Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition – this is what STARSkate is all about!
STARSkate offers opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of ice dance, skating skills, free skate and interpretive skating. Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating skills in a group and/or private lesson format in a progressive and sequential manner and includes specifically designed awards and incentives. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada Tests through a nationally standardized testing system. Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating.
The STARSkate legacy
STARSkate has been the mainstay of figure skating in Canada for more than four decades.
When you/your child registers for a STARSkate program at your local Skate Canada club, you also become a member
of Skate Canada and will have access to:
opportunities to be recognized through a nationally standardized testing system for achieving specific figure
skating skills
complimentary Gold Test pins
invitational and interclub competitions, including the STARSkate championship stream
specifically designed awards and incentives such as badges, tattoos and stickers
STARSkate Skater of the Year awards program
Progress updates and report cards
Special STARSkate events and club functions
Opportunity to be talent-scouted
Opportunity for personal growth and the development of important life skills such as goal-setting, self-discipline, confidence, time management, healthy lifestyle and coping strategies to deal with success and failure.
How STARSkate works
The STARSkate program consists of figure skating skills in four areas – Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and
Artistic Programs.
What Options do I have as a STARSkate Athlete?
Once a skater is in the Skate Canada STARSkate Program, there are several of options. Skaters may choose to
remain in the STARSkate Program, taking assessments (although not mandatory) at organized assessment sessions
and honing learned skills. Skaters may also choose to enter competitions, while still trying Skate Canada tests. Other
skaters may feel that they have progressed to a point where they may wish to enter the Skate Canada Competitive
Skate Program or become involved in synchronized skating, evaluating or judging, or participate as an adult or varsity
member.
Skating Skills
Skating Skills are a combination of fundamental skating movements, executed on a pattern and skated solo. The
basic components of all disciplines of figure skating are incorporated into the program. The movements are derived
from former compulsory figures, free skating and ice dancing. The objective of the Skating Skills program is mastery of
the basic fundamentals of skating – edge quality, control, power and speed.
There are 11 Skating Skills tests in the STARSkate program: STAR 1 through STAR 10 and GOLD
Ice Dance
Consisting of 12 levels, the Dance program teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure as well as basic
skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison.
The dances in the STARSkate Program can be tried in any order but a candidate must pass the required number of
dances in a dance test before proceeding to the next level. In addition to the traditional compulsory dances, there are
also Creative Dances to challenge skaters’ creativity, artistry and originality.
The Dance Assessments are as follows: STAR 1 through STAR 10, GOLD and Diamond
Free Skate
Free skating consists of the execution of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements and stroking, either in isolation or
performed in sequence to music.
There are 11 Free Skating tests in the STARSkate Program: STAR 1 through STAR 10 and GOLD
Each test consists of 2 parts – Elements and a Free Program.
Artistic
Competitions for STARSkate Athletes
STARSkate participants love to compete! Our feedback indicates that even though a skater may choose not to
participate in the Skate Canada Competitive Skate Program, they still want the opportunity to test their skill in a
competition situation. Skate Canada offers several opportunities to do this. Please speak to your private coach about
competitive opportunities.
Competitions for STARSkate Athletes
STARSkate participants love to compete! Our feedback indicates that even though a skater may choose not to
participate in the Skate Canada Competitive Skate Program, they still want the opportunity to test their skill in a
competition situation. Skate Canada offers several opportunities to do this. Please speak to your private coach about
competitive opportunities.
