https://bsp-coaches.com/blog daily 0.75 2022-12-18 https://bsp-coaches.com/blog/jump-technique-and-theory-yjjwk monthly 0.5 2022-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/22b3264b-685c-4273-8ef6-448203050434/IMG_4994.jpg Blog - Coaching Challenges - You Are Not Alone Skating is evolving, and knowledge that used to only be accessible to a handful of coaches around the world, has begun to circulate the skating community. A broad number of coaches are now taking the time to learn all the shapes of the body on takeoff, angles, timing adjustments, twitch mechanics, and progressions that are necessary to further advance their jump techniques. It’s rapidly becoming known that there are more things we can do to set our skaters up for success at every level. - Coach Luke Kirchgessner https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/e53b2414-52b7-4657-9e80-032cd91a42fc/Screen+Shot+2022-03-03+at+10.15.04+PM.png Blog - Coaching Challenges - You Are Not Alone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/3f6f2619-64d7-449f-ae57-f2a83547110c/Screen+Shot+2022-03-04+at+1.50.32+PM.png Blog - Coaching Challenges - You Are Not Alone https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/950bd08d-2e68-43ec-84ec-539d5036ed1c/Screen+Shot+2022-03-04+at+1.39.53+PM.png Blog - Coaching Challenges - You Are Not Alone https://bsp-coaches.com/blog/jump-technique-and-theory monthly 0.5 2022-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1600987440397-3BXNHEL69H4UF2LZT3EK/luke-action.jpg Blog - Jump Technique & Theory https://bsp-coaches.com/about daily 0.75 2025-07-15 https://bsp-coaches.com/home daily 1.0 2025-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593195859755-G9OQN6WKDO4JFMY2YW1W/email-hero-image-1.png Balanced Skaters - Expert off-ice training programs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593405153528-DAB94GTPNLG72DG3P020/unnamed.jpg Balanced Skaters - Expert off-ice training programs - Angela Kim Angela Kim Total badass https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593313176003-KXQX17NPEDUP5ZC3UNRE/Mandy-Yip-headshot-bw.jpg Balanced Skaters - Expert off-ice training programs - Mandy Yip Dance & Curriculum Specialist Founder of Acrobatic Arts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593405234435-0CAO3H9TTZ9JESU09VC3/image-asset.jpeg Balanced Skaters - Expert off-ice training programs - Luke Kirchgessner Jump specialist Figure skating coach, Technical consultant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593368460571-1EPZKPG0JHG2DUXHK4W9/happyskater-img-1.png Balanced Skaters - Expert off-ice training programs https://bsp-coaches.com/team daily 0.75 2024-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593404846918-ABWP5XC3SD1EZT6SKAPJ/Mobility.png Team - Angela Kim Figure skating coach, Pilates, Contortion & FRC Specialist Angela comes from an eclectic background: she began skating at the age of 6, and competed until age 18. She’s been performing ever since. She has held principal positions for Holiday on Ice, Disney on Ice, Royal Caribbean, Art on Ice, and Cirque du Soleil. Her long-standing success stems from years of experience working with the body in many different disciplines. She discovered circus arts in 2006, and has been studying traditional Mongolian contortion and aerial acrobatics for over a decade. During this time, she also opened and co-owned a successful pilates studio called Studio Blue in Portland, Oregon. (This is where she began to develop the Balanced Skaters program.) After several years of coaching and running her studio, she began mixing circus with figure skating, putting her on the map as one of the few pioneering skaters to mix disciplines. In 2015, Angela had two reconstructive hip surgeries from a genetic abnormality. Her knowledgeable physical therapists, trainers, and using Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) allowed her to regain her contortion abilities. Angela received her certification as an FRC mobility specialist soon after, and started to skate again. She began coaching full-time on and off the ice in Oakland, CA, and opened her second pilates studio, Pilates Loft Oakland. After 2 years of being away from performing, she received an offer from Cirque du Soleil to perform as an inline skater and aerialist in their new creation, Volta. During her time in Cirque, she continued to coach as well. She was asked to teach for Acrobatic Arts and was thrilled to be a part of a program that helped young dancers build strong, capable, and healthy bodies. Angela saw a disconnect in the skating world and wanted to make a larger impact in reaching broader skating communities. She teamed up with Acrobatic Arts to create Balanced Skaters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593311681332-ZDARWGM4672JREKPREI6/Mandy-Yip-headshot-bw.jpg Team - Mandy Yip Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1599411960976-AYAJH7OH8FX2RSAUMCW7/luke-action.JPG Team - Luke Kirchgessner Jump Specialist Luke started skating at the age of 9 in the very small skating community of Albuquerque, New Mexico. At 14 he was offered an amazing opportunity to take trips to Colorado Springs in the summers, where he worked with elite coaches for the first time; Tom Zakrajsek, Eddie Shipstad, Christy Krall, Janet Champion, Ryan Jahnke, Damon Allen, Erik Shultz, and the late Kathy Casey. Seeing how they broke down jumps in such a detailed way fascinated him and inspired him to not only want to take his own skating to the elite level, but to someday be able to have the knowledge to coach elite skaters himself. Balancing his own skating and yet coaching a group of skaters at home, many opportunities to train outside of Albuquerque had opened up. Luke continued trips to Colorado as often as possible but was hungry to learn even more about all the different techniques and styles of other great coaches. As he progressed and started being recognized, several opportunities opened up and was able to train part time in California, Dallas, Phoenix, and Minnesota where he worked with Rafael Arutyunyan, Peter Oppegard, Ann Brumbough, Ben Shroats, Thomas Amon, Trudy Oltmanns, Peter Cain, and Ken Congemi. Learning technique from so many different elite coaches, his own skating progressed but ultimately his knowledge of different techniques and training ideas was growing to benefit his students. This had become very important to him and the goal of someday becoming a great coach. Luke competed through to the senior level, competing at sectionals twice at the junior level, and also making a final round in a jump challenge put together by Tom Zakrajsek where he competed against many of the United States best athletes. At 22 he stopped competing and began touring in professional ice shows all over the world. At this time, he had fallen in love with the performance aspect of skating as well and had the opportunity to work with some of the worlds most well known choreographers who opened his eyes to art of skating and movement. Now at 24, is back in Albuquerque where he has been coaching full time. His overall mission and goal is to provide the skaters with the upmost knowledge and appropriate progressions to achieve their goals. He believes that the base of technique and specific practice habits with a hyper focus on the specifics of axis control and off ice conditioning is most valuable. Over the years he has developed a system filled with set exercises, shaping drills, and specific repetitious habits that set the skaters up to be most successful. Furthermore, knowing fresh in his mind what many of the challenges that arise amongst developmental athletes are, he has an eye for bad-habit fixes and confidence-building techniques. Growing up in a small skating community with limited recourses, he has made it his personal goal to not only educate the skaters he coaches, but to expand this further with Balanced Skaters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1599411812697-PP3OKVVYE4BQ7YLEX7IJ/_MJ45313.jpg Team - Yebin Mok Following a successful competitive career (including two-time US Intermediate & Juvenile National champion, member of US international Team at Senior and Junior level, 2002 Golden Spin of Zagreb silver medalist, two bronze medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, and placed fifth at the 2003 World Junior Championships), Yebin went on to perform as a Principle Skater in a number of major productions created by Holiday on Ice, Beitak productions, Wheeler productions, and BIFF LTD. While working with a variety of world-renowned choreographers and directors, she established herself as a leading principal skater with trademark grace and flowing lines. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful skaters in the business, Yebin is deeply respected in the professional skating world and was a top-3 finalist of Young Artist Showcase and winner of the industry’s Virtual Skate Off competition. In addition to her choreographic successes, she was the co-creative choreographer for “The Creative Spirit of John Curry” production by BIFF LTD. Yebin is now an international-level coach who now passes on her passionate love for beautiful skating to the next generation of elite skaters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1605042929341-EJCD8B87HSZJTZEUT8AV/team-page-silecky.jpg Team - Matej Silecky Matej Silecky was a Skating Professional on ITV's Dancing on Ice (2020 Netherlands, Semi-Finalist; 2018 UK Runner-Up). He is the 2012-13 USFS Collegiate Junior Men's Champion, USFS Nationals Competitor Championship Pairs and Ukrainian National Team member. He is a triple gold medalist, USFS and Skate Canada, in Freestyle, Pairs and Moves in the Field (Elements) and is currently completing partnered dance tests (Pre-Silver+2). Matej is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where he was Team Captain of the Cal Figure Skating team and developed and taught a college course on the interdisciplinary aspects of figure skating. Matej has also performed in numerous shows with Woodstock Ice Productions, Ice Dance International, Ghiaccio Spettacolo (Italy) & Ice Theatre of New York, among others. He regularly coaches and choreographs for skaters of all levels. He is the USA Country Manager for Graf Figure Skates and is USFS Coach Compliant + PSA Basic Accredited. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593311576597-MC9B0W720PVEI8GGQRNH/Nobahar.jpeg Team - Nobahar Dadui Nobahar Dadui is an artistic movement and flexibility coach located in Toronto, Canada. Nobahar has appeared in Holiday on Ice, Royal Caribbean cruise ship entertainment, and she most recently originated the role of ‘Crystal in Cirque Du Soleil’s first on-ice production. She has worked alongside Kurt Browning, Ben Agotso, Elvis Stojko, and Sandra Bezic. Nobahar’s expertise was refined in the Theatre & Dance program at George Brown College. This experience exposed her to styles such as ballet, jazz, contact improvisation, hip hop, and pointe. She continues to pursue her passion of artistry and movement, specializing in increasing body awareness in athletes and developing techniques for spins and flexibility. Nobahar is dedicated to sharing her experiences and wisdom with athletes seeking their peak potential. She believes through mediation and body awareness athletes can have a much more balanced lifestyle on and off the ice. “Breathing is the essence of Life.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/ea1ea121-1bc1-499a-983f-a25fb018e90d/Screen+Shot+2021-12-22+at+2.13.43+PM.png Team - Danil Berdnikov Danil Berdnikov is from the city of Samara in Russia. Danil was a part of junior national team and competed within Russia until he completed high school. Danil then decided to move to Moscow to continue his education and to join Stage Entertainment Russia for an opportunity to begin performing as an ice skater. Performing for an audience, Danil fell in love with skating in a new way, so he has continued to skate professionally for the past eight years. Over the course of his professional skating career Danil had a privilege of working for Willy Bietak Productions and Wheeler Productions in the US, Stageworks Worldwide Production in the UK, Holiday on Ice Productions and Dynamic Shows Entertainment in the EU, Stage Entertainment Russia. Ice skating has brought Danil many different opportunities, including the chance to travel the world and do what he truly loves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/5bb6de8a-2fec-48f0-8757-c967c642ab74/IMG_2244.jpg Team - Max March-Steinman Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://bsp-coaches.com/methods daily 0.75 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593298600045-D2IFH4HV1JTZ368ESCXA/67402460_206956913593186_915208366286962688_n.jpg Our Methods https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/1593311641734-J0SMFK5FB5CJ52EDIA40/Luke+.jpg Our Methods - A note from Coach Luke Kirchgessner… Coaches everywhere are always looking for the secret sauce, or the magic wand. We ponder how these skills are being achieved at such a young age. As part of my own journey as a competitive skater, growing up in a small town with limited resources to grow technically, I found myself going through a trial and error process self teaching and studying every motion you can think of. Midori Ito’s triple axel played on repeat on my parents dial up computer, every morning and every night for example. Probably should have been doing my homework. Studying the greats became my fix. After suffering countless injuries and somewhat getting my technique sorted, I was able to take my training all over the country to various technicians, finally solidifying the motions necessary to achieve the big tricks. Having felt every “bad habit” you can think of and going through countless attempts to problem fix, I knew I wanted to share that knowledge somewhere bigger than the rink I teach at. As a young skater, I always envied the skaters who had the opportunity to train properly from day one, not going through the pains of trying to figure it out by themselves. The envy turned into a hunger to learn for the benefit of my future students as it had became too late for my initial dream of standing on that podium. Plagued with injury & trying quads on a body that was already broken was the end of my journey. As coaches, when a skater walks through that door and falls in love with the sport, holds the big dream, and believes in themselves, let’s offer them the tools together. Let’s not ever assume we know all the answers. Let’s converse, share, and support one another. Balanced Skaters is not just a technical platform, but a conversation starter. https://bsp-coaches.com/faqs daily 0.75 2022-08-25 https://bsp-coaches.com/privacy daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://bsp-coaches.com/terms daily 0.75 2020-06-29 https://bsp-coaches.com/coachescourse daily 0.75 2021-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/f7050176-ee5c-4810-b6b4-56e331cbe6df/Head-To-Toes+.jpg Coaches Off-Ice Training Course “The balanced skaters program has been an incredible tool for progressive and time effective teaching.” As a coach, we have so much to focus on in the development of our skaters that it can easily get overwhelming, and this program has helped immensely in the planning of a training schedule and breakdown.” Michelle, Coach https://bsp-coaches.com/join daily 0.75 2025-08-14 https://bsp-coaches.com/join/p/coaches-annual-subscription monthly 0.5 2026-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/bc24d9af-df41-4159-99ae-f15c8a76bfde/Title+%282%29.png Join Balanced Skaters - Annual Membership for Coaches https://bsp-coaches.com/join/p/coaches monthly 0.5 2025-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb4639e218a0f481e34fd7f/a13b6f28-54d8-4984-8c94-06de4160a77f/Title+%281%29.png Join Balanced Skaters - Monthly membership - for Coaches