FAQ
If your child cannot skate, you can enroll in our new Learn to Skate program.
If they already have basic skating skills, they can enroll in the One-Month Trial or Beginner (Learn to Speed Skate) group.
Please see our Programs and Fees page for more information.
We recommend age 5 and above.
Yes, we offer a One Month Trial. This is a full-time Beginner program that includes free skate rental for the duration of the month.
If your skater wishes to continue after the month an upgrade coupon will be offered to offset the original trial price. More details here.
The main ice and competition season runs September through March. The spring and summer dryland season runs April through August when Kitsilano Rink decommissions its ice rink.
- Learn to Skate skaters practice 1x a week – 13 Sunday sessions in the fall term, and 10 Sunday sessions for the winter term.
- Full-time beginner skaters practice 3 days a week: two ice sessions and one off-ice dryland session.
- Full-time intermediate, advanced, and masters skaters can practice up to 4 days a week: 2 ice sessions, 1 optional Saturday ice session, and one off-ice dryland session
- Part-time advanced or masters skaters practie two days a week with one-ice session and one dryland session.
- Please visit our Practice Schedule or our Calendar for more information.
Please visit our Program and Fees page for details on fees and skate rentals.
From September through March, Vancouver Speed Skating Club runs on-ice practices at Kitsilano Rink: 2690 Larch Street, Vancouver, BC V6K 4K9. Dryland takes place at the Kitsilano Community Centre.
In spring and summer, dryland takes place at an outdoor setting.
See the Practice Schedule page for up to date locations and times.
We love you already! Volunteers are essential! Vancouver Speed Skating Club is a non-profit sports club that is run completely by volunteer. All our board members and coordinators assist the club in their spare time. We encourage all members and families to help in daily activities, particularly putting mats on ice. If you can skate, we also strongly encourage you to contribute to coaching. Please inquire at info@vancouverspeedskating.com about how you can help.
Skaters are assessed and evaluated by our coaching staff who place them in an environment that is safe and appropriate for their skill level. All VVSSC skaters start in our Beginner group and are promoted by the coaching staff. Please see the Practices and Expectations page for more detail.
Beginner skaters are not required to go to competitions, but many find it supports their growth and motivation in the sport. Time standards are also used to evaluate promotion to the Intermediate and Advanced group.
We do not recommend that children from the age of 5-11 purchase speed skates due to growth and technical proficiency changes will affect blade length.
To keep costs down and make entry to the sport easier, VSSC offers skate rentals. The cost of skate rental can be paid during registration.
Skaters must wear the following mandatory equipment. The club provides the equipment for Learn to Skate, One Month Trial, and Try Speed Skating skaters – if you move on to other programs, you are required to purchase your own.
Short track speed skates cannot be sharpened with traditional skate shop sharpening machines. They must be sharpened by hand. The club offers sharpening clinics at the beginning of the season and has sharpening equipment in the club room. Visit Skate Sharpening here.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact our president directly: president@vancouverspeedskating.com
For donations (either in-kind services or monetary) please contact treasurer@vancouverspeedskating.com
For volunteering help please contact info@vancouverspeedskating.com
Yes, VSSC is very fortunate to have a fantastic photographer that offers very low cost sales of photos of skaters participating at Interclub competitions. All funds go directly back into our programming costs. The Photo Gallery is located at SmugMug. Please visit this link and browse to find your favourite photos