Learn to Skate
2024-2025 Season
The Learn to Skate – North Iowa program promotes recreational skating, figure skating, and hockey power in the North Iowa community by providing safe, fun, & high-quality group instruction per the Learn to Skate USA Curriculum. This program is run by the North Iowa Figure Skating Club, its coaches & instructors, and volunteers.
During the 2024-2025 season, we will offer (4) 6-week sessions. Skaters may choose to participate in one, two, three, or all sessions! All classes take place on Sunday afternoons between 4:00 – 6:00 PM, schedule is based on current registration, coaching availability, and arena schedule. The Mason City Arena is located at 111 S Washington Ave, Mason City.
Programs Offered
Little Explorers: This class is mainly off-ice and designed for children 2-4 years to acclimate new skaters to instruction and the fun skating environment. When offered, classes will meet mostly off-ice, often in a warm environment, and focus on learning key skills off-ice first, including falling down and getting up, dips, and marching. The skaters will be introduced to the arena spaces, taught different types of ice skates, and have the opportunity to try on skates and wear them for their off-ice classes. This class will include ice skating instruction as well as other ice skating-related activities. (Cost: $50/session)
Snowplow Sam 1-4: Designed for children ages 3-6 years with no prior skating experience to build confidence while learning the basic skills of skating.
Basic 1-6: These levels introduce the fundamental moves of ice skating: forward and backward skating, stops, edges, crossovers, three turns, mohawks, and spins. Basic 1 is for beginners and those with little experience AND ages 6 or older. All skaters start in Basic 1 and must complete the levels in sequential order.
FreeSkate 1-6: Introduction to more advanced figure skating skills. Skater must complete Basic 6 to register.
Adult 1-6: These levels are designed for Adults. Teens aged 16 and are new to ice skating may choose to register through the basic skills or adult programs.
Synchro 1-4: Synchronized skating features intricate elements performed by teams of 5-20 skaters. The team sport is introduced in the Synchro 1-4 curriculum and is a fantastic way to introduce synchro to anyone participating in group lessons. This program focuses on the five main elements, Block, circle, line, wheel and intersection using prescribed handholds. We recommend that all skaters who have passed Basic 3 or higher try Synchro for one session. Skaters who participate in both group lessons and synchro lessons typically advance quicker than those with only group lessons.
Synchro Cost: $50/session (skater must be registered in a group lesson OR an active member of NIFSC club skating w/minimum of Synchro 2 passed)
2024-2025 Session Dates
-Session 5 (Spring Show) – April 13, 20, 27, and May 4, 9, with performance on May 10th
No prior experience is necessary to participate in this session. New skaters will work on skill building in addition to working on a program.
All skaters may choose to be in one or two programs. Participants choosing one number will be in their skill level only. Participants choosing two numbers will be in their skill level AND the all-level number.
Cost: $50/one program and $75/two programs
Cost includes: Weekly 30-minute lesson with an LTS USA Certified Instructor, skate rental (if needed), Learn to Skate USA membership, end-of-session evaluation form, certificate, & patches as well as lots of FUN! Show session cost also includes costume rental for the Spring Show.
**ALL skaters who participate in the spring show at the end of this session will be working towards their Theatre On Ice 1 patch**
Tentative Schedule:
3:30-4:00 PM Synchro 1-4
4:00-4:30 PM Basic 1, Basic 2, Basic 3, Basic 4, Basic 5, Basic 6, PreFree Skate & FreeSkate levels
4:30-5:00 PM ALL levels (2nd program participants)
5:00-5:30 PM Little Explorers, Snowplow Sam 1-3
Times are tentative based on registration numbers – full schedule will be sent out prior to session start.
