Patrick Brault

1992 Olympic & World Team alternate for Canada, 7- time International competitor, 1987 Junior Men’s U.S. Silver Medalist,1984 Novice Men U.S. National Champion, Patrick competed for both U.S.A. & Canada because of his dual citizenship. Patrick has 11 years of professional experience in a variety of shows, Dorothy Hamill's Ice Capades, Grease On Ice, Royal Caribbean Voyager & Navigator of the Seas, and Kennedy Center- Next Ice Age.

In my years as an ice skater, I have bestowed in myself the ability to communicate my love of skating to all ages and abilities. I believe that figure skating has given me structure and a positive outlook on life and with this I will be a great asset to this community and facility.

PSA CERTIFIED FREESTYLE

PSA LEVEL II RANKED COACH

Danny Curzon

Danny has been skating since 1994 and is a triple gold medalist in Moves in the Field, Freestyle, and Pairs.  He is a 6-time national competitor, as well as a 3-time national medalist in pairs, including earning the bronze medal in Junior Pairs at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.  Danny is also a 4-time international competitor, having experience on both the Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix circuits, as well as being a competitor in the 2008 World Junior Championships.

Born and raised in the Phoenix area, Danny has been coaching at the Ice Den for two years and has experience in coaching both figure skating and hockey for boys and girls at a wide range of levels.

Karen Gesell

“I am dedicated to coaching my students to be the best they can be.

My goal is to inspire a passion on the ice and create a deep love for our sport.”

 

 

• 32 years of competitive coaching
• Coach of Junior National, Sectional Competitors and Regional Champions
• PSA Master rating in Freestyle scratch, Certified rating in Moves in the Field, Registered rating in Choreography & Style and Group
• PSA Level III ranked coach. Former United States National Honor Roll Recipient for PSA
• USFS Silver Freestyle and Figure medalist, trained under National and World level coaches, performed in Ice Shows and Exhibitions in the US and Canada
• Coaching in the disciplines of Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography

Brittany Gianiorio

Brittany has been skating at the Ice Den since its open in 1998. She competed regionally at both the Intermediate and Novice levels and holds a USFS Gold Medal in Moves in the Field. Currently she is working on attaining a second Gold Medal in compulsory ice dance.

Coaching at the Ice Den since 2005, Brittany finds her greatest strength in choreography and also coaches freestyle, moves in the field, and beginning ice dance. Through PSA Brittany completed the Apprentice Program under Master rated coach Karen Gesell. Her future plans are to obtain additional certification in freestyle and group skating . 

Brittany is a current student at Arizona State University in Tempe, majoring in biochemistry and psychology and minoring in religious studies with aspirations of continuing on to medical school to become an anesthesiologist.

Jill Kinsley

Education: Bachelor of Science....1979
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Coaching Since 1998
Level II Ranking

USFS Test:

• Gold medalist: MIF
• Silver Dance
• Juvenile FS/Adult Gold FS

PSA Rated:

• Master Group
• Senior MIF
• Registered FS

Coached skaters thru:

• Senior MIF
• Int. FS
• Regional Competitive level

Lara Ladret

Lara was a 4 time national competitor and won the Novice Pair Championships of Canada in 1985. She is a triple gold medalist in Freeskate, Pairs and Dance. Following her amateur competitive career she performed in professional ice shows in Spain & across Canada for 4 years. Lara has been coaching skating professionally since 1988 and is an NCCP Level 3 rated coach. She was the Director of Off Ice Training at the Olympic Training Centre in Ontario, Canada and has coached National, International & Olympic skaters. Lara also has a background in Sports Therapy, Deep Tissue & Swedish Massage, & Cranial Sacral Therapy. With her knowledge of skating & sports therapy she was appointed Chief Therapist and Trainer for the Stars on Ice Tours. Lara spent 7 years in this position taking care of some of the World’s biggest skating stars including Olympic Champions Scott Hamilton & Kristi Yamaguchi. She also served as Director of Athletic Services at ITM/The Fitness Institute in Toronto.

Lara has been coaching at the Ice Den for 5 years and has been instrumental in developing our own National & International Competitors.

Jennifer Mangino

Administrative Services Manager at Ice Den. Coaching since 1998. Passed USFS 4 th Figure, Novice Free Skate, Intermediate Pairs, Pre- Gold Dances. Regional competitor in singles, pairs and dance. National Competitor in Synchronized Team.

Professionally skated in Ice Capades for 5 years and Rick Porter Productions for 1 year. USFS and PSA member. Available to coach all levels. Specializes in Basic Skills and Choreography.

Dawn Piepenbrink, McCosh

Bachelor Science Degree.

Skating experience since 1980, Ten-time National competitor, Five-time International competitor, 1992 US National Silver Medalist in Jr. Pairs, 1993 World University Gold Medalist, USFS and PSA member, Gold Medalist Freestyle, Pairs, Moves in the Field and 7th Figure.

PSA Ratings: Master Freestyle, Certified Moves in the Field .

PSA Level III ranked coach.

Coaching: Freestyle, Pairs, Moves in the Field, Power Skating, Choreography, Off-Ice Jumps.

Kathryn Millar

Kathryn is a USFS, and PSA member, she has passed Novice Freeskate, Junior Moves in the Field, and Pre-Bronze Compulsory Dances. 

Kathryn competed at a regional level in the Novice ladies event. She is now attending ASU for Art History. 

I enjoy working with all ages and levels. I have had the opportunity to work with many different coaches over the course of my competitive skating, and have learned from their different teaching styles and techniques. I have been coaching for four years and coach freeskate, moves and dance. 

Diane Miller

Diane G Miller is a Master Rated National and International Figure Skating Coach, holding a Master Rating in freestyle,
figures, sports science and moves in the field.

* 33 years coaching experience
* International and National Coach
* World Team Alternate
* 9 time National and International competitor
* PSA Level V Ranking
* Conference and Seminar speaker

* Professional Skaters Association Affiliations:

• PSA Honorary Member
• National Education Director
• Second Vice President
• Foundations Committee
• National Registry of Ice Skating Coaches (NRISC)
• Nominating Committee
• Ratings Committee
• Selections Committee
• Strategic Planning Task Force
• Sports Science Committee Chair
• Technical Committee

*United States Figure Skating Association Affiliations:

• Faculty USFSA Elite Training Camp
• Faculty USFSA National Novice Camp
• Faculty Reach for the Stars Jr. National Camp
• Faculty North American Training Camp
• Athlete Development Committee
• Coaches Committee
• Parents Committee
• Sports Science and Medicine Committee
• Sports Science Council

*United States Olympic Committee Affiliations:

• Chair Resident Figure Skating Program
• Presenter USOC Elite Coaches Conference
• Presenter USOC Exercise Physiology Conference for Coaches    

Diane presently resides in Phoenix, Arizona where she continues to coach and present at seminars around the country.

Nancy Pluta

Stars On Ice Tour -Performance Director, Dorothy Hamill’s Ice Capades- Performance Director- “Cinderella”

Associate and Assistant Choreographer for the following ice show productions:
“Monsters Inc”- Disney On Ice, “ Jungle Adventures” – Disney On Ice
“Snoop’s Summer Vacation”, “ Ice Cold Terror”, “Skating Moods”, “Two Worlds”

Voyager & Navigator of the Seas- Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships – Changeover Choreographer

Nancy Pluta has been a professional figure skater touring the world since 1991, as performance director, principle soloist, line captain, company manger with Ice Capades, Next Ice Age, Feld Entertainment-Grease On Ice, Disney On Ice, Karen Kresge, Woodstock Ice, Willy Bietak and Minnie Madden Productions. With these companies she has understudied Dorothy Hamill & Liz Manley. Line captain to Nancy Corrigan, Liz Manley, Scott Davis & Josee Chaunard.

Dorothy Hamill Open Invitational, 2nd place, American Open Ladies Competitor.

“ I have the ability to create and communicate artistic ideas, to all different levels of skaters. Ice Den- where your creative dreams come true.” *

Nancy has been teaching figure skating to all ages since 1994, choreographing since 1993, and a dance major from the Milwaukee, WI. -School of Arts.
PFSC- Professional Figure Skaters Cooperative- Board of Directors

USFSA Gold Medallist in Figures & Freestyle, pre-silver dance.

STERREN DANSEN OP HET JIS- HOLIDAY ON ICE-CHORUS CHOREOGRAPHER-LIVE TELEVISION SHOW
PSA CERTIFIED CHOREOGRAPHER
NON- QUALIFY TECHNICAL SPECIALIST- SINGLES
FIRE SPINNING ACT,  DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER- HOLIDAY ON ICE- UNDER THE DESERT SKY- NATIONAL TV. SPECIAL

Dorothi Cassini

Douglas began skating in 1998 after watching the Winter Olympics (of that year) on television. He has now been skating for over a decade under the tutelage of Doug and Lara Ladret. In those 10 years, Douglas has had many successes in the competitive skating world and has traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe to do so. In the fall of 2004, Douglas won the Southwest Pacific Regionals and the Pacific Coast Sectionals at the Junior level. He then placed 4th at the U.S. Championships. In the recent 2007-2008 season, Douglas medaled on the Junior Grand Prix Series and qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final held in Gdansk, Poland in December 2007. This event consisted of the some of the best junior skaters in the world and Douglas finished fourth. In January 2008, Douglas competed in his first Nationals at the Senior level. Ultimately, Douglas has goals of being a National and World/Olympic Champion. Douglas has been coaching in the Learn-to-Skate program for 3 years. This spring, he began teaching private lessons. After his competitive career, he would like to be a full-time coach.

About Douglas:
Born: October 22, 1988 in Mineola, NY
Hobbies: traveling, music, alpine skiing, being with friends and family

Grant Rorvick

I have been teaching figure skating for seven years. In that time I have worked with all levels and ages of skaters. I specialize in choreography; free skating, and moves in the field. I my years of teaching I have had the opportunity to choreograph for two National and International Champions, Nicole Bobek and Nick LeRoche and several Junior National, Sectional, and Region competitors.

I have my USFS Gold Freestyle Medal, my 7th Figure Test.

Prior to teaching, my professional skating and directing career took my all over the world. I spent seven years with the Ice Capades. Five of those years were spent under the direction of Dorothy Hamill. I also had the honor of meeting and working with our own Julie Patterson, Ice Den's Director of Skating. It was in Dorothy's company that I became the Performance Director of a national tour. Following the 98' Olympics in Nagano, I handled Tara Lipinski as her tour manager. I currently work on the Champion's on Ice Tour. This tour features all of the current National, World and Olympic Champions. I am the Assistant Director of Media Relations on that tour.

Larry Schrier

My name is Larry Schrier. I moved from Los Angeles to Scottsdale in 2002 with 20 years coaching experience. I have achieved a Triple Gold Medal in US Figure Skating test structure in Figures, Free Skating and Pair Skating. Winning the National Junior Pair Title and competing many times in the senior division both at the National and International levels highlight my competitive career. I have coached many skaters at the Regional, Sectional, National, International and World levels. Inducted to Professional Skaters Association’s Ranking System at Level VI. I hope to enjoy many successful years working with the talented staff and professional management at the Ice Den.

Miki Stevens

I have been coaching group and private lessons for all ages and abilities for 6 years. Prior to my coaching career I competed competitively and went on to perform for 7 years with Disney on Ice. I am an active member of the Coyotes Skating Club of AZ and the PSA. I am currently rated as a Senior group instructor.

Kelsey Syme

Kelsey Syme is a two time US National competitor in pairs. She has her US Figure Skating Gold Medal in Moves in the Field and Pairs and a Bronze in Ice Dance. Kelsey was a competitive figure skater for 14 years and spent six of those years training under Doug and Lara Ladret.

Kelsey has been coaching learn-to-skate and private lessons at the Ice Den for over two years. She works with boys and girls of all ages and hopes to share her love and knowledge of the sport with her athletes. She is a member of the Coyotes Figure Skating Club of AZ and a rated member of PSA. Kelsey plans to coach full-time once she has graduated from college.

Amy Thompson

Coaching since 1998 in the fields of Free Skate, Dance, Moves in the Field and Synchronized skating. Five-time Gold medalist in Dance, Moves in the Field and Figures; Novice Free Skate, Juvenile Pair and Silver Free Dance tests, Adult MIF and Gold Free Skate.  Regional, Sectional and National individual Competitor. National Intermediate Dance and National Collegiate competitor. International and National Senior Synchronized Team Competitor. 2004 Young Adult Pacific Coast Sectional Champion. PSA rated - Registered Dance, Group and Free Skate and Master Sports Science.

Jenny Thompson

Coaching at the Ice Den since 1998. Coach of Regional and Sectional competitors and Sectional Synchronized Team. Primary fields are free skate, moves in the field, synchronized skating and dance. Two-time Adult National Free Skate Champion and National Dance Competitor, three times Adult Silver Regional Free Skate Champion and competed nationally with Adult Synchronized teams.

 

US Tests passed: Gold Dance, Juvenile Free Skate, Adult Silver Free Skate, Juvenile Pair, and Bronze Free Dance.

PSA Rated: Master Program Director, Master Group, Registered Free Skate, Certified Moves in the Field, and Registered dance.

PSA Level II Ranked Coach

Developing a skater from their basics through competitive levels is a joy to me. I believe skating builds confidence and self-esteem—and is a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime!

Tiffany Vise

Tiffany comes from the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, CO.  She has 19 years of skating experience, 6 years of coaching experience.  Tiffany is a USFS and PSA member. Tiffany enjoys teaching all ages and would like to eventually coach full time.   

Tiffany is a thirteen-time National Competitor, earning 4 National medals and six International medals in singles and pairs.  In 2002, Tiffany earned a spot on the World Junior team. She is also a Triple Gold Medalist in Pairs, Freestyle, and Moves in the Field. Tiffany previously was a member of the United States International Team. Vise with her former partner Derek Trent earned the Pewter Medal at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and were first Alternates to the World Team in 2008.    Vise and Trent are also World Record holders, landing the first ever throw quadruple salchow!!!! Tiffany is currently competing at the Senior level with new partner Don Baldwin and will be competing in the 2009-2010 season.

Veronica Wargo

PSA Senior Group Rating 
Canadian Figure Skating Association:
6th Figure Test
Jr. Silver Free Skate
Gold Dance
Novice Dance

• Competed in Ice Dance with brother Rick Lowrie;
• Reg’l Gold Medalists 1979 & 1980
• British Columbia Finalists 1979 & 1980
• Silver Medalists North Shore Int’l 1980
• Canpowerskate Coach Certified
• Canadian Coaches of Canada – Level 1
• First Aid Certified
• Toured with Holiday On Ice in Europe and Mexico 1983-1984
• Women’s Hockey Team at University of British Columbia
• Bachelor of Commerce with Major in Marketing U.B.C. 1987
• Gold Pin Ballroom Dance – U.B.C
• Royal Academy of Ballet – Grade 4
• Member of USFS & PSA

I have been teaching since 1985. I didn’t start skating until I was 12 years of age. It is never too late to start enjoying this wonderful sport. Private lessons available for Power Skating, Ice Dance, Moves In the Field, Free Skate, Basic Skills & Off Ice Jump. I enjoy working with all levels and ages including Adults.

I feel privileged to work among such a talented and caring coaching staff in this wonderful facility!

Ashley Wilcox

Ashley Wilcox is a US Figure Skating Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field and Freestyle. Ashley spent her 15 year competitive career training out of Arizona and is a National Collegiate Silver Medalist. Ashley enjoyed a brief professional skating career with The Next Ice Age in Baltimore, MD and has been coaching since 2002. In addition, Ashley graduated, with honors, from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Management. Ashley welcomes the opportunity to pass on her love for the sport to skaters of all ages and abilities.