BIS SKATE UK CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
Skate UK is BIS’ flagship learn to skate programme for beginners of all ages and teaches fundamental movements and basic skills. The programme is set up in eight stages. The Skate UK programme emphasises fun and continuous movement and is taught in a group lesson format. Skate UK is taught by professional BIS coaches who can be assisted by trained Programme Assistants.

LEVELS 1-8
Awards and incentives are used to motivate skaters to achieve and develop their skills as well as to keep interest high! Skate UK is a feeder programme to all other BIS programmes. The final, Level 8 of the Skate UK programme is a transitional stage that serves as a bridge from Skate UK to the Skate UK Star Programme. It introduces many figure skating skills that are included in the Preliminary level tests. Skaters who complete Stage 8 are well on their way to taking their first BIS test. For more information on the levels, please see

The objectives of the Skate UK programme are:

TO PROVIDE BASIC SKATING INSTRUCTION IN A GROUP FORMAT

TO INTRODUCE SKATERS TO THE PRINCIPLES OF ‘SKATING’

TO ENCOURAGE AND IDENTIFY ‘TALENTED SKATERS’ SO THAT THEY ARE FAST-TRACKED THROUGH THE BIS SYSTEM OF TRAINING.

Once passed Levels 1-8, you will move to Skate-UK Bronze, Silver and Gold levels

The Skate UK programme is fulfilled by our team of qualified coaches.

Please note, if you currently have lessons, you are more than welcome to participate in lessons from other instructors.

For more information or to book a course please contact the Pleasure Beach Arena 01253 341707

Why Learn to Skate? 

Ice skating is a hugely popular activity that forms the basis of many winter sports you will see in the winter Olympics, including figure skating and speed skating.

This graceful sport sees individual skaters or groups perform a series of dance routines in term with accompanying music. Incorporating spins, jumps and fast turns, figure skating certainly offer a more artistic form of ice skating.

Adult Skate UK is on Thursday Evening and Under 16’s Skate-UK takes place on Saturday and Sunday mornings. See times below;

Adult Skate-UK – Thursday 7:15pm-8:15pm 

Under 16’s Skate-UK – Saturday 10:00am-10:30am – Advanced Class Level 6 – Gold

Under 16’s Skate-UK – Saturday 10:30am-11:00am – Beginners Class Level 1 – 5

Under 16’s Skate-UK – Sunday11:15am-11:45am – Advanced Class Level 6 – Gold

Under 16’s Skate-UK – Sunday 11:45am-12:15pm – Beginners Class Level 1 – 5

The Skate UK is a programme of basic skills; these are the fundamentals of the sport. Once a skater has completed this programme then they have the basic knowledge of the sport. This programme is tested under a progressive and continuous testing structure.

Level 1:

1.  Sit down and Stand Up
2.  March forwards across the Ice
3.  Forward two foot glide
4.  Skate and Dip (Little Man)
5.  Turn around on the spot

Level 2:

1.  Backward marching across the ice
2.  Forwards Swizzles (Lemons)
3.  Forward two foot glide on a curve (Left and right)
4.  Two foot turn on the spot (forwards to backwards, backwards to forwards)
5.  Snowplough or T- Stop

Level 3

1.  Forward Stroking (showing correct use of blade)
2.  Moving two foot turn (forwards to backwards, backwards to forwards)
3.  Backwards Swizzles (Lemons)
4.  Backwards two foot glide
5.  Forward one foot glide (left and right)

Level 4

1.  Forward Outside edges on a circle (Left and right)
2.  Forward Inside edges on a circle (Left and right)
3.  Basic forward Slalom (basic outside/inside edges)
4.  Backwards Stroking
5.  Forward continuous Chasses around a circle (clockwise and anti-clockwise)

Level 5

1.  Backward outside edges on a circle (left and right)
2.  Backward inside edges on a circle (left and right)
3.  Backward continuous Chasses around a circle (clockwise and anti-clockwise)
4.  Forward Crossovers (clockwise and anti-clockwise)
5.  Forward Outside Three turns (left and right) from a standstill

Level 6

1.  Forward inside Three turn (left and right) from standstill
2.  Backwards outside edges step to forward outside edge on a circle
3.  Backward Crossovers (clockwise and anticlockwise)
4.  Backward two foot Slalom
5.  Two foot Spin (Min 2 revs)

Level 7

1.  Forward inside Mohawk (left and right)
2.  Backward crossovers to landing position glide
3.  Continuous forward outside edges along a straight line (As per NISA level 1 field-moves)
4.  Continuous forward inside edges along a straight line ( As per NISA level 1 field-moves)
5.  Basic forward Cross rolls

Level 8

1.  Continuous outside Three turns around a circle (three in a row) Left & right
2.  Continuous inside Three turns around a circle (three in a row) left & right
3.  Step sequence: Three turns, Mohawk, cross rolls, twizzles, toe steps etc
4.  Forward inside single Twizzle (left and right) Hockey skaters- Forward Drag (right and left)
5.  One foot Spin (Min 2 revs) Hockey skaters- two foot Spin (Min 4 revs

Skate UK STAR 0 Free skating Grades

The SKATE UK STAR is a programme of basic skills relevant to the free skating discipline: These are the fundamentals of this discipline. Once a skater has completed this programme, they have the basic knowledge of Free Skating and is able to progress up to the British ice Skating National Test structure. This programme is tested under a progressive and continuous testing structure.

Silver Level

• Single Salchow
• Spin on one foot (Min 4 revs) entry from backwards crossovers, stepping into a forward outside edge, with a landing position exit
• Backward spiral on a curve (Left and right) 
• Backwards crossovers around a circle into an extended landing position for the count of 3 (left and right)
• Teapot on the either foot (Forwards or backwards)

Gold Level

Backwards outside one foot spin (Min 1 rev)
Single toe loop (with correct take off – not a toe three jump_
Spiral sequence: forward outside spiral, forward outside three turn, two backwards crossovers, back inside spiral (Spirals held for 3 seconds) Clockwise and counter-clockwise
A simple step sequence: Must have three turns, Mowharks, Chasses, Cross-rolls, Toe Steps; these can be done on any edge, forwards or backwards
Combination of skating movements: To include turns, jumps and spins in a short routing; with or without music (Max 1 minute and 30 seconds)