CanSKATE
CanSkate is Skate Canada's flagship learn-to-skate program, designed for beginners of all ages. When you sign up for CanSkate you will be in a program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. You will earn badges and other incentives as you learn fundamental skating skills. Lessons are given in a group format and led by an NCCP certified professional coach. Professional coaches are assisted by trained Program Assistants. The coach to student ratio is a maximum of 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, music and a wide variety of activities that create a fun environment and promote learning. CanSkate is the feeder program to all other Skate Canada Skating Programs.
Junior Figure Skating
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. Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating.
Senior Figure Skating
Senior Figure Skaters may continue to follow the STARSkate program .... or they may choose to try to move to the competitive stream of figure skating. STARSkaters who want to challenge their figure skating skills and show potential as competitive skaters can participate in the competitive program.
The CompetitiveSkate Test Program is a testing program for skaters in singles, pairs and dance wishing to compete in qualifying events within Skate Canada. Skaters take tests specific to the discipline (Singles, Pairs and Dance) in which they wish to compete. A skater or team may begin testing at the level at which they wish to compete (there are no test pre-requisites).
Skaters enrolled in CompetitiveSkate learn a variety of life skills as they progress up the competitive ladder. These include goal setting, focus, ability to deal with success/failure, time management and principles of fair play and sportsmanship. In addition to the life skill benefits, skaters in this program receive:
- access to provincial and national funding programs (as applicable)
- the opportunity to be selected to Skate Canada's National Team or Synchronized Skating National Team
- the opportunity to compete at BMO Sectional, Challenge, Junior Nationals
and/or Canadian Championships - opportunity and potential to be selected to represent Canada
internationally - access to sport science services
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 events, some which restrict entry of skaters who have competed in the qualifying
event system.
There are several opportunities throughout the season for skaters to participate in competitive events.The Skate Canada Competitive Program offers nationally standardized competitions to competitive skaters. These events are the stepping stones to other Skate Canada programs such as the Junior and Senior National Teams and the World and Olympic teams. Skaters competing in the qualifying event structure can do so at the Juvenile, Pre-Novice, Novice, Junior and Senior levels in Singles,
Pairs and Dance.