Lace ’Em Up

Ah…the crisp winter air, the scrape of skate blades on ice, rosy-cheeked children holding mitten-clad hands as they skate towards the hot chocolate shack—what’s not to love about skating?

Teaching little kids to skate, that’s what.

Because guess what happens when you plunk a preschooler down on the ice wearing skates for the first time? They wipe out. You pick them up, and they do it all over again, and you soon realize that the only way to keep them upright is to steer them by the shoulders, which quickly results in an aching back for you and a lot of frustration for everyone.

You may find yourself looking around with amazement at families whose wee kids are whizzing past at top speed, turning and gliding and having no trouble at all. How did they get that way? You’ll want to experiment to find what works best for you—but here’s our take on learning to skate.

First of all, for virtually anyone under 4 or 5, pick up a Wee Play Early Skater Learning Aid (or similar—there are other brands), available at Canadian Tire stores. Kids lean on the contraption for balance while pushing it down the ice, saving your back and making them feel capable.

Next, add skates and a helmet. For your basic hockey, figure or recreational skates (and helmets), your nearest Canadian Tire will do. Skate exchanges are a smart idea, and Hopewell Avenue Public School is holding one November 20. If you want to go new and higher-end, or you’re after great service, the places to go are Figure 8/Hockey One, Pro Hockey Life, and Lacroix Sports.

You can also buy top-quality skates second-hand for a fraction of the price—especially for those early skaters who don’t wear in the equipment very much and outgrow them quickly. You get the same quality, but someone else does the work of breaking in the skates. The best selection we’ve found in the city is at Tim’s Used Sports Equipment in Wellington Village.

Now that the kids are all set, what about you? Our top tip if you plan to get on the ice a lot in the next few years: buy a new pair of recreational skates. There are lots of new, cozy types that are so much easier to lace up and are much more comfortable than that old pair you have from the 80’s. They have the picks you’re used to, but are much warmer. One more suggestion (while we have your attention) is to have the bottom-most pick shaved right off (unless you’re planning any fancy moves). The remaining picks will stop you from falling head-over-heels, but you’ll skim smoothly over unexpected canal cracks instead of snagging on them.

If you’re looking to enroll the kids in lessons, the City of Ottawa offers an amazing selection for all ages, starting as young as two, including parent-and-tot sessions. You can register now for upcoming programs at arenas across the city. Private lessons with certified instructors are also available, as are lessons for new adult skaters.

The RA Centre is also known for good-quality skating lessons, and offers a Peewee program for kids aged four to five, as well as one for ages six and up and another for adult beginners. Finally, CanSkate is a recognized learn-to-skate program that offers a solid foundation regardless of whether skaters are destined for hockey, ringette, figure skating, recreational, synchronized or speed skating. Numerous clubs around the city offer it, including the Minto Skating Club, March Kanata Skating Club, Nepean Skating Club and Rideau Skating Club.

So lace ’em up—it’s not getting any warmer out there.

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