In addition to our regular classes and practice times, Sharks Ice offers private Skating & Hockey Lessons from a variety of experienced, well-qualified instructors. To set up a private lesson, please choose from our list of coaches below, or contact our Skating Director, Candy Goodson, who can help you select a private coach. Candy Goodson can be contacted at cgoodson@sharksice.com or 408-999-6753.
Sharks Ice Private Instructors set their own lesson times in accordance with ice availability. Rates and availability vary per instructor. Lessons are typically taught in 15, 20, 30, 45, or 60 minute increments. Public Session admission is required in additional to private instruction. Private coaches can also provide Public Session groups with skating lessons.
For private lesson pricing and availability contact the individual instructors.
Instructors:
Susan Algarne lattelove07@yahoo.com
Years Coaching: 5 Susan is a member of USFS, ISI and the Peninsula Skating Club. She has 5 years of coaching experience, 15 years of competitive skating experience and 3 years of show experience. Teaches all ages and levels.
Kristen Cederquist
Kristen began skating when she was six years old in California’s Central Valley. Her first time on the ice was magical and she knew she found her happy place. As a coach, Kristen shares her love for the ice, enjoys building solid skating foundations, utilizing video analysis, and off ice conditioning. She finds joy in the success of accomplishing everything from a student's first one foot glide, skating a personal best at competitions, and helping students to meet or exceed their personal goals and dreams.
Kristen is a double gold medalist in Moves in the Field and Freestyle, a member in good standing of US Figure Skating, The Skating Club of San Francisco, and the Professional Skaters Association. She welcomes you to see she what her students are accomplishing and follow on Instagram @kristen_cederquist. To learn more visit https://www.siliconvalleyfigureskating.com, or reach out directly via email kristencederquist@gmail.com
Ninik de Porta
A San Jose native, Ninik (rhymes with unique) fell in love with skating & competing at the age of 5. Since then, she has been relentlessly dedicated to mastering both the art and science of skating. A former junior lady competitor, she has been coached by the likes of Laura Galindo-Black, Tracy Prussack & John Brancato. Ninik also spent her summers training with other renowned coaches at the Broadmoor World Arena.
Before beginning figure skating, Ninik began her 16 year ballet training, studying the Cecchetti Method under Glenna Bell Moenning. This training has very much influenced the way she teaches body awareness, artistry and stage presence in her athletes
A life-long learner, Ninik is actively continuing her coaching education and collaborates with coaches from all over the world, bringing a fresh and innovative approach to her athletes.
Today, Ninik is on a mission to inspire passion and self-belief in all of the athletes she works with. She strongly believes in the power of grit by way of mental training to reach the ultimate heights of performance.
She is particularly passionate about taking athletes from unsure to confident & self assured in tackling difficult tasks.
Ninik works with all athletes, from beginner to high level. She also encourages adult skating.
Specialties:
Figures, Freestyle (jumps & spins), Skating Skills, Power Skating, Off Ice, Mental Training, and Ballet
Accolades:
USFS Silver Medalist, Figures V, and Cecchetti Grade V
Contact: (650)761-0563 coachninik@gmail.com
Stepan Dubrovskiy
Professional figure skating coach with 10 years of coaching experience.
Junior Worlds and ISU Grand Prix competitor, Danish National Champion. Former professional skater with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Degree in Pre School Pedagogy and Psychology from Moscow State University for Humanity. Second degree in figure skating coaching from the Moscow Olympic Reserve College.
Specialties include freestyle, pairs, triple jumps, spins, off-Ice training, choreography. Accepting new students beginner through Senior level.
Fluent in Russian and English
Cell: (669) 600-9202
E-mail: iceskater.rus@gmail.com
Nathan Fast | nathaniel.fast91@gmail.com | (503) 348-4643
Coaching Background: Professional figure skating coach with over 25 years of skating experience. Nathan uses his competitive background to help build strong training habits, solid skating foundations, and positive competition experiences for skaters of all ages and backgrounds.
Specialties: Ice Dance, Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Power skating and Adult skating
Competitive Background:
International Competitor for Team USA
World Championship Team Alternate
US National Champion
10 time National competitor
Alice Ho Icegoddess1983@yahoo.com 510-396-3040
Years Coaching: 7 Alice has over 15 years of experience skating, has participated in Solo Ice Dancing Nationals, and Intercollegiate Nationals. She is a PSA member, USFS Member, and Peninsula Skating Club Member. Received Bachelors at UC Berkeley. Teaches all ages and levels. Available to coach in San Jose and Fremont. Specialty: Freestyle, Ice Dancing.
Sherri Krahne-Thomas icecoachsherri@comcast.net
Years Coaching: 18 Regional, Sectional & Junior National Coach. Member of PSA, USFS, ISI and Peninsula Figure Skating Club. 18 Years of experience coaching competitive skaters. Teaches all ages and levels. Specialty: MIF, Spins, Jumps & Choreography for artistic and freestyle programs.
Kristen Mita
Kristen Mita was a competitive figure skater from age 7 until 19 and, upon retiring from competition, immediately transitioned into coaching where she was one of the most successful coaches in the Midwest region for 14 years. After a move to San Jose in 2017 she plans to replicate her success in the Bay Area with a new generation of students. She is a member of USFS, has her gold medal in freestyle and moves in the field. In 2001 she competed at the US nationals and went on to compete internationally providing valuable experience to pass down to her students. While her focus is mainly high level competitive skaters she also enjoys taking on students who simply love to skate. Kristen’s strengths are in freestyle, pairs, moves in the field, power stroking, and strength conditioning off ice. With a focus on strong fundamentals and technique to help build a strong foundation she has produced multiple national and international competitors. In 2010, was the first year Kristen went with a student to US Nationals. Kristen has coached students to Nationals in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014, including the Novice Bronze Medalist in 2013. Additionally in 2013 she traveled to Gdańsk where she had a student compete in a JGP international competition.
Check out her coaching and other students at www.bayareafigureskating.com/ or follow on Instagram @kristen.mita. Contact her at ugobma7@hotmail.com or 847-687-0834.
Yaniritza Quiroga
Yaniritza has been coaching for over 20 years. She has a strong background in gymnastics and dance with a main focus in tap, jazz and ballet. Not only did she grow up skating and competing in the Bay Area, she also was on a competitive dance team. Yaniritza has strong leadership skills which helps her students thrive on and off the ice, helping them obtain all their life goals. Yaniritza’s mission is to help each skater she coaches achieve their maximum potential on the ice. Whether it be landing their first jump or making it across the rink without using the boards. Yaniritza is a member of ISI, PSA, USFS, and PCA. She coaches all ages and levels, from basic to advanced. As well as synchronized skating and beginning hockey. She enjoys having her students participate in Sharks Ice Annual Holiday Shows as well as local competitions throughout out the year.
Please contact her for lessons at:
(408)504-0378
https://www.skatewithcoachyaniritza.com/
Nicholas Roby ”408.712.9122“ nicholasrroby@gmail.com
Summary: With over 15 years of coaching experience, Nicholas is able to manage nearly every aspect of his students’ needs, including, but not limited to, on-ice and off-ice instruction, injury rehab, and skating equipment procurement/maintenance. He is a full-service coach whom also has the experience of working with other coaches. His experience includes working with skaters of every level from beginner to elite, and every transition throughout that process. Also, he is one of the very few respected boot technicians in the bay area, serving a large number of primarily intermediate and advanced, as well as beginner, figure skaters’ equipment needs.
Coaching Philosophy: Nicholas is regarded as an extremely technical coach, employing his own unique, customized and tailored avant garde coaching techniques that fast-track learning fundamental skating skills and advanced jump mechanics. His style of coaching focuses on physical and psychological development of his skaters by encouraging self-practice and self-thought, largely employing a Socratic method of both answering and asking his students many questions. This imparts a clarity that helps his skaters understand what they need to practice on their own. And to avoid any confusions for his students, he works and communicates openly with the parents of his skaters to encourage solidarity between parent and coach to skater. He does all this with emotional patience and levity, allowing for as many mistakes and questions as needed throughout the learning process.
Background: Nicholas has a strong competitive and professional skating history, having competed and shared ice with America’s best skaters (some of which even competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics). At the age of 18, he suffered a major injury that hurt his competitive career. Subsequently, he aggressively pursued to rehabilitate his body as he transitioned into professional show skating and coaching, and later received an education at the University of California, San Diego – Revelle College studying Human Biology. After finishing his formal education in 2011, he pursued a professional working career at rehabilitation clinics around the United States, only to begin coaching again after taking on a professional show skating contract in 2018. His renewed practice of coaching has since become a main priority to develop his competitive athletes and their skating careers. As a result, he has developed and employed skating tools that no one else in the Bay Area uses and continues an investigation of human biomechanics to further his practice of coaching.
Ellicia Shepherd
USFS Gold Medalist, Ellicia Shepherd was a singles and pairs competitor who has trained with renown coaches both here in the Bay Area, and in Southern California. Ellicia has over 35 years of professional coaching and ice show experience. She specializes in singles, pairs, choreography, advanced jump & spin technique, as well as moves in the field, power stroking and hockey fundamentals to all ages and levels. Previously, she coached at Toyota Sports Center. She is happy to be back coaching in her hometown!
Email: ellicia_shepherd@yahoo.com
Phone: (310) 801-9669
Stephanie Snider
Stephanie has been coaching figure skating since 2013. She was trained by Olympic champions Sergei Ponomarenko and Marina Klimova. She is a USFS gold medalist in Dance and Moves in the Field.
Competitive background:
Two-time Danish National Champion
Former Competitor at the ISU Junior World Championships and Junior Grand Prix events.
Performed as professional skater with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Teaches all ages and levels, beginners and advanced USFSA competitive students. Specializes in skating skills, choreography, moves in the field, freestyle, off ice conditioning/stretching.
Speaks English, Russian, Danish
Phone #: (408) 833-5570
Email: icedance.dk@gmail.com
Instagram: beauty_stef
Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor is a USFS Gold Medalist in Freeskating and Figures, US Novice Men’s Champion, and Junior & Senior Men’s competitor. He was trained by legendary coach, Frank Carroll throughout his competitive career and coached closely alongside him for many years of his teaching career. Robert has been coaching for over 40 years at local, national and International competitions (with several national medalists). He works with athletes of all ages and levels of skating and he specializes in bringing a detailed approach to jump and spin techniques. Previously, he coached at Pickwick Ice and Toyota Sports Center and he is thrilled to now be part of the Solar4Americasharksice coaching staff.
Email: rtskatesur@yahoo.com
Phone: (818) 357-4423
Kristina Van Kregten Coach.kvk@gmail.com 408-529-6262
Years Coaching: 9 United States Figure Skating competitor for over 15 years in Freestyle, Pairs, and Ice Dancing. Regional, Sectional, and Junior Olympic/National Competitor. Coaching member of the Professional Skater’s Association. Trains competitive and recreational skaters in both USFS and ISI. Beginners through Advanced/Senior levels. Specialty: Basic/Advanced Skills & Technique, Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography, and Off-Ice Conditioning.
