Intermediate StarSkate

Introduction

Our ‘Intermediate Star’ program is designed for skaters who wish to continue to develop their skating skills.

Skaters must skate a minimum of three days per week. Independent learning is also encouraged. 

StarSkate offers opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of Ice Dance, Skills, FreeSkate (includes Elements and Programs) and Artistic skating. Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating skills  in a progressive and sequential manner. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada Assessments through a nationally standardized assessment system. Skaters may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating.

When your skater registers for a StarSkate program at Mayfield Figure Skating Club, they become a part of the Skate Canada community 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
• 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.

How Intermediate StarSkate Works

The Intermediate 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:

• STAR 4-7 Skills
• STAR 4-7 Dance
• STAR 5 & 7 Artistic
• STAR 4-7 FreeSkate – Elements
• STAR 4-7 FreeSkate – Program

STAR 4 & 5 levels are assessed by a Regional (or higher) Coach with Star 1-5 Assessor Qualifications.

STAR 6 & 7 Skills assessments may be assessed by a Regional (or higher) Coach who has been trained as a Coach Assessor for Star 6-Gold Skills (Mayfield Figure Skating Club has Coaches with these qualifications).

STAR 6 & 7 assessments in all other areas (Dance, Artistic, Free Skate – Elements and Free Skate – Program) must be assessed by an outside Club Assessor to ensure the skater is being assessed to the national standard.

StarSkate Pathways

Once a skater is in the Skate Canada StarSkate Program, there are several options. Skaters may choose to remain in the StarSkate Program, taking assessments (although not mandatory) at organized assessment sessions and honing 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 CompetitiveSkate Program or become involved in synchronized skating, evaluating or judging, or participate as an adult or varsity member.

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 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.

Ice Dance

The Dance assessment 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 worked on in any order but a candidate must pass the required number of dances in a dance assessment before proceeding to the next level.

FreeSkate

FreeSkate consists of the execution of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements and stroking, either in isolation or performed in sequence to music.

Each assessment consists of 2 parts – Elements in Isolation and a FreeSkate Program.

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.

Competitions For StarSkate Athletes

StarSkate participants love to compete! Even though a skater may choose not to participate in the Skate Canada CompetitiveSkate Program, they still may want the opportunity to test their skill in a competition situation. Skate Canada offers several opportunities to do this.

StarSkate Interclub Competitions

These are events involving a number of clubs in the same region or area. The competition categories offered generally fall in line with the applicable Skate Canada Section specifications, so that all Interclubs within the Section are standardized (this allows Skate Canada Sections to offer a Section Final). The StarSkate Championship program provides opportunities for skaters who want to remain in the StarSkate program but also want to have the challenge of competing up to a Sectional level in a credible, nationally standardized event.

Invitational Competitions

These are events coordinated by a Section or Club(s) and offered, generally, to StarSkaters and competitive skaters. Most events fall within Skate Canada’s specifications regarding program length and eligibility to compete. For more information contact the hosting Section or Club.