Skate School Curriculum

At iceHQ, we follow the Aussie Skate Program.

From kids aged 5+ through to adults, you will be grouped based on your age and ability. To find the best level for you, please scroll through the different Aussie Skate Levels.

Elements listed below in the levels, is what you are learning, not what you should already know.

All students in Tots and Aussie 1 - 10 will be grouped with similar ages. Free Skate levels have mixed ages.


Beginner Kids, Ages 5-7

Tots Program

All kids between the ages of 5 and 7 will start in the Tots program. They remain in the Tots program until they have passed Tots 3 regardless of their age. Once Tots 3 has been completed, all Tots students will progress to Aussie 2 and continue with the Aussie Skate levels.

Elements listed below in the levels are what you will learn, not what you should already know.

    • Stand unassisted for 5 seconds

    • Dip in place

    • Correct way to fall and stand up on ice

    • March forward across the ice (8-10 steps)

    • March then glide on 2 feet (1 metre)

    • Backward wiggles (6-8)

    • Balance on 1 foot on the spot for 1 second (both R & L feet)

    • Dip while moving Forward swizzle (3 - 5)

    • 2 foot hop in place / jump on spot

    • Forward 2 foot glide on a curve (1 metre)

    • Rocking horse (x 1)

    • T position and push Forward one foot glide (1 metre)

    • Forward swizzles (6-8 in a row)

    • Backward swizzles (3-4 in a row)

    • Snow plow stop with a skid standing still

    • Backward marching (8-10 steps)

    • Marching in a circle on the spot


All Beginners, Kids Ages 8+, Teens & Adults

Aussie Skate Program

Beginner students 8 years old and older, including adults, start here. Once all Aussie Skate levels have been completed, students can progress to the Free Skate levels. You’ll be grouped by age and ability. Each level grouping is taught over one term, it is very normal to need to repeat levels - please don’t be discouraged if you need to repeat.

Elements listed below in the levels are what you will learn, not what you should already know.

    • Stand unassisted for 5 seconds

    • Dip in place

    • Correct way to fall and get up

    • March forward across the ice (8-10 steps)

    • Forward 2 foot glide

    • Forward swizzles (6-8 in a row)

    • Backward wiggles (6-8 in a row)

    • Rocking horse (x 3)

    • Snow plow stop standing still

    • One foot glide (2 sec)

    • Dip while moving

    • Backward swizzles (6-8 in a row)

    • Forward 2 foot glide on a curve (L & R)

    • Moving snowplow stop

    • Forward alt 1/2 swizzle pumps straight ( 6-8)

    • 2 foot turn forward to backward standing still

    • 2 foot hop in place / jump on the spot

    • Marching in a circle on the spot

    • Backward marching (8-10 seps)

    • Backwards 2 foot glide

    • T position push

  • Level Aussie 3 & 4 are taught together.

    Aussie 3 Elements

    • Forward slalom

    • Forward 1 ft glides (1 metre R & L)

    • Forward 1/2 swizzle pumps on circle (CW & ACW)

    Aussie 4 Elements

    • Forward stroking

    • Backward alternating 1/2 swizzle pumps straight 

    • 2 foot spin (2 revs)

    • Forwards chasses ( R & L)

  • Level Aussie 5 & 6 are taught together.

    Aussie 5 Elements

    • Forward outside edges on a circle (R & L)

    • Forward inside edges on a circle (R & L)

    • Forward crossovers (CW & ACW)

    • 2 foot turn from Forward to Backward moving (CW & ACW)

    Aussie 6 Elements

    • Backward stroking

    • Backward slalom

    • Backward 1/2 swizzle pumps 

    • on a circle (6-8 CW & ACW)

    • 2 ft turn Backward to Forward  (CW & ACW)

    • Backwards 1 foot glide (R & L)

    • Revision: Forward crossovers (CW & ACW)

  • Students interested in hockey should complete level Aussie 8 and move onto either Junior or Senior Development. Aussie 9 & 10 onwards is figure skating based, and requires figure skates with a toe pick.

    Aussie 7 Elements

    • Backward outside edges on a circle (R & L)

    • Backward inside edges on a circle (R & L)

    • Backward crossovers (CW & ACW)

    • FO 3 turn on a semi circle (R & L)

    Aussie 8 Elements

    • Forward inside 3 turn on a semi circle (R & L)

    • Forward inside open mohawk on a semi circle (R & L)

    • Forwards crossover exercise

    • Revision: Forward crossovers (CW & ACW)

  • Aussie 9 & 10 onwards is figure skating based, and requires figure skates with a toe pick.

    Aussie 9 Elements

    • Forward outside circle stroking (CW & ACW)

    • Forward inside circle stroking (CW & ACW)

    • T-stops (R & L)

    • Landing position

    • Revision: Forward stroking

    Aussie 10 Elements

    • FI Pivots (R & L)

    • Tap - toe jump (R & L)

    • Bunny hop (R & L)

    • Revision: Forward stroking

This completes your Aussie Skate Journey! Congratulations! You can now progress to Free Skate levels.


All Students After Completion of Aussie 10

Free Skate PROGRAM

Once students have completed Aussie 10, they can progress to Free Skate levels. These levels start to incorporate complex jumps and spins. Students typically spend at least two terms working on a Free Skate level. Coaches will not progress students that are unable to confidently complete elements for safety reasons.

Elements listed below in the levels are what you will learn, not what you should already know.

  • Free Skate 1A Elements

    • Basic Forward Outside consecutive edges

    • Basic Forward Inside consecutive edges

    • Forward Outside Spirals (R & L, app 3 sec)

    • Forward attitude (R & L)

    • Lunge (L & R)

    • Rink Stroking (forward and backward, 2 laps)

    • Back outside pivot (1-2 revs without stopping)

    • Optional: Forward and Backward crossovers if rink stroking not possible.

    Free Skate 1B Elements

    • 1 foot spin (3 revs, correct entry and exit)

    • Waltz jump from back crossover entry

    • Ballet jump (L & R)

    • Mazurka (R or L)

  • Free Skate 2A Elements

    • Basic forward change of edge (in figure 8)

    • Forward inside spiral (L & R, app 3 sec)

    • Spread eagle (L & R)

    • Waltz 3’s (3 sequences)

    • Back inside Pivot (1-2 revs without stopping)

    FREE SKATE 2B Elements

    • Forward cross leg spin (3 revs)

    • Salchow Jump

    • Half Flip Jump

    • Half Lutz Jump

  • Free Skate 3A Elements

    • Basic back outside consecutive edges

    • Basic back inside executive edges

    • Back outside spiral (L & R, app 3 sec)

    • Back outside 3 turns (L & R)

    • Back inside 3 turns (L & R)

    Free Skate 3B Elements

    • Back spin - cross leg position (3 revs)

    • Sit Spin (3 revs)

    • Toe Loop Jump

    • Forward power 3’s (3 each foot)

    • Advanced forward stroking (fig 8)

  • Free Skate 4A Elements

    • Forward outside rolls (4-6)

    • Back inside spirals (app 3 sec)

    • 5 step mohawk pattern

    • Advanced backward stroking (fig 8)

    • Inside Ina Bauers

    Free Skate 4B Elements

    • Camel spin (3 revs)

    • Change of foot upright spin (3 revs each foot - foot crossed on each spin)

    • Loop jump

    • Waltz jump / loop jump combination

    • Flip jump or Lutz jump

Congratulations! You’ve now completed your Skate School Journey!


Questions?

Email skateschool@icehq.com.au

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I stop skate school and start ice hockey school?

To get the best out of your ice hockey journey, we recommend completing Aussie Skate 5 & 6 before changing fully into ice hockey. Generally minimum skills recommended are fluent forward and backward skating, crossovers (fwd and bwd), and stopping. If you’d like to start with ice hockey earlier, we recommend combining weekly skate school class with a development hockey class.