Alex has been figure skating for six years, and first learned to skate through the Paradice Skating Academy. As a coach, Alex’s motivation is to share his love of the sport, and he is committed to helping skaters of all ages unlock their full potential. With a particular emphasis on teaching and inspiring adult skaters, Alex creates a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
Coaching skating for two years, additional coaching experience in other sports.
AVAILABILITY
Sundays and limited weekday times.
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Avondale
Connie is a junior level competitive skater and has been skating since 2013. She learnt to skate through Paradice Skating Academy, and feels passionate about the sport. She has won gold medals in club competitions, North Island competitions, and was the national champion in 2020. Connie enjoys coaching and is always happy to listen and help skaters to achieve their personal goals.
10 years of skating experience
2020 NZIFSA national champion
Represents New Zealand in overseas competitions
Has been national competitive figure skater to now
AVAILABILITY
School holidays
Term: Sunday from 1pm
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Avondale
Ella is a current senior-level figure skater and has been skating for 14 years. She learned through the Paradice Skating Academy and began coaching 5 years ago. She has a holistic viewpoint on coaching and believes that lessons not only offer the chance to develop technical skills, but also other valuable skills like determination, confidence, and sportsmanship.
QUALIFICATIONS
All Kiwi Skate levels
Current Bachelor of Health Science
(Physiotherapy) student
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
6x New Zealand International Representative
2x New Zealand National Champion
Kiwi Skate coach for 5 years
Attended seminars from internationally recognised coaches
AVAILABILITY
Fully Booked for School Holidays & Term
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Avondale
Evgenia is a current competitive Adult skater and has been skating for 7 years. She started learning to skate in Russia and continued in New Zealand.
Being passionate about sports and figure skating in particular, she strives to inspire others to improve skills and unlock their potential.
She is happy to work with Beginners to Novice students of all ages, including adults.
QUALIFICATIONS
recently attended Kiwi Skate Coaching Accreditation
NZIFSA Elementary Stroking Test
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
New Zealand National Champion (Guest Adult Bronze)
3x NZ North Island Champion (Adult Bronze)
Russian regional figure skating winner (Juvenile)
7 years of competitive swimming experience in Russia (Junior)
4 years of fitness coaching teenagers and adults
AVAILABILITY
During School Term
Avondale
Tuesday 15:45 - 16:15
Friday 10:00 - 12:00
Sunday 13:50 - 14:20
Botany
Thursday 11:30 - 15:30
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Avondale
Originally from Canada, Gordon has been involved in figure skating for 58 years. He has been coaching professionally in Canada and New Zealand for 36 years. This includes all levels of skaters from beginners to international competitors. Gordon enjoys encouraging skaters to gain confidence to reach their potential and develop a love for ice skating.
QUALIFICATIONS
Level 1 Coaching Accreditation in Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance. Canadian Gold Figures, Gold Free skate, Gold Senior Competitive, Gold Dance Tests. Canadian NCCP Accredited Level 1
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
Trained with Olympic and World Coach Dr. Helmut May for 12 years. Competed in Canada and United States. Gordan has had skaters competing at World and Junior World championships, Four Continents, ISU Junior Grand Prix’s and numerous other International competitions. Has coached many New Zealand champions of all levels. ”
AVAILABILITY
Monday to Friday 10am to 3:30.
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Avondale, Botany
Krishnaa has been skating for the past 10 years. She has done synchronized skating for the past 7 years and has started off in skate school for 3 years as a little girl. She enjoys teaching all ages.
Krishnaa has her figure skating tests up until bronze and wants to pass up her knowledge to others who aspire to teach others how to show their passions through the sport. She wants to help others to test their skills and show them.
QUALIFICATIONS
Figure skating tests up until bronze
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
Experience and Achievements: Synchronised skating for 7 years
AVAILABILITY
Saturday and Sunday day time sessions, school holiday week days from 10am.
Other times can be discussed.
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Botany
Megan is a figure skater in training and has a passion for utilising her own ongoing learning experience to help others learn how to skate. She enjoys teaching all ages including adults. Megan is a strong believer in structured learning and working with skaters to achieve their best in whichever area of ice skating they wish to pursue.
QUALIFICATIONS
KiwiSkate levels beginner to advanced, First aid level 3, NZIFSA KiwiSkate coach accreditation, Qualified teacher of swimming and water safety AUSTswim accreditation, She also has a bachelors degree in business (HR/ER) from AUT.
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
Megan has been coaching KiwiSkate since 2022, and has also coached swimming for both adults and children for four years. She started learning to skate though the Skating Academy as a teenager and so understands the challenges of learning to skate as an older student.
AVAILABILITY
Limited space available on weekends for Term 3
School holidays schedule:
10:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday
Weekends and evenings by special arrangement only
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Botany
Sarah has been coaching for over 10 years and competed for 18 years in singles skating. Sarah
represented New Zealand in various international competitions including Winter Games, Junior Grand
Prix and was the NZ 2013 Senior Ladies Champion. Sarah enjoys coaching double jumps, spin levels and
off ice training.
QUALIFICATIONS
NZIFSA Level 3 Coaching Accreditation in Singles
BIS Level 2 Coaching Accreditation in Singles, Pairs, Ice Dance and Synchronised
Training technical specialist in singles
St John First Responder Certificate Level 3
St John Level 2 First Aid Certificate
Disability Inclusion Training for Coaches Level 3 Certificate
Level 2 Safeguarding Certificate
Senior Competitive Freeskate and Gold Stroking tests held
Certificate in Advanced Personal Training
Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience Major
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
ISU International competition experience as a skater
Performed in ice shows in NZ, Australia, Finland and Switzerland
Moderator for NZ High Performance camps
Coached skaters to compete and medal at NZ National Championships
AVAILABILITY
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday mornings
Monday and Thursday afternoons
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Avondale, Botany
Skyla has been skating since 2006, and skated 12 years competitively. She has skated and trained in Canada and Japan, before moving to New Zealand in 2020. Skyla coached and assisted with CanSkate, Canada’s equivalent of KiwiSkate. As a coach, Skyla believes in teaching each skater according to their personal goal. She also believes in pushing skaters to perfect skills, and to continue working on these skills even when mastered. With experiences in other ice sports, she knows the importance of skating fundamentals, and loves to teach both new and returning skaters of all levels and ages.
QUALIFICATIONS
All kiwi skate levels
First aid level 2
NZIFSA/ISU Level 1 coaching accreditation
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
Experience in competing and coaching in figure skating, ice hockey and speed skating.
Competed in Canada in Advanced Novice for figure skating.
Coached in both Canada and New Zealand.
AVAILABILITY
Unavailable Term 3 2024
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Botany
I started skating since four-year-old, and was selected into the Provincial team in Heilongjiang, China when I was ten years old. At the age of fifteen-year-old, I was honoured to be selected into the National team of China for youth female single skating. I have won many national competitions in China and I was a senior coach for singles back in China. My coaching philosophy is that I would like to teach students from their early stage of skating so that they get all the basics correct and I can help them get ready for more advanced level of skating.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Sports
NZIFSA Level 1 Coach
Specialization: Kiwi Skate and Solo Ice Figure Skating
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
Competition highlights:
National Youth Figure Skating Champion in China in 2000
“Ice Star Cup” National Youth Championship in 2001
AVAILABILITY
limited time Friday and Sunday location Avondale
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Avondale
Stepan has been figure skating since 2013 and is a competitive figure skater currently at Junior level. Stepan’s dream is to represent NZ at the World Championships. He is also a National competitive Ballroom dancer since 2017.
He loves skating because it makes him feel free and happy inside. Stepan enjoys moving to the music on the ice, and the feeling of connection with it.
Stepan loves coaching because it reminds him of when he was starting out and enables him to pass his knowledge and love for the sport on to the skaters he teaches.
He believes that you can overcome all obstacles and must never give up, to fulfill your dreams, but always remember to have some fun along the way.
QUALIFICATIONS
NZIFSA/ISU Level 1 coaching accreditation
All Kiwi Skate Levels
First Aid course level 2
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
Coaching since 2017
2017-2020 in NZ international representation team for solo
2024 - Representing NZ at ISU World Junior Synchronized championship with Synchronized team Titanium
Attended seminars from internationally recognised coaches
Trained in Canada with World and Olympic coaches.
National competitive Ballroom dancer since 2017
AVAILABILITY
Public sessions:
Weekdays 10:00 - 3:30 and/or evening public sessions under arrangement
Tuesday 3:45-5pm - Academy Practice
Thursday 3:45-5:30 pm
Sunday 12:00-4:00pm
Figure sessions:
Morning (Botany and Avondale) and afternoon (Botany) sessions under arrangement
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Botany
Victoria is a current competitive figure skater who has previously represented New Zealand in Ice Figure Skating. She initially fell in love with the sport at the age of 5, and now continues to share that love with the next generation of skaters. Victoria will work with you to develop a strategy personal to you, depending on your style of skating and the goals you wish to reach. She believes coaching is not just about the time spent at the rink, but also the life skills that it will teach you.
Victoria holds a special interest in training skating skills and emphasises the importance of learning skating fundamentals to her developing skaters. Her origin as a ballet dancer has a significant effect on the importance she sees in skaters performing routines and expressing themselves on the ice. As much as she appreciates the beauty of the sport, she is also very knowledgeable in the athletic side.
Victoria offers private tuition for just one student, or in groups of up to 3.
QUALIFICATIONS
NZIFSA Level 1 Coaching Accreditation.
Personal NZIFSA Test Level: Free Skating - Junior (Silver medal) Stroking - Senior (Gold medal)
Attends all continuing education forums and seminars, including Drug Free Sport NZ.
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
12 years skating experience
10 years ballet training with Royal Academy of Dance
New Zealand Ice Figure Skating National Development Team Member, 2 x NZ National medalist, 4x New Zealand International Representative (prior 2020).
Attended coaching seminars from several Olympic level coaches.
Recipient Paradice Skating Academy Coach of The Year award.
AVAILABILITY
AVAILABILITY:
Can accommodate casual lessons during the term - Botany and Avondale
Limited slots remain for Term 2 and 3 2024
As well as:
School holidays (at Botany only) Mon - Fri 10-1 pm - Limited slots remain for October 2024 Holidays
Please go to "Public Skating" and select "Botany Session Times" to see all opening times.
RINK OF PREFERENCE
Botany
Yvonne is a junior levelled solo and synchronised figure skater that has been skating for 13 years at Paradice. Yvonne has been coaching since 2019, she hopes to pass on her knowledge and skills of the sport that she loves to her students.
