Connaught skaters and coaches were all eyes and ears for their biennial camp that featured two of the country’s top figure skating mentors.
About 60 of the Richmond club’s competitive skaters took part in the Grassroots to Champions Spring Seminar at the Richmond Ice Centre. The three-day event featured Montreal-based coach Yvan Desjardins and Toronto choreographer Joey Russell. The pair offered their expertise as local athletes get ready for another competitive cycle, starting with the spring season.
Desjardins’ skaters include Nicolas Nadeau who is fresh off finishing second at the World Junior Champioships. Russell made his second recent trip to Richmond, on top of his regular duties working with skaters at the renowned Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, where he teams up with Brian Orser, one of the top coaches in the world.
“Yvan looked after the technical development and Joey the choreography and performance aspect of it,” explained Connuaght director of programs Keegan Murphy. “We all learned tons and it was a really nice break for the kids to hear the same things (we are teaching them) in a different way with a different voice. It’s just really refreshing and it’s a perfect time of year, with the starting of a new competitive season, to do something like this.”
The skaters were divided into groups of 12 based on ability. The seminars are rotated each spring with the club’s annual show which will return in 2017.
It’s the first time Desjardins has assisted Connaught skaters. He is based out École Excellence Rosemére where he works with legendary coach Manon Perron in Skate Canada’s High Performance Mentrio Program. He recently became just the 13th coach in the country to achieve the maximum Level 5 certification with the National Coaching Certification Program. He has been working with skaters for over 20 years.
“It’s not often you get access to Quebec coaches and they produce such a huge number of amazing skaters,” added Murphy. “We are lucky to have him, as well as the great relationship we have with Joey.”
Connaught skaters and coaches will now take their new knowledge back to regular training sessions, leading up to2016 Super Series Victoria Day, slated for next month in Surrey.
