Skating Disciplines and Definitions
The Skate Canada Test Program offers opportunities for skaters to develop basic skating skills in four different areas: Skating Skills, Free Skating, Dance and Artistic. Each discipline is grouped into levels.
**All dialogs on this page were copied from the Skate Canada web site**
Primary Level Tests
- Skating Skills: Preliminary, Junior Bronze
- Free Skating: Preliminary, Junior Bronze
- Dance: Preliminary, Junior Bronze
Intermediate Level Tests
- Skating Skills: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver
- Free Skating: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver
- Dance: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver, Dance Variation, Bronze Rhythm Dance
- Artistic: Bronze, Adult
Senior Level Tests
- Skating Skills: Senior Silver, Gold Free
- Free Skating: Senior Silver, Gold
- Dance: Senior Silver, Gold, Diamond, Silver and Gold Interpretive Dance
- Artistic: Silver, Gold
Skating Skills
The Skating Skills Program consists of six levels beginning with Preliminary (the first level) and ending with Gold (the final level). Skating Skills are a combination of fundamental skating movements, executed on a pattern and skated solo to prescribed music. The basic components of all disciplines of figure skating are incorporated into the program. The movements are derived from former compulsory figures, free skating and ice dancing. The objective of the Skating Skills program is mastery of the basic fundamentals of skating (e.g. edge quality, control, power and speed).
Free Skate Tests
There are six free skating tests in the Skate Canada Test Program: Preliminary, Junior Bronze, Senior Bronze, Junior Silver, Senior Silver and Gold. Each test consists of: Elements in Isolation (jumps, spins, field moves, stroking) and a Free Program (solo), which must include specific elements as defined in the official Skate Canada Rule Book. The candidate must successfully pass the Elements in Isolation portion before proceeding to the Free Program.
Dance Tests
The Skate Canada Test Program offers something for everyone! In addition to Skating Skills and Free Skating, skaters can also hone their skills in ice dancing. Consisting of seven levels of tests, the Dance Test Program teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison. The dances in the Test Program can be tried in any order but a candidate must pass all the dances in a dance test before proceeding to the next level. In addition to the compulsory dances, there are also Variation, Rhythm and Interpretive Dance tests, which can be taken once a skater has obtained a certain level.
Artistic Skating
Artistic skating was introduced into the Skate Canada test program in order to encourage creativity and movement to music, and to provide an opportunity for those skaters wishing to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing on technical elements. Skaters can take tests as individuals or as a couple (male/female, female/female, and male/male) at the following levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Adult.
Competitions
A skater may enter competitions whether they are participating in the StarSkate or Competitive Skate Test Programs. The Competitive Skate program is intended for those skaters who are serious competitors and are capable of performing the challenging requirements. The skater must choose which program they wish to participate in and may not combine. Skaters usually begin in the Star Skate and switch to Competitive Skate at a later date as decided between the coach and parents of the skater. 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, Interclub and National STARSkate events, some which restrict entry of skaters who have competed in the qualifying event system.