Star 1 - 2  (formerly Primary)

Once a skater has graduated from our Junior Academy program they will progress onto the Star 1-2 program. Star 1-2 skaters will continue to receive primarily group instruction, however, they will be introduced to more independent practicing times, and will have the opportunity to work with a coach in a private lesson setting. Star 2 skaters will begin to learn solos and will perform to music. Skaters in the Star 1-2 Program will be prepared to participate in local competitions and will play a role in our year-end show 'Spring Fling'. Skaters in the program will learn all the basic jumping and spinning elements including (but not limited to) Waltz Jump, Salchow, Toe Loop, Loop Jump, Flip Jump, Lutz Jump, 1 Foot Spin, Back Spin, Sit/Camel Spin.

 

Star 3 (formerly Intermediate)
Our Star 3 program is designed for those skaters participating in the Skate Canada Star 3 level. We recommend Star 3 skaters train 3 - 4 days per week and participate in competitions and test days throughout the year. Star 3 skaters have developed a skill set that allows them to work independently during their practice sessions and have acquired all the single jumps and are working on or have started landing an Axel. They will participate in group lessons, off-ice classes and will receive private lessons from our coaching team. 

 

Star 4 - Gold (formerly Senior)

Our Star 4 - Gold program is designed for those skaters that have reached the Star 4 - Gold level. Star 4 - Gold skaters train 4 - 5 times per week and participate in regional, provincial and national level competitions. Skaters at this level should consistently land an Axel and in most cases will be working on multiple double jumps.

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Note: To maintain session balance, safety and to accommodate coaching schedules, skaters may be asked to join a session they are not (test) qualified for and will be at the discretion of the Director of Skating 

 

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Session Guidelines and Expectations:

                        

Our season will begin on September 3rd, with a break for Christmas starting on December 20th. We will resume our programs in January when school is back in session. There will be no regularly scheduled classes during spring break, and our final day of the season will be May 22nd. Please note that there are several days throughout the season when our schedule may be modified due to other events booked in the arena, such as hockey tournaments, home shows, concerts, and more. We will notify you as these dates are finalized with the City of West Kelowna.

Our schedule will remain largely unchanged from last season. A tentative version is attached to this email for your review. As a small but active club, our coaching staff balances their professional and personal commitments, which can occasionally impact availability. We strive to offer as much flexibility in everyone's schedules as possible and thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we work to provide the best possible programming for our skaters within the constraints of our scheduling challenges.

We understand that some Star 1-2 (Primary) & Star 3-4 (Intermediate) level skaters may occasionally have difficulty arriving on time for the 3:30 start due to school dismissal times. This is not a problem, and we will do our best to accommodate by allowing affected skaters to start their session late and, when possible, finish their session late to ensure they receive the full ice time. We strive to accommodate everyone's schedules and special requests, and we will continue to handle these on a case-by-case basis.

We have made every effort to keep our expenses down, and thanks to successful fundraising, generous donations, and a modest increase in government funding, we have been able to minimize the impact on our ice fees. Although our ice fees typically increase by approximately 3% each year due to city charges, we are pleased to report that beyond this, we are maintaining our current pricing structure. We are also pleased to inform our members that we will continue to offer a no-interest payment plan for those enrolled in our figure skating program. This season, we will have two registration periods: September to December and January to May. Payment plans will be conveniently split into four equal payments for the September to December period and five equal payments for the January to May period, with payments scheduled for the 15th of each month.

The initial payment upon registration will be $150 for all participants, with the remaining balance split into four equal payments starting on September 15th. If you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to reach out to our president, Christy Luft. We are happy to answer any inquiries and strive to make the registration process as straightforward as possible for everyone.

In addition to the fees for our skating programs, classes, and ice time, all members in our Figure Skating program will be subject to a once-per-season fee of $125.00. This fee covers the Skate Canada Insurance/Membership fee and a $75.00 fundraising fee. This amount will automatically be added to your registration invoice at the beginning of the season.

A key factor that allows us to continue offering our programs at the most affordable prices possible is the strength of our community, filled with volunteer-minded individuals who are willing to lend a helping hand with fundraising initiatives, event support, and more. While we strive not to overwhelm anyone, there will be times when we reach out for assistance, and this is all in the best interest of the club. We thank you in advance for any help you're able to provide throughout the season.

The goal of the MBSC is to help each of our skaters reach their full potential. To achieve this, we set high expectations for work ethic and conduct both on and off the ice. Skating is a highly technical sport that demands hard work, focus, self-discipline, and exemplary behavior.

We ask that all skaters arrive on time for their classes. If a skater is running late, they should join the session quietly, minimizing disruption to others. If you know you will miss a class, please inform Steve or Daniela as early as possible so that coaching schedules can be adjusted. Coaches reserve the right to bill for missed lessons if notice is not provided within 24 hours.

Skaters should come to the rink dressed warmly and appropriately for figure skating—no hoodies or unkempt hair. Avoid clothing or hairstyles that require constant adjustment (e.g., pulling up shirts or fixing ponytails). We recommend stretch-knit gloves instead of ski gloves or mittens, as they allow better movement and won’t become too wet or cold during practice. A snug-fitting warm-up jacket is also advised, especially since most of our sessions will take place in the Jim Lind Arena, which can be quite cold.

Parents are welcome to observe on-ice programs from the viewing stands. However, it is crucial that skaters remain focused during training. Skaters should only leave the ice to use the washroom or if they are injured and need time to recover. We ask that skaters refrain from interacting with parents until after practice is complete. This guideline also applies to off-ice classes. When off-ice sessions are held in the Jim Lind Arena lobby, we ask parents to give the class sufficient space to minimize distractions. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated and helps our coaches run more effective sessions.

For safety reasons, we ask that skaters notify a coach before leaving the ice surface and recommend that skaters also notify parents if they are leaving the arena area to use the washrooms in the lobby.

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Skaters who completed their Star 1 testing program last season will be advanced to the Star 2 program this season. In this level, skaters will begin to receive more one-on-one time with our coaches. Once Star 1 skaters can successfully land a loop & flip jump and have shown progress towards a sit spin Steve and Daniela will inform parents that their skater will begin learning a solo routine and be prepared to enter a Regional level competitions, in addition to participating in the Spring Fling year-end ice show. The majority of this program will be taught in a group format to maximize lesson time and to keep costs down. For those Star 2 skaters wishing to receive additional ice time and private lessons, we are offering the option to book an extra day on Tuesday or Thursday. Please check with Steve for more details on ice and coaching fees.

These are the days that skaters in each category will have available to them:
Junior Academy & Star 1: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Star 2: Any two days from Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, plus one additional day that has private lessons (billed by the coach)
Star 3: Tuesday and Wednesday, plus up to two additional days that has private lessons (billed by the coach)
Star 4 - Gold: Tuesday and Wednesday, plus up to three additional days that has private lessons (billed by the coach)

Starting at the Star 3 level, skaters will begin receiving private and semi-private lessons with our professional coaches. These lessons are crucial for each skater's individual progress within our programs. Star 3 skaters will continue to receive group instruction during our Tuesday and Wednesday classes, which is included with your registration fees. Private and semi-private lessons will be billed directly by the coaches working with your skater. Typically, skaters can expect to receive a 10-15 minute lesson each skating day. If needed, I would be happy to help you establish a lesson budget for your skater to avoid any surprise expenses. Coaches usually invoice at the end of each month.

Additionally, skaters attending competitions within the Okanagan Region will be billed for coaching time, but as a benefit of being a member of our club, travel, meal, and accommodation expenses will not be billed to the skaters. These costs are covered by the club. Coaching fees at the competition will be billed individually by the coaches.

The competition schedule we are putting forward to our figure skating membership is as follows:
Super Series Autumn Leaves - Chilliwack, October 4-6 | Star 4& higher / coaches will confirm skaters eligibility & category
Okanagan Interclub - Kamloops - November 22-24 | Star 1 & Higher / coaches will confirm skaters eligibility & category
Okanagan Regionals - Penticton - February 7-9 | Star 1 & Higher / coaches will confirm skaters eligibility & category
Super Series Star Final - Kelowna - March TBD| Star 2 & Higher / coaches will confirm skaters eligibility & category
 

Registration information will be sent out to parents once it is made available on the Region or BC website. We typically recommend which category or categories to register your skater for, and it is important that parents either wait to receive this recommendation or reach out to Steve or Daniela for guidance before registering. Ensuring that skaters participate in the appropriate level for their stage of development is crucial to making competitions a positive experience for them.

There may also be circumstances where we recommend that skaters not participate in certain events. This would only take place to ensure that each skater is placed in a position where they can have a positive and rewarding competition experience and not to hold anyone back or exclude anyone.

Skates and skate sharpening are crucial aspects of the figure skating program. Due to the specific nature of figure skating blades, they require a very particular type of sharpening. We are fortunate to have access to a master sharpener who generously makes time to sharpen skates for our members. Typically, we set up a schedule for sharpening on a rotation of 3-5 weeks, depending on need and competition schedules. The cost for sharpening is $15 (cash in the skate), and skates will be left in the coaching room at a pre-determined day and time to be returned in time for the next skating day.

In the past, only a few parents have helped with dropping off and picking up skates (from the Glenmore area), and this year we would like to expand that so parents can take turns with this important task. Christy Luft will be organizing a sharpening schedule and drop-off/pick-up calendar, and we hope you can help out. For skaters in Junior Academy and Star 1-2, your skates can also be safely sharpened at Chevy's Source for Sports in Kelowna if needed.
 

Thank you for taking the time to review all the important information included in this letter. We are excited to embark on another season filled with growth, learning, and achievement for our skaters. Your support and attention to the details outlined above are vital to ensuring a smooth and successful season. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to seeing everyone on the ice and working together to make this a fantastic year for all.

 

Steve Muff

Director of Skating 

Mt. Boucherie Skating Club 

www.skatemtmb.com

stevemuff@gmail.com 

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