Skating Progression
How do I know which stream is a better fit for my skater? What are the available options? Which competitions can my skater compete in? You’ve likely had similar questions regarding which sessions to book, where your skater fits, and why they have to do various programs. Hopefully, this page will help answer some of your questions.
Typically, a child learns to skate in Pre-CanSkate or CanSkate (or an equivalent learn to skate program). Once the skater has graduated from CanSkate, they can select one of two streams, though it is possible to move between the streams depending on the skater’s goals.
StarSkate stream
StarSkate offers opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of ice dance, skills, free skate, and artistic skating. Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating skills in a group and/or private lesson format in a progressive and sequential manner that includes specifically designed awards and incentives. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada assessments through a nationally standardized assessment system. Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in StarSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating.
→ This is a less demanding pathway for skaters that requires less of a time commitment on and off the ice.
Podium Pathway
Skaters who wish to challenge themselves, further their figure skating skills, and who show potential as competitive skaters can participate in the Podium Pathway program. The Skate Canada Podium Pathway Program offers nationally standardized competitions to competitive skaters. These events are the stepping stones to things such as the National Team and the World and Olympic teams. Skaters competing in the qualifying event structure can do so at the Juvenile (optional), Pre-Novice, Novice, Junior, and Senior levels in singles, pair, and ice dance.
→ This is more demanding and intense than the StarSkate stream and requires more of a time commitment both on and off the ice.
When you/your child registers for a StarSkate program at your local Skate Canada club, you also become a member of Skate Canada and will have access to:
- opportunities to be recognized through a nationally standardized assessment system for achieving specific figure skating skills
- invitational and interclub competitions, including the StarSkate championship stream
- StarSkate Skater of the Year awards program
- 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
- StarSkate certificates → click here for full set (login required)
- fitness plans → click here for access (login required)
How does StarSkate work?
The StarSkate program consists of figure skating skills in four areas: Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate, and Artistic. Each area is divided into the following levels:
Junior Level assessments
- Star 1-5 Skills
- Star 1-5 Dance
- Star 1-5 Free Skate
- Star 5 Artistic
All Star 1-5 levels are assessed by a coach.
Intermediate Level Assessments
- Star 6-8 Skills
- Star 6-8 Dance
- Star 6-8 Free Skate
- Star 7 Artistic
senior level assessments
- Star 9, 10, & Gold Skills
- Star 9, 10, Gold, & Diamond Dance
- Star 9, 10, & Gold FreeSkate
- Star 9 & Gold Artistic
What are “Skills”?
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 dance. The objective of the Skills program is mastery of the basic fundamentals of skating: edge quality, control, power, and speed.
There are 11 Skills assessments in the StarSkate program: Star 1-10 and Gold Skills.
What is “Ice Dance”?
Ice Dance consists of 12 levels of assessments. The Dance assessment program teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, and 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 assessment before proceeding to the next level.
There are 33 Ice Dance assessments in the StarSkate program.
What is “Freeskate”?
Freeskate consists of the execution of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements, and stroking, either in isolation or performed in sequence to music. There are 20 Freeskate assessments in the StarSkate Program.
What is “Artistic”?
The focus of the Artistic discipline is the development of program components, musical movement, and creativity. Artistic combines skating aspects such as turns, edges, and field moves, with creative spins and the ability to project emotion and artistry. The aspects developed through Artistic assessments benefit every discipline in skating.
Please Note: Skaters need a strong foundation of basic skating skills, edges and turns, spins, and field moves for the entry level of Artistic (Star 5). Skaters must have completed Star 4 Skills prior to entering Star 5 Artistic.
There are 4 Artistic program assessments in the StarSkate Program: Star 5, Star 7, Star 9, and Gold. All Artistic programs offer assessment in two main areas: required content and program components.
What competitions can a StarSkate skater enter?
StarSkate participants love to compete! Our feedback indicates that even though a skater may choose not to participate in the Skate Canada Podium Pathway Program, they still want the opportunity to assess their skill in a competitive situation. Skate Canada offers several opportunities to do this.
- Club Competitions: clubs offer competitions for their own members to compete against each other.
- StarSkate Interclub Competitions: events involving a number of clubs in the same region or area.
- Invitational Competitions: these are events coordinated by a Section or Club(s) and offered, generally, to StarSkaters and competitive skaters.
What pathways are available to StarSkate skaters?
Once a skater is in the Skate Canada StarSkate Program, there are several options. Skaters may choose to remain in the StarSkate Program, taking optional assessments at organized assessment sessions and honing their learned skills. Skaters may also choose to enter competitions, while still trying Skate Canada assessments. Other skaters may feel that they have progressed to a point where they may wish to enter the Skate Canada Podium Pathway Program or become involved in synchronized skating, evaluating or judging, or participate as an adult or varsity member.
→ Find more information on the StarSkate Stream at the Skate AB|NT|NU website here.
Skaters who wish to challenge their figure skating skills and who show potential as competitive skaters can participate in the Podium Pathway Program.
It’s more than just skating!
Skaters enrolled in the Podium Pathway learn a variety of life skills as they progress up the competitive ladder. These include goal setting, focus, ability to deal with success and failure, time management, and principles of fair play and sportsmanship.
In addition to the life skill benefits, skaters in this program also receive:
- access to Provincial and National funding programs (as applicable)
- the opportunity to be selected to Skate Canada’s National Team
- the opportunity to compete at Skate Canada Sectionals, Skate Canada Challenge, and/or the National Skating Championships
- the opportunity and potential to be selected to represent Canada internationally
- access to sport science services
If I participate in the Podium Pathway, is that all I can do?
No! Many skaters who compete in the qualifying event structure also take tests in Skate Canada’s StarSkate Program or participate on synchronized skating teams. The only events that you may not be able to compete in are club and StarSkate events, some of which restrict entry of skaters who have competed in the qualifying event system.
→ Find more information on the Podium Pathway Program at the Skate AB|NT|NU website here.