• STARSkate

Skaters may take Skate Canada Tests through a nationally standardized testing system and/or start competing. Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating.

STARSkate sessions allow time for practice and private or semi-private lessons to be booked independently with a coach. Ice time may be purchased as a full session (see current brochure for more information) or as a Buy-On (a single session), and are paid to the club. Fees are for ice time only, except for enrichment sessions which include coaching. Coach fees are negotiated with the coaches and paid directly to the coaches. Skaters must meet session criteria and follow ice etiquette guidelines as posted on the website. Sessions are designated as Freeskate or Open. See the Ice Schedule for more details. New Junior skaters may feel a bit lost out on the ice with the other figure skaters the first little while after spending their skating time in Canskate or JD lessons. Going over the Skater Code of Conduct will help them adjust more quickly and safely.

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 our 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, Free Skating, Ice Dance, and Interpretive. Each area is divided into the following levels:


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.

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 â€" edge quality, control, power and speed.

There are 6 Skating Skills tests in the STARSkate program:

    • Preliminary
    • Junior Bronze
    • Senior Bronze
    • Junior Silver
    • Senior Silver
    • Gold
Ice Dance

Consisting of seven levels of tests, the Dance Test 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 Tests are as follows:

    • Preliminary
    • Junior Bronze
    • Senior Bronze
    • Junior Silver
    • Senior Silver
    • Gold
    • 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 six Free Skating tests in the STARSkate Program:

    • Preliminary
    • Junior Bronze
    • Senior Bronze
    • Junior Silver
    • Senior Silver
    • Gold

Each test consists of 2 parts - Elements in Isolation and a Free Program.

Interpretive

The objective of the Interpretive 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 Interpretive tests consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length. Skaters can take Interpretive tests as individuals and/or as a couple (male/female, female/female or male/male) at four levels:

    • Introductory
    • Bronze
    • Silver
    • Gold

MAJOR COMPETITIONS FOR STARSKATE SKATERS IN BC/YK SECTION:

      • APR - Super Series Vancouver Island
      • MAY - Super Series Victoria Day
      • AUG - Super Series SummerSkate
      • NOV - Super Series Autumn Leaves
      • DEC - Jingle Blades
      • FEB - BC Coast Region Championships/WinterSkate
      • MAR - BC/YK Super Series STARSkate Final

SCHEDULES

Other Programs