Process

The Balance Blades way:

We believe that every child should start their skating journey on Balance Blades using a push aid. This step-by-step progression prioritizes safety, builds confidence, and accelerates skill development.         

Push aid  

Starting with Stability:

Children begin by walking on Balance Blades with the help of a push aid. The front indentations help them stand up from the ice, move forward, and develop balance. The rear indentations prevent slips and rear falls, providing essential stability.

Natural Stride Development: 

As children gain confidence, they transition to a natural stride, using the center of the blade for balance and agility. The rear indentations continue to prevent slips and rear falls, providing essential stability.

Skill-Building:

Children develop agility by changing directions with the push aid, learning to stop using the ‘V stop’ or ‘pizza stop,’ and gradually increasing their speed and control. The rear indentations continue to prevent slips and rear falls, providing essential stability. As their skills progress, the front indentations can be reduced or removed with sharpening.

Confidence Without the Push Aid: 

When they are ready, children practice striding independently by pushing away the push aid and retrieving it, gradually increasing their distance. The rear indentations continue to prevent slips and rear falls, providing essential stability.  As their confidence grows, the rear indentations can be reduced or removed with sharpening.

Motivation Through Positive Reinforcement:

Offering praise and/or small rewards, like a child's favorite treat, can keep them motivated and excited about achieving each stage of the learn to skate sequence. Positive reinforcement creates a fun and encouraging environment, helping children associate skating with success and joy.

Success:

By following the Balance Blades learn-to-skate model, children gain confidence, skill, and ability. This results in significantly fewer instances of rear falls during the learning process, making the entire experience safer and helping them learn to skate sooner.