Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition – this is what STARSkate is all about!
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 Tests through a nationally standardized testing system.
The STARSkate program offers several opportunities for skaters who may not choose to participate in the competitive program, but still want the opportunity to test their skills in a competition situation. They have many opportunities to do this at club, interclub and invitational competition levels.
When you/your child registers for a STARSkate program at the Goulbourn Skating Club, you also become a member of Skate Canada and will have access to:
At the Goulbourn Skating Club, our STARSkate programming is divided into sessions for different skills and abilities:
ADVANCED CANSKATE
Click here for full details on our Advanced Canskate sessions.
JUNIOR/SENIOR
The Junior/Senior programming consists of figure skating skills in four disciplines – Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Interpretive. There is a nationally standardized testing system that skaters will begin to participate in. Skaters must arrange semi or private lessons with one of our professional coaches. They will continue to develop the skills they began learning in the Advanced Canskate program, and extend those skills to more complex and difficult figure skating elements.
Currently, the criteria for each level are as follows:
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 - edge quality, control, power and speed.
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.
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.
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 artistcis tests consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length.
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 Tests through a nationally standardized testing system.
The STARSkate program offers several opportunities for skaters who may not choose to participate in the competitive program, but still want the opportunity to test their skills in a competition situation. They have many opportunities to do this at club, interclub and invitational competition levels.
When you/your child registers for a STARSkate program at the Goulbourn Skating 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
- club based awards and test recognition
- Special STARSkate events and club functions
- 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.
At the Goulbourn Skating Club, our STARSkate programming is divided into sessions for different skills and abilities:
ADVANCED CANSKATE
Click here for full details on our Advanced Canskate sessions.
JUNIOR/SENIOR
The Junior/Senior programming consists of figure skating skills in four disciplines – Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Interpretive. There is a nationally standardized testing system that skaters will begin to participate in. Skaters must arrange semi or private lessons with one of our professional coaches. They will continue to develop the skills they began learning in the Advanced Canskate program, and extend those skills to more complex and difficult figure skating elements.
Currently, the criteria for each level are as follows:
- Junior: Must have completed Canskate stage 5 and be able to work independently and retain the services of a private coach.
- Senior: Must have passed two of the following tests: Star 5 Skills, Star 5 Freeskate (elements and program) or Star 5 dances (A&B).
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 - edge quality, control, power and speed.
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.
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.
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 artistcis tests consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length.