Learn to Skate
2025-2026 Season
The Learn to Skate – North Iowa program promotes recreational skating, figure skating, and hockey power in the North Iowa community by providing safe, fun, & high-quality group instruction per the Learn to Skate USA Curriculum. This program is run by the North Iowa Figure Skating Club, its coaches & instructors, and volunteers.
During the 2025-2026 season, we will offer (4) 6-week sessions. Skaters may choose to participate in one, two, three, or all sessions! All classes take place on Sunday afternoons between 4:00 – 6:00 PM, schedule is based on current registration, coaching availability, and arena schedule. The Mason City Arena is located at 111 S Washington Ave, Mason City.
Learn to Skate Programs Offered
Little Explorers: This class is mainly off-ice and designed for children 2-4 years to acclimate new skaters to instruction and the fun skating environment. When offered, classes will meet mostly off-ice, often in a warm environment, and focus on learning key skills off-ice first, including falling down and getting up, dips, and marching. The skaters will be introduced to the arena spaces, taught different types of ice skates, and have the opportunity to try on skates and wear them for their off-ice classes. This class will include ice skating instruction as well as other ice skating-related activities. (Cost: $60/session)
Snowplow Sam 1-4: Designed for children ages 3-6 years with no prior skating experience to build confidence while learning the basic skills of skating. (Cost: $90/session)
Basic 1-6: These levels introduce the fundamental moves of ice skating: forward and backward skating, stops, edges, crossovers, three turns, mohawks, and spins. Basic 1 is for beginners and those with little experience AND ages 6 or older. All skaters start in Basic 1 and must complete the levels in sequential order. (Cost: $90/session)
FreeSkate 1-6: Introduction to more advanced figure skating skills. Skater must complete Basic 6 to register. (Cost: $90/session)
Adult 1-6: These levels are designed for Adults. Teens aged 16 and are new to ice skating may choose to register through the basic skills or adult programs. (Cost: $90/session)
Learn to Skate Additional Opportunities
Synchro 1-4: Synchronized skating features intricate elements performed by teams of 5-20 skaters. The team sport is introduced in the Synchro 1-4 curriculum and is a fantastic way to introduce synchro to anyone participating in group lessons. This program focuses on the five main elements, Block, circle, line, wheel and intersection using prescribed handholds. We recommend that all skaters who have passed Basic 3 or higher try Synchro for one session. Skaters who participate in both group lessons and synchro lessons typically advance quicker than those with only group lessons. This season due to the nature of synchronized skating and building skills and programs there will be two opportunities to join, September & January. ALL Synchro skaters must have their own skates within one (1) month of joining Synchro.
Synchro Cost: $140 Sept – Dec and $120 Jan – April (skater must be registered in a group lesson OR an active regular member of NIFSC club skating w/minimum of Synchro 2 passed). Cost includes weekly 30-minute lessons and participation with costume rental in the Winter show (Sept-Dec participants) and the Spring Show (Jan-April participants).
*NEW for 25-26 Season: ALL skaters who participate in Synchro will have the opportunity to participate on a competition team if registration numbers allow. A separate $200 competition fee will be assessed to help cover the cost of registration, costumes, and additional coaching. If you participated in the Summer Concert Fundraiser you will receive $100 credit towards this fee.
Off-Ice Class: Off-ice skating classes focus on developing fundamental strength, balance, and flexibility to enhance performance on the ice. This class incorporates exercises and drills that improve agility, coordination, and jump technique, complementing on-ice training. Class is offered most Sundays prior to Learn to Skate lessons; specific times will be sent out in the newsletter. Cost is $8/class walk-on rate OR purchase a punch card for $50 for 10 classes. Punch cards may be used at any time during the ’25-’26 season.
Locker Room Access: NEW for the ’25-’26 season, NIFSC will be offering the option to rent a space in the official NIFSC locker room. Cost includes a reserved space with a personalized nameplate. Each skater can store their skates & accessories, hang their jackets with no need to haul things back and forth each time they skate. The NIFSC locker room is accessible during NIFSC-sponsored ice times and is locked at other times. Cost is $60 for a half-season rental or $100 for a full-season rental.
Full Season Registration: NEW for the ’25-’26 season, we are offering a discount to those who want to register for all four sessions of Learn to Skate. Cost $320 Winter Show Participation: ALL Learn to Skate participants can choose to participate in the Learn to Skate group program in the annual Winter Show in December. More information can be found under the Winter Show Events Page.
Spring Show Participation: ALL Learn to Skate participants can choose to participate in the Learn to Skate group program in the annual Winter Show in December. More information can be found under the Winter Show Events Page.
Star Skater Program: NEW for the ’25-’26 Season Learn to Skate participants who wish to explore competition may choose to participate in the Star Skater program for one of the designated competitions. More specific information will be released in the upcoming weeks!
2024-2025 Session Dates
Session 1 – (6-week session) – Sept 7, 14, 21, 28 & Oct 5, 12
Session 2 – (6-week session) – Oct 19, 26 & Nov 2, 9, 16, 23
Session 3 – (6-week session) – Jan 11, 18, 25 & Feb 1, 8, 15
Session 4 – (6-week session) – March 22, 29 & April 5, 12, 19, & 26
Little Explorers & Learn to Skate Cost includes: Weekly 30-minute lesson with an LTS USA Certified Instructor, skate rental (if needed), Learn to Skate USA membership, end-of-session evaluation form, certificate, & patches, as well as lots of FUN!
Tentative Weekly Schedule:
4:00-4:30 pm – Synchro groups & Snowplow Sam levels
4:30-5:00 pm – Snowplow Sam levels & Basic 1-4 levels
5:00-5:30 pm – Basic 5 & 6 & PreFree Skate – FreeSkate 6 levels
Times are tentative based on registration numbers – full schedule will be sent out prior to session start.
