SKATING SCHOOL PROGRAM
MISSION STATEMENT
Valley Ice Center is commited to providing a skating school program for all ages and skill levels that's exciting, challenging and fun. With our state-of-the-art facility and excellent professional staff, we take pride in offering you our customer a skating program that is first-class all the way. If there is anything that we can do to make your time with us more enjoyable, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request!
ACTIVE LINKS
VALLEY ICE CENTER'S SKATING SCHOOL IS NOW ON A 10 WEEK SEMESTER SCHEDULE. WE WILL ALWAYS ACCEPT SIGN UPS. WE HAVE TWO SHOWS IN THE FUTURE, THE HALLOWEEN SHOW (IN OCTOBER) AND OUR HOLIDAY SHOW ( IN DECEMBER).
SKATING SCHOOL SCHEDULE "THE BUZZ"
CLASS DESCRIPTION GROUP LESSONS
PARENT AND ME SPECIAL NEEDS HOCKEY HOCKEY CLASS
SKATING SCHOOL ALL ACCESS PASS
Valley Ice Center is offering a mini-semester for the month of August. The "ALL ACCESS PASS" will be $100.00 for the month of August only. Beginning in August, on ice skating school classes will be Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Wednesdays and Saturdays include practice ice (limited to skating school students only!!!). Fridays will offer a Power class skated to music, and a choreography class skated to music as well.
Starting in September, Valley Ice Center's skating school will switch to 10 week semesters to enable our skaters time to prepare for skating school shows and exhibitions.
POWER FRIDAY AND DONUT SATURDAYS
Friday night skating school offers Power and Choreography classes to music, and Saturdays offer delicious donuts and coffee (donuts are first come-first served).
Valley Ice Center is deeply saddened by the recent passing James Yorke. James was hugely talented as a skater and a coach, and will be greatly missed by his peers and his students.
James Yorke - Pro Coach
James Yorke is a Gold Medalist in Figures, Freestyle, Dance and Free Dance. James' competitive history is too extensive to list every event, so we'll mention a few. James is a 2-time World Professional Bronze Medalist with Judy Blumberg, attended 10 National Championships, 1988 Olympic Alternate with Rene Roca, participated in the 1987 Prague Skate Champions (with Rene Roca), 1988 Skate America Bronze Medalist, 3rd place National Junior Dance Medalist. He worked with the current United States Ladies National Champion, Mirai Nagasu.
MEET OUR COACHES
Melinda Taylor - Skating School Director
Melinda comes to Valley Ice Center from Pasadena, where she was on staff as a figure skating instructor since 2000. After coaching for many years, Melinda decided it was time to blend her education in communications and her love of ice skating by becoming the new skating school director here at Valley Ice Center. Melinda has a clear vision for the skating school program and has many new ideas that will soon be implemented into our skating school program. Look for new classes, new coaches, and get prepared to skate your heart out!
Anny - Pro Coach
Anny comes to Valley Ice Center from coaching in Denver, CO. She began skating as a child in Maine, skated for 34 years and has been coaching for 21 years. Her professional certifications include a Professional Skaters Association Basic rating, ISI Silver test judge rating. Anny has passed her 1st figure test and her pre-silver dance test. Anny finds it truly rewarding to witness her students master a skill that they have been struggling with but thought they would never accomplish. Anny believes in teaching correct form and emphasizes pure technique. She is enthusiastic, with an out-going personality that encourages and rewards her students while ensuring that they learn proper technique.
Anny's contact info: Phone (805)202-6837. e-mail: cobblebeach2001@yahoo.com
Janet Lee - Pro Coach
Janet Lee has her Gold Medals in Figures and Freestyle, was trained by some of the biggest names in the sport, Wanda Guntert, Cathy Casey, John Nicks, Leny Rochester-Kane, Ronnie Robertson, just to name a few. Competitively, Janet has too many to list, so here are a few, Senor Lady Regional Champion, National and World Professional Competitor, and Star of Ice Capades. Janet was and still is famous for her difficult Cantilevered move (a dangerous trick, requiring the skater to skate while leaning far back, head nearly touching the ice). She coaches many USFS skaters including a Junior National Competitor and Adult National Competitors.
Kathy Woodward - Pro Coach
Kathy is a United States and Canadian Gold dance medalist. She is PSA Master Rated Coach (the highest rating possible in the PSA) in Moves in the Field, Freestyle, Group Instruction and Dance and Freedance. She was an Alternate for the 1970 United States World Figure Skating Team in Ice Dancing, a Sectional Junior Pair Champion, and the Midwest Sectional Senior Dance Champion 1970 and 1972. Kathy has 35 years experience coaching beginners thru Senior Internationl Competitions. She has coached numerous ISI and USFS medalists: beginner thru USFS Senior Level. She also teaches off ice balance, coordination and reflex classes.
Erika Shorr - Pro Coach
Erika Shorr is a Triple Gold Medalist (Gold in Figures, Pairs, and Freeskate). She was a US National Bronze Medalist, British Champion, European and Olympic Team member. She has been coaching for over 30 years, and enjoys coaching all levels of students. Some of her students include National and Junior National skaters and pairs (our own Genesis Kocher is also one of her students), and she coached the 2001 National Men's champion, and is Professional Skaters Association Rated. Erika's devotion to her students and to the sport of figure skating is evident, and Valley Ice is honored to have her on staff.
Scott Carson - Pro Coach
Scott is a Double Gold Medalist, United States National Men's Champion (Novice Level), a United States National Competitor at the Senior Men's level and a Holiday On Ice performer. He is also a member of the Professional Skaters Association, with a Senior Rating. Scott has extensive experience as a Professional and has coached many skaters through all levels of the sport. He works well with all ages and all levels of skating. His pure technique speaks for itself, and though he is very modest, he is known for being one of the first male skaters to do the triple Lutz. Scott also has a degree in Psychology.
Suzanne Kuntzman - Pro Coach
Suzanne Kuntzman has extensive training in Ballet, competitive roller skating and ice skating. She toured for 10 years with International Holiday on Ice as a corps skater and as a soloist, she also taught ballet and stretch classes to the Holiday on Ice company. Suzanne's coaching philosophy is to inspire her students to reach their full potential. She stresses the basics of skating, utilizing the medium of dance to achieve full range of motion, strength and grace. Her energy and enthusiasm ensure a positive and enjoyable learning experience.
Tatiana Zaytseva - Pro Coach
Tatiana trained in Russia. She has a Masters Degree in Academy of Sport in Moscow, she was a National Team member of the Russian Federation, a Cup of Russia Bronze Medalist and a soloist in Holiday on Ice. Tatiana offers a diverse range of coaching skills including jumps, spins, footwork, and choreography.
Alexandra Merino - Competition Director
Alexandra Merino started skating when she was 7, competitive in ISI and USFS until 15 years old. She was a Southwest competitor and was coached by some of the great name coaches in our sport, Wanda Guntert, Aimee Dravette-Benet and Irna Rodnina. In 2007, Alexandra competited as an adult skater in Spotlight Dramatic, wining first place at Showcase. Alexandra loves coaching children and has learned to adapt to each child's particular learning style and personality. She enjoys teaching all levels of skating, and her absolute favorite thing to do is to choreograph new programs and see them come to life in competition. Alexandra works with all ages and all levels of skaters.
Genesis Kocher
- Jr. Coach
Genesis is currently working on her Novice Moves, and is ISI Freestyle 5. Genesis is still enjoying being a competitive skater. She has participated in Showcase and a variety of competitions and shows. She concurrently coaches and remains competitive in the sport. Genesis loves working with beginners. Her love of the sport is evident, she has a strong work ethic, and focuses on teaching her students how to be both powerful and artistic.
Tammy Combs - Jr. Coach
Tammy's credentials include, USFS Juvenile Moves, Adult Bronze moves and Freeskate, and is currently working on her Intermediate Moves and Adult Silver in both Moves in the Field and Freeskate. She is ISI tested through Freestyle 4. Her competitive history includes 20 plus ISI competitions, with at least 15 Gold medals and 5 Silver medals. Tammy has participated in 5 USFS competitions with 3 Gold medals and 5 Silver medals. Tammy loves teaching beginner level skaters, along with teaching choreography. She also offers the service of music editing.
Chelsee Foster - Jr. Coach
Chelsee Foster was practically born skating. Born and raised in Colorado, she began rollerskating at 17 months young, then added ice skating to her training schedule at the young age of 5. She began her training at the famous Broadmoor World Arena, in Colorado Springs, Co. She also trained and competed on "Pic" inline rollerskates at the Bosanova roller rimk in Colorado Springs for 9 years. Chelsee performed in numerous shows and Corporate events at the Broadmoor World Arena. She was in Pops on Ice from 1998-2002, and was a Skate Sweeper, Performer and Medal Presenter at the 2003 Grand Prix Final of Figure Skating. Competitively, Chelsee placed 3rd in Juvenile Pairs at Southwestern Regional Championships, and 7th place in Juvenile Pairs at 2003 United States National Junior Figure Skating Championships. Some of her Artistic Roller Skating Medals include, 2000 National Roller Skating Championships/Silver Medalist-Juvenile Girls Inline Singles, and 2001 National Roller Skating Championships/Pewter Medalist-Elementary Girls inline Singles. On another note (no pun intended), she also performed as a vocalist at the 2003 Grand Prix Final of Figure Skating Championships where she performed the National Anthem.
Andrew Huertes - Pro Coach
Andrew Huertes is a Double Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field and Freeskating. He was the 2004 United States Junior Bronze Medalist and the 2007 and 2008 Puerto Rican Junior Men's Champion. Andrew's strong edgework and sound technique is evident, and he remains competitive while coaching. He enjoys coaching all levels and all ages of skaters.
Elsie Frensch-Huertes - Pro Coach
Else Huertes grew up skating in the Chicago area. One of her coaches was Bonnie-Jean Musashe. Else was a competitive and a show skater. She began coaching in 1976, teaches all levels of skaters and also teaches the blind, hearing- impaired and special needs skaters.
