Yes — regardless of prior skating experience (including Learn to Skate through a City program), skaters must complete all 6 stages of Skate Canada’s CanSkate program before moving into our figure skating program, StarSkate. Skaters with prior experience often move through the 6 stages faster, but everyone starts in CanSkate.
If your skater already passed Stage 6 at a different club, email info@skatescbc.ca with a copy of their report card so we can update your account.
Figure skates and proper skating attire — hockey skates aren’t suitable, and hooded sweatshirts aren’t recommended since they can obstruct sightlines. Skaters who’ve passed CanSkate Stage 5 no longer need a helmet.
Full equipment guidance and retailer info, refer to our REQUIRED EQUIPMENT page:
We strongly recommend speaking with your skater’s coach before purchasing figure skates.
Skates must be sharpened by a professional after every 15-25 hours of skating. Figure Skates MUST be sharpened by a professional at a Figure Skating store (locations listed on our REQUIRED EQUIPMENT page). SCBC also provides a monthly Figure Skate Sharpening Service at Cassie Campbell. Check your emails for information on the next upcoming sharpening date.
StarSkate sessions are run with a combination of group lessons, private or semi-private lessons with your skaters base coach, and individual working time.
In Star 1, the whole session is in a group lesson format. Skaters rotate through different stations, working on different skills with multiple coaches. When they pass all their Star 1 assessments, they are eligible to move into Star 2/3. Skaters will be paired with a base coach when they near completion of their assessments. Parents and skaters are also free to contact a Regional level (and above) coach that they prefer.
The Star 2/3 session is 60 minutes and includes 2 x 15-minute group lessons usually taught at the beginning and end of each session. During the non group lesson times skaters may have a private or semi private lesson with their base coach and also will start to learn how to practice and work independently. Base coaches will provide their skaters with tips and tools on what to practice when they aren’t in a lesson.
Yes, starting at Star 2/3 — your skater’s base coach tracks their progress and determines readiness for assessments, since StarSkate doesn’t use report cards. Coach pairing, typical fees, and how billing works are covered under Coach Information on our Club Policies page.
Not yet connected with a base coach? Contact us at info@skatescbc.ca.
Coaching fees are a private arrangement between you and your coach. SCBC isn’t involved in billing. Fees vary by coach based on NCCP qualification and experience; see Coach Information for typical rates.
Skaters at the StarSkate level (youth) are required to skate a minimum of twice per week. This is the minimum, although the more you skate, the faster you tend to progress.
Skaters who are skating on a Teen/Adult StarSkate session are only required to skate once per week as long as it is on one of the Teen/Adult StarSkate sessions.
Your coach will guide your skater through the assessment process and let you know when they are ready to be assessed as well as how the process works and how to pay your assessment fee online. Feel free to speak to your skater’s coach outside of their on ice time if you would like to know more about your skater’s progress and the assessment process.
SCBC is pleased to be home of a competitive Ice Dance and Synchronized Skating Program. Skaters involved in these programs must have completed the CanSkate program and have started in StarSkate.
For all inquiries regarding the Ice Dance Program, please contact Matthew Doleman and Pam Krolick.
For all inquiries regarding the Gold Ice Synchronized Skating Program, please contact info@goldice.ca.
You can read more about these programs:
For more information on our StarSkate program please visit our StarSkate page here:
You can also access our StarSkate Orientation package here:
