SKATING QUESTIONS

Where do you currently train figure skating and hockey skills at?

I am accepting new students of all ages and skill levels at both Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida next to Ft. Myers, Florida, as well as in Wesley Chapel, Florida which is just north of Tampa.

Is the Beginning level for children only?

There’s no time like the present! All ages are welcome and encouraged to start lessons!
It is a common misconception that you have to start skating at a very young age to be successful and to enjoy this amazing sport.

I personally didn’t start figure skating until the age of 8 1/2, which some consider “late.” Between the ages of 15 and 19, however, my skating advanced to the point that I became the Bulgarian Junior Champion and competed in the Junior Grand Prix and World Junior Figure Skating competitions. I also competed at U.S. Nationals in 2011 and 2012, earning a Top 10 finish in 2012. I have taught children as young as 3 years old. I also coach adults who didn’t discover the joys of skating until much later in life. Better late than never!

I recently trained three siblings, young children who had never skated until almost two years ago. They initially started training recreationally one day a week, for an hour-long combined group lesson. They soon found that they enjoyed it and committed to skating as their chosen sport. After only a year of skating, they were successful during their first competitive season, earning 17 Gold and 1 Silver medal over 6 competitions. 2014 and 2015 were great years for ALL my competitive students, including a very skilled skater who advanced to Regionals in 2015.

There is no “one size fits all” approach! I can develop a customized curriculum specifically for you, regardless of your experience level.

I’ve heard that skating is very expensive?

A skating lesson generally entails:
Skate rental (if applicable);
A fee the rink charges to get on the ice; and
Coaching time (on ice and/or off-ice)
Once your lesson is scheduled, please consult the individual rink concerning exact costs for skate rental and admission to the ice at that particular location.

Please contact me directly to discuss my fees for figure skating lessons. 

What exactly is off ice training?

Off-ice conditioning consists of 1-hour plyometric exercise sessions involving core conditioning, strength building and endurance training. The overall goal is to increase athletes’ physical strength and mental flexibility, and to increase speed, endurance and stamina. Off ice physically strengthens and emotionally prepares the skater, while helping to decrease the risk of physical injury.

I have designed off-ice training programs across a variety of athletic disciplines, for both recreational and professional athletes competing at elite levels.

Recent off ice clients include KHL, the Russian national hockey team based in Vladivostok, as well as an elite professional tennis player and a number of award-winning figure skaters and champions.
Figure skating clients who regularly participated in off ice sessions include children as young as 5 years old.

At both the beginning stages and also at the competitive, elite levels of their sports, some athletes opt to participate in at least 1 session of off-ice training per week, while others choose to do more.

Consistent participation in off-ice conditioning directly translates into greater self-confidence and success in completing scored elements during figure skating competitions and Moves In the Field testing.

I offer both individual and group off ice sessions.

Please contact me directly to discuss my fees.