Learn to Skate

 To register:
Mike Mullins 515-965-9630
Karen Teel 515- 252-0882
Walk on registrations accepted
email: dmfsc@live.com
Download Registration form
Buccaneer Arena 7201 Hickman Road Urbandale Iowa
The Des Moines Figure Skating Club offers the Curriculum of United States Figure Skating “Skate with US” program. This course provides uniform instruction in the basic skills of ice skating, with USFS approved instructors. With the Learn to Skate curriculum, students go from their first steps on the ice all the way to beginning jumps and spins or being ready to suit up with a stick and puck! We Welcome skaters of all ages-tiny tots to adults! We encourage you to dress your skaters in warm, comfortable clothing, including coat and or sweater, hat and mittens/gloves. We require anyone less than 5 years of age to wear a helmet.
Skaters are tested at the end of each session and receive either an evaluation form or “Certificate of Achievement” allowing them to advance to the next level.
SESSIONS HELD SUNDAY’S 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Session 1 October, 12, 19, 26, November 2
  • Session 2 November 9, 16, 25, December 7, 14
  • Session 3 January 4, 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8
  • Session 4 February 15, 22, 29, March 1, 8, 15 March 22 Learn To Skate Showcase
Class Fees: $65 for Session 1 (4 weeks), $80 for Session 2 (5 weeks), $95 each for Session 3 and 4 (6 weeks). Rental skates available for a nominal fee. Class consists of a group lesson, practice ice and one year USFS Basic Skills membership. Full payment due at time of registration. DMFSC reserves the right to cancel scheduled Learn to Skate classes due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances.
Children's Program

Basic Skills Curriculum

The Basic Skills are the fundamentals of the sport. These eight levels of the program introduce the fundamental moves — forward skating, backward skating, stops, edges, crossovers, turns and mohawks. Upon completion of the Basic 1-8 levels, skaters will have the basic knowledge of the sport enabling them to advance to the more specialized areas of skating. Sample elements in each level include:

Snowplow Sam

Snowplow 1
  1. Sit and stand up off ice
  2. Sit and stand up on ice
  3. March in place
  4. March forward
  5. March then glide on two feet
  6. Dip in Place
 Snowplow 2
  1. March followed by long glide
  2. Dip while moving
  3. backward wiggles
  4. Forward swizzles
  5. Rocking horse
  6. Two foot hop in place
 Snowplow 3
  1. Forward skating
  2. Forward one foot glide
  3. Forward swizzles
  4. Backward swizzles
  5. Forward snowplow stop
  6. Curves
 Snowplow

Basic 1

  1. Sit on ice and stand up
  2. March forward across the ice
  3. Forward swizzles — 6-8 in a row
  4. Backward wiggles — 6-8 in a row
  5. Snowplow stop
  6. Forward two foot glide
  7. Dip
  8. Rocking horse
  9. Two foot hop in place

Basic 5

  1. Backward edges
  2. Backward crossovers — clockwise and counterclockwise
  3. One-foot spin — up to 3 revolutions, optional entry and free foot position
  4. Side toe hop — both directions
  5. Hockey Stop

Basic 2

  1. Backward swizzles — 6-8 in a row
  2. Two-foot turn from forward to backward in place
  3. Moving snowplow stop
  4. Forward alternating 1/2 swizzle pumps, in a straight line (slalom-like pattern)
  5. Forward one foot glide
  6. Backward two foot glide

Basic 6

  1. T-stop, R or L
  2. Bunny hop
  3. Forward arabesque/spiral on a straight line — R or L
  4. Forward lunge — R or L
  5. Forward inside three turn
  6. Moving backward to forward two foot turn

Basic 3

  1. Forward stroking, showing correct use of blade
  2. Forward 1/2 swizzle pumps on a circle — 6-8 consecutive — clockwise and counterclockwise
  3. Moving forward to backward two-foot turn — clockwise and counterclockwise
  4. Two-foot spin — up to 2 revolutions
  5. Backward one foot glide
  6. Forward slalom

Basic 7

  1. Forward inside open mohawk from a standstill position — R to L and L to R
  2. Ballet jump — R or L
  3. Forward inside pivots — R or L
  4. Backward outside edge to forward outside edge transition
  5. Backward Crossovers to backward outside edge
  6. Forward inside pivot

Basic 4

  1. Forward edges
  2. Forward crossovers — clockwise and counterclockwise
  3. Backward snowplow stop — R and L
  4. Forward outside three turn
  5. Backward half swizzle pumps
  6. Backward stroking

Basic 8

  1. Moving forward outside three-turn on a circle — R and L
  2. Moving forward inside three-turn on a circle — R and L
  3. One foot spin, optional entry and free foot position
  4. Waltz jump
  5. Mazurka — R or L
  6. Combination Move
Adult Skills Curriculum
The adult curriculum is designed for the beginning adult skater. It will promote physical fitness and improve balance and coordination while learning proper skating techniques. Divided into four levels, adult skaters will progress at an individual rate while being challenged and motivated.

Adult 1

  1. Falling and recovery
  2. Swizzles
  3. Backward skating
  4. Two-foot turns, in place
  5. Forward strides and glides
  6. Backward swizzles
  7. Forward one foot glide
  8. Snowplow stop
  9. Forward curves on two feet
  10. Forward half swizzles pumps

Adult 3

  1. Backward crossovers — clockwise and counterclockwise
  2. Inside mohawk, either direction
  3. Backward snowplow stops — R or L
  4. Beginning two-foot spin
  5. Backward edges on a circle
  6. Basic forward outside and forwards inside edges
  7. Forward progressives

Adult 2

  1. Forward stroking
  2. Forward crossovers — clockwise and counterclockwise
  3. Backward one-foot glide, R or L
  4. Forward pivot
  5. Backward half swizzle pumps
  6. Moving two foot turn
  7. Forward edges on a circle
  8. Forward chasses

Adult 4

  1. Forward three-turns, outside and inside, R and L
  2. Footwork sequence
  3. Power three-turns
  4. Perimeter stroking with crossover end pattern
  5. Forward outside to inside change of edge sequence
  6. Alternate backward crossovers with two foot transition
  7. Backward chasses