In 2016, Learn to Skate USA set out to create a unified pathway into skating for athletes across the country that instilled a lifelong love for the sport. Today, with endorsements from U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey and US Speedskating, the program serves as the premier entry point for countless figure skaters, hockey players and speed skaters alike.

As Learn to Skate USA celebrates its 10-year anniversary, we reflect on its evolution, its impact on participants and rinks and look ahead at how the program is evolving.

Learn to Skate USA was developed as an enhanced version of U.S. Figure Skating's pioneering Basic Skills Program, which taught nearly 3 million people how to skate since 1968.

For Vice President of Membership, Elise Preston, there is plenty to get excited about for the future of the program, but at its core, the growth of Learn to Skate USA is focused on one thing: the people it serves.

"We're seeing incredible excitement around skating right now. Athletes like Alysa Liu are inspiring future skaters and Learn to Skate USA is where that inspiration becomes a first step onto the ice," Preston said. "Our goal is to make that first skating experience feel exciting, welcoming and accessible for every person who walks into a rink."

Over the past 10 years, the program has seen significant growth among traditionally underrepresented groups.

"The growth we're seeing among boys and adult skaters is especially exciting because it reflects what figure skating can be — a sport with a place for everyone."

Looking ahead, Preston said another key focus is continuing to strengthen the Learn to Skate USA brand.

"Strengthening the Learn to Skate USA brand starts with supporting the instructors and coaches who create those first experiences on the ice," Preston said. "For most skaters, their Learn to Skate USA instructor is the coach who sparks a lifelong love of skating. That's why we're investing in grassroots coaches across the country, because those early experiences shape a skater's confidence and connection to the sport."

That growth has been felt across the skating community as well, from skating directors who have been involved in the sport from Basic Skills to now, to athletes who got their start in Basic Skills and are now helping to foster the next generation.

Through an effective business model of creating a robust curriculum, Learn to Skate USA created a system that allows rinks and instructors to "plug and play" to implement the programs that make the most sense for them.

"One of the things that you previously noticed around the country is there was always some sort of tweaking that some director decided that they didn't like parts of whatever program they were running, so they decided to do their own thing," said Lori Cervinka, skating director of more than10 years and current assistant general manager with the Florida Panthers. "With Learn to Skate USA, it's been packaged so that you can, on day one, open up whatever you're planning on running and go with it. It's been branded; there's materials. You don't have to think about how I'm going to make this better, because it's all there for you. You can grab from all of the materials that are accessible for all of the skating directors, hand it to your instructors and it's all going to work out. If we just follow the directions, we have all the lesson plans here."

Successful Learn to Skate USA programs have also created positive ripple effects throughout rink operations.

"It's trickled down to every single program in the building, which is really great," Kim Navarro, skating director at Snoopy's Home Ice in Santa Rosa, California, said. "A lot of kudos will be given to the Learn to Skate USA program by other managers when they celebrate their growth. Even our gift shop across the street that sells skates, they say, 'Oh, because of the Learn to Skate program growth, we're selling more skates now.' That's a really cool thing that we've seen."

Most importantly, Learn to Skate USA created a streamlined pathway for participants wanting to take their first steps on the ice without feeling overwhelmed by the steps to get there.

Denise Hughes, skating director at Apex Parks and Recreation, was involved in the transition from Basic Skills to Learn to Skate USA as a regional business specialist, helping introduce the program to club leaders and coaches nationwide.

"Learn to Skate USA has made skating feel more accessible," Hughes said. "It feels more clear, more welcoming. Families know how to get started without feeling so overwhelmed, because all of the tools are there and then they can really understand the sport. And to me, the momentum comes from the fact that it opens doors and it brings people into the rink and into skating, of course. But really, no matter what direction they choose, they are supported by Learn to Skate USA. It's a community, and it's a way for them to find their path."

Learn to Skate USA continues to engage members on and off the ice through robust on-ice curriculum, a member-specific app to track progress and on social media. The program grew beyond Basic Skills and now includes more than a dozen pathways for participants to fall in love with skating, including Theatre On Ice and Adult tracks. An Adaptive Skating curriculum tailored toward individuals with disabilities ensures everyone can learn to skate, regardless of ability. Additionally, events like SkateFests take place nationwide to welcome as many people to the ice as possible.

Lyra Katzman started her skating journey in the Basic Skills program and has since pursued a career in judging, where she is working toward her national appointment and has a front row seat to witness the future of the sport of figure skating. 

"I think that the more people who learn how to skate and get involved early, the more inclusive and the more voices that we'll have in figure skating," Katzman said. "We have a lot of top skaters and that's amazing, but I think even more so it's important for the sport to have a broad range of voices and to have more skaters. The more skaters there are, the healthier the sport is."

Since its inception, Learn to Skate USA has fulfilled its mission through the dedication of skating directors, instructors, volunteers and countless others working behind the scenes to grow the sport. Their efforts have helped the program reach record membership numbers and introduce new generations to skating.

As Learn to Skate USA celebrates its 10-year anniversary, the program remains focused on creating welcoming opportunities for skaters of all ages and abilities while continuing to build a strong foundation for the future of the sport.