yrs)
This class is designed to help preschool children develop the preliminary coordination and strength necessary for ice skating. Skills include falling and getting up properly, standing, marching and gliding.

Snowplow 2 (3-6 yrs)
This class delves further into the skills learned in Snowplow Sam 1. Children will learn forward swizzles, backward wiggles, a two-foot hop and work on their forward gliding. Prerequisite: Snowplow Sam 1.

Snowplow 3 (3-6 yrs)
This class emphasizes the skills learned in Sam 1 and 2 but also teaches the children basic ice skating elements including one foot glides, preliminary stroking, forward and backward swizzles and a forward snowplow stop. Prerequisite: Snowplow Sam 2.

Snowplow 4 (4-6 yrs)
This class is designed for those students who have completed the Snowplow Sam curriculum but are not yet comfortable enough to begin Basics Skills classes with older students. Students will learn forward stroking, advanced forward one foot glides, backward two foot glide, two foot forward to backward in place and forward alternating 1/2 swizzle pumps. Prerequisite: Snowplow Sam 3.

CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Basic 1 (6-13 yrs)
For those who have not had organized instruction in skating. Students will learn nine basic elements including forward and backward skating, stopping and getting up properly. These elements will provide a solid foundation on which more advanced skills can be learned.

Basic 2 (6-13 yrs)
This class concentrates on elements designed to make the skater comfortable gliding on one foot, skating backwards and turning from forward to backward on two feet. Prerequisite: Basic 1/PreAlpha.

Basic 3 (6-13 yrs)
Skaters continue working on getting balanced on one foot both forward and backward. They will learn the correct technique for a preliminary crossover and be taught stroking using proper edges. A two-foot spin is also on the curriculum. Prerequisite: Basic 2/Alpha.

Basic 4 (6-13 yrs)
Students will learn to glide on proper outside and inside edges. They will incorporate these skills into crossovers and three-turns. Backward elements including circular swizzle pumps, stroking and stops will also be taught. Prerequistie: Basic 3/Beta.

Basic 5 (6-13 yrs)
Emphasis in this class will be on backward skating. Skills such as back outside and inside edges and back crossovers will be taught. Other elements include hockey stop, beginner one-foot spins and side toe-hops. Prerequisite: Basic 4/Gamma.

Basic 6 (6-13 yrs)
This class will introduce skaters to back two-foot turns on a circle. Forward inside three-turns, bunny hops, spirals and lunges also will be taught. Prerequisite: Basic 5/Delta.

Basic 7 (6-13 yrs)
Students will concentrate on transitions forward to backward and vice versa. Elements include inside mohawks, backward outside mohawks, inside pivots and the ballet jump. Prerequisite: Basic 6.

Adult 1 (14-Adult)
For those who have not had organized instruction in skating or have not been on the ice in years! Students will learn 11 basic elements designed to make the skater feel comfortable on their feet. Skills include forward and backward skating, stopping, getting up properly, one foot glides and swizzles. These elements will provide a solid foundation on which more advanced skills can be learned.

Adult 2 (14-Adult)
Skaters continue working on getting balanced on one foot both forward and backward. They will learn the correct technique for forward crossovers and be taught stroking using proper edges. Additional elements that will be taught are backward one-foot glides, forward pivot and backward snowplow stops. Prerequisite: Adult 1/PreAlpha.

Adult 3 (14-Adult)
Skaters will work on backward edges, crossovers, inside and outside edges, inside mohawks, two-foot spin and a footwork sequence. Prerequistie: Adult 2/Alpha or Beta.

Adult 4 (14-Adult)
This class gets skaters ready to successfully move into more specialized areas of ice skating including free skating, dance, pairs and synchronized team. Skills to be mastered include mving forward outside and inside three-turns, alternating backward crossovers, serpentines and a crossover/mohawk step combination. Skaters who comlete this class will be ready to move to Basic 8. Prerequisite: Adult 3/Gamma or Delta.

Basic 8 (6-Adult)
This class gets skaters ready to successfully move into more specialized areas of ice skating including free skating, dance, pairs and synchronized team. Skills to be mastered include moving forward outside and inside three-turns, one-foot spin, waltz jump, mazurka and a crossover/mohawk step combination. Prerequisite: Basic 7/Freestyle 1.

FREESTYLE

Freeskate I (5-Adult)
A solid mastery of the following elements must be attained before moving onto the next level. Advanced forward stroking, forward outside and inside consecutive edges, back outside three-turn, scratch spin, waltz jump, half flip. Prerequisite: Basic 8/Freestyle 2.

Freeskate II (5-Adult)
This class focuses on backward inside and outside consecutive edges, spirals, chasse sequences, waltz threes, back spins, waltz combination jumps and the toe loop. Prerequisite: Freeskate 1/Freestyle 3.

Freeskate III (5-Adult)
Students at this level will learn skills including a backwards inside three-turns, forward and backward crossover figure eight patterns, advanced backspins, salchow, half lutz jump and combo jumps with waltz, toe and salchow combinations. Prerequisite: Freeskate 2/Freestyle 5.