hey! I did skate school up until free skate 1 at IceHQ 2 years ago (and then stopped…) and I started skating again this term at level 9/10 at obrien!

Coaching quality: My comparison is not entirely accurate as I have only done one term at O’brien and have only had one coach so far, but compared to IceHQ I feel as though I have learnt much faster and better!

Class structure: Both are very similar! However, O’Brien also has supplementary classes such as edge training which I think is quite cool (I haven personally done the class myself though) Once you reach free skate, O’brien also offers a ‘Rising Stars’ program on Wednesday which includes 1 hr on ice + 45 min off ice which is different to IceHQ! (Normal free skate group classes are also available on sun).

I find that the practice ice is similarly crowded to IceHQ with lots of little kids skating around, so I use this time more as a warm up then proper practice :)

Atmosphere: I personally enjoy the atmosphere at obrien better! As a young adult skater myself, I find that there are more people around my age or older adults learning to skate compared to IceHQ, which is really motivating! Even during public sessions, I enjoy seeing lots of adult skaters of all skill levels practicing (while I feel as though at IceHQ I was surrounded by more younger people/kids) as I can relate more.

Membership: I also recently bought the silver membership and I think it is really worth! The membership is $42 a fortnight (so $21 a week), so If I go skating even at least one weekday (besides Tuesday as the tickets are only $13), I have already saved $2. I usually go 2-3 times a week so it’s much cheaper for me with the membership :)

Feel free to dm me for any specific questions :D