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Equipment

Skaters attending our sessions will have more fun and advance faster if they are properly and safely equipped. Skaters may be asked to leave the ice surface if they do not have the proper equipment.

 

Required Equipment

  • Hockey skates or Figure Skates with sharpened blades

  • CSA Approved Hockey Helmet (cage recommended)

  • Winter gloves or mittens (non-fuzzy as they will stick to the ice)

  • Shirt, Jacket, and pants that are easy to move around in

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Tips for skate selection

  • Skates fit comfortably, have good ankle support, and laces

  • There is room for toes to wiggle slightly

  • Heels do not lift inside the skate more than ¼ inch

  • An adult finger can fit in the top of the boot when done up

  • Excess laces are double bowed in the front - avoid wrapping laces around the ankle as it restricts essential forward knee and ankle pressing.

  • The skater can stand and walk on their skates keeping their ankles sturdy and straight

  • Molded (plastic) boots should be avoided

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Equipment Care
To protect the skate blades, skate guards should be worn in any area that is not protected by rubber mats. At the end of every session the blades should be wiped with a dry cloth to prevent rusting. After wiping the blade do not store the skates in wet guards. Skate Sharpening should be done periodically - for example, at the start of a new set of lessons. These are the skate shops we recommend:

 

Helmets
A CSA approved hockey helmet must be worn by all CanSkaters. Please check the back of the helmet for the expiry date. Please make sure the helmet is not too tight or too loose with all straps fastened and long hair kept away from the face. Cages are highly recommended but not mandatory. Skaters may be asked to leave the ice without proper fitting and CSA approved helmets for safety reasons.

 

Clothing
Skaters should dress warmly for our sessions: however, some items such as long drawstrings, scarves, dangling coat belts, etc. can be a hazard on the ice and should be avoided if possible. Active wear is best as jeans can be cold and restrictive. Layering works well as snow suits can be bulky to move in. Nylon material track pants and gloves are great for those skaters just starting out. We recommend wearing mittens or gloves each session, avoid using the fury/fuzzy kind as they tend to stick to the ice and leave hazardous pieces behind. We often use teaching aids which the skaters pick-up which can be a challenge in hockey gloves.

 

Other
Please watch that you do not send your child onto the ice with gum, candy or food in their mouth as this is a choking hazard. For young skaters just starting skating lessons it is beneficial to have some exposure to the ice prior to their first lesson. We thank you for your cooperation and feel free to email us if you have additional questions spfsclearntoskate@gmail.com

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