Please see below for the Starskate Program Description, Levels, Skating Tests, Qualifications for each level. 

 

When a skater completes Stage/Badge 6 in the Canskate program, they move up to the Junior figure skating program the following session. 

 

When a skater has completed Stage/Badge 5 in the Canskate program, they have two options.  They can remain in Canskate to complete their Stage/Badge 6 or they can move up to the Junior figure skating program the following session.  These skaters will complete their Stage 6 in this entry level figure skating program.

 

Starskate is the name for the NSC figure skating program.  Figure skating instruction covers four distinct elements:  ice dancing, freeskating, skating skills and stroking.  The entry level figure skating program provides group lessons (see "Levels" below for more information).

 

Ice Dancing teaches skaters the steps and patterns for a specific set of dances, each with its own piece of music.  The skater learns to perform each dance both alone and with a partner (typically the coach who is teaching the group dance lesson).

 

Freeskating comprises the jumps, spins, field movements and footwork that we are all familiar with from watching televised skating events.  Skaters progress through a variety of jumps and spins, each with a greater degree of difficulty.

 

Stroking is an element where skaters build strength and speed.  Taught to the whole group at once by one coach, skaters move around the perimeter of the ice.  Done correctly, a minimum number of pushes should propel the skater around the entire ice surface.  The skater will learn to skate forwards and backwards in either direction competently.

 

Skating Skills, like Ice Dancing, teaches skaters the steps and patterns for a specific set of steps, each with its own piece of music.  The skater learns to perform the Skating Skills alone.  There are no partners for Skills.

 

There are four levels of figure skating in NSC.  The entry level is Junior followed by Intermediate, Senior and Advanced.  Skaters progress to the next level by performing skating tests in front of an evaluator.  There are skating tests in all four elements, as described above, and different types of tests are required at the different levels.  Please see "Skating Tests" below for a listing of all skating tests and see "Qualifications" for a listing of the specific tests required for each level.

 

The Junior level has two skating sessions per week.  Each 60-minute session includes one 15-minute group lesson with a professional coach, two 15-minute groups with Program Assistants and 15 minutes of free time where the skater is encouraged to learn how to practice elements on their own.  There is also a 15-minute Stroking session offered once per week and is immediately before or after one of the Junior sessions.

 

The Intermediate level has three skating sessions per week.  The only group instruction at this level is the 15-minute group Stroking lesson.  Any other instruction the skater receives will be on a private basis.  For the remainder of each session, the skater is to work on their own.  It is at the Intermediate level that skaters typically purchase a "Skills" session in addition to their regular skating session.  The Skills session is 30-minutes of ice time, once per week, where the skaters practice the figure skating element known as "Skating Skills".  While the instruction is on a private basis, coaches typically take all of their skaters together and charge them a group fee.

 

A full program at the Senior level has four skating sessions per week and at the Advanced level has five skating sessions per week.  As with Intermediate, the only group instruction at this level is the 15-minute group Stroking lesson.  The remainder of the sessions is for private instruction and practice time.

 

As indicated above, there are skating tests in Ice Dance, Freeskate, Skills and Stroking.  All four elements have six categories:  Preliminary, Junior Bronze, Senior Bronze, Junior Silver, Senior Silver and Gold.  In addition, the ice dances have a number of dances to complete within each category. 

 

Qualification dates for Intermediate, Senior and Advanced are December 31st for placement the following Spring session and June 15th for placement the following Fall/Winter session.  The following are the tests required to be completed, by the qualification deadline, for a skater to move to the next level:

 

Junior level:

- Must have passed CanSkate Stage/Badge 5 by the end of the previous session.

 

Intermediate level:

- Must have passed Preliminary Dance tests which include the Dutch Waltz, Canasta and Baby Blues.

 

Senior level:

- Must have passed the complete Junior Bronze Freeskate test OR must have passed all Senior Bronze Dances AND Junior Bronze Skills AND the complete Preliminary Freeskate test.

 

Advanced level:

- Must have passed the Juvenile Competitive Singles test OR the complete Senior Bronze Freeskate test OR all the Senior Silver Dance tests OR the Senior Silver Skills test

- AND must have passed a minimum of the complete Junior Bronze Freeskate test