July/August 2013 PS Magazine

July/August

2013

www.skatepsa.com

2013

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COLUMNS 4 6 8 14 18 34

FEATURES

Over the Edge | Jimmie Santee

10 President’s Message | Angie Riviello

Ratings | Brandon Forsyth

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Legal Ease | David Shulman

9 Ratings Exams Passed

11 Excellence On Ice

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Jimmie Santee | Editor Carol Rossignol | Contributing Editor Laura Hanrahan | Advertising Amanda Taylor | Art Director Elizabeth Peschges | Editorial Assistant

JULY | AUGUST

2013 ~ No 4 #ISSN-574770

Countdown to Sochi With Mitch Moyer 22 U.S. Figure Skating Launches SafeSport Program Recap of the 2013 PSA International Conference, Trade Show & Reunion | by Liz Leamy

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45th Annual Edi Awards Dinner | by Liz Leamy

36 New Members 38 PSA Calendar of Events

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| by Terri Milner Tarquini

Sport Science | Heidi Thibert

Education | Carol Rossignol

U.S. Figure Skating Rule Changes | May 2013

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2013 Hall of Fame Early Influences Inductees | by Kent McDill

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32 What Would Choeleen Loundagin Do? | by Terri Milner Tarquini

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Over the Edge

PSA OFFICERS President First Vice President Second Vice President Third Vice President Treasurer Past President

JIMMIE SANTEE

PSA BOARD OF GOVERNORS West Mid-West

Memorable Moments

L

ast summer, PSA began publishing its most memorable moments beginning with the first meeting of the American Skaters Guild in Lake Placid.

Seventy-five years of coaching is really difficult to sum up in 75 memories.

The final ten were announced at the conference in Chicago. For those who were there, they witnessed the #1 moment firsthand; the conference. It was spectacular! The Joy of Coaching, published by PSA, was released and Scott Hamilton, our keynote, was his usual impressive self. Being in the presence of our past presidents and Hall of Fame members was inspiring…oh, how far we have come!

10. PSGA endorses its first product, Riedell Skates on October 28, 1977.

Blade maker John Wilson followed suit shortly thereafter, signing their contract on November 15, 1977.

9. PSA broke ground for its new world headquarters on April 14, 2000.

Construction took 9 months and staff moved into its new building on December 28, 2000.

8. A mandate was passed at the 2004 U.S. Figure Skating Governing Council requiring all coaches who request a credential at a U.S. Figure Skating qualifying competition be members of both the U.S. Figure Skating and PSA. 7. After a great deal of controversy at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, a new interim judging system was proposed by the ISU and debuted at the Skate America Grand Prix Championships. The International Judging System is now used for all ISU events.

6. In 1969, the Rating System became a reality with Walter Muehlbronner as chairman. Nineteen rating applications were approved. Peter Dunfield, President, wrote a letter of formal introduction of the Rating System to all USFSA clubs.

5. Tragedy struck the entire figure skating industry in 1961. On February 15, a Sabena jetliner carrying the U.S. World Team, USFSA officials and six PSGA members crashed near Brussels, Belgium, killing all on board.

The PSGA lost six outstanding members: Maribel Vinson Owen, Bill Swallender, Linda Hadley, Billy Kipp, Danny Ryan and Edi Scholdan.

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

Doug Ladret Todd Sand Teri Klingworth Hooper Brandon Forsyth Denise Williamson Rebecca Stump Alex Chang Doug Mattis Tom Hickey Robbie Kaine Brandon Forsyth Doug Mattis Glyn Jones Karen Oppegard

PSA

TOP TEN

East

Angela Riviello Christine Fowler-Binder Dorothi Cassini Rebecca Stump Carol Murphy Kelley Morris Adair

Members at Large

Committee on Professional Standards Ratings Chair Seminar Chair ISI Rep to PSA U.S. Figure Skating Rep to PSA Executive Director Legal Counsel

Jimmie Santee David Shulman

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Awards Coaches Hall of Fame Education Seminars State Workshops Apprentice, Intern Area Representatives Hockey Skating PS Magazine Sport Science Endorsements Executive Executive Nominating Finance Fundraising ISU/ IJS Ethics and Legal Nominating Professional Standards PSA Rep to ISI Ranking Review Ratings Special Olympics U.S. Figure Skating Coaches

Denise Williamson Kelley Morris Adair Christine Fowler-Binder Doug Mattis Tom Hickey Rebecca Stump Gloria Leous Paul Paprocki Bob Mock Heidi Thibert Jamie Santee Angela Riviello Kelley Morris Adair Carol Murphy Patrick O’Neil David Santee David Shulman Kelley Morris Adair Robbie Kaine Gerry Lane Todd Sand Brandon Forsyth Eleanor Fraser-Taylor Alex Chang

PSA AREA REPRESENTATIVES Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5 Area 6 Area 7 Area 8 Area 9 Area 10 Area 11 Area 12 Area 13 Area 14 Area 15 Area 16 Area 17

Amy Hanson-Kuleszka Anne Marie Filosa Lee Cabell Stacie Kuglin Gloria Leous Mary Lin Scott Cudmore Patrick O'Neil Lisa Bardonaro-Reibly Thomas Amon Brigitte Carlson-Roquet Sharon Brilliantine Tracey Seliga-O’Brien Lisa Mizonick Don Corbiel Josselyn Baumgartner open

THE PROFESSIONAL SKATER Magazine Mission: To bring to our readers the best information from the most knowledgeable sources. To select and generate the information free from the influence of bias. And to provide needed information quickly, accurately and efficiently.

The views expressed in THE PROFESSIONAL SKATER Magazine and products are not necessarily those of the Professional Skaters Association.

The Professional Skater, a newsletter of the Professional Skaters Association, Inc., is published bimonthly, six times a year, as the official publication of the PSA, 3006 Allegro Park SW, Rochester, MN 55902. 507.281.5122, Fax 507.281.5491, Email: office@skatepsa.com © 2004 by Professional Skaters Association, all rights reserved. Subscription price is $19.95 per year, Canadian $29.00 and foreign $45.00/year, U.S. Funds.

ISSN-574770. Second-class Postage Paid at Rochester, MN 55901 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to The Professional Skater, 3006 Allegro Park SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Printed in the USA.

Maribel and Edi had been active members of the Guild since its revival. It was speculated the U.S. Figure Skating would never recover from this tragic loss.

4. The PSA Coaches Hall of Fame was created. The first class of inductees were the six PSGA coaches killed in 1961: Linda Hadley, Billy Kipp, Maribel Vinson Owen, Danny Ryan, Edi Scholdan, Bill Swallender.

9.

3. In 2009, the PSA and ISI signed a joint statement regarding coaches education. The agreement led to a cooperative agreement regarding grievances and the recognition of disciplined PSA and U.S. Figure Skating coaches.

2. The most important event to take place in 1997 was the agreement signed between the USFSA and PSA on May 21, 1997 to a standing ovation at the International Conference in Nashville. The agreement officially recognized the PSA as the official Coaches Education, Certification and Training Program of the USFSA to the USOC and maintained its governance over the sport of figure skating, while the PSA maintained its control of development and delivery of all coaching programs, education, certification, and training.

6.

2.

1.

1. The 2013 Conference, Trade Show, and Reunion.

Scott Hamilton and David Benzel, the Hall of Fame and past presidents made this event an experience to remember for the 632 members who attended.

only

$35

The Joy Of Coaching has arrived and

COACHES LOVE IT! Unveiled at the 2013 PSA International Conference, Trade Show & Reunion in May, The Joy of Coaching was met with great enthusiasm! Get your copy of The Joy of Coaching and enjoy the stories and memories of inspiring coaches who helped shape the PSA. Books are available at www.skatepsa.com.

PS MAGAZINE

5

President’s Message ANGIE RIVIELLO

Conference 2013 T

he 2013 75th Anniversary PSA International Conference and Tradeshow went above and beyond any conference to date.

It was an incredible week that started off with two days of Board meetings, a day full of committee meetings and then two full days of Ratings. The Ratings were very successful with a 94 % passing average on over 117 exams.

There were several newly crowned Master Rated coaches.

On Thursday Conference began and the coaches were ready to learn. Also in attendance were all the living Past Presidents and Hall of Fame members along with the Presidents and Executive Directors of both US Figure Skating and ISI. The history in the room was electrifying.

The stories that were told were truly magical and such a joy to any coach who has idolized those individuals for all of their accomplishments.

The Joy of Coaching book was introduced at Conference.

This book spans the 75 years of PSA and has stories on how the organization started, past presidents, pivotal changes in our organization and sport, Hall of Fame member’s stories as well as beautiful pictures documenting our history. There were scheduled book signings for all the past presidents and Hall of Fame members so coaches could get their books autographed by the legends of our sport. The lines were long but all books were signed and the coaches were truly grateful for the opportunity to have these living legends sign their books.

A few of the highlights: • Scott Hamilton was amazing as the keynote speaker • David Benzel delivered an incredibly inspiring speech to open Conference • Scott Hamilton and Don Laws talked about the coach/skater relationship • There was a new bronze sculpture unveiled during the

Take note.. .

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Presidents Reception of Ryan Jahnke and it is named “Transition” • There were over 600 coaches in attendance • U.S. Figure Skating introduced the SafeSport initiative • Once again, a wonderful Sport Medicine and Science Symposium • The presentations were fabulous and the on-ice presentations were extraordinary • Past President Gerry Lane and Larry LaBorde put on stuffed Sumo Wrestler outfits and battled it out to raise money for the PS Foundation. (I will admit I laughed so hard I cried). It was called a draw but I think Gerry may have had an advantage—just my opinion.

• The PSA staff shined like rock stars! They are an amazing dedicated group that works so hard for the PSA membership.

• Executive Director, Jimmie Santee, revealed the top five greatest moments for the PSA • At the Conference conclusion and wrap-up, there were five free Conference registrations for Palm Springs 2014 given away to members who were in attendance I have always been very proud to be a member of this organization and I’m very honored to have been elected as the 19th President of this organization. The week in Chicago watching, learning, networking and meeting members of the PSA was truly rewarding. As I stood back and took it all in, the week was amazing, the coaches were fantastic and the PSA once again shined as the leader in education for this sport we all love.

KEEP UP WITH THE PSA...

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Professional Skaters Association(PSA)

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

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Ratings BRANDON FORSYTH

The Beginning of Ratings…

From an interview with Irene Muehlbronner

T

A hand-penned design by Walter Muehlbronner

8

he PSGA had been talking about doing something because rink owners were pushing the idea of certification so they could have good, quality coaches.

This way, the rinks could have some way of measuring qualifications to coach.

There was a concern about fees and how it would affect income. We knew it had to start slowly so no one would get their ego bruised, especially the established pros.

We also wanted to make sure that salary was not connected to level of certification.

Salary was up to work ethic, location, and management or rink owners.

In 1968, at the conference in Las Vegas, Walter was given the task of getting the ratings process started. So Walter and I worked on how to get it started. In 1969, Walter became the first Ratings Chair. At the conference in Lake Placid the terminology was determined. At first there were three levels, Certified, Senior and Master.

In the beginning, ratings were sent in by mail. The applications included pupils’ records and the coach’s records. The PSGA office and USFSA headquarters verified the information of the coach’s level and the level of their students and the rating was approved and sent in the mail. This was the case from 1969-1970. At one point there was difficulty in verification from USFSA because of a fire and loss of test records, so verification needed to come from club officials and test chairs.

In 1971, the first written rating tests were given at the convention in Anaheim, CA. There were no study guides or exams. Questions were asked and there was no time frame for the exams. We had concerns about doing the ratings in person. At the convention in Colorado Springs, CO, oral rating seminars were approved. One of the biggest things we wanted to maintain was that even if a coach did not pass a rating that we needed to be encouraging! We wanted to get established pros to encourage younger coaches. In the old days, pros were secretive and would not share their “secrets.” Ron Ludington was one of the first coaches to really share techniques. This helped get others on the band wagon of helping.

JULY | AUGUST 2013

Irene Muehlbronner, past Ratings chair Kris Shakarjian, and Walter Muehlbronner

This was helpful to the ratings process because the established coaches were approachable for the younger coaches to ask questions. It also encouraged coaches to take a rating.

Arline Voepel was the next ratings chair and Walter gave her a box full of information. So, this is the story of how the ratings got started back in the 60’s!

Changing of the Guard Kris Shakarjian has stepped down as the Ratings Committee chair and would like to introduce you to the new chair, Brandon Forsyth of Superior Township, Michigan. Brandon was appointed the new chair by the President, effective the end of the 2013 Conference in Chicago.

Brandon was born and raised in Boston, MA, is a five time U.S. Figure Skating gold medalist, and has been coaching since 2002. He is currently the figure skating director of the Flint Iceland Arenas and the Executive Director/Founder of the Iceland Competitive Edge Figure Skating Club. He currently serves on the PSA Board of Governors, the STARS Board of Directors, and has previously served on the U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors, as vice chair of U.S. Figure Skating’s Athlete Advisory Committee; the PSA Ratings Committee as the MIF discipline chair; and was the PSA Ranking Committee chair. Brandon is master rated in Moves in the Field and Dance, is a ratings examiner and has a Level IV ranking.

Recently Passed

RATING EXAMS Congratulations to the following coaches who passed the Basic Accreditation (BA) and ELCC:

Congratulations to the following coaches who successfully completed the requirements for an Oral Rating Certificate:

BA | online

Chicago, IL | May 22-24, 2013

Erin Banner Mimi Bedard Amelia Bradley Shin –Juh Chen Diane Del Olmo Lia DiCicco Tanya Douglas Megan Gueli Tiffani Healey Kelsey Himmel Demerie Kiley Joshua Murphy Claudine Pallandt Christina Phipps Jeff Privett Callie Sheehan

Erin Banner RFS JJ Beck RFS Juliann Bontrager SG, SPD Linda Bourque-Kardos RS, RM Patti Brinkley RG Lyndy Marron Brown RM Sarah Capizzo RM, CFS Jonathan J. Cassar CC, SC Chelsea Chasman RG Stephen Chasman RFS Lyssa Cobb RM, RD Karen Colaizzi-Skifstrom RG Debbie Cole CFS Alyssa Craig RG Lia Dicicco RS, RM Elizabeth Egetoe RPD Melanie Faulkner-Bolhuis RFS, RM Judy Ferris-Brunett RFS, RM Elizabeth G. Finn RFS Karissa Fitzgerald RM Melissa Beth Fortin CG Jessie Garavaglia CFS,CM Jessica Gilmore RG

CONGRATULATIONS

Master Coaches!

Chicago, IL | May 22-24, 2013

Rebecca Arnowitz MG Alex Chang MFS Tim Covington MFS Tammy Gambill MFS Ginger T. Gober MG

Dona Godar-Bengson RPD Ekaterina Gordeeva RP, CP Susan Hamel-Bottari RFS Rebecca Hatch-Purnell RPD Lisa Hein RG Katherine Hill CC Liz Hill RM, CM Kelly Hobbs RG, CM Joy Hoedel-Elder RG, RFS Grant Huang RC, SG Lauren Hunt CG, CPD Christopher Hyland SD Jaya Kanal CM Jessica Mills Kincade RFS Garrett Kling CC Nicholas Kraft RPD, RM Linda Loker CG Meredith Longoria RFS, CM Victoria Lyons RC Andrea Maruschak Meck RC Morgan Matthews RD, RC Douglas Mattis CFS, SC Robert Mauti SC

Jill Jonkouski MM Yevgeny Martynov MFS Robert Mauti MC Sylvia Taglialavore Muccio MG Jodi Porter MC

Kathryn McSwain RC Lezlea Miller Zessin SG Jill Marie Mintz RFS, RG Erin Murphy RFS Joshua Murphy RG Sarah Neal SG Danielle Niblick CM Claudine Pallandt RG Shanley Pascal CG Rachel Patterson RG Christine Penno SM Christina Phipps RFS Kate Points RM,CG Jodi Porter SC David Redlin SM, RPD Morgan Rowe RFS, RM Jessica Smith RG, RM Jill Smith RM, CM Paula Trujillo SG Nancy Voltmer RG Carrie Wall SP

Kimberly Reehoff-Johnson MPD Paula Trujillo MG Megan Zienkiewicz MM

EXAMINER RECERTIFICATION At the recent Board of Governors meeting in Chicago prior to the PSA Conference, the following motion was passed requiring all Rating Examiners to become recertified effective January 1st, 2014. The following requirements by discipline will need to be completed by 2014 to examine any exams after January 1st, 2014: For Free Skating, Pair Skating, Ice Dancing, Free Dance, Synchronized Skating and Choreography Exams 1.) U.S. Figure Skating current CER A completion 2.) Plus one of the following within the past three years: • Attended a Coaches College, PSA or ISU seminar • Attended a Technical Panel or IJS school or have an active technical specialist appointment • Currently coaching IJS competitors at qualifying competitions for certified exams and above For Moves in the Field and Figure Exams 1.) Minimum U.S. Figure Skating current CER B completion 2.) Plus one of the following within the past three years:

• Attended a PSA Moves seminar or conference • Completed the USFS CER Moves in the Field course (RU 204) and exam • Must have working knowledge and professional coaching experience with the new Moves For Group Instructor Exams 1.) Minimum U.S. Figure Skating current CER B completion 2.) Plus one of the following within the past three years: • Attended a Group Examiner training session • Hold a U.S. Figure Skating CER C certificate of completion For Program Director Exams 1.) Minimum U.S. Figure Skating current CER B completion 2.) Plus one of the following within the past three years: • Attended an iAIM or NARCE course • Attended a PSA Conference presentation geared to Program Directors • Currently an active supervise or director PS MAGAZINE

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U.S. Figure Skating Rule Changes | May 2013 This year, U.S. Figure Skating held a condensed Governing Council meeting. As a result, there were 61 fewer actions taken this year than last year. Even with the reduced number of actions, there were still some important rule changes.

Here is a summary of those that will have the greatest effect on coaches.

MEMBERSHIP • Rule MR 5.11 was re-worded to put all of the annual coach compliance requirements in the U.S. Figure Skating Membership Rules. The requirements themselves were not changed; however, the coach registration fee was reduced from $40 to $30 per season to account for the fact that a printed rulebook will no longer be provided automatically to registered coaches. This is due to all of the electronic options that are now available, including on the U.S. Figure Skating website (www.usfigureskatingrules.org) and through the U.S. Figure Skating Publications App. • Rule MR 5.14, specifying a $75 late fee for renewing coaches who do not complete the coach compliance requirements by July 1 of each year, was added. This rule will go into effect June 30, 2014, which means no late fee will be assessed for non-compliant coaches this year; however, the coach compliance requirements should still be completed by all renewing coaches by July 1, 2013.

ADULT SKATING • The maximum number of jump combinations and the maximum number of spins were reduced in the adult silver well-balanced free skate to two each.

• An adult skater who has passed one or more standard free skate tests can now cross over to the adult free skate tests at a higher level. This brings the cross over levels for adult free skate tests in line with the tests that are required to compete in well-balanced free skate events.

• The number of pattern dance sequences required in adult solo dance events at adult sectionals and U.S. Adult Championships was changed. Now, all pattern dances skated in adult solo dance events at adult sectionals and U.S. Adult Championships require two sequences, with the exception of the Kilian and the Fourteenstep, which each require three sequences.

COMPETITIONS • The rules pertaining to previous winners of national, sectional and regional championships for singles, pairs

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

and dance – Rules 2430-2433 – have been amended to recognize the new competition structure for intermediates and juveniles.

• Beginning with the upcoming season, any qualifying rounds at the juvenile level at regional championships will be seeded. They will be seeded by final placement at the juvenile level at the previous U.S. Championships, then sectionals, then regionals. This is the same formula currently used to seed the intermediate, novice, junior and senior qualifying rounds at regionals.

• To try to eliminate confusion, the Competitions Committee has added definitions to the rules for practice group, warm-up group, official practice ice, unofficial practice ice and official event day warm-up ice. These definitions will be in rule 2701 once the 2013-14 rulebook is published.

• Rule 3060 has been amended to better define the requirements to compete in U.S. Figure Skating nonqualifying competitions for non-U.S. citizens from other countries and U.S. citizens who have been released to represent other countries. The simplified version of the amended requirements is that such skaters will need permission from their own federations to enter U.S. Figure Skating nonqualifying competitions, and they will need to represent their own federations in such competitions.

ICE DANCING • Juvenile, intermediate and adult free dance music may now be without an audible rhythmic beat for the beginning 10 seconds of the program. This is also now true of solo free dance test music.

• Rule 6222 – novice free dance – was amended to add a required not touching midline step sequence. Novice couples must also do a step sequence in hold during their free dance. This step sequence in hold must now have a circular, diagonal or serpentine pattern. For the novice free dance test, a second step sequence is now optional, but not required.

• The maximum pattern dance test requirements for the pre-juvenile level have been removed, so skaters can now continue testing their pattern dances while competing at the pre-juvenile level. The minimum requirement for competing at the pre-juvenile level remains two standard partnered preliminary pattern dances; and the preliminary moves in the field test is still also required.

• The novice pattern dances for the 2013-14 season were changed as follows: the Starlight Waltz was replaced by the Viennese Waltz. The Argentine Tango remains the dance to be skated at both the sectional and U.S. Championships. The Kilian was drawn as the second dance for the sectional championships, and the Viennese Waltz was drawn as the second dance for the U.S. Championships.

• The times for the novice, junior and senior solo free dance tests were changed to bring them in line with the Solo Dance Series requirements. Novice is now 2:10 +/10 seconds. Junior is 2:30 +/- 10 seconds, and senior is 2:50 +/- 10 seconds. Also rule TR 61.02 was amended to specify that no flying entries are permitted on any dance spin in any solo free dance test.

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING • The movements in isolation element was replaced by the creative element for all 6.0 levels that required a movements in isolation element this past season (2012-13).

• The collegiate synchronized well-balanced free skate requirements were changed to match the junior synchronized well-balanced free skate requirements released in ISU Communication #1786 on March 25, 2013.

OTHER • Rule JR 4.08 was amended to allow U.S. Figure Skating judges who are also full time college students to judge and coach concurrently. Such judges must apply to the chair of the Judges Committee and provide documentation that confirms their status as a full time college student.

COMBINED REPORT OF ACTION To get the full details of all of these changes and others, please see the 2012-13 Combined Report of Action, avail-

able on the U.S. Figure Skating website at http://www.usfsa. org/content.asp?menu=leadership&id=443. The Combined Report of Action is the ONLY OFFICIAL report of U.S. Figure Skating bylaw and rule changes and contains all changes that were made by the U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors and the Governing Council this past season.

As always, we caution coaches from using word-of-mouth, chat rooms or other unofficial information found via the Internet to educate themselves on rule changes. Coaches should utilize the Combined Report of Action with their 2012-13 U.S. Figure Skating rulebook and tests book until the 2013-14 U.S. Figure Skating rulebook becomes available.

(The tests book will be reincorporated into the rulebook for the 2013-14 season.)

U.S. Figure Skating hopes to have the 2013-14 rulebook available online before the rule changes go into effect July 1. Once finalized, the rulebook will be posted online at www. usfigureskatingrules.org and made available through the U.S. Figure Skating Publications App; and instructions on how to get a printed copy will also be available on the U.S. Figure Skating website.

ISU Although the ISU is not holding a Congress this year, there is always a possibility that they will make changes to some of their requirements. Coaches should keep a close eye on the Technical Info section of the U.S. Figure Skating website (http://www.usfsa.org/New_Judging.asp) throughout the season to make sure they always have the most up-to-date information.

PROFESSIONAL SKATERS ASSOCIATION

EXCELLENCE ON ICE AMES FSC Ames, IA

CRYSTAL ICE HOUSE Crystal Lake, IL

KENDALL ICE ARENA Miami, FL

BELLINGHAM SPORTSPLEX Bellingham, WA

EXTREME ICE CENTER Indian Trail, NC

BLADE & EDGE FSC Omaha, NE

GERMAIN ARENA Estero, FL

LOUISVILLE SKATING ACADEMY Louisville, KY

CENTRAL IOWA FSC Urbandale, IA

GREENSBORO ICE HOUSE Greensboro, NC

CITY OF KETTERING Kettering, OH

HONNEN ICE ARENA Colorado Springs, CO

COLORADO SPRINGS WORLD ARENA ICE HALL Colorado Springs, CO

ICE CENTER AT THE PROMENADE Westminster, CO

CRANSTON VETERANS MEMORIAL ICE RINK Cranston, RI

ICELAND COMPETITIVE EDGE FSC Flint, MI

MOYLAN ICEPLEX Omaha, NE OLYMPIC VIEW ARENA & LYNNWOOD ICE CENTER Mountlake Terrace, WA ROCHESTER FSC Rochester, MN

SHATTUCK-ST. MARY’S SCHOOL AND FSC Faribault, MN SPRINKER RECREATION CENTER Tacoma, WA STAMFORD TWIN RINKS Stamford, CT THE POND FAMILY FRIENDLY ICE RINK Chagrin Falls, OH

SAVEOLOGY ICEPLEX Coral Springs, FL

2012-2013 Membership Year PS MAGAZINE

11

Are you thinking about starting the ratings process?

See what these coaches have to say about their experience!

I had a very positive experience and commend my examiners for their constructive comments on opportunities for improvement. I am going to mentor with one of them. – Registered Group

I will be back for more education.

Thank you for your inviting atmosphere!

– Registered Group

I felt my examiners were more than fair and more so, kind and helpful. I truly feel that I know more from going through the process; their feedback has motivated me to do better. – Registered MIF

This was a really great experience and not as scary as everyone makes it seem. – Registered MIF

The examiners were very friendly and made me feel comfortable. It felt like we were having a conversation instead of an exam. They did a great job keeping the mood light but serious. – Registered MIF

Enjoyed the test – it was very good to know that the panel was interested in what I had to say and it made me relax. Thank you!

–Registered Group

My experience was highly positive, motivating, and has made me a better overall coach! – Senior Pairs My testing experience was great because I was well prepared. The info required to know for the exams has richly enhanced my ability to be a better choreographer. Thanks for pushing me!

– Master Choreography

Very helpful and positive atmosphere.

I thought the examiners were all constructive as well as complimentary when necessary. – Certified Choreography

Examiners were very fair and their comments were very helpful for moving forward. I appreciate them donating their time for the process. – Certified MIF

Extremely helpful feedback.

– Master Program Director

– Registered Free Skating

The exam was awesome, per usual. Every exam was comfortable, fun, and cohesive between examiners and myself. It was a very fun experience from top to bottom! - Master Free Skating

For upcoming Oral Rating sites see page 19.

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

This was my first oral exam. It was a good experience and will help me clarify my methods.

Thank you for the opportunity to grow, learn, shape, and empower my coaching.

It is an honor!

– Master Free Skating

Countdown

to Sochi With Mitch Moyer

By Terri Milner Tarquini

W

ith seven months left until the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the march to the medals is officially on. But for Mitch Moyer, the countdown to Sochi, Russia, began almost three-and-a-half years ago.

Moyer, the Senior Director of Athlete High Performance for U.S. Figure Skating since 2006, is in charge of all things related to the athletic development and performance for skating’s elite.

Under Moyer’s watchful eye – and a carefully crafted plan – directs the Athlete High Performance Department, which concentrates on all skaters and their coaches named in a team envelope or named to the International Selection Pool (ISP). Team envelopes break elite skaters into three categories, but covers senior-level skaters from major international events, top junior skaters and even some novice skaters. The ISP encompasses any skater being considered for assignment to international competition, who then becomes part of Team USA. “Prior to and immediately following each Olympics, I get feedback from coaches, athletes and organization members,” Moyer said. “Through that, and a lot of meetings and a lot of input, I develop a four-year High Performance Plan that strengthens development and helps secure USOC funding at the higher levels, with the goal of optimizing performances at the Olympic Games.”

If it sounds like a big job, it is. But Moyer’s resume indicated he would be up to the task.

Having previously served on six U.S. Figure Skating committees, Moyer had been a U.S. Figure Skating board member when he accepted the senior director position. He brought more than 25 years of coaching experience to the table. Moyer

2010 Olympic Winter Games: Team Leader Mitch Moyer (right) with Lorrie Parker, U.S. Figure Skating Team Manager for Singles and Pairs, and Olympic champion Evan Lysacek.

and Johnny Johns coached the 2006 U.S. silver medalist pairs team of Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem to the 2006 Winter Games. Four years later, Moyer was back at the Olympics, this time as a team leader.

“As team leader, you have to be on top of all the minutia and all the logistics and to keep away all distractions,” Moyer said.

“You have to have thought of everything that could happen and have a plan for it.

And, even if there’s something you didn’t think of, you have to have a plan to handle that too.”

As if that isn’t enough, in 2014 there will be something all new in the Olympic figure skating mix: the team event.

This new event was made possible by the merging of the previously separate compulsory and original dances in the ice dancing competition, opening up a slot for a new figure skating competition. Each team features a male and female singles skater, a pairs team and an ice dancing team, with the beginning of the team event kicking off the Sochi festivities the night before the Opening Ceremonies.

“The team event will definitely bring a different dynamic to it this year, especially with it being prior to the individual events,” Moyer said. “This is generally the most important competition of these skaters’ lives and we’re going to try something new.

There will be a lot of strategy involved to ensure the athletes are prepared as well as they can be so they can skate as well as they can in all their events.”

But with less than a year to go before the team event makes its Olympic debut, Team USA is sitting pretty, according to recent results. At the 2013 International Skating Union World Team Trophy in Tokyo in April, the United States took home the gold medal, with Canada and Japan in second and third place, respectively. Although there will be some changes – such as a different scoring system – Team USA has won the ISU competition two of the three years that the event has taken place. Plus, the event seems to be catching on – almost 35,000 fans attended the most recent World Team Trophy.

“I think we’ll be very strong in the team event,” Moyer said. “We are strong and we have a lot of depth in our country so it could be great. We have a good shot at a medal right off the bat.”

Being poised to win medals doesn’t just happen – things like strategy and planning and technology all come heavily into play.

One of the technological tools Moyer is excited about is the Motion Analysis System, which captures a skater’s jump, makes a 3-D simulation model of it and can then be manipulated on the screen.

“Like ‘Avatar,’” Moyer said, comparing continued on page 17 PS MAGAZINE

13

Sport Science HEIDI THIBERT

Developing Athletic Talent This article was excerpted from the PSA Coach’s Guide to Figure Skating Sport Science and Medicine, 3rd Edition.

Most neural structures are formed near adulthood and most fundamental movement patterns are reasonably well established by 6-8 years of age, but little is known about the contribution of inherited characteristics to the development of movement patterns. What is known is that child prodigies are not always successful performers as adults, and that most successful adult performers were not child prodigies. What is also known is that successful performers (in sports, arts and intellectual activities) appear to go through similar phases of development and “learning” and that they receive sustained instruction beginning at an early age.

sequentially. Moving into the “Integration” phase before graduating from the “Precision” phase does not provide the athlete with the proper training or technical skills to succeed in the next phase.

Learning, training and development can occur without long pauses or delays, but the length of each phase may vary by performer. This variation may be related to the facets of skill acquisition, including trainability, readiness and critical periods.

Trainability is the responsiveness of an individual to a specific instructional, practice, and/or training stimulus. It is related mostly to muscular strength, aerobic power, and Bloom’s Phases of Learning sport-specific motor skill proficiency. Proficiency developBloom’s 1985 “phases of learning” model is still widely ment depends largely on feedback from coaches! Readiness supported and accepted. It defines three phases of learning in this case relates to the ability of the individual to handle that successful performers go through, namely romance, successfully the demands of a structured learning situation precision and integration. The romance phase is character- (as opposed to the formal process required for elite Team ized by fun, encouragement, exploration and freedom. It is USA skaters). In the context of growth and development during this phase that successful athletes develop their love and talent, readiness is a match between the characteristics for their sport and enjoy immediate rewards for participating of the skater (maturation and cognitive, social and motor in it. The precision phase is a period of technical mastery, skill development) and the demands of the instruction or during which athletes develop sound technique and the practice setting (style and quality of coaching). Obviously, habit of performing sport-specific skills with high levels of elements of psychological development help determine accuracy. Romance and precision phases are followed by an competition readiness. integration phases, during which time successful performers Finally, critical periods are defined as specific times develop their ability to integrate the knowledge and skills during growth and maturation when a young athlete may they have acquired and keen insight leads to the “ah-ha” be maximally sensitive to environmental influences and moment when they realize the significance of their abilities may represent maximal readiness. The evidence supporting and the significance of the sport in their life. the theory of critical periods is still limited and can be Successful performers tend to go through each of Bloom’s confusing. phases of learning, and the actual learning always occurs All of this lends itself to the notion that planning at different ages and stages of development is essenROMANCE PRECISION INTEGRATION tial to developing the potential of each skater.

Fun. The planning does not have to be elaborate and Integration of Encouragement. can start with a simple seasonal schedule and Technical mastery. knowledge & skills. performance goals, depending on the age and Exploration.

Skill.

Individuality. stage of the skater. But the approach must be Freedom.

Technique.

Insight. long-term. Bloom’s model supports it. Unless there Develop love of sport.

Habit of accuracy.

Realization significant is a long and intensive process of encouragement, Need immediate sport in my life. nurturing, education and training, a skater will rewards. not attain extreme levels of capability in the sport.

Bloom’s Phases of Learning Model (1985)

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

PERFORMANCE

REVEAL THE ATHLETE WITHIN!

TALENT

H E A LT

H | NUTRITION

FLEXIBILITY

AGILITY

STRENGTH

STAMINA

BALANCE

POWER

COORDINATION

PROPRIOCEPTION

SKILL

ATHLETICISM is...

Integrated Balanced Supported Athleticism supports optimal performance and skill through a balance and integration of key components of physical fitness and body awareness.

Athleticism links talent to skill.

Athleticism relies heavily on good health and nutrition.

Athleticism in Figure Skating – Revealing the Athlete Within In our day-to-day work as coaches and skaters, we talk about training and being “fit.” We participate in off-ice conditioning regularly, but are we really athletic? Are we really strong, robust and full of vigor? Are we coordinated, and is our stamina high? Are we always athletically prepared to handle more complex and more physically demanding skills? Is our current level of overall athleticism enough to introduce and train those skills and stay healthy and injury-free? Do we really promote robust, all-around fitness in our sport?

The term “athleticism” refers to a collection of physical fitness components, including strength, power, flexibility, agility, balance, coordination, proprioception and stamina. There is little doubt in our minds, and lots of scientific evidence to prove that each of these components plays an important role in sport performance. But just as we have learned that many comprehensive yet independently managed programs often fail, neither should the components of athleticism be viewed as independent entities. Individually, they do not constitute athleticism.

To constitute athleticism, these components must be integrated and considered relevant to one another. They must take one another into account. Collectively, their whole is greater than the sum of their parts. The impact of athleticism is greater than any component. Athleticism is the physical link between talent and skill. (Figure 1) As coaches, we face the reality that some skaters are simply more athletically inclined than others. The United States is full of talent, but this inherent talent among skaters is variable, widespread and quite literally out of our control in terms of choosing who gets how much.

Therefore, it is our responsibility to develop skaters to the best of our ability and their potential. In doing so, it

is important for us to recognize that optimal skill rests on (1) the balanced and integrated development of all athletic components, and (2) the belief that great skaters will always come from great athletes (as opposed to fair ones). Of course, the other reality is that untapped athleticism will always limit talent (as opposed to revealing it).

As we develop athleticism and skill in our skaters, we must also recognize that unbalanced athleticism will always produce unbalanced skills.

Extremity strength without core strength? Power without proprioception? Agility without balance?

Unbalanced athleticism presents a risk to our skaters’ safety.

Focusing on all components of athleticism, as opposed to just the ones we/they like and are good at, helps coordinate the development of skill with athletic ability.

Being aware of a skater’s “athleticism curve” and recognizing proper nutrition as a pre-requisite to performance (both mental and physical) and good health is a simple way to “protect and perfect.”

So what is a coach to do to develop balanced and integrated athleticism in young skaters? To some extent this may depend on the age of your skaters.

• For skaters between the ages of 6 and 10, promote physical activity and unstructured play outside of the rink.

“... it is our responsibility to

develop skaters

to the best of our ability and their potential.”

PS MAGAZINE

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PERFORMANCE

SKILL

FLEXIBILITY

AGILITY

STRENGTH

STAMINA

POWER

TALENT TALENT

TALENT

HEAL TH | NUTRITION

BALANCE

AGILITY

FLEXIBILITY

STAMINA

STRENGTH

POWER

BALANCE

PROPRIOCEPTION

COORDINATION

AGILITY

FLEXIBILITY

STAMINA

STRENGTH

POWER

BALANCE

PROPRIOCEPTION

SKILL

COORDINATION

SKILL PERFORMANCE

PROPRIOCEPTION

PERFORMANCE

COORDINATION

Being aware of a skater’s “athleticism curve” and recognizing proper nutrition as a pre-requisite to performance (both mental and physical) and good health is a simple way to “protect and perfect.”

HEAL TH | NUTRITION

• For those who are older, structured “conditioning” may be appropriate. Encourage participation in physical education at school.

• For skaters over 12 years of age competing at the junior and senior level, periodized training plans are essential.

• Participate in testing/monitoring program that

HEAL TH | NUTRITION

incorporates developmental stages and biological age.

(S.T.A.R.S.) As professional coaches, we are the gateways and gatekeepers to our athletes, and therefore to peak performance. Each new athletic improvement lays the foundation for the next, and over time, athleticism and skill execution safely approach peak potential.

It is that time of year again…the time when all of your coaching credentials need to be renewed!

Each of these credentials is currently available for renewal. Use this handy checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything: U.S. Figure Skating and/or ISI membership U.S. Figure Skating Coaches Registration and/or ISI background check

PSA

PSA Membership PSA Liability Insurance (must renew PSA membership before purchasing insurance) U.S. Figure Skating Continuing Education Requirement (CER) completion

To avoid delays, plan to complete these items prior to July 1 every year.

DISCLAIMER: As a coach, it is your responsibility to know which professional credentials are required of you. The items listed above may not apply to every coach, and your individual state, city, facility, or club may require additional credentials.

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

Countdown to Sochi With Mitch Moyer continued from page 13 the system to the 2009 science fiction movie, which used cutting edge motion capture filming techniques. “It’s very complicated and the technology is very sophisticated.”

Sophisticated, indeed. With a slight adjustment to the model, skaters and coaches can see what the result would be – and they can see it clearly and instantaneously.

“There are those ‘aha!’ moments where the skater sees what an adjustment can do for their jump and many times it’s been what their coach has been telling them all along and they didn’t know it would make that big of a difference,” Moyer said. “With this system, you can move this a little bit and move that a little bit and you can see the result right before your eyes.”

That’s just a small part of what is largely a top secret blueprint. The High Performance Plan is a confidential 200-plus page document, outlining a four-year

success strategy for U.S Figure Skating, with the goal of aiding elite athletes to obtain competitive greatness.

“The plan is updated every four years and then evaluated every year to see if we’re on track or where things need to be added,” Moyer said. “It’s so great when the plan goes well and things come to fruition.”

With the 2014 Winter Games less than a year away, and the debut of the team event on the horizon, Moyer has a busy few months ahead – not that the Closing Ceremonies in Sochi will bring relaxation.

“The Olympics are over the end of February and the High Performance Plan for the next four years is due in May,” Moyer said. “I’m looking at a nice vacation in June.”

Mitch Moyer at the boards of the 1995 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Photo by Paul Harvath, PSA Collection

PS MAGAZINE

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Education CAROL ROSSIGNOL

Honored and Accepted A

t the 2013 Awards Dinner in Chicago, Willy Boeckl, the first PSA president, was inducted into the PSA Coaches Hall of Fame in the Early Influences category (pre 1960s). This award recognizes our forefathers that have contributed in a significant way to our organization to raise the standards and future vision of the coaching profession and gives historical support to our professional careers.

Gertrude Hounsell (91), Mr. Boeckl’s daughter, was on hand to receive this award on behalf of her father. The following is her acceptance speech: “Ladies and gentlemen, it was a great surprise—and I was delighted and honored—to be invited here to accept an award for my father, Willy Boeckl, as the first president of the Professional Skaters Association.

Let me tell you how his skating started. He was born in Klagenfurt, Austria, on a beautiful big lake, the Woerthersee, which freezes over in winter. When he was four, his mother bought him a pair of skates, put him on the ice and said, “Willy, if you come over to Mama, you will get this doughnut.” And little Willy, very determined, scrambled over. This taught him that if you make an effort—and you succeed—you will be rewarded. And boy, did he succeed!

He began by winning his first local competition in 1906 when he was just 13 years old. Then, between 1913 and 1928, he continued winning first place in: four Austrian Championships, six European Championships, and four consecutive World Championships. His high point was winning two Silver Olympic medals: in Chamonix in 1924 and in St. Moritz in 1928. To achieve this, he trained on the Vienna outdoor skating rink every morning from 7-8am before going to the office, and evenings after work from 6-8 pm. He was called the last of the true amateurs.

Trained in nautical engineering, he built motorboats in Austria based on the latest American designs and raced them. As vice-president of the Austrian Motor Yacht club he helped start the International Motorboat Regatta on Lake Woerthersee. An all-around sportsman, he also competed in motorcar touring events.

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

Gertrude Hounsell addresses the awards dinner attendees during her acceptence speech.

During the depression of the 1930’s, Mr. Layman of the New York Skating Club visited Vienna to find a coach to prepare American skaters for international competition.

Willy accepted the offer and spent six months teaching at the NY Skating Club. He returned briefly to Austria, but his love of America won out. He made the ocean crossing back to New York to teach in Lake Placid and stayed there.

Willy made several contributions to figure skating. He developed the Boeckl jump (an inside Axel), and designed the Willy Boeckl skate. He helped found the Phoenix Ice Rink in Arizona and wrote a book titled, “Willy Boeckl on Figure Skating”. He devoted much of his life to skating and would be most pleased to receive this honor from you.

Thank you very much.”

HONOR ROLL

3 of 4

COACHES

Corrections

2013

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING

U.S. Figure Skating Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championship: Pre-Juvenile Glacial Magic, 3rd place – Jami Mitchell, Andrea Brett

U.S. Figure Skating Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championship: Junior Saint Louis Synergy, 3rd place – Ramona Peterson, Quinn Tyminsky, Andrea Trembath Juvenile Saint Louis Synergy, 4th place – Quinn Tyminsky Pre-Juvenile Starfire, 3rd place – Michelle Tepkasetkul Martineau, Margaret Madaras Preliminary Saint Louis Synergy, 3rd place – Kameryn Truman

U.S. Figure Skating Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championship: Pre-Juvenile Sparklers, 3rd place – Casey Summerlin, Caroline Summerlin, Amanda Warner

CO N D O LEN C ES It is with tremendous sadness that we share the passing of Regina Woodward Barr’s husband, Joseph, who was involved in a fatal car accident on Monday, June 3rd.

Regina is the director of the Philadelphia Skating Club and a former Olympian. She will need all of our help and support in the coming weeks as she has two young children. The family is accepting donations to the Paige and Joey Education Fund through the Give Forward site http://gfwd.st/16Hs6pY. Our deepest condolences go out to Regina, her family, and friends.

PSA SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE!!

Join us in the PSA Online Store July 14-20 for some great deals on PSA products! Now is the perfect time to prepare yourself for the upcoming skating season. www.skatepsa.com

The list is out for the upcoming fall coaching seminars!

2013 Nationwide Seminars

sponsored by

Area

Presenter

Facility

Location

Dates

Registration Deadline

7

Jackie Brenner

The Pavillon

Taylors, SC

Sept. 7

Aug. 23

9

Tom Zakrajsek

Iceland Arena

Cleveland, OH

Sept. 8

Aug. 23

13

Alex Chang

World Arena

Colorado Springs, CO

Sept. 8

Aug. 23

4

Janet Champion

Dix Hills Ice Rink

Long Island, NY

Sept. 22

Sept. 6

8

Kerry Leitch

Southgate Civic Arena

Detroit, MI

Sept. 28

Sept. 13

5

Gerry Lane

Philadelphia SCHS

Philadelphia, PA

Sept. 29

Sept. 13

10

Kerry Leitch

Schwan Super Rink

Minneapolis, MN

Sept. 29

Sept. 13

15

Diane Miller

Yerba Buena Skating

San Francisco, CA

Oct. 9

Sept. 23

Register at www.skatepsa.com P R O F E S S I O N A L S K AT E R S A S S O C I AT I O N

PS MAGAZINE

19

U.S. FIGURE SKATING LAUNCHES

SAFESPORT PROGRAM U.S. Figure Skating strives to provide a safe What Can Your Club Do? environment for its members and to protect Five Simple Steps: the opportunity of its members to partici 1. Appoint a SafeSport Compliance Chair pate in the sport in an atmosphere that is to your local club board who will serve free of harassment and abusive practices. as the primary contact for U.S. Figure The U.S. Figure Skating SafeSport Program Skating; oversee the implementation provides resources for all members to help of the SafeSport Program; assist in identify abuse and misconduct, outlines fostering a safe, healthy and positive steps that can be taken to reduce both and environment for your members; verify offers procedures to respond to them. coach compliance with U.S. Figure There are many positive reasons to particiSkating rules; and disseminate informapate in figure skating, but like all sports, it tion on best practices. can also be an environment where miscon 2. Adopt and implement the SafeSport duct can occur: emotional, physical, sexual, policies found within the SafeSport bullying, harassment and hazing. All forms of misconduct are unacceptable and in direct violation with U.S. Figure Skating rules.

Policies The new U.S. Figure Skating SafeSport Prohibiting Abuse Program, supported by the Professional and Misconduct Skaters Association, was formally Monitoring launched in May at the annual Education and Supervision and Awareness Governing Council meeting. of SafeSport Training SafeSport was originally created by Program the U.S. Olympic Committee, and U.S. Figure Skating has adapted the USOC’s program to create its own program, which includes policies Responding Mandatory that will apply to all U.S Figure to Reports Background Skating clubs, programs, events and of Abuse Screening activities.

The U.S. Figure Skating SafeSport Reporting Program addresses the following types of Concerns of abuse, harassment and misconduct: Abuse • Sexual abuse and misconduct • Physical abuse and misconduct • Emotional abuse and misconduct • Bullying, threats and harassment Handbook that are applicable to your • Hazing club and facility to reduce the risks of • Willfully tolerating misconduct potential abuse: The association will not tolerate or • Athlete protection and commitcondone any form of harassment or abuse ment to safety of any of its members including athletes, • Two-deep leadership and approcoaches, officials, directors, employees, priate supervision parents, volunteers or any other persons while • Locker room and changing room they are participating in or preparing for a policy figure skating activity or event conducted • Social media, mobile and electronic under the auspices of U.S. Figure Skating. communications policy Everyone can play a role in preventing • SafeSport travel guidelines abuse and reducing misconduct in sport. All • Codes of conduct for skaters, parents, U.S. Figure Skating members should familcoaches and club board members iarize themselves with each form of abuse

3.

Select at least three persons within and misconduct and refrain from engaging the club to complete the SafeSport in such misconduct.

Training developed by the United

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

States Olympic Committee (USOC).

For more information or to register for SafeSport Training, go to www.safesport.org.

4.

Communicate and educate your members on the definitions of abuse and misconduct and ask everyone to help monitor and govern areas where potential abuse and misconduct could occur.

5.

When in doubt, report – if you suspect abuse or misconduct or have specific and credible information about inappropriate behavior, it is your duty as a member of U.S. Figure Skating to report it under GR 1.03.

Based upon the severity of the incident, the report should be directed to the local authorities, U.S. Figure Skating and/or your club’s SafeSport compliance chair. For more information on reporting, please go to www.usfigureskating.org/safesport, then “Clubs” and “SafeSport,” or send an email to safesport@usfigureskating.org.

Resources For more information, please go to www.usfigureskating.org/safesport to find all of U.S. Figure Skating SafeSport Program Resources including: • U.S. Figure Skating SafeSport Handbook – includes SafeSport policies and guidelines • U.S. Figure Skating SafeSport brochures to distribute to members • How to Make a Report • Link to SafeSport Training • Links to State Reporting Laws For more information on the SafeSport Program, contact Susi Wehrli-McLaughlin, senior director of membership at U.S. Figure Skating, at swehrli@usfigureskating.org.

Reprinted with permission from SKATING Magazine.

“U.S. Figure Skating is committed to providing a safe and positive environment for our members’ physical, emotional and social development and ensuring it promotes an environment free from abuse and misconduct. Through the U.S. Figure Skating SafeSport Program, U.S. Figure Skating is committed to providing the safest possible environment for all participants.”

— Patricia St. Peter, president, U.S. Figure Skating

As a coach

You have to work hard to earn the trust of skaters and skaters’ parents, but you must work even harder to manage it. Refrain from: • Soliciting • Tampering ...and work to keep your clients from: • Third party soliciting • Tampering

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Offer expires 12/31/13

PS MAGAZINE

21

C H IC A G O

PSA International Conference, Trade Show & Reunion Reunion in Chicago celebrates memories as coaches look to the future

By Liz Leamy

T

he Professional Skaters Association figureheads and staff built the proverbial field and in turn, the coaches showed up.

This past May, more than 600 of the sport’s best, brightest and perhaps most steadfast coaches convened at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.

This contingent, perhaps the most influential community in the sport, attended the 75th Annual PSA International Conference and Trade Show to optimize their knowledge and network and help raise the legendary high bar of American figure skating.

The mood among coaches, officials, retailers and organizers at this diamondanniversary event was one of intensity, high energy and dedication and echoed the hardworking spirit so famously associated with the Windy City.

“There’s a real spirit of commitment here,” said Angie Riviello, PSA president. “Coaches are paying a lot of attention to detail and

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there’s a feel of building upon a foundation.”

This conference, held May 23rd to 25th, drew coaches from all over the U.S., Canada, Central America, Europe and Asia, who came here to learn the latest techniques on edges, footwork, jumps, spins, ice dance, pairs and synchronized skating.

Each day, coaches filled presentation rooms and rinks at the Hyatt and Edge Arena in Bensenville, a 20-minute bus ride away from the hotel, as they jotted down notes and exchanged information with one another.

“It’s so inspiring to see so many committed coaches in one place,” said Cynthia Tang, a PSA-rated coach from Boise, Idaho. “It’s great to get all of this information, it gives me so much incentive and inspiration.”

This celebrated conference, which first kicked off in 1967 with 13 coaches, is unique because it is the only educational symposiums of its kind to exist in the sport. It also represents an important annual summit for professionals where they obtain much of their information for the pending season.

“There is a great deal of knowledge here,” said Don Laws, the esteemed coach who taught Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist and Patrick Chan, the threetime Canadian and World champion. “The solution [for a skater’s success] starts with the coach and this is a place where they get much of that information.”

In typical fashion, the roster of all-star coaches here was lengthy and included Frank Carroll, Ron Ludington, John Nicks, Kathy Casey, Christy Krall, Don Laws, Slavka Button, Igor Shpilband and Tom Zakrajsek, among others who have helped make American figure skating such a dominant international force.

Jimmie Santee, PSA Executive Director, deigned the conference a success due to the great energy of everyone and the fact that there were so many iconic figures on hand.

“We knocked it out of the park,” he said.

“This week has been the culmination of a lot of planning and having the VIPs here has been fantastic.”

ABOVE: Scott Hamilton entertains the crowd during his keynote address LEFT: Pat St. Peter, President of U.S. Figure Skating, addresses coaches during the membership meeting OPPOSITE PAGE: The 75th logo

lapel pin was given to all conference attendees.

Scott Hamilton, the four-time U.S. titlist and 1984 Olympic champion and keynote speaker, certainly knocked the ball out of the proverbial park as he reflected on his rocky, yet wildly successful ascendance to the top of the sport.

Hamilton’s fascinating story, which he told with great humor, heart and candor, centered around how important a role all of his coaches had played in his success, particularly Laws, who helped him capture Olympic gold.

“All of you have unbelievable tasks in front of you,” said Hamilton. “The contributions you make to these people are paramount and will affect their lives, and it’s great that you’re here sharing and applying your craft because these skaters depend on you.”

Other VIPs at this event included Todd Eldredge, the six-time U.S. champion and 1996 World bronze medalist, Paul Wylie, the 1992 Olympic silver medalist and PSA master-rated coach, and Tiffany Chin, the 1985 U.S. medalist and two-time World bronze medal winner, among others.

During a break at the Edge Arena, Eldredge sat down to talk about how grateful he was to have been here.

“Listening to such seasoned coaches has been educational and I also like the reunion aspect,” said Eldredge, who coaches in Estero, Florida. “I’ve gotten different ideas on how to explain things so information might eventually click and work well for the skaters.”

Tiffany Chin, meanwhile, said the conference “is informational and covers so many important aspects of skating.”

Many of the sport’s top retailers and vendors were also at this event and helped designate the trade show as a successful venture.

“The conference was wonderful,” said Richie Perna of Klingbeil and the Adoni Group Inc., based in New York City. “It is a key meeting place for manufacturers to discuss the ever-changing industry.”

On the official front, Patricia St. Peter, President of U.S. Figure Skating, joined two of the country’s most distinguished International Skating Union judges, Gale

Tanger and Joseph Inman, along with several other officials to help guide and educate coaches on the latest competition rules and developments.

St. Peter said the future of the sport appears to be optimistic based upon the growing influx of steady membership, sponsors and activity at facilities and rinks all over the U.S. in recent years.

According to Don Laws, the way to continue an upward momentum is to build everyone involved in the community.

Based upon the attitude of everyone at this event, the future of the sport looks brighter than ever.

“The coaches seem to understand that it is critical to make people know and feel they’re worthwhile,” said David Benzel, founder and executive director of Growing Champions for Life of Groveland, Florida, who is a regular PSA speaker.

“This group seems it is committed to teaching the lesson that people of integrity are the champions,” he said. “They also PS MAGAZINE

23

THANK YOU! understand that it’s about building principlecentered athletes who understand the importance of a long-term victory rather than a short-term one and that is everything.”

Sessions emphasize excellence This year’s conference featured more than 70 sessions geared around a varied and informative range of topics. Along with the host of technical classes on jump, spin, field moves, synchronized, pair and ice dance technique, presentations covered subjects such as choreography, theatre, biomechanics, the business aspects of being an independent contractor, time management, program directorship, injury prevention, psychology, equipment, ethics and nutrition, and more.

“We’re doing everything we can to offer coaches the best in terms of quality,” said Carol Rossignol, PSA Education and Accreditation Director. “We take our job seriously and want the coaches to know we do our best to provide as much information to them as we possibly can.”

Shpilband session serves up golden advice Igor Shpilband, the renowned Olympic and World dance coach who lives in Novi, Michigan, conducted an interesting and informative class on basic

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edge and crossover technique.

This iconic coach, the 2011 PSA Coach of the Year who helped transform American ice dancing into an international powerhouse, was informative and detail-oriented as he discussed his methods on stroking, edges and crossovers.

In this discussion, Shpilband emphasized the importance of utilizing the correct positions, alignment and pushoffs when performing the transitions in each of these moves.

For forward stroking, he said skaters ought to align their toes together and press the shoulders over the hips as they push the laces away for a ‘slingshot’ effect.

“During the push, there should be no back and forth movement in the hip,” he said.

Once the leg is lifted, it is important for the skater to push that hip forward so it sits square under the shoulders.

In regard to forward crossovers, Shpilband said skaters should approach the cross in a wind-up fashion so their free arm and shoulder turn into the circle. Subsequently, when the front foot is set down, skaters ought to push their back foot away with the same slingshot style in order to designate a long, fast edge.

“Don’t let the free hip go back when you push,” he said. “Push it forward.”

Shpilband also cited the importance of practicing forward and backward consecutive outside and inside edges and stressed the importance a straight upper body throughout this maneuver.

“The arms should be slightly lower than the shoulders and the skater should keep the ribs in without expanding the chest,” he said. “The skating should look effortless.”

Shpilband said good skating does not involve a lot of energy and that skaters ought to do exercises like leaning both in and out of the curve when performing an edge, to achieve this level of skating.

At the same time, he made a point to stress that skaters should always be on a proper edge.

“Have the skater push with the bottom of their foot,” he said. “This, with the right alignment and transitions, will make the skating very good.”

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ABOVE: Sonya Dunfield, along with the rest of

our past presidents and Hall of Fame inductees, gladly signed copies of The Joy of Coaching for eager attendees. RIGHT: Our honored guests gathered for a portrait before the 45th Annual Edi Awards Dinner.

“Transition”

Ouriashev reveals secrets of his jump technique Alex Ouriashev, coach of Gracie Gold, the 2013 U.S. National silver medalist, conducted an informative jumping presentation in which his illustrious charge demonstrated his teaching methods.

This coach, who works out of the Chicago area was humorous, direct and focused as he ran through various methods for executing single, double and triple jumps.

Ouriashev spoke with energy, exactitude and clarity as his star demonstrated his methods with ease, assurance and confidence.

To warm up, Gold executed elements such as a ‘split’ single Lutz to set up the

FRONT ROW L to R: Cindy Geltz, Sonya Dunfield, Sandy Lamb, Kelley Morris Adair, Kathy Casey SECOND ROW: Lynn Benson, Igor Shpilband, Peter Dunfield, Irene Muehlbronner, Janet Champion, Slavka Kohout, Carole Shulman, Frank Carroll, Barbara Roles-Williams BACK ROW: Walter Bainbridge,

Robbie Kaine, David Shulman, Ron Ludington, Gerry Lane, John Nicks, Tom McGinnis, Bob Mock

double and triple, back power threes into a single, then double and triple loop and an exercise in which she was ricocheted into a triple Salchow by her coach in order to get the feel of momentum on the jump takeoff.

Ouriashev, whose teaching style is resonant of that of the iconic Russian coach, Alexei Mishin, encouraged Gold to do higher and longer triples by checking each jump’s distance with his skate blade.

(One of her triple toes was so big it measured at more than eight blade lengths.)

Conclusively, he had Gold run through a ‘fun’ exercise whereby she skated consecutive double jumps back and forth between the two blue hockey lines for about five to ten minutes.

“There are a lot of exercises for the skaters to do to make them strong,” said Ouriashev. “I use the jump run-throughs to check the upper body and look at the entries, most which are done from curves.”

Sheila Thelen a spinning ace Sheila Thelen, a key member of the popular Grassroots to Champions coaching contingent, gave a memorable spin presentation that was educational and entertaining.

Thelen, chock full of personality, discussed the importance of basic upright, camel and sit positions and said skaters ought to have proper entries in each of these elements in

order to achieve velocity and good positions.

Balance, according to Thelen, is essential in spinning and sets the tone for its overall quality.

“Good balance can be achieved with on and off-ice practice,” she said. “If skaters are unable to get good balance even with this, check their equipment, the blade alignment might be off.”

According to Thelen, circular tracings ought to become smaller with each revolution and the skater’s head should be over the axis or the ‘side of life.’ Their hips, meanwhile, should fold in ‘like a burrito’ while their shoulders ought to be a second behind.

Sit spins, she said, can be challenging to teach since they represent an element that all skaters seem to do differently. Right at the beginning of the spin, skaters ought to learn to go all the way down with their hips sitting below their knee but higher than the top of the boot.

Thelen, meanwhile, discussed techniques for teaching a flying camel, an element that is said to be one the most incorrectly performed spins in the sport.

“The takeoff edge should look like a candy cane, the circle should hook, then get smaller,” she said. “The skater should then accelerate and jump over the takeoff.”

Spin technique, Thelen said, is important because ‘any issues in this area will inevitably PS MAGAZINE

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carry over to jumps.’

“Make sure the skaters’ basic spins are strong and they have sound technique,” she said. “They have to walk before they run.”

Covington reveals secrets to getting high program component scores Tim Covington, a PSA master-rated coach based in New York City, gave a terrific presentation about utilizing basic theatre techniques for teaching programs and choreography.

Describing theatre as life ‘with the dull parts cut out,’ Covington said programs today under the IJS are based upon theatre and acting.

“If you take out the skating skills, skaters are doing exactly what actors do in acting,” said Covington, who studied ‘The Method’ technique with the Oscarwinning actor Ellen Burstyn at the famed Lee Strasburg School.

Since competitive skating today is more performance-oriented than ever before, skaters need to make their themes and characters come alive.

“I see really great programs with skaters who are emotionally void on the ice,” he said.

“As coaches, we need an arsenal of methods to make them come alive and look great, that way they’ll get high program component scores.”

Coaches, he said, ought to have a vision with the choreographer so skaters understand and perform to their music accordingly.

According to Covington, skaters have the ability to bring something new to a musical piece or role, which makes it possible to have a profound effect with whatever selection they use, as long as its done with clarity, feel and consciousness.

“It’s like a revival of a show or musical on Broadway,” he said. “Each person brings something different to it.”

Covington said programs provide skaters with the opportunity to create an alter ego and see themselves in an enhanced way.

“Seeing yourself in an enhanced manner has a startling effect,” he said, noting that Cary Grant, the legendary late Hollywood icon, said in his biography that he ‘created someone he wanted to be and became that person.’

Covington explained that the word ‘acting’ is derived from the origin of being active and conclusively urged skaters to practice rituals to help build their ‘super’ selves.

Session on synchro choreography insightful Synchro, a hugely popular discipline in the U.S. right now, revolves around good choreography as much as it does skating skills, which was why the presentation on the ‘dos and donts of synchro choreography’ was so helpful and informative.

Solid synchro skating, according to Leslie Graham, the U.S. Figure skating manager, Becky Stump, a PSA master-rated coach and Holly Malewski, also a master-rated coach and coach of the Crystallettes (senior), is defined by big crossovers and edges, quick turns and fluid transitions, such as spirals.

“In a program, go for simple,” said Malewski. “Clean is better.”

In choosing music, coaches ought to consider variables such as the average age of the team members as well as their general ability level and the appropriateness of the music in relation to the two aforementioned factors. Music variety is also important.

When picking a costume, coaches should focus on the theme and strive for a look that is appropriate for the team’s overall age and body type.

Programs, meanwhile, ought to cover the entire ice surface and be well balanced so that required elements are not all in the same end or section of the ice.

Meanwhile, some elements that don’t always transition well include a circle or wheel to a block, which causes pausing and possible overrotation and also angled or European intersections.

The most important factor in devising a program is to use it to elevate the spirit of the team, said the coaches.

“Provide your team with a purpose and motivational focus,” said Graham. “Give them a way to evaluate their performance in a way that is specific and measurable.”

Synchronized skating demonstrators

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Scott Hamilton and Don Laws

Donna Helgenberg

Alex Ouriashev with Gracie Gold demonstrating

Doug Haw

Christy Krall crowned PSA Coach of the Year Gambill Developmental Coach of the Year Dickson Choreographer of the Year

By Liz Leamy

technique, Krall thanked her peers for providing her with knowledge and expertise.

“Thank you for the tutelage,” she told the crowd. “It’s an honor to be with all of you.”

2013 Edi Award Winners

I

n typical fashion, Christy Krall charmed the crowd as she accepted the prized Edi Coach of the Year award at the 45th annual Edi Awards Dinner.

Krall, a 1964 Olympian (her maiden name was Haigler), reputed to be one of the foremost technical experts in the sport, was given this esteemed U.S. Figure Skating and PSA Edi Award for her exceptional work over the past years.

Each year, the Edi Awards are given to standout members of the American skating community who have impacted the sport in a profound manner. They are named after Edi Scholdan, the late U.S. Olympic coach and PSA President who sadly perished in the 1961 Sabena plane crash with the entire American world team.

Krall, regarded as a ‘coach’s coach,’ told the packed ballroom at the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont, Illinois, how all of her accomplishments have stemmed from a love of skating.

“I’m honored to be out on the ice,” she said. “I love working for figure skating and always enjoy a new challenge.”

In recent years, Krall earned international acclaim for helping Canadian champion Patrick Chan to score the 2011 and 2012 World title. (In 2013, he was also World champion.)

“It was an honor to work with Patrick,” said Krall. “He was brought into my life for a reason.”

Last year, Krall worked her magic with Joshua Ferris, the 2013 World junior titlist and 2013 U.S. pewter medalist. She coaches Farris with Damon Allen, a former U.S. contender.

Popular for using aphorisms such as ‘pull your arms into the core for more,’ and ‘step, load and explode’ to explain jump

Tammy Gambill Developmental Coach of the Year Tammy Gambill, the amiable blonde powerhouse based in Riverside, California, was selected as the 2013 Developmental Coach of the Year for the third time. (She won this award in 2005 and 2012.)

Gambill, who has consistently produced competitors who score high placements in the senior, junior and novice levels at the U.S. Championships, was awarded this citation by U.S. Figure Skating and the PSA for her results over the past year.

In 2013, two of her charges, Vincent Zhao and Tyler Pierce, clinched the U.S. junior men’s and novice ladies titles, respectively. In 2011, Richard Dornbush, her longtime student, scored the U.S. silver medal and was also sixth at the 2013 U.S. Championships.

In her acceptance speech, Gambill expressed appreciation for everyone who helped her achieve this honor.

“I’d like to thank U.S. Figure Skating for helping me, the PSA for helping me learn, my students for letting me do my job and Cindy Stuart for her wonderful choreography,” said Gambill, who had 10 students qualify for the U.S. Championships last year.

Gambill also thanked her coach, Barbara Roles, a World bronze medalist, for being a major influence and mentor in her life.

Fifth time a charm for Tom Dickson Tom Dickson, the venerable professional and program designer from Colorado Springs, was awarded the 2013 Paul McGrath Choreography of the Year award by U.S. Figure Skating and the PSA. This marks the fifth time Dickson has been honored with this citation.

“It’s the fifth time I’ve won this award and I do not take this lightly,” said Dickson via video. “I’d like to thank the PSA, U.S. Figure Skating, my student, Alex Johnson and Christy Krall, Damon Allen, Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson for trusting me with their skaters.”

Dickson, a premier choreographer, won this citation based upon the creativity, artistry and respect he incorporated in tandem with the technical demands of program or performance.

Last season, Dickson created a free skate for Miner, the PS MAGAZINE

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Christy Krall poses with her Pieter Kollen Sport Science Coaching award.

Robert Mauti sings “The Impossible Dream” to kick-off the 45th Annual Edi Awards Dinner

reigning U.S. silver medalist, to ‘Captain Blood’ that was exceptional as was the ‘Eleanor Rigby’ program he did for Johnson, the fifth-place finisher at the 2013 U.S. Championships.

Over the past few years, Dickson has choreographed programs for numerous top U.S. contenders including Jeremy Abbott, the three-time U.S. champion, Rachael Flatt, the 2010 U.S. titlist and three-time U.S. silver medalist and Caroline Zhang, the 2008 U.S. bronze medal winner.

Krall named Pieter Kollen Sport Science Award winner Christy Krall, the 2013 PSA and U.S. Figure Skating Coach of the Year, was also named this year’s Pieter Kollen Sport Science award winner.

Chosen by U.S. Figure Skating and the PSA for her top-tier scientific techniques and equipment she uses for teaching, Krall has come to be regarded as one of the most foremost experts in jumping today.

Krall coached reigning Canadian World champion Patrick Chan from 2010 to 2012, and during that time, helped him obtain consistent, solid triples and quads that catapulted him to the pinnacle of the sport.

In her acceptance speech, Krall thanked everyone involved in the sport, including her peers.

“Thank you for all your support,” she said. “I love doing what I’m doing.”

Belbin scores Sonja Henje Award Tanith Belbin, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist and five-time U.S. champion, won the 2013 Sonja Henje Award for the positive and favorable recognition she has brought to the sport.

Thrilled at the prospect of winning this award, Belbin was grateful to all the people who voted for her.

“Thank you to my peers for voting and giving me this great honor,” she said via video.

In both her competitive and professional career, Belbin, who resides in Michigan and has been teaching clinics around the U.S. for the past several years, has spent a great deal of time working with numerous charities and foundations.

For many years, Belbin and her partner, Ben Agosto, were regular performers at Harvard University’s renowned ‘Evening of Champions’ Jimmy Fund show. During this event, they would regularly visit ailing children at local hospitals and teach some of

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them how to skate.

“I want to give back as much as I can,” said Belbin.

Weiss 2013 Gustave Lussi Award winner Michael Weiss, the two-time World bronze medalist and three-time U.S. titlist, was awarded the 2013 Gustave Lussi honor for bringing recognition to the sport in a positive manner.

Over the past few years, Weiss has established and cultivated a foundation in his name to help assist up-and-coming contenders that has evolved into one of the most vital figure skating financial resources of the sport.

Every year, he hosts a popular skating-celebrity studded show near his hometown of Fairfax, Virginia, to raise money, awareness and publicity for this foundation.

Weiss, also a longtime Smuckers Stars on Ice performer, said it was an honor to be given this award.

“You guys do so much to influence us positively,” he said.

Weiss also credited Nick Perna, his first coach and Audrey Weisiger, his longtime esteemed mentor, as instrumental forces in his success.

“Everything I’ve learned has stemmed from my experience with Audrey and Nick,” he said. “We inspire one another and it all starts from the roots of coaching.”

Hosier lands Betty Behrens Award Darin Hosier, the beloved U.S. national coach and choreographer from Lynnwood, Washington, won this year’s Betty Behrens Award.

Paul Wylie and Susie Wynne were the masters of ceremonies

gton ov, Pasquale Camerlengo, and Ron Ludin Robbie Kaine, Igor Shpilband, Alexei Kiliak ony. cerem s award the ding prece tion are all smiles at the cocktail recep

Hosier, who has been battling colon cancer, was awarded this citation for his dedication and perseverance to the profession while in the process of overcoming adversity.

“I love figure skating and love to teach,” said Hosier, who likened this situation to having ‘a tornado hit his life.’

In a moving speech, Hosier expressed his deep gratitude to his parents, friends, peers and coaches.

“I especially want to thank my coaches, Juli McKinstry and Audrey Weisiger, whose passion for skating and life in general is palpable and has influenced me,” he said.

He also thanked past Betty Behrens Award recipients, including Charles Fetter, for all their encouragement and support.

“I have so much love in my life,” he said.

Williamson wins Joe Serafine Volunteer of the Year Award Denise Williamson, the dynamic PSA master-rated coach chaired this memorable ceremony, was named the 2013 Joe Serafine National Volunteer of the Year.

This North Carolina-based coach, also a PSA ratings examiner, said she was honored and delighted to be chosen for this award, which is given to someone for their time, effort and dedication to the sport.

“I appreciate all of you and thank you very much,” said Williamson.

Enzmann earns Jimmy Disbrow Distinguished Official of the Year citation Wendy Weston Enzmann, the venerable U.S. official from Massachusetts, was selected as the winner of this year’s venerable Jimmy Disbrow Distinguished Official award, named after the late former U.S. Figure Skating president.

Enzmann is known for her commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to the sport and is a venerable force in the U.S. Figure Skating community.

“I love working with the coaches and athletes,” said Enzmann, who also thanked her husband, Alexander and their children for all their support.

The F. Ritter Shumway Award Benjamin Wright, the legendary Boston-based former U.S. Figure Skating president and International Skating Union official, won

Other highlights of the Edi Awards Dinner • Robert Mauti, a PSA master-rated coach from Nashville, Tennessee and talented singer, virtually brought the house down with his rendition of “The Impossible Dream,” which set a wonderful tone for the remainder of the night.

• A parade procession of all the attending Past Presidents and PSA Hall of Fame coaches began the evening. This group, which included John Nicks, Frank Carroll, Ron Ludington, Slavka Button and numerous other iconic coaches, held their heads high as they stood together on the stage collectively reflecting the magic and effects of all their worldclass work.

• The magnetic beauty of the bronze sculpture of Ryan Jahnke, created by the talented Meghan and Douglas Taylor-Gebler, was on display in the ballroom during this memorable gala.

• The smiles and laughter among everyone in attendance, especially the award winners, who were seen hugging and chatting with many of their closest friends and family at the conclusion of the ceremony was a perfect end to the evening.

the 2013 F. Ritter Shumway Award for his contribution and dedication to the sport.

This marks the second time Wright has been bestowed with this honor, having first earned it back in 1993.

For many decades, Wright had been regarded as one of the sport’s most powerful movers and shakers and helped establish American figure skating as a dominant worldwide force in the latter 20th century.

Wright, 91, one of the sport’s most scholarly historians, expressed gratitude as he accepted the award via video.

“I am proud and honored for the second time to receive this award,” he said.

Harris given Honorary Member/Lifetime Achievement Award Ricky Harris, the iconic choreographer who did programs for such American legends as Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic champion, Linda Fratianne, the 1980 Olympic silver medalist, Scott Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist and Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, the 1979 World titlists, was given a PSA Honorary Member and Lifetime Achievement award.

Photo of the Year – Mark Walentiny (see this issue’s cover image) Fritz Dietl Award for Arena Excellence –Colorado Springs World Arena Ice Hall The Hall of Fame Early Influences Award: Nathan Walley, Willie Frick, and Willy Boeckl PS MAGAZINE

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his year, the Professional Skaters Association said thank you to three of the men who helped create the organization that eventually became the PSA. Willy Boeckl, Willie Frick and Nathan Walley were all members of the original American Skaters Guild, formed in 1938, with Boeckl serving as the first president, and Frick as its first-vice president.

All three men eventually served as president of the ASG, which eventually changed its name to the Professional Skaters Guild of America and then the Professional Skaters Association.

Their participation in the creation of the PSA, and their willingness to give of their time away from coaching to make instruction better for everyone, is the big reason they are being honored as members of the PSA Hall of Fame.

But, prior to leading the way for standardized coaching instruction in the world, they each had successful skating and coaching careers of their own. These are their stories.

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WILLY BOECKL Willy Boeckl (he changed his name from the original ‘Bockl’’), an engineer, made his name as a skater in his native Austria. He won four consecutive World Figure Skating championships from 1925 through 1928, and also captured the European championships six times and the Austrian title four times. He competed twice in the Winter Olympics but finished second both times, failing to defeat Gillis Grafstrom of Sweden in each competition, first at Chamonix in France and then in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Grafstrom did not compete in the Europeans or Worlds because of his work as an architect kept him otherwise occupied.

Boeckl retired from competition after the 1928 Games.

In 1937, Boeckl published a book titled “Willy Boeckl on Figure Skating”, a treatise on his philosophies toward both skating and coaching. The book was reprinted in 2012 by Literary Licensing.

In 1938, Boeckl left Europe to coach in the burgeoning American skating market. He joined the Skating Club of New York, and worked there for more than 20 years. During his coaching life, he invented what was originally known as “The Boeckl jump’’ which later became known as the Inside Axel. It required the takeoff to come from the inside edge.

“He was a strong coach of figures,’’ said Ben Wright, the PSA historian and former president of the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) “Many top competitors in that day sought him out.”

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WILLIE FRICK Willie Frick was born in Berlin, but came to the United States at a very young age in 1920 following the First World War He almost immediately joined the Skating Club of Boston and soon beame its top teaching professional. He taught at the famed Boston facility until 1960 and worked with every major star coming out of the club, including the first National Ladies Champion, Theresa Weld Blanchard, and the first American Olympic figure skating champion Tenley Albright. He also coached one of the most decorated American figure skaters of all time, Maribel Vinson, a nine-time U.S. national champion.

Known as ‘The Boy Wonder of Berlin’’ , Frick skated in the SCB’s special productions called Carnival. His signature performance was known as the candle dance, when he would perform special figures around lighted candles on the ice.

After establishing himself in the United States, he returned to Europe and gave exhibitions throughout the eastern countries, often traveling with his students from Boston.

NATHAN WALLEY In the mid-1930s, Walley was perhaps the best skater in Great Britain, and twice won that country’s Open Professional Championship. In the late 1930s, Walley left England and moved to Toronto where he became the head pro at the Granite Club.

Nate Walley is credited by some for inventing what is known as the Walley Jump (there is some question about who first performed the move). The Walley jump requires the skater to take off from the right back inside edge into a single counterclockwise revolution before landing on a right back outside edge on the same foot.

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For more stories and information on coaches who shaped the PSA, The Joy of Coaching is a trip down memory lane that pays tribute to the great coaches of figure skating. Purchase your copy today at www.skatepsa.com.

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It is with great honor that the PSA inducts these men into the Hall of Fame. They would be undoubtedly pleased with how far the PSA has come.

• FAMPS MAGAZINE HALL013 HALL31OF FAM 3 1 2 F E•

What Would Choeleen Loundagin Do? Choeleen Loundagin has dedicated her career to a lofty goal: to help skaters with their mental toughness so they can achieve their personal best on the ice. A coach for over 20 years at the famous Redwood Empire Ice Arena (a.k.a. Snoopy’s Home Ice) in northern California, Loundagin has a Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology, is an athletic performance enhancement consultant, authored two editions of the book, “The Inner Champion: A Mental Toughness Training Manual for Figure Skaters” and co-produced the CD, “Skate for the Love.” The current U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championship gold medalist in pairs, Loundagin is a quadruple gold medalist who earned her gold tests in figures and freestyle in 1983, in moves in the field in 1995 and in pairs in 2012 (“At the young age of 45,” Loundagin said. “Which has to be some kind of a record because who’s dumb enough to do that?”) In addition to one-on-one consultations, Loundagin conducts Inner Champion Mental Toughness Training Seminars around the nation. In a sport where success so often lies in a skater’s mental capabilities, Loundagin speaks specifically about “the mind-body connection” and skills that coaches can help their skaters with, when she answers the question, “What Would Choeleen Loundagin Do?”

What is the thing you value most as a skating coach?

The long-term relationships you form and being able to have a positive influence on children. I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve had many of my students stay in contact with me. I’ve gone to their weddings, met their children, seen where their careers have taken them. It’s so rewarding and gives you such confirmation when someone tells you that it was something you said or something you did or the belief you had in them that led them to face a challenge or to go in a certain

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direction. It’s having had a hand in developing good people.

What is your main goal for your skaters?

For them to achieve their goals that they’ve chosen in a positive growthoriented way. I have a variety of students with different focuses and a big part of my job is to figure out what their purpose is and then do everything in my power to help them attain those goals.

How did you decide to delve into the mental aspect of skating? That’s a big hurdle!

(Laughs) It is big! I decided on the sports psychology field after seeing a sports psychologist when I was 15 years old and a junior lady. He helped me immensely. I had no clue I could control my thoughts and how I performed. It was such a new concept to me. I was able to use that not only in skating, but in school and in the rest of my life. I realized it was life skills.

The mental part is a hurdle in any sport but especially in skating where there is so much having to do with fine motor skills – and it all has to be made to look easy and performed with a big smile.

The mental skills are so huge to reach your potential in skating – even if it’s just recreational. The ability to stay focused, to set goals and achieve them, and to control thoughts is so important.

There have always been figures thrown around about what percentage of figure skating is mental. What do you think the percentage is?

At least 50 percent. It changes depending on what level you are. The higher the level, the higher the percentage. Take nationals – once you get there, you are physically trained. You are not learning which shoulder should be in front on a jump and you’ve done your program more times than you can count. At that point, it’s very mental. It’s about getting out of your own way and doing what you know how to do.

Your book, “The Inner Champion,” focuses on the idea of the “mind-body connection.” Talk about that theory.

The mind-body connection is real. Your thoughts and your emotions all affect

By Terri Milner Tarquini

how your body performs. If you don’t get enough rest, if you don’t eat properly, your mental function is going to suffer – and so will your physical functions.

When kids don’t skate well, they always say, “I don’t feel like myself.” Well, that’s true, but why? Examine it and learn from it and learn to control it. It is a skill that needs to be practiced. You can learn to do an outside edge on a double Lutz take-off.

You can also learn to control your mind and body.

Do you have any tips for coaches to properly aid their skaters with setting goals so they get the most out of it?

I think with goal-setting, it should be made standard practice. Make it part of the routine that, at the beginning of each season, intentions are set and then revisit the goals at regular intervals. Goals should be written down so it’s more like a contract. It’s a big mistake to not look at the goals regularly and talk about where we are and where we want to be and what needs to happen to get there.

How important is visualization?

Incredibly important. It’s the skill most used by Olympic athletes. If you can’t imagine something even happening, then it’s hard to believe it can happen. But it’s not something to just pull out for the first time at competition when your skater has just come off the warm-up and they’re skating eighth so you tell them to visualize their program while they’re waiting. For some people it takes quite a bit of practice, but, if it’s used consistently, it can be extremely effective in overcoming mental blocks, in speeding up the learning process and in the day-to-day of helping kids get back on track with a move that is off today but was on the day before.

What do you see as the most harmful thing a skater can do to negatively affect their performance?

First, by doubting themselves instead of trusting in their training. And, second, by losing control over their focus and starting to focus on things they can’t control – who they’re skating against, who the judges are, the skating order, etc. Skaters

must focus on what they have control over and control it.

What harmful things can a coach do to negatively affect a skater’s performance?

Putting undo pressure on them. Telling them they need to make the top six or top two or whatever. That is emphasizing something that is not in their control.

Also, putting doubts in their mind, like, “Remember not to fall on this,” or, “Remember not to rush through that part.”

The skater might not even have considered those things. Focus on what you want them to do, not what they shouldn’t do. Also, try and keep it light. Getting really serious right before competition or testing when it’s not usually like that doesn’t help anything.

On the flip side, how can a coach positively influence a skater and help with the mind-body connection?

Introduce the idea of the mind-body connection early on so they have the skills to draw on later on when they need them.

Skaters learn the correct technique for elements, but they also need to learn the correct technique for their mind and their body to work together. There are lots of resources if the coach themselves needs some help with the process, like mental skills trainers and books. Mental training should be used like any other resource – like ballet or off-ice training – it is just another tool in the arsenal. If you ask a skater what percentage of their performance is mental, the answer is usually pretty high. But the amount of time spent on mental training is almost nothing. It is an unused resource.

How much time do you advise skaters to spend on their mental training?

Probably 15 minutes a day, no more than one hour. Ideally it should be integrated into on-ice training so it’s not a whole other thing they have to do. Kids are time-crunched already. Coaches can work on mental skills by goal-setting and using visualization during lesson time.

Are there things a coach can look for to determine their skater needs more help when it comes to mental training and preparation?

Really inconsistent skaters that have the physical ability are a red flag. Other circum-

stances that might call for some help are skaters who run really hot or really cold; those who are more consistent in practice, then totally different or substandard in testing or competition; and skaters who only focus on being perfect or get really, really frustrated on a regular basis.

What about the skater who gets off the ice after performing badly and just wants to “go out and do it again”?

The worst feeling is getting off the ice and wanting to go right back out – not because you skated so well and you want the great feeling to continue – but because you know you didn’t do your stuff and yet you know you can do it. It’s a horrible feeling. It’s one of the jobs of a coach to make sure that each skater has the skills to draw from so they can perform their best consistently.

You need to help them pick out a routine with their mental preparation, and a combination of skills, that works for them.

As a coach, are there any specific things you do or say to your skaters as they are preparing to perform?

Every kid is so different so it’s up to us as coaches to identify their pre-performance needs. Some kids need to burn off energy before they perform and some kids need to relax. Some kids bounce off the walls and some are nearly comatose. As a coach, we need to figure that out and help them with how to get to that place on their own.

If you hadn’t been a figure skating coach, what would you have done?

I probably would have been more involved in sports psychology and academia. That was my original plan, but I have coaching also and I love it. I love the kids that smile at me every day and the adults still reaching for their goals. My original intention was to coach for two years, but I figured out how to do both (coaching and sports psychology). It has been so rewarding.

Do you have an overall coaching philosophy or mission statement?

It’s not a specific saying, but it’s the idea that I want to focus on the overall development of the person I’m working with. I just want to do my best to bring out their best.

Who or what inspires you as a coach?

The first time I ever skated I was two-anda-half years old and I am lucky enough to have video of it. Skippy Baxter, (in photo above) took me out and I must have fallen 50 times and he kept picking me up. He was smiling and laughing and I was smiling and laughing and it really set the tone for me – you fall down, you get back up. He was my first coach and he was 93 when he died (in December 2012) and still coaching all levels of group lessons when he was 89.

He was such a great inspiration. The last day he lived, I was with him as part of his care team. It was such an honor to be there with him.

And there are so many others. Charles Schultz (the cartoonist behind the Peanuts comic strip and the original owner of the Redwood Empire Ice Arena) gave me the confidence to go ahead with “The Inner Champion.” Richard Dwyer was always skating around, still doing double loops.

I always thought that it seemed impossible that someone could be so incredibly positive and so high energy, but he genuinely is. Having those examples from the get-go really showed me that we were teaching more than just skating.

It seems coaches are expected to wear a multitude of hats – coach, trainer, continued on page 35 PS MAGAZINE

33

Legal Ease DAVID SHULMAN

Renting Property: Part Two D

evil is always in the details.

Renting real estate, house or condo or even a storage unit used for storing items for short periods of time, require careful review of the documents used in the agreement to be sure the property suits your needs and the lease which the landlord is requesting you to sign.

It is amazing how many times folks sign leases without having first read the lease and secondly understanding what they are reading. The following items may be of help to you as you consider “signing on the dotted line.”

Determine by physical inspection, that the item you wish to rent is in good condition. Look for, and make a list of, anything that is broken or needs immediate repair or replacement. Take photos and make lists of anything which is broken, or which the landlord said they would repair or replace.

Be prepared to be charged a fee for background, reference or credit checks.

If you are on a periodic lease and you intend to leave the rental unit, you must give notice, usually thirty days prior to you departing. It is very important to note that such notice to leave should be in writing and delivered to the landlord the full rental period prior to you leaving. In other words if you are leaving at the end of September, be sure the notice is given to the landlord by August 31st. If you pay the rent on September 2nd and at that time give notice to the landlord, you can be liable for the next month rent (October). Should you be on a definite lease and wish to quit the lease you will be liable for the remaining time. The landlord may have a duty to mitigate the damages (loss of your payments) by attempting re-rent the property for the remaining term of the lease.

There is no double dipping, i.e. collecting money on the lease and also renting out to another tenant.

“The lease should have clear provisions in it as to the duties of the landlord.”

If it is land you are renting, be sure the land you think is described really is the land. Taking wrongful possession of a neighboring property is a bad way to start. Another very important point is use to which you will be making of the property.

If it is space for a place to live and you intended to also fit skates and visit with students for an office or teach a yoga class, check carefully that such activities are permitted on the premises. Home owner associations do not always favor business operation in the residences.

Generally there are two types of leases on housing or storage leases: periodic and definite. A periodic lease is also referred to as a month to month agreement. This lease, which may be oral as opposed to written, is renewed with each payment on month to month basis. In contrast with this arrangement is the definite lease which starts and ends on a specific date, usually a year long tenancy.

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JULY | AUGUST 2013

Often times a tenant will look for ways to break a lease, to leave early or to get out of paying altogether due to some claim of bad conduct by the landlord. The lease should have clear provisions in it as to the duties of the landlord.

If it is a living unit the property must be fit in which to live. Certain repairs to major parts of the structure and requirement to comply with state and local health and housing codes always are required of the landlord.

Privacy—a mention must be made regarding unauthorized entry by a landlord into the rental area. A provision in the lease will allow the landlord a right to enter and inspect the premises. It should be stated clearly that the entry must be for legitimate reasons and only at reasonable times of day and only after notice of intent to enter has been conveyed to the tenant.

Read and understand that to which you are agreeing.

And do check with your own attorney before signing.

What Would Choeleen Loundagin Do?

continued from page 35

motivator, babysitter, psychologist, psychiatrist, dietician, cheerleader, etc.

Have you ever thought about writing a mental toughness book for coaches?

(Laughs) I guess I kind of did. In the second edition, I include at the end of each chapter a part for parents and a part for coaches to help them with the information the skater is getting from the book.

It’s important to help support the mental development of your skaters, but it’s also important to help yourself. It’s a stressful job.

Coaches also need to know how to handle the pressures they have the most effective way possible.

What do you think is most important for coaches to impart to their skaters?

Sportsmanship. Being a good role model. Being a good example. We need to always remember we work with very impressionable people – and we need to be aware of that.

Overseas Teamwork & Technology!

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Sheila Thelen PRESIDENT – Champion Cords EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR –

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Oh, and the Champion Cords are also an instant correction tool! I’ve yet to have one skater where the fault has not been instantly corrected by using a cord.”

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J U LY Date: Location: Event: Credits: Contact: Deadline:

Wednesday, July 24 Area 10 Dakotah Sport & Fitness Center, 2100 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 55372 PSA Oral Rating Site – All disciplines plus Master Synchro exams 1 PSA credit per oral exam taken PSA Office at ratings@skatepsa.com or 507-281-5122 May 24, 2013

Date: July 25-26, Area 10 Location: Dakotah Sport & Fitness Center, 2100 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 55372 Event: U.S. Figure Skating Synchro Coaches College [8am - 6pm, 8am - 12pm] Credits: Pre-approved credits TBD Contact: Leslie Grahm at 719-228-3414 lgraham@usfigureskating.org Date: Location: Event: Credits: Contact: Deadline:

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AUGUST Date: Location: Event: Contact:

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