Class Descriptions

This activity is for the toddler – aged child, who can’t stay off the ice! The half-hour long class will introduce your children to the ice in a FUN, silly way that will ease their fears about getting on something so slippery! Participants WILL NOT WEAR ICE SKATES in this class. It will start with 10-15 minutes of off-ice instruction and welcome, and finish with 15-20 minutes of fun time on the ice! They are required to wear snowpants, boots with traction, and helmets. Children are encouraged to explore their abilities, enhance listening capabilities, socialize in a group and develop gross motor skills. Theme weeks, music, toys, and other fun equipment are used to make it a fun and developmental experience.

This class is for the older toddler – aged child, interested in skating! The 45-min long class will include pre-class instruction with guardian, approx 20 – 30 min on the ice for the skater, and story or craft time afterward. Children are encouraged to explore their abilities, enhance listening capabilities, socialize in a group and develop gross motor skills.

*Note: MPSC offers rental skates starting at size child size 8. Double blades are not allowed.

The Snowplow Sam levels are designed to help the pre-school aged skater (ages 3-5) develop preliminary coordination and strength and maneuver on the ice.

• Snowplow Sam 1: Introductory level for ages 3-5, no pre-requisites are required. It teaches skaters to balance on the ice, move forward, how to fall properly and safely, and to get back up.
• Snowplow Sam 2: Skater must pass Snowplow Sam 1 in order to be eligible for this class. Teaches skaters skills such as preliminary backward skating movements; gliding forward; dips and swizzles.
• Snowplow Sam 3: Skater must pass Snowplow Sam 2 in order to be eligible for this class. Teaches skaters skills such as forward skating with speed; forward and backward Swizzles; Slalom motions and how to stop.

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The Basic Skills levels are the beginner levels for ages 6 to 12, and teach the fundamentals of the sport of figure skating. These levels introduce forward and backward skating, stops, edges, crossovers and turns.

• Basic 1: Introductory level, no pre-requisites are required. Teaches skaters skills such as how to balance on the ice; moving and gliding forward; forward Swizzles; backward wiggles and how to Snowplow Stop.
• Basic 2: Skater must pass Basic 1 in order to be eligible for this class. Teaches skaters skills such as 1-foot glides; backward 2-foot glides; backward Swizzles; 2-foot turns from forward to backward.
• Basic 3: Skater must pass Basic 2 in order to be eligible for this class. Teaches skaters skills such as forward Stroking; forward pumps on a circle; backward 1-foot glides; 2-foot turn with speed; forward slaloms. 

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Teen & Adult curriculum is designed for beginner teen and up skaters (ages 13 and up). It will promote physical fitness and improve balance and coordination.

• Teen & Adult 1: Introductory level, no pre-requisites are required. Teaches skaters skills such as how to balance on ice; moving and gliding forward; Snowplow stops with speed; dips; 2-foot turns in place.
• Teen & Adult 2: Skater must pass Teen & Adult 1 in order to be eligible for this class. Teaches skaters forward stroking; pumps on a circle; 1-foot glides; chasses; backward glides; backward wiggles and backward Swizzles.
• Teen & Adult 3: Skater must pass Teen & Adult 2 in order to be eligible for this class. Teaches skaters skills such as forward edges on a circle; forward crossovers; backward 1-foot glides; backward snowplow stop; backward pumps on a circle; 2-foot turn; beginning 2-foot spin.

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For ages 6 and up, The Free Skate levels are designed for advanced skaters, who have already passed all of the introductory “Basic 8” levels. Skaters are already getting used to spinning and jumping.

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Join the MPSC Hockey Cheerleading squad today! We cheer on-ice and off-ice for MPSC’s house hockey teams, the Horned Frogs, at their Saturday afternoon home games! Cheerleaders will get 45 min in the Gym where they will learn basic cheers and cheer maneuvers. Cheerleaders will then have 45 minutes on the ice to learn an on-ice cheer routine to music; all of which will be performed at Horned Frogs Hockey Games. The group of skaters are encouraged to sign up each session of the skating season, as the team will also perform in the 2022 Holiday Ice Show, and 2023 Spring Ice Show.   

Game Performances will start in the Fall 2 session on Saturday afternoons.

Cheerleaders must know how to skate forward and glide without assistance.
Ages 4 – 10.

Synchronized skating is the fastest-growing discipline of ice skating where 8–20 skaters skate on ice as a team, moving as one flowing unit – forming shapes and intersections, performing varying skills and working as one. As levels progress, teams compete regionally, nationally and globally!

MPSC’s Intro to Synchro class introduces this fun and exciting discipline in a non-competitive platform to teach skaters the basics of the sport and give them opportunities to perform their program for friends and family.

Figure Skating requires strength in every part of the body. Strong legs for jumping and landing, strong arms for balance, and most important strong body core. Off ice exercises help skaters with balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, and skill training.

Off-Ice Jump classes are offered on Saturday mornings for skaters in Basic 4 and Up.

Bridge Programs, like our Academy, are made for skaters looking to Bridge the Gap between recreational Learn to Skate (LTS) classes, and starting to become a competitive skater. The Southside Skating Academy is for skaters in Basic 5 through Free Skate 3, and is made up of multiple classes (on and off the ice) each week, for a reduced rate. Skaters in the Academy will be guided through our structured training program, with the goal to create an MPSC Competitive Team!

Our program includes:
One hour weekly exclusive to Academy skaters
Off-Ice classes: Goal setting, Mental training, Stretch and Strengthen
45 min of normal Learn-to-skate class included in price!

Synchronized Skating is a competitive team sport, made up of 8 – 16 skaters who perform a program together. It is characterized by teamwork, speed, formations and step sequences. Levels range from beginner to World Championship level competitions. We were proud to field two teams in our inaugural 2019-2020 season, in the Synchro Skills 1 and Synchro Skills 2 levels – the two beginning levels of synchro! 

If you’re interested in joining the Chicago Red Line for our 2020-2021 Training Season, we accept skaters who are in Basic 5 and up, and as young as 7! Click here for more information about our teams!

Want to see more about Synchronized Skating? Click here to check out some YouTube videos!

Bridge Programs, like our Academy, are made for skaters looking to Bridge the Gap between recreational Learn to Skate (LTS) classes, and starting to become a competitive skater. The Southside Skating Academy is for skaters in Basic 5 through Free Skate 3, and is made up of multiple classes (on and off the ice) each week, for a reduced rate. Skaters in the Academy will be guided through our structured training program, with the goal to create an MPSC Competitive Team!

Our program includes:
One hour weekly exclusive to Academy skaters
Off-Ice classes: Goal setting, Mental training, Stretch and Strengthen
45 min of normal Learn-to-skate class included in price!

Figure Skating requires strength in every part of the body. Strong legs for jumping and landing, strong arms for balance, and most important strong body core. Off ice exercises help skaters with balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, and skill training.

Off-Ice Jump classes are offered on Saturday mornings for skaters in Basic 4 and Up.

Synchronized skating is the fastest-growing discipline of ice skating where 8–20 skaters skate on ice as a team, moving as one flowing unit – forming shapes and intersections, performing varying skills and working as one. As levels progress, teams compete regionally, nationally and globally!

MPSC’s Intro to Synchro class introduces this fun and exciting discipline in a non-competitive platform to teach skaters the basics of the sport and give them opportunities to perform their program for friends and family.

Join the MPSC Hockey Cheerleading squad today! We cheer on-ice and off-ice for MPSC’s house hockey teams, the Horned Frogs, at their Saturday afternoon home games! Cheerleaders will get 45 min in the Gym where they will learn basic cheers and cheer maneuvers. Cheerleaders will then have 45 minutes on the ice to learn an on-ice cheer routine to music; all of which will be performed at Horned Frogs Hockey Games. The group of skaters are encouraged to sign up each session of the skating season, as the team will also perform in the 2022 Holiday Ice Show, and 2023 Spring Ice Show.   

Game Performances will start in the Fall 2 session on Saturday afternoons.

Cheerleaders must know how to skate forward and glide without assistance.
Ages 4 – 10.