STARSkate Program

Skate Canada's STARSkate Program consists of a series of progressive skating tests measured against National Standards to help skaters advance their skating ability in 4 different disciplines:
  • Skills - Concentrates on fundamental turns, edge quality, power, speed, control, and flowing geometric patterns executed solo.
  • Freeskate - Emphasizes athletic prowess, featuring multi-rotation jumps, dynamic spins, footwork sequences, and field movements set to music
  • Dance - Replicates ballroom dancing dynamics on ice, emphasizing rhythm, musical timing, structured edge steps, and precise flow without performing overhead lifts or major jumps.
  • Artistic - Prioritizes theatricality, creativity, and the skater's capacity to use movement and interpretation to bring a musical selection to life over raw technical difficulty.

STARSkate Program Structure
Skate Canada divides the STARSkate structure into STAR 1-5 (primarily coach-assessed foundation levels) and STAR 6-Gold (advanced levels featuring official assessors and specialized event frameworks). [1, 2]

STAR 1–4 (and STAR 1–5 Group)
  • Assessment Style: Evaluated directly by the skater’s NCCP-certified coach.
  • Focus: Introduces basic figure skating fundamentals across freeskate (singles), ice dance, and skills following CanSkate Stage 6.
  • Environment: Geared toward a gradual, non-competitive or introductory competitive experience (such as STAR 1–4 events).

STAR 5–Gold
  • Assessment Style: Assessed by trained external evaluators or designated specialists depending on the specific discipline (like Freeskate or Dance).
  • Focus: Builds on foundational elements with advanced technical requirements, complex program components, and artistic expression.
  • Environment: Connects to higher-level sectional and provincial competitive series.​

The STARSkate 1-Gold program is where figure skating begins!

The 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!
What Happens After STAR 1-Gold?
Skaters may choose to continue in higher levels and 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).