​Our Coaches

While group lessons are an effective and economical way begin your entry into the world figure skating,  mastery of the sport is accomplished through lessons with a professional coach.  Whether you just want more individualized instruction or intend to start testing and competing, working with the right private skating coach for you is they key to your skating success.

For advice on how to select a private skating coach, read this article from US Figure Skating and this page from the Professional Skaters Association.

Alina Ivanova

I have been in the figure skating world for 22 years. I have been a competitive skater for 12 years in Russia and had a chance to get an experience and skills from Olympic champions as Irina Rodnina. 

I studied for 4 years at Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism. Then I became a professional performer for ice shows. For 5 years I performed for Disney on ice and for 2 years in Russian circus on ice.

I specializes in jumps, spins, power skating, off ice training and choreography. I'm a member of PSA and US Figure skating. 
Email: Alinaatkinson847@gmail.com

Lisa Kriley

Lisa is a triple Gold Medalist in figure skating, an Advanced Level Hockey Coach in USA Hockey, and Professional Skaters Association rated.  She specializes in making technically sound and consistent skaters.  Coaching since 1991, she's been instructing Olympic, National, Sectional, Jr. National and Regional figure skating champions as well as recreational skaters of all ages. She's taught therapeutic skating and the fundamentals of ice sports as well as beginning, intermediate, and conditioning classes.

During her career, she's studied with Olympic and World-renowned figure skating coaches, NHL power skating coaches, and has trained at skating academies across the  US. 

Lisa specialized in jumps, spins, power skating, moves, choreography, and comprehensive off-ice training.  She is member of the Professional Skaters Association,  United States Figure Skating Association,  and Ice Skating Institute.

Email:  sk8coachak@icloud.com
Phone: 907-388-7465

i Lopez
Dani trained as a figure skater for six years in the Chicago metro area among world-renowned coaches and skaters. Following her competitive figure skating career, she spent five years as a middle-distance track athlete and specialized in the 1500-meter run. She is not only experienced in coaching figure skating but also in coaching middle and long-distance running.
She recently graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and is now a Neuroscience Ph.D. student at the University of Utah with a focus on neural engineering. At the University of Utah, she is a graduate research scientist in the NeuroRobotics lab in the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital. She works on rehabilitative technology for people with neurological disorders.
Her ultimate goal as a skating coach is to foster a love of the sport. It is of utmost importance to her to create a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment for all her skaters.
Dani coaches beginning skaters (through single jumps) of all ages. She specializes in coaching basic skating skills, single jumps, spins, MITF, and power, speed, and endurance training on and off the ice.

Email:   danirlope@gmail.com
Phone: 708-417-1961

Shannon Norris

Shannon teaches beginning level students of all ages. She is a member of the Professional Skaters Association and US Figure Skating.

Email:  smn0716@hotmail.com 
Phone: 801-599-9056

Oliver Pekar

Oliver is an accomplished and internationally renowned professional singles, ice dance, and pairs figure skating coach of national and world level champion elite athletes.  Oliver specializes in building solid jump technique (singles through quads), edges, spins. and Moves In The Field.  He was a principle professional skater with Holiday on Ice, cruise ships, and the Sun Valley ice show.  Oliver is a former Czechoslovakian Men's National Champion and 1990 World Figure Skating Championships Ice Dance competitor.  

He is a member of PSA and US Figure Skating.

Email:  sk8coachak@icloud.com
Phone: 907-388-7465