Registration
for our Fall 2024 & Winter 2025 Skating Programs is now open!
Offering Quality Skating Lessons & Camps in Bradford
If you want to learn to skate for pleasure or you want to pursue a hockey or figure skating career at a competitive level, our school has the programs that are right for you. All of our coaches are highly qualified with NCCP certifications, First Aid and CPR training, along with many years of experience competing and coaching at elite levels. These qualities provide the knowledge, love and passion needed towards teaching and creating an inclusive, positive learning environment. Our technically based instruction utilizes hands on skill correction to produce the highest level of skill development which makes our school stand out from the rest.
Skating Lesson Goals
- To create a fun, safe and challenging skating environment for skaters of all ages
- To promote a healthy and active lifestyle which will improve physical fitness in all our athletes
- To teach the correct skating technique using our hands on and skill correcting approach
- Each skater will learn to set goals and strive to reach them while developing confidence in themselves and their skating abilities
- To attract skaters of all ages and have them fall in love with the sport just as we have
- Each skater will develop a solid foundation to pursue hockey or figure skating at an elite level
What makes us different
- NCCP Certified coaches
- First Aid and CPR Certified coaches
- Small group ratio’s of 1 coach to 5 or 6 students
- Our coaches are always dedicated to learn the most up to date skating techniques
- We host an awards ceremony at the end of each program to acknowledge students for their accomplishments
- Students receive a custom medal and certificate
Your Coaches
Ashley Nochta
Founder/director of Glide Skating Academy. The decision to create a skating academy such as Glide has come from 20 years of elite coaching experience and 20 years of competitive figure skating training. She has competed at the Senior Ladies singles and Senior Pairs level. She has won many competitions throughout her skating career with her highest achievement was competing at the Central Ontario Sectionals competition and winning a Gold medal. Ashley has been trained and coached by some of the country’s well renowned, elite coaches such as Joanne McLeod, Doug Leigh and Bob Emerson. She has also performed in numerous ice shows with Olympic athletes such as Elvis Stojko. Ashley holds NCCP Certifications as well as being First Aid and CPR trained. She continues to study new skating techniques by attending seminars at the Mariposa School of Skating lead by Olympic level coaches.
Maria Galant
Founder/director of Glide Skating Academy. Maria brings 20 years of elite coaching experience and 20 years of competitive figure skating training to Glide Skating Academy. She has placed 5th in Canada at the National Figure Skating Championships as well as being a triple gold medalist at Central Ontario Sectionals. She has performed in many ice shows with Olympic athletes throughout her skating career and was trained by Olympic coach Joanne McLeod. She holds a NCCP certification while being first aid and CPR trained. Maria also specializes in off-ice athlete development programs. She has studied skating techniques along side Olympic coaches at the Mariposa School of Skating while studying Psychology at York University.
Kassandra Poirier
Director at Glide Skating Academy. Kassandra not only has 20 years of on ice experience, and 5 years of coaching experience.. she is also an enthusiastic and ambitious graduate of Southwest Fire Academy with plenty of experience working as a Township Operations employee and as a Personal Trainer. She is also trained as a First Aider and an Emergency Medical Responder making us a safe team.
Pre-service firefighting training has made her very disciplined and reliable. Personal Training has given her strong communication skills as well as the needed knowledge for on and off ice training. Being heavily into fitness herself and having competed in body building competitions she has taken all she has to offer to the ice and is a very strong skater, making for a great demonstration for the participants.
Working for the Township in the rinks for 3 years has made her very familiar with the facilities and how it operates, this makes for a high level of confidence with the policies and procedures we follow.
All her training & education has taught her personal leadership ,discipline, dedication, and the importance of being strong physically and psychologically which is displayed on the ice every single day as a coach and off the ice as a person.
Rob Bedard
Director at Glide Skating Academy and Hockey Tech. Robert has 20 years of skating/hockey coaching and teaching as well as 20+ years of elite hockey playing experiences. He has athletically trained across Ontario as well as in the United States. He is also a two-time Provincial gold medalist at the ‘AAA’ level. Recently returning from Ottawa, Ontario, Robert has completed his Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa achieving Cum Laude status and earning an Ontario Certified Teacher Certificate. Prior to attending the University of Ottawa, Robert completed a Specialized Honours Degree in Kinesiology. While pursuing his academic goals, Robert coached for the Leaside Kings Midget ‘AA’ hockey team, completed the NCCP Level 1 program for hockey and attained a certificate for First Aid with CPR and AED Training. Robert specializes in developing off-ice training programs for hockey players and figure skaters alike and individual skill/technique development that ensure the most efficient and effective use of skills in skating and hockey.
James Budny
James has over 20 years of experience working with youth in sports. He previously worked for the City of Markham leading Power Skating and Learn to Skate programs. During this time he worked with teams in the Markham Waxers organization facilitating player development. James played hockey for Seneca College, winning multiple awards for academic and athletic achievements. He has completed Safe Sport and Positive Environment training with the National Coaching Certification program (NCCP).
Bayne Smith - Hockey Director
Bayne started coaching with Glide in 2018. He has had such a positive impact on his students and Glide, developing our new Hockey Development Program. He shares his passion for hockey in every lesson. He began coaching when he finished his hockey career in 1988. Since then he has been in or around the game in some capacity. He has coached House League, Select and Rep Teams while serving 10 years on the Executive board of the Bradford Minor Hockey Association. Bayne still remains involved in the development of the youngest players in the system as he works with the U5 program as well as First Shift for BWGMHA.
What students
and parents are saying...
“My coach made me feel so comfortable and encouraged me to learn with confidence.
She was very friendly, supportive and fun!”
“The coaches are simply wonderful with the kids. I have seen such an improvement in my daughters skating. She has also attended the camps and LOVES IT!”
“The coaches at Glide Skating Academy make sure to teach their students proper technique right from the beginning.”
“I have two girls that started at Glide in January. One 5 and one 10 year old. The attention and experience they are able to give the students is incredible.”
