Coaching Information
At the Tillsonburg Skating Club, our coaches are among the very best. All coaches are Skate Canada professionals with National Coaching Certification (NCCP), First Aid Certification and Police Clearance Checks through Skate Canada. Our coaches teach both group and private lessons, and have a strong tenure with the club.
All CanSkate and Beginner StarSkate have group lessons provided by professionally certified coaches registered with Skate Canada and are assisted by our older skaters who are called Program Assistants. Our Tillsonburg Skating Club coaches privately offer a variety of skating programs from CanSkate, PowerSkate, StarSkate and Competitive lessons. A skater may prefer some personal attention Private or semi-private lessons are available on all sessions from our coaches and are required once a skater reaches the Star 2 level.
Private Coaches
It is up to the skater and the parent to contact a coach directly to enquire about private lessons. This arrangement is independent of the club. The Club will not recommend a specific coach. When you hire a coach, the agreement is made between the skater, parent and coach. The Club assumes no responsibility for private lessons arranged, or for fees incurred. The rate charged is at the prerogative of the coach.
Before hiring a coach, some factors to consider:
- The coach's availability
- How many sessions per week do you want? How many can the coach provide?
- How much does the coach charge?
- How much does the skater like the coach? Does the coach have a suitable coaching philosophy for the skater?
Lesson Absences
It is the skater’s responsibility to inform their private coach of their absence for a lesson. You may find that you have been charged for a lesson that you did not attend if adequate notice was not given. If your coach is away, he/she will try to notify you and possibly send a replacement. In emergency situations, the coach will try to notify the club of their absence and a notice will be posted on the Bulletin Boards. Each coach has their own policies regarding cancellation and missing lessons.
What is a private / semi-private lesson?
The Professional Coaching Staff have an agreement with the Tillsonburg Skating Club to provide their time and services to both the Club and its membership. The Professional Coaching Staff are self-employed business professionals who work for a fee, normally charged on a 15 minute per lesson basis. Lessons for dance, free skate and skills are arranged and paid for by the parent or skater. Payments are to be made directly to the coach. Selection of a professional coach must be from the professionals listed below as they are signed on with the Tillsonburg Skating Club. Private or semi-private lessons are mandatory for Star 2 through Gold levels of skating, but you can start much sooner if you wish to – even in CanSkate!
Our Coaching Staff
Penny Jelsma
Head Coach
Penny is an NCCP Level 3 Certified coach specializing in free skate. She has been coaching for over 23 years from the CanSkate to National levels. Penny competed as an international pairs skater and was a 2 time Canadian Junior Gold medalist. Penny was chosen to coach in a 2013 Centre of Excellence pilot project which brought a select group of competitive skaters from across Western Ontario to train together. The sport of figure skating has been in her life from the age of 6 and continues with her career as a coach. Penny teaches private lessons as well as leads the coaches as the club's Head Coach and Coach's Representative.
If you have any inquiries, please e-mail Penny at pennyjelsma@hotmail.com.
Katie O'Brien
Club & Freelance Coach
Skating has been a love of mine since my earliest childhood memories, I began skating at the age of four. It has been a passion ever since. As a figure skater, I completed my Four Gold Levels for Dance, Skill, Interpretive and Free Skate with the Tillsonburg Skating Club. One of my proudest accomplishments as a figure skater was competing and placing second place for Western Ontario and becoming a part of the provincial team in 2015.
I’m excited to join the Tillsonburg Skating Club as a coach, sharing my experience and helping to shape and develop our future generation of skaters. I am a NCCP Regional StarSkate coach and a CanSkate coach with experience teaching in both Ontario and Alberta.
I will be at the rink coaching Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays . I am available for private lessons for Star 1 - 5 levels, feel free to reach out if you have any questions my email address is katelady322@gmail.com.
Britney O’Brien
I have been skating for 20 years and coaching for 6 years. I am an 8-time National and International Medalist. I am also the United States 2013 Jr. Pairs National Champion.
I have all four of my US Figure Skating Gold Medals in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Dance and Pairs. I am also a 3-time Sportswomen of Colorado award recipient for Figure Skating.
Outside of coaching, I have an Associates Degree in Holistic Health and a Bachelors Degree in Sport Management with a Minor in Exercise Science.
I am very excited to be a staff member at the Tillsonburg Skating Club and am available for lessons Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you have any questions or would like to contact her, please email me at britneyvsimpson@gmail.com
Erin ScherrerNCCP Certification Level: National Level Coach in Training (NCCP Level 3) and Provincial Coach Certified (NCCP Level 2)
Education: University of Waterloo Bachelor of Arts with Business minor
Skating Background:
• 3 Time National Medallist
• Canada Winter Games Novice Champion
• Ontario Winter Games Novice Champion
• 2 Time International Medallist
• Jr. Grand Prix top 10
• Jr. National Team Member
• 6 Contracts as a principle skater for Royal Caribbean
• Holiday On Ice Principle skater
• Senior Freeskate Test
• Gold Freeskate and Skills Test
Coaching Background:
· Trained and Mentored under Olympic Level Coaches: Robin Wagner, Kris and Kristy Wirtz, Manion Perion
· Worked with Olympic Level Choreographers: David Wilson, Yuka Sato, Mark Piller, Robin Wagner
· Trained skaters from Pre-CanSkate to Senior Competitive skaters
· Provincial level competitors in singles
· Challenge level competitors in singles
Mikaela Moyer
Club & Freelance Coach
Madeline Jelsma
Club & Freelance Coach
I've had a passion and love for figure skating since I was 5; when I came to the rink with my mom and steppend on the Tillsonburg arena in the Learn to Skate program. Quickly from there I fell in love with everything to do with the sport.
I then spent the next 15 years practicing the sport at the Tillsonburg, London and Hamilton Skating Clubs to better develop my skills. I have completed my Gold Levels in Dance, Skills, Interpretive and Free Skate.
In 2015, I attended the Ontario Winter Games, was the 205 Western Ontario Bronze Medalist in Pre-Novice Women and went on to compete at the Canadian Nationals. I continued my skating career competing in Junior Women until 2019.
Figure Skating is unique yet technical sport that requires hard work and determination. Through my knowledge and work ethic my mission is to make the skaters the best they can be not only on the ice but off ice as well.
madelinejelsma@hotmail.com
Additional Coaching Staff
Summer Homick
.png)
