Skating Staff Guide

Aimee Cruz

Coach Aimee grew up training in Chicago, IL where she was proudly born and raised. She brings with her almost 40 years of figure skating experience and over 20 years of competitive coaching in the areas of Freestyle, Moves in the Field, and shows. Her experience ranges from coaching skaters at the beginner level to the professional realm; from Tiny Tots to Adults, to Disney on Ice to USFS National level skaters. Her educational background and training along with working with neurodiverse children and young adults allowed her to pioneer and cultivate a special needs skating program, which distinguishes her from most professional coaches. With a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, Aimee specializes in Play Therapy and Sports Psychology. She facilitates and leads various mental-health workshops that address mental-health challenges on and off the ice.

Personal Statement:
“I am a strong advocate for self-care, mental balance, and inclusivity among all individuals.”

Contact:
Phone: (630) 802-8024 

Derrick Delmore

Coach Derrick is a former National Collegiate, U.S. Olympic Festival, and World Junior Champion. He competed at 18 consecutive U.S. National Championships and was a member of the U.S. International Team for 14 straight years. At the end of his career, he performed on stage alongside Olympic Champion, Oksana Baiul, as the male lead in the musical Cold As Ice. Derrick has over 25 years of coaching experience and has worked with skaters of all levels, including World and Olympic competitors. He has served as head coach for skaters on the U.S., Australia, China, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Norway, Singapore and South Africa international teams; and has coached multiple U.S. National Medalists. Derrick was a coaching member of the Team USA delegation at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Derrick’s specialties include technique, choreography, and strategy for optimal competitive performance and results.


Competitive Highlights:
• World Junior Champion
• U.S. Olympic Festival Champion
• National Collegiate Champion
• Multiple International Medalist

Professional Highlights:
• Coaching faculty at the U.S. Figure Skating National High Performance Development Camp and Program Components Camp
• USFS Sectional Technical Specialist for Singles
• USFS Board of Directors, former member
• Nominating Committee, former member
• DEI Task Force, former member
• PSA Board of Governors, former member
• Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology and Communication, Stanford University

Contact:
Phone: 240-354-3225 (text only)
Email: Laeliteice@gmail.com

Skye Koachway

Coach Skye started skating “a long, long time ago” when her Brownie (Girl Scout) troop took a trip to Paramount Iceland for their Skating Badge. She immediately fell in love with the sport! In January of 2003 while attending college at CSULB, she began coaching at the Westminster Ice Palace. She transferred over to the Glacial Gardens Lakewood (now The Rinks Lakewood ICE) in September of 2008. She now has over 20 years of coaching experience, working with skaters of all levels and ages, from beginner through Senior test level.

Competitive Highlights:
• USFS Moves in the Field Gold Medalist
• 2-time Synchronized Skating National Competitor, Junior
• 2-time Synchronized skating Pacific Coast Sectional Medalist, Junior
• 2-time Short Track Speed Skating California State Champion

Professional Highlights:
• PSA Register Rated
• USFS Coach Compliant
• ISI Gold Rated Judge
• Coached Matrix Synchronized Skating teams, National Competitors and Pacific Coast Sectional Medalists
• Assisted with production and costuming of annual Glacial Gardens/Lakewood ICE Spring Productions, 2010-2019
• Coached and assisted with Sertoma Ice Skating Camp for the Deaf

Personal Statement:
“Skating is for everyone! I enjoy breaking things down so that a skating element makes sense. Those moments when something "clicks" for a skater, whether they're working on swizzles or axels- those are the moments I love!
I am a mom of two boys. We love going to Disneyland and trying all the new dessert spots in town. I have a bachelor’s degree in English from CSULB. GO BEACH!”

Contact:
Phone: 562.881.4823
Email: emailskye@yahoo.com

Anna Malkova

Coach Anna has over 25 years of experience in the world of figure skating. Competing on the national and international circuits, Anna was trained by World and Olympic Champions. She has worked with all levels from tots to internationally competitive figure skaters. Anna’s specialties include freestyle, jump technique—singles through triples, and spins.

Competitive Highlights:
• US International Medalist
• USFS Double Gold Medalist

Professional Highlights:
• Registered Rating—Free Skate
• “I, Tonya”--Skating double for lead role of Tonya Harding

Other Notes:
Bilingual--fluent in English and Russian

Contact:
Email:
Anna.M.Malkova@gmail.com

Nha Quyen Nguyen

Coach Quyen started skating back in 2006. She trained at several rinks in southern California and then was able to call Lakewood her home rink. She started off as a free skate competitor and competed at many Senior level events. While doing free skate, she started to learn solo ice dancing. Quyen enjoyed it so much that she started to compete at solo ice dance events and got the opportunity to compete at 3 national championships at the Senior level. Quyen’s been coaching at Lakewood since 2016; it’s a full-circle moment for her, getting to coach at the rink where she trained.

Competitive Highlights:
• Competitive figure skater for 12+ years
• 3-time Solo Ice Dance National Competitor (placing top 5)
• Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Competitor
• Southwest Pacific Regional Competitor (Juvenile, Novice, Junior, Senior)

Professional Highlights:
• USFS Triple Gold Medalist – Moves in the Field, Freestyle, Solo Pattern Dance
• Member of USFSA and PSA
• SafeSport Certified

Personal Statement:
“I love working with skaters of all ages and skill levels. I want to create a fun environment for my skaters to grow and help them develop skills to reach their goals, whether they are short term or long term.”

Additional Info:
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cal State Long Beach
• Languages: English and Vietnamese

Contact:
Phone: 
714-487-1829
Email:  icesk8Luva@yahoo.com

Lisa Parisi

Coach Lisa has been making ice skating dreams come true for over 35 years. She likes to focus on strong technical skills with a systematic learning process for recreational and competitive skaters; she also works on hockey skating skills, developing quality edges & power. Specializing in the competitive skater, Lisa has worked with skaters doing single jumps through triples and basic through advanced spins. She also works on edges, stroking and connecting moves. She also does choreography, helping kids learn creative movements for recitals, competitions and productions.

Personal Statement:
“I have a great track record for developing talent. Students excel quickly.”

Contact:
Phone:
310.779.2153 (text preferred)

Angel Sarkisova

Coach Angel has had the privilege of training under renowned coaches at the national and Olympic ranks, acquiring a wealth of knowledge and insights into the intricate world of figure skating. With a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, Angel excels in building strong coach-athlete relationships. From grassroot-beginners to elite competitors, Angel's primary focus is on nurturing figure skaters at all stages of their journey. Specializing in developing athletes with a strong technical foundation, Angel is dedicated to providing comprehensive training that lays the groundwork for future success. Her coaching style is characterized by instilling confidence, passion, and grit in her athletes, empowering them to overcome challenges and achieve their personal goals.

In addition to figure skating, Angel offers hockey power skating skills development focusing on efficiency, edge control, power, and quickness. Whether it's perfecting edge work, enhancing power and speed, or improving overall efficiency, Angel's expertise extends into helping hockey athletes maximize their performance.

Competitive Highights:
• USFS Gold Medalist
• Regional Champion
• Junior National competitor

Other Notes:
• Bilingual—fluent in English and Russian

Contact:
Phone:
310.987.0105 (Preferred)
Email: angel2axel@yahoo.com

Alain Sandraz

Coach Alain is a national competitor and currently a Senior level freestyle skater. He has been coaching all levels since 2017. He trained under Charlie Tickner, Surya Bonaly, and Gilley Nicholson.

Other Notes:
• Bilingual—fluent in English and French

Contact:
Email:
 alain.sandraz@gmail.com (Preferred) 
Phone: (650)283-4683 

Amy Lin

Coach Amy has been skating for 19 years and coaching for 5. She teaches students of all ages and skill levels in both the US and Taiwan; she specializes in fundamental skating skills and choreography.
She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology Fitness at California State University, Long Beach, and hopes to use both her education and her athletic experience as a figure skating coach to guide younger generations of athletes in achieving their goals and realizing their fullest potential.

Competitive Highlights:
• US National Medalist
• 4-time National Champion (Chinese Taipei)
• International Medalist (Chinese Taipei)
• 3-time World Competitor (Chinese Taipei)

Other Notes:
• Bilingual—fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese

Contact:
Phone: (510)304-0752 (Text preferred)

Andrea Brett

Andrea has more than 30 years of coaching experience in singles, dance, skating skills, and synchronized skating. She’s been teaching at The Rinks, Lakewood ICE since 2002 when it was Glacial Garden. Andrea has a lot of experience in the field of ice dance on both a local and national stage; she has also had a strong hand in developing a number of different synchronized skating programs and fostering their growth into nationally competitive teams. Andrea is tenacious in working with skaters through rough spots and prioritizes a positive experience for clients. She likes to focus on individual goals and the parts of skating that contribute to personal growth.

Competitive Highlights:
• USFS Gold Medalist in Ice Dance
• 3-Time New Jersey State Champion
• Competition experience in singles, partnered dance and solo dance

Professional Highlights:
• Coach of Regional, Sectional and National competitors in the singles, dance and synchro disciplines
• 1993 Juvenile National Bronze Medalists—Ice Dance
• 1994 Juvenile National Silver Medalists—Ice Dance
• 1996 Intermediate National Bronze and Silver Medalists—Ice Dance
• 1999-2002 Founded and coaches Arctic Jewels synchronized skating teams
• 1999 Pacific Coast Novice Synchro Champions
• 2001 Juvenile National Dance Champions
• 1999-2001 Novice National Synchro competitors
• 2010-2015 Founded and coached Glacial Magic synchronized skating teams
• 2011 Pacific Coast Pre-Juvenile Synchro Silver Medalists (Glacial Magic)
• 2016-Present helped develop and coach Matrix synchronized skating program

Personal Statement:
“Skating is for all! You need to begin with a strong foundation of basic skills in order to have success.”

Additional Info:
• BA in Exercise Physiology from UC Berkley
• PSA Registered Rating
• Mother of twins

Contact:
Phone:
(714)728-9197
Email: jerseysk8r44@gmail.com

Aubrey Ignacio

Coach Aubrey has been figure skating competitively for over 10 years and recently began a new journey in coaching. She started as a Junior Coach in the Learn to Skate program at Lakewood ICE. Aubrey is a regional, sectional and national medalist and has had experience on the international circuit as a member of Team USA.

Competitive Highlights:
• 2017-2018 Intermediate Regional Champion
• 2018-2019 Novice Sectional Champion
• 2018-2019 Novice National Silver Medalist
• 2019 Bavarian Open Novice Lady Champion (Germany)

Personal Statement:
“I am excited to start sharing my knowledge and love of this sport with a brand new generation of skaters, to develop new skills and find their own appreciation of this amazing sport.”

Contact:
Email:
aubreyisabel03@gmail.com (preferred)
Phone: (323)695-6800 

Dianne DeLeeuw Chapman

Coach Dianne has over 35 years of teaching experience. She has coached Regional, Sectional, National, Adult, Collegiate and International medalists as well as Learn to Skate USA skaters. She has coached many skaters from their first steps to the Gold Test level! Dianne is married to World and Olympic Team Coach Doug Chapman.

Competitive Highlights:
• World and European Ladies Champion
• 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist
• 2-time Olympian and 5-time World Team Member
• 6-time National Champion of the Netherlands
• US Figure Skating and Skate Canada Double Gold Medalist in Figures and Freestyle

Professional Highlights:
• Star of Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice
• PSA (Professional Skaters Assoc.) accredited, Level V PSA Ranking
• PSA Master rated in Sports Science
• Team USA Coach, 2016 Youth Olympics Team Leader and Coach
• Coach of Jr Grand Prix Finalist, 2 Collegiate National Champions, Youth Olympic Competitor
• National IJS Technical Specialist, Video Replay and Data Operator
• USFS Coach Compliant and Safe Sport trained

Personal Statement:
"My love for skating and strong competitive background enables me to bring out the best in each skater while instilling the lifelong joy of skating! The dedication and discipline of skating builds self-confidence and skills for a successful and happy life!"

Contact:
Phone:
(714) 290-9222 Text and Voicemail
Email: Dianne.deLeeuw@Olympian.org

Kassie Smith

Kassie has over 13 years of skating experience. For over 8 years, she has worked with skaters of all ages in The Rinks Learn-to-Skate program, holiday shows, and figure skating camps. Kassie is a former synchronized skating collegiate competitor with Ice'Kateers and a Southwest Pacific non-qualifying regional medalist in Singles. She has completed her USFS Pre-Juvenile Free Skating and Intermediate Moves in the Field tests, and is currently working on her Novice Moves. Kassie’s background in dance includes ballet and modern, as well as dance composition and choreography training from Fullerton College. She has a Bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach in English Literature and Minor in Journalism

Professional Highlights:
• PSA Registered Rating in Skating Skills

Personal Statement:
"I am a self-starter whose passion for learning, creativity, and growth is matched by a desire to empower others to become the best versions of themselves.
I coach to share my passion for skating and instill a love of the sport in my student. My hope is to create a fun, safe, and encouraging environment in which they can have fun learning, growing, and building a solid foundation of skills, on which they can be successful in their long-term skating goals.
I believe that sport participation gives us opportunities to continually challenge ourselves in a variety of ways which serve to help us grow, not just as athletes, but as people by promoting a healthy lifestyle, as well as building up qualities like tenacity, discipline, self-confidence, and leadership, that we carry with us through the rest of our lives. I strive to instill these qualities in my students by adapting my teaching style to their individual needs.”

Contact:
Phone: (714)225-1511
Email: Sk8r4God@gmail.com