CanSkate encourages young skaters

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The CanSkate program in Strathmore is wanting young kids to come out and learn the basics of skating and further advance in their comfort level on the ice.
“I’ve skate my whole life and I’ve been a figure skating athlete until I was 17 years old and finished high school. A way of giving back to the sport is becoming a coach, so my husband and I have transitioned into coaching here for 15 years and this season came to Strathmore to bring on the new Skate Canada program for the CanSkate,” said Jennifer Wickson, CanSkate coach.
The initiative is to have kids come out and learn from certified coaches how to improve skating.
“It’s a learn, skate program, for all ages across Canada, for any discipline of skating, whether you are in figure skating, hockey, ringette, speed skating from accredited trained coaches,” said Wickson.
“We have Pre-Can that starts at age three and continues on from there.”
The program is also meant to make athletes better in different sports.
“It’s a lot of the basic skating that you use for any of the sports requiring skating. So forwards and backwards skating, jumping, turning, it gets progressively more challenging,” said Wickson.
“When they move up to this higher level, the technique becomes more about figure skating itself.”
Registration coordinator, Kora Foldi, really thinks CanSkate is a good way to develop before going to fast paced sports such as hockey and ringette.
“A lot of the hockey parents thinks it’s a great way for their kids to start out. I think in Alberta is good to learn how to skate anyways,” said Foldi.
Wickson and her husband hope to establish a great skating program for the community and encourage kids of all ages to come out and enjoy skating.
Canskate runs from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. on Mondays and 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Programs are available in the fall, winter and spring, and sign-up is still available.
You can contact the club by e-mailing Tara at strathmoreskatingclub@gmail.com.