Please check the calendar of events for specific dates and holiday cancellations. It may be necessary for some sessions to be pre-empted due to Skate Canada test days. Please watch the bulletin boards for these notices. Any pre-empted sessions are compensated for during the Holiday season at the end of the year when PCFSC provides free ice time for its members and their families.
All group lessons are conducted by a member of the Club's Professional Coaching Staff assisted by program assistants. The program assistants are Test Level skaters who volunteer their time to assist with these programs. They have received the special training required to assist at these levels.
The Skate Canada Canskate program allows skaters to move quickly through the progress levels. The program provides group instruction for the entire length of the session – a combination of warm up, group lessons, stroking, and cool down. There will be 10 minutes at the beginning and end of the CanSkate sessions during which parents may arrange private lessons, at their own expense, if desired. Private coaching is not required at the Pre-CanSkate level.
CLOTHING: Must be warm and comfortable, but not binding. NO JEANS PLEASE. Mittens or gloves must be worn.Skating helmets, not bike helmets are required.
SKATES: Skates should be properly sharpened, including new skates. Skate guards are necessary for the off-ice areas, for safety and to protect the blades. Skates must fit properly. There should be enough room to move the toes, but not enough room to allow movement in the heel or arch area. Only one pair of socks should be worn. Skates must provide good support for the ankle. If the boot is too flexible the skater's ankles will "cave-in", making skating more difficult than necessary. Skates should be tied properly. When the boot is properly laced, the laces will be loose at the toe and loose enough at the top to insert one finger. However, the area over the arch should be laced firmly. When purchasing new skates, it is a good idea to check that the entire blade lines up with the centre of the boot, especially if the blade is riveted on and cannot be removed.
ON ICE CONDUCT: Gum, candy, or other food is not permitted on the ice. Pushing, shoving, or games of tag will not be permitted. The skating area is very busy, and injuries could result from such conduct.
PARENTS: Please stay in the arena (NO DROP OFFS PLEASE) watching from the seating areas, not from the rinkside, the penalty/ team boxes or the ramps leading to the ice. The Canskate coordinator, the skating professionals or the Canskate Instructors will solve any on ice problems. A parent or guardian must remain in the arena during the session. Parents who find it necessary to leave the arena must designate another responsible person we may call upon if the need arises.
