Youth Skate is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to introduce inner-city youth to the sport of ice skating and present it as a safe, fun and challenging after school activity. Schools and students are chosen by the San Francisco Superintendent of School's Office. The school age of participants runs from fifth grade through ninth grade.
The program has been featured on the national television, and San Francisco local television and newspapers. In the last 20 years over 10,000 students have participated.
The program is run in conjunction with the San Francisco Unified School District and is supported by the San Francisco Redevelopment Authority, the Yerba Buena Ice Skating Center, and the City of San Francisco. Brian Boitano’s Youth Skate takes place at the Yerba Buena Ice Center in San Francisco during the school year.
The program includes:
- Participation by 60-100 students per session
- Ice skating lessons, equipment and admission
- Light snacks
- Complimentary t-shirts
- Question and answer sessions with the athletes & instructors
- Free Passes for a future skate rental and skating session
In addition, participating schools receive 10 copies of the book, “Boitano’s Edge” for their libraries, allowing the teachers to familiarize their students with the sport in advance.
The students receive instruction from top Bay Area instructors, among them, Brian Boitano, and his coach Linda Leaver.
“Thank you very much for organizing and providing our students the opportunity to participate in the Youth Skate program. They all had a most enjoyable time at the event. For many of them, it was their very first opportunity on ice. For so many of our inner-city kids, this is quite a luxury to have. Thank you again for thinking of us!”