CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Mayor Clifford Lee jointly with Skate Canada announced that the 2005 National STARSkate and AdultSkate Championships will be hosted in Charlottetown from March 31st-April 3rd, 2005.

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.

AdultSkate is growing in popularity and more and more clubs are offering recreational, test and competitive opportunities to this segment of the population. Adults participate in CanSkate, STARSkate and CanPowerSkate programs as well as on synchronized skating teams. Adult championships currently provide opportunities to adult skaters to experience the challenge of a competition in a fun, social environment.

The National Championships are the competitive pinnacle for skaters. The purpose of the Championships is to recognize and provide skaters participating in the STARSkate and AdultSkate programs, who qualify through their Sectional (Interclub) competition the opportunity to experience National level competition in a program specifically designed to meet their needs and goals in the sport of figure skating.

The National Championships will bring over 200 participants to Charlottetown and will be held at the new CARI Complex – MacLauchlan Arena.