Basic Skills

Basic Skills

The “basic skills” are the fundamentals of the sport. These six levels of the program introduce the fundamental moves: forward skating, backward skating, stops, edges, crossovers, turns, and Mohawks. Upon completion of the Basic 1-6 levels, skaters will have a foundational knowledge of the sport, enabling them to advance to more specialized areas of skating. 

Basic 1/2

Basic 1/2 Skills

  • March forward across the ice
  • Forward two-foot glides
  • Dip
  • Forward swizzles (6-8)
  • Backward swizzles (6-8)
  • Beginning snowplow stop
  • Scooter pushes R&L
  • Forward one-foot glides R&L
  • Backward 2-foot glide 
  • Backward swizzles (6-8)
  • Two-foot turn back/front standstill
  • Moving snowplow stop

Basic 3/4

Basic 3/4 Skills

  • Forward stroking (correct use of blade)
  • Forwards 1/2 swizzle pumps/circle R&L
  • Moving forward/back 2-foot turn R&L
  • Back one foot glides R&L
  • Back snowplow stop
  • Forward slalom
  • Forward outside edge on circle R&L
  • Forward inside edge on a circle R&L
  • Forward crossovers in both directions (4-6)
  • Back 1/2 swizzle pumps on a circle R&L
  • Beginning two-foot spin

Basic 5/6

Basic 5/6 Skills

  • Backward outside edge on a circle R&L
  • Backward inside edge on a circle R&L
  • Backward crossovers (both directions) 
  • Forward outside three-turn R&L
  • Advanced two-foot spin (4-6 revs)
  • Hockey stop (both directions)
  • Forward inside three-turn R&L
  • Backward stroking 
  • Beginning one-foot spin (2-4 revs)
  • T-stops R&L
  • Bunny hop
  • Forward spiral on a straight line R&L