Learn to Skate Coaches

Skating Director & Coach

Vinny Dispenza

· 2011 and 2012 US National Ice Dance competitor

· 2008 Junior US Nationals competitor

· 20 years of skating experience

· 10 years of coaching experience teaching all levels, from Learn to Skate classes to international skaters

· Holds US Gold/Senior tests in Moves in the Field, Free Dance and Dance Pattern, as well as tests in Free Skate and Pairs

· Dedicated to helping his skaters reach their goals by sharing his love and enthusiasm for the sport

· Teaches a wide variety of disciplines including Freestyle, Moves, Ice Dance, in addition to specializing in skating skills/footwork, holiday show production and pole harness experience for all level of jumps

· Proud member of USFS, PSA, and Learn to Skate USA

· Has his PSA Registered Group Accreditation, Masters in Sports Science & Medicine from PSA and CER-A

· Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Skating Director & Coach

Jenna Dispenza

· 2011 and 2012 US National Ice Dance competitor

· 20 years of skating experience

· 10+ years of coaching experience teaching all levels from Learn to Skate classes to international skates

· Holds US Gold/Senior tests in Moves in the Field, Free Dance, and Pattern Dance

· Canadian Gold tests in Freestyle, Skills, Dance, and Interpretive

· Enjoys sharing her love and passion for the sport through a wide variety of disciplines including Freestyle, Moves, Ice Dance, in addition to skating skills/footwork, choreography, holiday show production and beginner skating skills

· Proud member of USFS, PSA, and Learn to Skate USA

· Has PSA Registered Free Skate Accreditation, Masters in Sports Science & Medicine from PSA and CER A

· Received her BBA from Florida International University with Summa Cum Laude

· Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Coach

Tonia Berekhovski

· Russian skater

· Masters Degree in Choreography from the University of Modern Art

· Has trained skaters to compete nationally and internationally at Junior World, Worlds, US Nationals, US Junior Nationals

·Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Coach

Haven Denney

Coach

Ivan Dimitrov

· Competed at 2011 and 2012 US Nationals

· Top 10 finish in 2012

· Bulgarian Junior National Champion

· Competed at both Junior World Championships and Grand Prix Series

· Currently coaches US Regional and Sectional level competitive skaters

· Proud member of USFS and PSA

· Certified at CER-A Level

· Teaches skaters of all levels and ages

Coach

Sara Feminella

Over 10 years of skating experience.

Holds Senior Moves in the Field Test and currently competes at the Junior Level.

Loves to work with skaters of all ages to help them improve and learn new skills!

USF College student.

Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club, USFS, PSA and Learn to Skate USA.

Coach

Nicolas Frantz

• Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Coach

Lisa Healy

· Over 20 years of coaching experience for freestyle, MIF, synchro, off-ice training, dance teams and has coached skaters at multiple sectional competitions

· Passed PSA rating exams in freestyle, dance, team, and groups

· Proud member of USFS, PSA, Champions’ Edge Skating Club & Learn to Skate USA

· CER A-Level, ISI Gold Level Judge

· South Atlantic Regional competitor and medalist in both singles and ice dancing

· Trained with World and Olympic coaches such as Donald Laws, Carol Fox, Bill Fauver, and David & Rita Lowery

· Master’s Degree in Sports Coaching, B.A. in Psychology

· Florida teaching certificate for K-6, Gifted Education, and ESOL

Coach

Julie Kim

• 2005 US National Champion, 2005 Southwest Regional Champion, 2006 Southwest Regional Bronze Medalist and 2006 US National Competitor 

• Trained with Olympic Coach, Tammy Gambill, Olympic Choreographer, Phillip Mills and Olympic Athletic Trainer, Tyrone Bennett in Southern California 

•  Over 20 years of skating experience and over 10 years of coaching experience teaching all levels from Learn to Skate classes to international skaters 

• Specializes in jump and spin technique, moves in the field, choreography and power skating 

• Specializes in off-ice training with strength and conditioning, motorized spinner, technique in spin and jump rotation, stretching and injury prevention/rehab 

• Proud member of USFS, PSA, Learn to Skate USA and the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club 

• BA in Kinesiology, Sports Medicine at California Baptist University

Coach

Sandra Strong

· Double Gold Medalist with USFS

· Certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine

· Trained in New York with Olympic coaches Peter Burrows and Robin Wagner

· Won the North Atlantic Regionals and Empire State Winter Games

· Professional skater with Royal Caribbean International for over 8 years

· Completed 2 professional contracts as a pairs skater

· Also featured as a principal with Ice Theater of New York and for Dollywood and Busch Gardens

·Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Coach

Elizaveta Titova

· Over 7 years of coaching experience

· Skated in ice shows all over the world, after retiring as a competitive Russian skater

· Teaching all ages and levels and specializes in developing younger skaters

· Preparing skaters for tests and competitions

· Selecting and preparing the music for competitions

· Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

· Proud member of USFS, PSA, and Learn to Skate USA

Coach

Edward E. Vancampen

• 3 Time Men’s Dutch National Champion
• European and World Competitor
• US Figure Skating Double Gold Medalist in Figures and Freestyle
• Performed in numerous Ice Show for over 10 years
• Member of USFS, LTS USA, PSA Certified CER-A level, and Safesport Certified
• 25 years of coaching experience and teaches all levels and ages
• Moves in the Field Specialist, Learn to Skate and Adults

Edward has a passion for the sport and focuses on proper technique and positions.  He knows skating can teach students patience, discipline and many other valuable life lessons that you can use for the rest of your life. 

Coach

Stephen Carriere

-2007 World Junior Champion

-2008 U.S World Team Member & U.S National Bronze Medalist

-13 Time International Medalist: ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating and ISU Senior International Events

-2006 U.S Junior Champion 

-Experience coaching all levels from Learn to Skate to U.S regional, sectional, national, and internationally competitive athletes.

-Specializes in jump & spin technique, choreography, and skating skills.

Coach

Heather Krizka

• 20+ years of skating experience and 10+ years of coaching experience 
• Two years of experience as a member of the NHL Chicago Blackhawks Ice Crew
• Trained as a competitive figure skater in Chicago under World and Olympic Gold Medalist, Oleg Vasiliev
• Passionate about sharing her love for the ice with skaters of all levels and ages, including those who are looking for a solid skating foundation before transitioning into hockey or advanced figure skating levels
• Member of USFS, PSA, and Learn to Skate USA
• Member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club
• Heather is a cum laude graduate from Capella University, receiving her Masters of Science in Psychology 
• In her free time she enjoys getting back on the ice for a fun freestyle session or public skate, curling, and watching her son play hockey
• Dream big!

Coach

Felicity Lothrop

20+ years of coaching experience

PSA Level II ranked coach

USFS Gold medalist in Moves in the Field, Silver medalist in Freestyle and Figures and International Dances

Coaches all ages and levels including Freestyle, Moves, Ice Dance and Hockey

Synchronized Skating coach for SunCoast Skating Team

Regional Competitor

National Synchronized Competitor

Proud member of USFS, PSA, Learn to Skate USA, USA Hockey, and the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

PSA Certified Group Accreditation and Sports Science & Medicine

Hockey Skating Level 3 Certified

Safesport Certified

CPR & First Aid Certified 

Coach

Eva Wasielewski

Over 15 years of skating experience and over 3 years of coaching experience.

Former competitive and college cheerleading coach.

Available to teach all levels.

Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club, USFA and Learn to Skate USA.

Coach

Skye Armstrong

• Competitive skater with over a decade of skating experience 
• Shares love of skating by helping skaters of all ages develop and learn new skills
• Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club, PSA, Learn to Skate USA, and USF Figure Skating Club
• USF College Student, currently competes for USF Figure Skating Club at Novice Level 

Coach

Veronika Khokhryakova

• 10+ years of skating experience
• Regional and Sectional Competitor
• US Figure Skating Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field
• Trained with Olympic and World level coaches at the World Arena Ice Hall, a US Olympic Training Site, in Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club
• Proud member of US Figure Skating, PSA, and Learn to Skate USA

Learn to Skate Assistant

Lacy Meagher

Coach

Robert McNamara

-Former Australian champion 

-Junior World Championship and Junior Grand Prix competitor

-Four continents and Olympic qualification round competitor 

-Over 15 years of coaching experience across the world including having coached in Taiwan, Canada, Australia and USA. 

-Enjoys coaching, jumps, spins and has choreographed for former three-time Olympian. 

-Member of PSA and the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Skating Department Administrator

Maxwell Christopher

• Graduated from Sunlake High School in 2022
• Attending Pasco-Hernando State College with plans on attending University of South Florida in 2024
• Participated in varsity Lacrosse for 4+ years while playing for 12 years.
• 3+ Years of Employment at AdventHealth Center Ice
• Loves the passion of Figure Skating and helping develop the next generation of skaters.
• Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Learn to Skate Assistant

Sarah Daughtry

• Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Director of Business Services

Juliana Pineda

· 2011 to 2014 US Synchro National competitor

· 18 years of skating experience

· 5 years of coaching experience teaching Learn to Skate classes

· Holds US Gold/Senior tests in Moves in the Field

· Although retired from the competitive world of Figure skating, she enjoys sharing the love and passion for the sport through a wide variety of disciplines including Freestyle, Moves, Ice Dance, in addition to skating skills/footwork, and beginner skating skills

· Proud member of USFS

· Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club

Gisele Frantz

• Over 33 years of experience in all hockey and figure skating levels in the USA and Canada. She is certified National level 3 professional by Skate Canada and PNCE.

• Certified in CER A, Safe Sport, and is a certified coach for hockey and power skating with USFSA and PSA.
• Certified elite fitness coach and certified in PT trainer specialized in strength and conditioning and sport nutritionist with ISSA.
• BS degree in Finance with University of Quebec in Montreal.
• Speaks English and French.
• Her experience includes training with a AAA traveling hockey teams and competitive skaters up to senior level. This includes senior couple in dance, a pair team in the top 10 junior level at the Canadian Championships, top 5 at the novice level at the US Championships, and a National Championship Title in Solo Dance. 
• Gisele enjoys teaching private and group lessons on and off ice. She has a lot of experience in different programs as well as skaters around the world. 
• Proud member of the Sunshine State Figure Skating Club