The sound of skate blades tearing at the clean ice surface mingles with the sounds of children laughing, while instrumental music rotates through each childB次元官网网址檚 individual routine.

This is the Juan de Fuca Skating ClubB次元官网网址檚 junior practice. It is calm, calculated composure. Everything you would associate with the beauty of learning to figure skate.

But soon their CanSkate members will take to the ice at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, after a quick scrape. ThatB次元官网网址檚 an entirely different experience.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 organized chaos, thatB次元官网网址檚 what we call CanSkate,B次元官网网址� says coach and director of skating, Leslee Rushton, laughing. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great program.B次元官网网址�

A herd of knee-height children lace up their skates B次元官网网址� with the aid of their parents B次元官网网址� and buckle up their helmets as they wait for the Zamboni to finish resurfacing the ice. While most skaters are four or five years old, some are as young as three. They stampede once the doors open, smiles spreading from ear to ear. While some take carefully measured steps, others bound around on shaky ankles, all closely monitored.

Every week the CanSkate program has a different theme. This weekB次元官网网址檚 is dinosaurs, so helmets are adorned with construction paper spikes, fabric tails poke out from under jackets and the odd toy peeks out from inside hoods or backpacks.

ItB次元官网网址檚 not just figure skaters in this group. B次元官网网址淭he hockey players use our CanSkate program to learn the fundamentals,B次元官网网址� said Rushton. B次元官网网址淲e use this learn-to-skate program for hockey, ringette, figure skating and just enjoyment.B次元官网网址�

CanSkate is Skate CanadaB次元官网网址檚 flagship learning program for beginners of any age. Practices run three times a week at the local club, but members donB次元官网网址檛 have to go to all of the practices and can join at any point in the season. And inside the warm lobby, thereB次元官网网址檚 a siblings table filled with crafts and activities to keep non-skating members of the family occupied during the sessions.

For those watching, it may seem like chaos, but there is a lot of structure laid out for the children. Skaters work their way through stations that focus on different movements. When a new skill or manoeuvre is mastered, students earn ribbons, and they earn badges for different levels as they move up in the program.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 little goals they have to work towards,B次元官网网址� Rushton said.

It isnB次元官网网址檛 only coaches on the ice who aid the younger membersB次元官网网址� development. B次元官网网址淲ithout our older skaters, our program wouldnB次元官网网址檛 function,B次元官网网址� she said. Senior club members go through specialized training at the beginning of the season to learn to become program assistants. They then help mark out stations, teach skills and work with the CanSkate students throughout the year.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an amazing club,B次元官网网址� Rushton said. B次元官网网址淲e do more than just skating. ItB次元官网网址檚 so much fun.B次元官网网址�

And the club isnB次元官网网址檛 just focused with on-ice development. Along with off-ice dryland classes, coaches organize a number of club activities through the season. The club had its own float in last weekendB次元官网网址檚 Santa Claus parade and will perform on Butchart GardensB次元官网网址� outdoor rink on Dec. 13. As well, members will stage a special performance for family, friends and the community on Dec. 20 at Juan de Fuca for the clubB次元官网网址檚 Christmas gala and dessert night B次元官网网址� the last ice time before winter break.

For more information go to juandefucaskatingclub.ca.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com