The 11-step path from first skate to Pre-Preliminary.

First time on the ice. Skaters learn to stand up, glide, stop, and fall safely.

• Snowplow Sam

  First time on the ice — usually preschool age.

  Snowplow Sam
  • March followed by a two-foot glide and dip
  • Forward swizzles, 2–3 in a row
  • Forward snowplow stop
  • Backward wiggles, 2–6 in a row

Six levels of fundamental skating — edges, swizzles, turns, crossovers, stops, and the first spins.

• Basic 1

  Basic
  • Forward two-foot glide and dip
  • Forward swizzles, 6–8 in a row
  • Beginning snowplow stop on one or two feet
  • Backward wiggles, 6–8 in a row

• Basic 2

  Basic
  • Forward one-foot glide (either foot)
  • Scooter pushes, 2–3 each foot
  • Moving snowplow stop
  • Two-foot turn in place, forward to backward
  • Backward swizzles, 6–8 in a row

• Basic 3

  Basic
  • Beginning forward stroking
  • Forward half-swizzle pumps on a circle, 4–6 consecutive
  • Forward slalom
  • Moving forward-to-backward two-foot turn on a circle
  • Beginning backward one-foot glide

• Basic 4

  Basic
  • Forward outside edge on a circle
  • Forward crossovers, 4–6 consecutive (both directions)
  • Backward half-swizzle pumps on a circle, 4–6 consecutive
  • Backward one-foot glides (both feet)
  • Beginning two-foot spin, max 4 revolutions

• Basic 5

  Basic
  • Backward outside edge on a circle
  • Backward crossovers, 4–6 consecutive (both directions)
  • Forward outside three-turn (both feet)
  • Advanced two-foot spin, min 4 revolutions
  • Hockey stop

• Basic 6

  Basic
  • Forward inside three-turn (both feet)
  • C step (both directions)
  • Bunny hop
  • Basic forward spiral on a straight line
  • Beginning one-foot spin, max 3 revolutions
  • T-stop

Four levels of jumps, spins, and step sequences — the bridge into USFS testing and competition.

• Aspire 1

  First single jumps and spins.

  Aspire
  • Jumps: waltz jump, ½ flip, ½ lutz
  • Spins: two-foot spin (required), forward one-foot spin
  • Choreographic step sequence — covers ½ of the ice

• Aspire 2

  Aspire
  • Jumps: + single Salchow, single Toe loop
  • Combinations: waltz/toe loop, Salchow/toe loop
  • Spins: + back upright spin, forward sit spin
  • Choreographic step sequence

• Aspire 3

  Aspire
  • Jumps: + Euler (half-loop), single loop
  • Required spin: forward upright → back upright spin
  • Permitted spin: forward camel spin
  • Choreographic step sequence

• Aspire 4

  Prepares skaters for the Pre-Preliminary Skating Skills test.

  Aspire
  • Jumps: + single Flip, single Lutz
  • Required spin: forward camel → forward sit spin combination
  • Choreographic step sequence