Laura Wilson
Laura brings an encouraging, supportive approach to skating lessons. She helps young skaters build confidence, practise foundational skills and feel more comfortable on the ice at their own pace.
More than learning to skate.
Here's a closer look at the skills your child can work toward as they progress through the program at KickStart Skating.
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Meet your coaches
KickStart Skating was created to give local families a welcoming place to learn, practise and build confidence on the ice. Our goal is to make lessons encouraging, active and enjoyable for every beginner.
Gemma “Gigi” Garrison
Gemma, who goes by Gigi, aims to make learning to skate positive and welcoming. She encourages skaters to try new movements, keep practising and celebrate progress as their skills develop.
Getting to know the program
A foundation for skating and beyond
CanSkate is Skate Canada's flagship learn-to-skate program. Its fundamental skills help prepare children for figure skating, hockey, other ice sports and recreational skating.
Three core skill areas
Balance, control and agility work together. Skaters learn to maintain their balance, manage their movement and respond to changes in direction and speed.
Progress at a suitable pace
Skills develop gradually, from basic standing and moving on the ice to gliding, stopping, turning and more challenging movements. Every new skill builds on earlier experience.
The learning journey
From first steps to confident skating
The following overview introduces the kinds of skills found across the early and later stages of the CanSkate pathway.
Pre-CanSkate & Stage 1
Getting comfortable and learning the foundations.
- Balancing on two feet
- Falling safely and getting back up
- Moving forward and gliding
- Beginning backward movement
- First turns and two-foot jumps
Stages 2 & 3
Developing movement, coordination and control.
- Sculling and longer glides
- Push-and-glide sequences
- Forward stopping skills
- Backward skating development
- Quick turns and more challenging jumps
Stages 4, 5 & 6
Refining technique and expanding the skill set.
- Forward and backward crosscuts
- Inside and outside edges
- More advanced stops and turns
- One-foot movements and mohawks
- Power jumps and additional challenges
These are examples of skill progression, not a promise that every skater will complete every skill within a set number of lessons. Progress depends on practice, experience and individual readiness.
Skill area 01
Balance
Learning to feel steady, glide with control and maintain a balanced skating position.
Pre-CanSkate & Stage 1
- Balance on two feet
- Fall down and get up
- Move forward
- Glide on two feet
- Introduce a bent-knee sit glide
Stages 2 & 3
- Forward two-foot sculling
- Gliding on one foot
- Push-and-glide sequences
- Forward slalom patterns
- Developing crosscut movements
Stages 4, 5 & 6
- Forward crosscuts
- Inside and outside slalom
- Forward inside and outside edges
- Crosscuts in figure-eight patterns
- More advanced perimeter skating
Skill area 02
Control
Learning to manage movement and direction, develop backward skating and become more confident with stops.
Pre-CanSkate & Stage 1
- Making snow with the blades
- Moving backward
- Snow-slide steps
- Backward two-foot skating or walking
- Backward two-foot glides
Stages 2 & 3
- Forward stops
- Backward sit glides
- One-foot glides
- Backward sculling
- Developing stops with more speed
Stages 4, 5 & 6
- Backward stops
- Two-foot and one-foot side stops
- Backward crosscuts
- Backward slalom patterns
- More advanced backward skating
Skill area 03
Agility
Developing coordination, turning ability and the confidence to move through different skating patterns.
Pre-CanSkate & Stage 1
- Marching around a spot
- Two-foot twists
- Jumping on the spot
- Two-foot turns
- Beginning perimeter skating
Stages 2 & 3
- Forward and backward two-foot turns
- 180-degree glide turns
- Quick turns
- 360-degree step turns
- Developing faster perimeter skating
Stages 4, 5 & 6
- One-foot turns
- Backward step turns and mohawks
- Two-foot spins
- Power jumps and rotating jumps
- More advanced turning combinations
Learning on the ice
Active lessons. Real progress.
Children learn through movement, repetition and encouragement. The goal is to make practice engaging while giving skaters the opportunity to work on the fundamentals they need.
KickStart Skating's approach uses structured activities and coaching to help participants build confidence and keep developing their skating skills.
Guided practice
Activities help children practise and repeat key movements.
Specialized teaching aids
Visual aids and equipment help make skills easier to understand.
Music and movement
Music and targeted activities help make sessions engaging.
Encouragement and confidence
Children are supported as they practise skills and try new challenges.
A note for families
Every skater has their own journey
Learning to skate takes time. The important thing is developing strong fundamentals and feeling more comfortable on the ice.
Progress matters more than perfection
Some skills take longer to master than others. Children may revisit earlier movements as they gain strength, coordination and confidence. The stage summaries on this page are intended to help families understand the program, not to guarantee a particular outcome or timeline.
Program information is a general overview based on the CanSkate skills chart. Skate Canada's current element descriptions and requirements should be consulted for official skill terminology and assessment standards.
Ready to get started?
Let's get your skater on the ice.
Have questions about the program, registration or what your child needs for their first lesson? Get in touch with KickStart Skating.
KickStart Skating
7516 Range Road 302A, Pincher Creek, AB T0K 0P0