STARSkate Stream
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.
Private lessons
Private lessons require membership in the Saint Laurent Skating Club, fees for ice time and fees for coaching. The program is available to all members who have obtained Level 5 or higher in our CANSkate Program. Parents and students select and make coaching arrangements directly with the coach of their choice. Students working on all levels of the Test Program (STAR) and/or the Competitive Program usually develop their skills through private lessons. The basic registration for Skaters at this level is 2 sessions of their choice on two different days.
All participants must wear figure skates to qualify for this program.
Each skater finds their own path to meet their own goals. Figure skating allows skaters of wide range of interests and dedication to find an enjoyable and rewarding path in the sport.
Please find below the minimum criteria to skate in the private* level at CPA Saint Laurent.
Qualifications at the time of registration:
- JUNIOR: Passed CANSkate Badge 5
- INTERMEDIATE 1: Passed Complete STAR 3 (Free Style Test Part 1: Elements and Part 2: Program) and the complete STAR 3 in either dance or skills at the time of registration OR is 14 years old or more with two previous years registered in the JUNIOR category.
- INTERMEDIATE 2: Passed Complete STAR 5 (Free Style Test Part 1: Elements and Part 2: Program) and the complete STAR 3 test in either dance or skills at time of registration or skaters 16 years old with more than two previous years registered in the Inter 1 category with a complete STAR 3 FS test passed.
- SENIOR: Passed Complete STAR 8 (Free Style Test Part 1: Elements and Part 2: Program) and the complete STAR 5 test in either dance or skills at time of registration.
How STARSkate works
Congratulations on being the parent of a figure skater; the STAR 1-5 competition program is where figure skating begins! The STAR competition program is comprised of five different levels of events for skaters who have completed the CanSkate program. It introduces participants to key components of figure skating including performance, assessment, and competition. STAR 1-5 fits into the Learn to Train level of Skate Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development Model (LTADM).
Each stage of this national program emphasizes key skills such as turns, stroking, jumps, spins, and different aspects of performance that have been designated by figure skating experts as necessary for development and progression in our sport. It is important to note that every skater is unique and will advance at different rates due to various factors such as growth spurts and participation. To accommodate individual needs, the STAR 1-5 competition program is designed to be fluid and allow skaters to progress at their own pace, even skipping levels if appropriate; skaters may move through several levels in a season or stay at the same level – it’s all dependent on individual athlete development! At all stages and levels, parents should discuss their skater’s progress with their coach to determine the best options for them. The chart below provides a brief description of each level:
| STAR | Format | Description |
| 1 | Group Elements Event | Introduces skaters to performing elements like jumps and spins in a fun group environment with their coaches. Skaters are evaluated and receive a report card and ribbon based on their performance. |
| 2 | Evaluated Program | Skaters now take many of the elements they learned in STAR 1 as well as new skills and perform them in a program in front of judges. Many skaters may learn a program in a group and even share music. Like STAR 1, skaters are evaluated and receive a report card and ribbon. |
| 3 | Evaluated Program | STAR 3 continues to build on the skills learned in STAR 1 and 2. More difficult elements like an axel jump are added and judges evaluate the programs based on more challenging criteria. Skaters also receive a report card and ribbon. |
| 4 | Ranked Program | Axels are encouraged at this level and receive a bonus for successful completion. STAR 4 serves as a transition point between evaluated levels and competition incorporating a points system. Assessments are used to produce a ranking for each group of competitors. Each skater receives a report card with top finishers in each group receiving either a ribbon or medal. |
| In STAR 1-4, skaters are evaluated against a national standard by a panel of certified judges. Each element they perform receives an assessment of Gold, Silver, Bronze or Merit as well as an overall standing. | ||
| 5 | Ranked Program | Skaters may perform double jumps at this level. STAR 5 is the first time skaters are rewarded points for elements and performance; it is the same scoring system used to judge top competitive figure skaters. Skaters are ranked based on total points and are provided a detailed report card. Top finishers receive medals. |
What Happens After STAR 1-5?
Skaters may choose to continue in higher levels of the STARSkate program (STAR 6, STAR 8, etc.) or transition into in CompetitiveSkate (Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, etc.). Skaters may also explore ice dancing, pair skating, interpretive skating, or synchronized (team) skating. There are many opportunities for skaters and the best path for athletes to take should be a decision made collaboratively (child, parent and coach).
The STARSkate program consists of figure skating skills in four areas – Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Interpretive.
Each area is divided into the following levels:
Primary Level Tests
- Skating Skills: Preliminary (STAR 3), Junior Bronze (STAR 5)
- Free Skating: Preliminary (STAR 3), Junior Bronze (STAR 5)
- Dance: Preliminary (STAR 3), Junior Bronze (STAR 5)
- Interpretive: Introductory
Intermediate Level Tests
- Skating Skills: Senior Bronze (STAR 6), Junior Silver (STAR 8)
- Free Skating: Senior Bronze (STAR 6), Junior Silver (STAR 8)
- Dance: Senior Bronze (STAR 6), Junior Silver (STAR 8)
- Interpretive: Bronze
Senior Level Tests
- Skating Skills: Senior Silver (STAR 10), Gold
- Free Skating: Senior Silver (STAR 10), Gold
- Dance: Senior Silver (STAR 10), Gold, Diamond
- Interpretive: Silver, Gold
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.
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.
Private
| Step 1 | Choose a coach Each skater who registers for a Junior, Intermediate, or Senior STARSkate session MUST also hire a coach for private lessons. For more details about the coaches eligible to teach at our club, please view the COACHES page. The coach you have hired will recommend the number of private lessons they can offer your skater each week. These private lesson fees are not included in session registration fees, and are paid to the coach directly on a regular basis. As a rule of thumb most coaches will recommend two private lessons a week. Parents are NOT allowed to coach or instruct from the boards unless they have Skate Canada certification and have been authorized to teach by the club. |
| Step 2 | Register for your STARSkate sessions
Please confirm the lesson booking with your coach before you register. Minimum registration 2 sessions per week; A skater cannot substitute or replace the session in which one is registered for another one. One can skate in another session only if one buys a ‘patch’. The skater is responsible to ensure that a coach is present whenever a skater skates on their registered ice. |
