Reported by Holly Flinta

Executive Board for 2008/2009

President - Joanne Godfrey
Vice Pres. - Sherry Thorgilsson
Tres. - Amanda Lucier
Secretary - Christina DeKleer
Head Coach - Cheryl Eirickson
Assistant Coach - Shelby Eirickson, Kaitlin Flinta
Carnival Ice Show Organizer - Holly Flinta

This club is not registered with Skate Canada we are not official Canskate Club.They are calling themselves the “Eriksdale learn to skate program”. To be registered with Skate Canada you require a licensed coach (which is hard to get these days) as well, the extra fees the club is required to pay to be registered is quite high. For example, they were charging $25. Per skater here in Eriksdale as opposed to appox. $125. Per skater in other registered Canskate Clubs. Also, as the skaters make their way out of Canskate into the higher levels in Lundar the fees are increase dramatically. Cheryl Eirickson did have all of her certificates in the past but has let them go, however , she is a great coach and she might be looking into getting re-certified. Shelby and Kaitlin have helped as canskate assistants for the previous 4 years with the Lundar program and the parents seemed to be very happy with their performance this year. The coaching staff is all volunteer which helps keep the clubs costs down. This season the program was run similar to the Canskate program with the skaters being assessed and then divided into appropriate levels.

The Level 1 ( newest skaters) was a large group and was split into 2 group and each received two - ½ hour sessions per week. The assistant coaches are assigned their groups and are with them for the full lesson time. The head coach rotates between the groups and gives them individual instruction within the group setting.

The Level 2 - level 5 groups receive two hour lessons per week, as well as, stroking sessions to build their strength as skaters.

We were getting between 6 - 7 hours per week of ice in total for the club and encourage all of the skaters to use the ice time to their fullest advantage by practicing what they had learnt in their lesson time, during the times they are not having lessons. Those skaters that were on the ice for almost the entire time developed so much faster. With such a short season it is extremely important that they get as much time on the ice as possible. Cheryl and the girls also encouraged the skaters to try extra things that may be more advanced than their canskate level may require. This seemed to be something the kids enjoyed. At the end of the season the skaters were reassessed and given certificates showing which level they will go into next season as well as a report card showing what they have to accomplished and what they may need to work on.

For any club details, costs etc. I would contact Joanne Godfrey, and for any coaching info Cheryl or myself.

Skate Canada