StarSkate encourages skaters to develop more advanced figure skating skills in various areas such as Skating Skills, Free Skating, Dance and Artistic Skating. This program teaches figure skating skills in a group and semi-private or private lesson format in a progressive and sequential manner and includes specifically designed awards and incentives. The program assesses the skaters’ progress through optional Skate Canada assessments completed by coaches at the beginner level (Star 1 to 5) and by certified judges at higher level skills (Star 6 to Gold). The program challenges skaters in a competitive environment through competition and encourages skaters to keep participating in skating for fun, fitness and achievement. Skaters who have fundamental figure skating skills in StarSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating. Pairs skating is not offered at our club but opportunities exist elsewhere in Canada.
Skating Skills: Skaters learn exercises containing edges, turns and field movements executed on a pattern.
Free Skating: Skaters learn how to execute jumps, to spin in a variety of positions and to incorporate those and other skills into a program of a specified length using connecting steps and music interpretation.
Artistic: Encourages creativity and movement to music, and allows skaters to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing on technical elements.
Dance: Skaters learn timing, musicality, rhythm, interpretation, and structure as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison. Dancers skate with partners and sometimes by themselves to various musical rhythms, including waltz, tango and blues. Each compulsory dance has a series of steps that must be skated in a specific pattern.
StarSkate Assessments
Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada assessments through a nationally standardized assessment system. Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Artistic are assessed when coach determines a skater is ready for the assessment. Each star level introduces more advanced levels of figure skating and includes:
- STAR 1, 2, 3 4, 5 Skills, Dance and Freeskate
- STAR 5 Artistic
- STAR 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and Gold Skills, Dance and Freeskate
- STAR 7, 9 and Gold Artistic
As skaters move through STAR 1 to Gold levels, their elements will evolve with experience. To reflect this variance, standards at the different levels have been developed for coaches, coach assessors and evaluators to use as a guide to evaluate the skater’s development. STAR 1 to 5 skating components are assessed by a coach whereas STAR 6 to Gold levels are assessed by a Skate Canada qualified evaluator and completed during special events throughout the year. Click here for more information on what to expect when your child is ready for an Assessment.
StarSkate Groups
Junior – Skaters at the Junior level are learning basic figure skating skills, jumps, spins and dance moves and receive coach instruction through group lesson format. Skaters skate a minimum of two one-hour sessions per week where they will receive a 45 minute group lesson followed by 15 minutes of supervised practice time.
Intermediate – Skaters at the Intermediate level continue to work and improve upon their fundamental skating skills, jumps, spins and dance introduced at the Junior level (Star 1). They are also introduced to linking those skating jumps, spins, field moves and steps to music with a choreographed program. At this level skaters are working on Star 2-3 skating levels of Skate Canada’s Star 1 to 5 program. They receive coach instruction in a group lesson format and have access to individual practice time during the session. Skaters receive additional semi-private and private lessons with any StarSkate coach during the practice session to supplement group lessons offered by the club. The majority of the arranged lessons are in small group or semi-private format. Skaters may get access to private lessons to facilitate individual needs such as program choreography.
Senior – Skaters receive coach instruction in a group lesson format and have access to individual practice time during the session. Small group, semi-private and private lessons are scheduled with the various StarSkate coaches. At this level skaters are working on Star 4 and up related skills, freeskate, dance and artistic elements.
Small group, semi-private and private lesson fees are not included in the session fees. These lessons are paid directly to the coach upon receipt of their invoices to the parent/guardian.
Click Here for 2023-2024 Junior StarSkate Registration information
Click here for the RS and Junior Parent Information Sheet (2023)
Click Here for 2023-2024 Intermediate StarSkate Registration Information
Click Here for the Intermediate Parent Information Sheet (2023)
Click here for 2023-2024 Senior StarSkate Registration Information
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Volunteer Requirements?
Parents/Guardians of skaters at the StarSkate level will be asked to volunteer a minimum number of hours over the season. The number of hours will be communicated to you at the beginning of the season. There will be many opportunities to sign up to volunteer throughout the year.
What are the fundraising requirements?
The club relies on fundraising to support city ice rental costs and keep skater fees at reasonable rates to parents. StarSkate parents/guardians will be asked to participate in several fundraising campaigns throughout the year. Examples of fundraisers we have completed in the past include Purdy’s Chocolate sales, Bean North Coffee sales, raffles and hosting bingos at Elks Lodge.