PROGRAMS AND THE EVENTS
STARSkate, CompetitiveSkate, SynchroSkate
STARSkate Program
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.
STARSkaters can also compete at the Skate Canada Summer Skate & Rebecca Pack Memorial Friendship Invitational Event (see Technical Advisory Package for details)
Agnes Thistle Star Invitational
Agnes Thistle Star Invitational event provides athletes and coaches from all over the province the opportunity to “tweak” competitive programs for the upcoming season. This event is named in honour of a long time volunteer and honourary member of Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador. Mrs. Thistle, a member of the Prince of Wales Skating Club, recently received recognition for 50 years of volunteering with skating in Newfoundland and Labrador. This event is held annually in late November.
Interclub Events
Often the skaters’ first competitive experience this event is highly attended by parents and other family members.
These are events involving a number of clubs in the same region or area. The Regional Interclub event is a non-qualifying event to provide skaters in the STAR program an opportunity to participate in an event in a competitive environment. The event is conducted by following the guidelines of the Skate Canada STAR event manual. Each region must hold an Interclub event, either alone or in conjunction with another region. Labrador only – this event may be held in conjunction with Divisionals. These events are generally held in March of each year.
Skate Canada NL STAR Challenge
This event is unlike no other. Skaters, coaches and officials enjoy a day of fun and competition in categories of Star 1-3, interpretive, improvisation, triathlon, elements and team elements .
Skate Canada NL Divisional Qualifying Events
Athletes compete each January at their respective Skate Canada NL Divisional Event for a chance to qualify for the Skate Canada NL Provincial Skating Championships. These grassroots events are very well attended and enjoy a high profile in three annual host communities (Eastern, Central & Labrador). These events are held in January of each year.
Skate Canada NL Provincial Skating Championships
Skaters, parents, coaches and skating fans will gather in February or March of each year for the Skate Canada NL Provincial Skating Championships. Having earned the opportunity to compete at Provincials through their respective Divisional event or the Skate Canada NL Sectional Skating Championships skaters vie for personal bests and for some categories, it is also the qualifying event for the Atlantic Canadian Championships. This grassroots level competition is the most important event of the year for athletes in the Skate Canada STAR Program. With results well publicized throughout the province this event is one of the most anticipated of all events operated by Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador.
Skate Canada Atlantic Canadian Championships
The Atlantic Canadian Skating Championships are held every March/April. Competition is offered in a variety of singles only up to Novice level.
CompetitiveSkate
Skaters who wish to challenge their figure skating skills and who show potential as competitive skaters can participate in the CompetitiveSkate program. CompetitiveSkate is a program for skaters in singles, pair and ice dance wishing to compete in qualifying events within Skate Canada.
Competitve Skaters can also compete at Divisional Events and the Provincial Skating Championships (see Technical Advisory Package for details)
Skate Canada NL Summer Skate
Skate Canada NL Summer Skate provides athletes and coaches from all over the province the opportunity to “tweak” competitive programs for the upcoming season. Held annually in August, this event is a very exciting one as skaters unveil their new programs. The Skate Canada NL Summer Skate is a highly competitive event with many parents, officials and spectators making for a very exciting atmosphere!
Rebecca Pack Memorial Friendship Invitational Skate
Rebecca Pack Memorial Friendship Skate is an annual skater development event in memory of skater, Rebecca Pack. This event provides athletes and coaches from all over the province the opportunity to “tweak” competitive programs for the upcoming season. Held annually in October, this event is a highly competitive event with many parents, officials and spectators making for a very exciting atmosphere!
Skate Canada NL Sectional Championships
Held annually in November the Skate Canada NL Sectional Skating Championships are the qualifying events for the Skate Canada Challenge Event. The most prestigious competition of the season, this well attended highly publicized event attracts our most elite level athletes, parents and coaches. Sponsorship for this event is negotiated with Skate Canada only.
The Skate Canada Challenge is an elimination event for the Canadian Figure Skating Championships (Novice, Junior and Senior skaters). Pre-Novice National Champions will be declared at a combined Challenge event in each discipline. These events are held in December. Senior skaters qualify through these events for the Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships
The Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships are held every January in a different Canadian city. Competition is offered in singles, pair and ice dancing at the Novice, Junior and Senior level. The top four Senior entries from the Qualifying Events (Challenge) are eligible to compete. After completion of the Championships, the Skate Canada Board of Directors selects the teams that will represent Canada at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, ISU Junior World Championships as well as the ISU Four Continents team. Results from this event are also used to help determine what skaters will be on the National teams.
SYNCHROSkate
Synchronized skating, or “synchro” is a specialized discipline of skating involving groups of eight or more skaters performing various group formations and maneuvers. The objective is for the team to perform as one unit executing circles, blocks, lines, wheels and intersections in unison to the music, while demonstrating quality edges, power and flow. Skate Canada’s SynchroSkate program includes a number of Synchronized Skating categories which accommodate skaters at any age and skill level.
Elizabeth Swan Memorial Synchro Skate
This event provides synchronized skating teams and their coaches with the opportunity to “tweak” programs for the upcoming season. Held annually in January, this event is a very exciting one as many teams unveil new programs.
Skate Canada NL Provincial Synchronized Skating Championships
Over 50 teams composed of 800+ skaters aged 5 thru 60 compete at the SCNL Synchronized Skating Championships each March. This team competition is high energy and exciting with teams competing for fun, fitness and achievement. Teams may enter in either the recreational skating stream events or the more competitive national qualifying events.
Atlantic Regional Synchronized Skating Championships
The Regional Synchronized Skating Championships are held annually in five regions across the country. Each Region is made up of Sections specific to their geographical location. The Atlantic Region includes the New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador Sections. There is no qualification process to enter the Regional Synchronized Skating events, however, a qualification round may be held if the number of entries warrants it. Regional events are held in late January to early February of each year. The Regional events provide a developmental and competitive experience for synchronized skating teams at all levels. The final result in each Region shall determine the teams eligible to enter the equivalent National qualifying competition at the Novice, Intermediate, Open, Junior and Senior levels.
Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships
Teams at the Novice, Intermediate, Open, Junior and Senior levels compete annually at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships. National Champions for this discipline of skater are declared at these Championships for all levels involved. It is at these Championships that Senior teams are selected to represent Canada at the World Synchronized Skating Championships and various other international events.
