STARSkate
You may only register in any of the STARSkate programs if you are already enrolled in a STARSkate program
or if you have been INVITED by one of our Coaches.
STARSkate [JUNIOR/INTERMEDIATE/SENIOR] 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.
STARSkaters are expected to skate 3 times per week including 1 mandatory MORNING session.
STARSkate - Junior - STAR 1-2
STARSkate Intermediate - STAR 3-4
STARSkate Senior - STAR 5 & Up - minimum 3 times/week
Progression of moving through the various STARSkate Levels:
• CanSkate/STAR Academy/STAR Rec Figure Skating>>> JUNIOR Must complete ALL of CanSkate STAGE 6
• JUNIOR >>> INTERMEDIATE Must complete ALL STAR 2 Disciplines
• INTERMEDIATE>>> SENIOR Must complete ALL STAR 4 Disciplines
***Skaters are typically invited by Coaches to move up. All changes must be approved by Coaches***
STARSkate 1-Gold - Skills, Tests, Achievement, Awards
– this is what STARSkate is all about!
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. They have many opportunities to do this at club, interclub and invitational competition levels.
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.
When you/your child registers for a STARSkate program at the WRSSSC, 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.
· Special STARSkate events, club functions, awards & test recognition
· 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 Disciplines Explained:
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. Star 1-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.
STAR 1-Gold
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. As a skater progresses past Star 5, they can have a Short Program and a Long Program. Star 1-Gold
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 artistic tests consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length.
STAR 5-Gold
Skater Representative (Formerly Coach Representative):
Once a skater reaches the STARSkate level, your skater is assigned a Skater Representative, which will be one of our Club Coaches.
Once your skater is skating at STARSkate SENIOR level, you are allowed to select your own Skater Representative.
This representative will be one of our Club Coaches who will be your contact person to communicate with regarding; competition details, testing information and any other issues that you may want to discuss about your skater (music, tests that they are working on, etc). Your Skater Representative is here to supportively oversee your skater's individual goals and help to use the talents of EACH of the TEAM coaches in achieving that goal.
The skater will continue to work on and off of the ice with ALL of our coaches depending on the skills that need to be addressed, as our philosophy at WRSSSC continues to be rooted in the Team Coaching Model.
If you are unsure who your Skater Representative is or have not had one assigned yet, please email: info@wrsssc.com
Please include your Skater’s First & Last Name.
STARSkate - Additional Fees
STARSkate Testing Fees:
STARSkaters are billed by the club for all STARSkate Tests that they take:
· STAR 1 to 5 Tests taken on specified skating sessions - Billed at a rate of $15 per Test*
· Star 6 to GOLD Tests taken on specified High Test Day arranged by Club and Coaches with Skate Canada Judges.
*STAR Test will be paid by the Club for Fall-Winter 2025-26
SOLO FEES :
Our Coaches spend a great deal of time selecting and preparing music for your Skater’s solo as well as choreographing the solo. Coaches will be charging Skaters a SOLO FEE of $60 to create a solo for your skater.
STAR 2 will be Club standardized program
STAR 3-4 will only be charged when new music or pattern required - created by Skater Representative
This charge will come from the Coach so please make arrangements to pay them directly.
STARSkate COMPETITION FEES
IF your skater has shown an interest in and has been recommended to register for a competition… We are very supportive of our skaters attending and participating in competitions. However, not all competitions are appropriate for all skaters, and depending on your child's level of skating, only a certain number of competitions per year might be advised. For that reason, please check with your Skater Representative before registering for any competition to ensure the competition is appropriate for the skater’s level of progression and development.
In addition to the competition registration fee, you can also expect to be charged for your Coaches time at the competition. This Coach Competition Fee covers the time spent with your skater while at the competition and can include warm up, competition time, awards and a de-briefing afterwards. This fee will differ depending on the STAR level of your skater and will be charged PER EVENT. Please Note: If the competition is considered an “away competition” you may need to pay additional fees such as travel costs (mileage, hotel, meals) for your Coach. Typically split between the attending athletes.
OUT OF TOWN COMPETITIONS:
The Club will consider subsidizing the additional costs our Coaches incur while attending out of town competitions (travel, hotel and per diem food allowance), should it be presented to the board well in advance of a competition. However parents should NOTE that these additional travel related costs could be passed on to the Skaters attending an out of town competition.
STAR 1 Skaters - will be billed from the club.
STAR 2 & Up Skaters - will be billed directly from one of our Coaches.
STAR 2-4 & Artistic Events $65 Fee
STAR 5 & Up + All Competitive Events $75 Fee
Please check with the Coach that ends up working with your skater at the competition – to determine how much your Coach Competition Fee will be – and make arrangements to pay them directly for this fee.
VOLUNTEER Fee
STARSkaters are you interested in becoming a Program Assistant?
What is a Program Assistant (PA)?
PA’s Assist our Skate Canada Coaches in delivering our CanSkate Program by assisting with set up and clean up, helping skaters on and off the ice, demonstrating, supervising & reinforcing learned skills as well as being a role model for young skaters.
Our Program Assistant (PA) Program is open to STARSkaters aged 10 and up, who are in STAR 2 and above, who have been approved by the Director of our CanSkate Program, Caroline MacKeen.
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Sign up for one of our FREE Program Assistant (PA) Information/Training Sessions in September
@ Centennial Arena via Uplifter
Dates & Time TBD
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If you already know that you would like to help - you can sign up to become a Program Assistant - when you are registering.
Final approval of PA’s will be at discretion of our CanSkate Director; Caroline MacKeen