The Sundre Skating Club does far more than simply teach youth a range of skills on the ice.
"It gives them a good work ethic," said Carla Valentine, the club's treasurer and test chair.
"If they want to achieve the goals they've set, they have to work at it."
Along the way, the skaters learn about commitment and begin to build a level of independence, she said.
"It gives them insight in how to set their own goals and work on their own."
This season, the club has approximately 35 skaters in three programs ó Learn to Skate, which has the most students at about 25, Pre Star Skate as well as Star Skate, which each have a handful of skaters, she said.
The Learn to Skate program for children aged three to about 10, depending on their abilities, is focused on coach-oriented instruction of the basics of being on the ice ó starting, stopping, skating backwards and getting back up after tumbling. Pre Star Skate is essentially a transition program into Star Skate, which still features coached lessons but has a much larger focus on independent training, she said.
"Star Skate is where they start doing their skating tests for the skills they've practised and learned."
Since there are not enough senior skaters in Sundre to host a local test day, scheduling test days at other clubs is part of her responsibilities as test chair, and Valentine said Innisfail will be hosting two upcoming tests ó the first on Jan. 20 and the next Feb. 17.
The club's annual Strut Your Stuff year-end ice carnival is scheduled to take place March 20.
Coach Brenda Stange, who for several years has instructed for the club, has returned for another season with support from her daughter and former club member Lyndsay.
"She skated here last year with the girls and is now working on her coaching certificate," Valentine said about Lyndsay, adding some of the Star Skaters also contribute to helping coach the younger skaters.
Making available and keeping viable the local skating program provides an additional recreational option for families, she said.
"Skating is one of those life skills that once you learn it, you have it forever."
Many children will go into hockey or other kinds of skating disciplines, and some will eventually go on to have their own kids and in turn be able to show the little ones how to skate, she said, adding skating is a Canadian pastime, after all.
The club is doing well with all its board positions filled for the season, but anyone who wants to learn more about the local skating program or perhaps even get involved is welcome to contact Valentine at 403-638-8545.
