Grades by country · Australia

Aussie Skate

Not checked yet. The level lists on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

Aussie Skate is Ice Skating Australia’s learn-to-skate programme. Its instructor’s manual lays out Tiny Tots 1 to 3 for children of five and under, then Basic 1 and 2, Novice 1 and 2 and Intermediate 1 and 2, with free skate, hockey and adult streams after them. The manual describes how each skill is done and assessed, which is why the guide’s basics lean on it.

The level names here are the manual’s. From April 2021 Ice Skating Australia calls Basic 1 to Intermediate 2 Aussie Skate 1 to 10, and Tiny Tots plain Tots (its Communication 125). Basic 1 and 2 became Aussie Skate 1 and 2, and each later level became two: Novice 1 is now Aussie Skate 3 and 4, and so on up to Intermediate 2 as Aussie Skate 9 and 10. Which skills went into which half is in a 2021 curriculum document that is not published on its site, so the skills below stay in the manual’s order and a skater on Aussie Skate 5 should look under Novice 2 and match by skill.

Basic 1

Now called Aussie Skate 1.

• Correct way to fall and stand up Falling and getting up
• Dip in place Dip
• March forward across the ice Marching
• Forward two-foot glide Two-foot glide
• Rocking horse Swizzle One forward and one backward swizzle movement in place.
• Forward swizzles, six to eight Swizzle
• Backward wiggles Backward wiggles
• Snowplow stop standing still Snowplough stop

Basic 2

Now called Aussie Skate 2.

• Dip while moving Dip
• Forward two-foot glides on a curve Two-foot glide
• Backward swizzles, six to eight Backward swizzle
• Backward two-foot glide Backward two-foot glide
• Moving snowplow stop Snowplough stop
• Forward alternating half swizzle pumps in a straight line Half-swizzle pumps
• Two-foot turn from forward to backward, standing still Two-foot turn
• Two-foot hop in place Two-foot hop

Novice 1

Now called Aussie Skate 3 and Aussie Skate 4.

• Forward stroking, showing correct use of blade Forward stroking
• Forward slalom Slalom
• Forward one-foot glides One-foot glide
• Forward half swizzle pumps on a circle Half-swizzle pumps
• Backward one-foot glides Backward one-foot glide
• Backward alternating half swizzle pumps in a straight line Backward half-swizzle pumps
• Two-foot spin, two revolutions Two-foot spin

Novice 2

Now called Aussie Skate 5 and Aussie Skate 6.

• Forward crossovers Left forward outside crossover
• Backward stroking Backward stroking
• Backward slalom Backward slalom
• Backward half swizzle pumps on a circle Backward half-swizzle pumps
• Two-foot turn from forward to backward, on a curve Two-foot turn
• FO edge on a semi-circle Left forward outside edge, Right forward outside edge
• FI edge on a semi-circle Left forward inside edge, Right forward inside edge

Intermediate 1

Now called Aussie Skate 7 and Aussie Skate 8.

• Backward crossovers Left backward outside crossover
• BO edge on a circle Left backward outside edge, Right backward outside edge
• BI edge on a circle Left backward inside edge, Right backward inside edge
• Two-foot turn from backward to forward Backward two-foot turn
• FI three-turn on a semi-circle Left forward inside three turn
• FO three-turn on a semi-circle Left forward outside three turn
• FI open mohawk Left forward inside mohawk

Intermediate 2

Now called Aussie Skate 9 and Aussie Skate 10.

• Forward outside circle stroking Left forward outside crossover, Left forward outside three turn, Left backward outside crossover
• Forward inside circle stroking Left forward outside crossover, Left forward inside mohawk, Left backward outside crossover
• FI pivots Pivot
• Tap toe jump Tap toe jump
• Bunny hop Bunny hop
• T-stops T-stop
• Two-foot spin with entry and exit, three revolutions Two-foot spin

Source: Aussie Skate Program Instructor's Manual (updated January 2020)