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.
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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)
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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)
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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.
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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)
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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
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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.
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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)
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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
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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)
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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.