STARSkaters
The STARSkate program is for skaters who have completed Canskate Stage 5 and covers four distinct elements: ice dancing, freeskating, skating skills and stroking.
Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition is what STARSkate is all about!
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 skating in Canada for more than four decades. When you register your skater 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
- 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 skating skills in four areas – Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Interpretive. The following are Skate Canada videos that illustrate the new STAR 1-5 system.
Changes to higher levels have not been implemented yet but when Skate Canada makes this information available, it will be posted here. In the meantime, this is a PDF of Skate Canada's Long Term Athlete Development.
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 tests (although not mandatory) at organized test 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 CompetitiveSkate Program or become involved in synchronized skating, evaluating or judging, or participate as an adult or varsity member.
Skate Canada is in the process of implementing a new testing structure. More information about this will be posted when it is available.
- Skating Skills teaches the mastery of the basic fundamentals of skating – edge quality, control, power and speed.
- Ice Dance teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison.
- Free Skate teaches the execution of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements and stroking, either in isolation or performed in sequence to music.
- Interpretive encourages and develops skaters’ creativity, expression, musicality, movement, interpretation of music, as well as the use of space, rhythm, line and style. The program provides skaters with the opportunity to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing on technical elements.
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 CompetitiveSkate Program, they still want the opportunity to test their skill in a competition situation. Skate Canada offers several opportunities to do this.
- Invitational Competitions are offered, generally, to STARSkaters and competitive skaters. Most events fall within Skate Canada’s specifications regarding program length and eligibility to compete.
Know Your Skating: Glossary
There are 3 STARSkate levels at NSC: Bronze, Silver and Gold For information about testing, competitions and moving up to higher levels, your best resource is your child's coach or email [email protected]