Podium Pathway

Skaters who wish to challenge their figure skating skills and who show potential as competitive skaters can participate in the Podium Pathway.

What is Podium Pathway?
Podium Pathway is a program for skaters in singles, pair and ice dance wishing to compete in qualifying events within Skate Canada.

It’s more than just skating!
Skaters enrolled in the podium pathway 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

 

• the opportunity to compete at Skate Canada Sectionals, Skate Canada Challenge, Skate Canada Trophy and/or the National Canadian Skating Championships

 

• opportunity and potential to be selected to represent Canada internationally

 

• access to sport science services

 

If I Participate in the Podium Pathway Program, is that All I Can Do?
No! Many skaters who compete in the qualifying event structure also take assessments in Skate Canada’s STARSkate Pathway or participate on synchronized skating teams. The only events that you may not be able to compete in are club, and STARSkate events, some which restrict entry of skaters who have competed in the qualifying event system.

The Qualifying Event structure
There are several opportunities throughout the season for skaters to participate in competitive events.

The Skate Canada Podium Pathway offers nationally standardized competitions to competitive skaters. These events are the stepping stones to things such as the National Team and the World and Olympic teams. Skaters competing in the qualifying event structure can do so at the Pre-Juvenile (optional category), Juvenile (optional category), Pre-Novice, Novice, Junior and Senior levels in singles, pair and ice dance.

Skate Canada Sectionals

The Skate Canada Sectionals are the first of the Skate Canada qualifying competitions. Skaters can compete in events from Pre-Novice to Senior (Juvenile is optional). Those who finish in the top three in the Pre-Novice, Novice and top two in  Junior and Senior events are eligible to compete at the Canadian Qualifying Event (Trophy  / Challenge). Each of the 13 Sectional events takes place in late October/November.

Skate Canada Trophy

The Skate Canada Trophy is a national competition that brings together the former Novice Canadian Championships and Skate Canada Challenge – Pre-Novice/Novice events under one umbrella. The event features Canada’s up-and-coming skaters in the pre-novice and novice categories.

Skate Canada Challenge

Skate Canada Challenge features junior and senior skaters from across the country competing in women, men, pairs, and ice dance and serves as a qualifying event for the Canadian National Skating Championships.

Canadian National Skating Championships

Canadian National Skating Championships features the country’s best junior and senior athletes in the men, women, pairs, ice dance, and synchronized skating disciplines.

Where Do I Go From Here?

There are a number of options once a skater decides that the Podium Pathway may not be for them. Skaters may choose to enter Skate Canada’s STARSkate Pathway or participate on a Synchronized Skating team. Others who are leaving the  Podium Pathway to pursue other interests may be interested in becoming coaches, evaluators, judges, technical specialist, technical controller or data specialists. Others may choose to participate on a varsity skating team (if offered), or continue to skate and compete as an adult member of the Association.