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 Assessment through a nationally standardized assessment system. Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating, ice dance or pairs skating.

For participation in the STARSkate program, skaters must have successfully completed all Stage 6 CanSkate Levels of the Skate Canada CanSkate Program. All skaters at the STARSkate level and higher must wear proper figure skates and skating attire and work with a private coach.

2022-2023 Fall-Winter-Spring Programs

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 assessment system for achieving specific figure skating skills
  • Complimentary Gold Assessment pins
  • Invitational and interclub competitions, including the STARSkate championship stream
  • 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.
These are some of the awards and incentives that have been developed to encourage athletes in the STARSkate Program.
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 asessment sessions and honing learned skills. Skaters may also choose to enter competitions, while still trying Skate Canada Assessments. 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.

 

Skating Skills
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.

 

Ice Dance
The Dance Assessment 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 assessment 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.

 

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.
Each assessment consists of 2 parts – Elements and a Free Program.

 

Artistic
The objective of the Artistic program is to encourage and develop 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.
The Artistic assessments consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music. Skaters can take artistic assessments as individuals and/or as a couple (male/female, female/female or male/male) at four levels.

Private lessons are a service provided by the professional coaching staff. As a parent you should discuss this directly with your child’s coach. A fee is charged by the coach for this service, and is agreed upon between parent and coach. Sometimes, a coach may teach groups of two or more of their students if they are working at similar levels thus reducing the cost. It is important to keep an open dialogue with your coach, as this is the best source of information.  As a New STAR 1 it will take some time to adjust to the format of a Figure skating session. You will be spending more time working independently and although there is a structure to the session, young skaters sometimes find it difficult to make the transition from CanSkate to STAR 1. All arrangements are made between the parent and the coach – schedules and payment do not go through the main office.

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. The process of preparing for competition focuses’ skaters efforts and the performance experience can improve performance under pressure both at competitions and Assessment Days. Besides, skaters enjoy competitions outside their club – they are exciting and skaters feel proud to represent their club.

Star 1-2

  • Successful completion in full, all Stage 6 CanSkate Levels of the Skate Canada CanSkate Program.

15min group lesson

30min independent working time / time with private coach

15min group lesson

Star 3-4

  • Star 2 Freeskate Elements AND Program

15min group lesson

45min independent working time / time with a private coach

Star 5+
  • Star 5 Freeskate Elements AND Program

15min on-ice power class

45min independent working time / time with a private coach

Open Session

  • Star 5a Dance OR Star 2 Freeskate Elements AND Program

60min independent working time / time with a private coach