Look closely with my students, guiding them through every step of the figure skating process. I enjoy seeing how each skater interprets my coaching instructions, leveraging their unique coordination and motor skills to forge their own path on the ice. Sometimes, the results are nothing short of thrilling. This is why, as a coach, it is essential to have an open mind and eagerness to adapt to each skater's uniqueness.
It is also fulfilling to watch my students evolve, as the journey to becoming a figure skater is not a sprint but a marathon. The eBook "Figure Skating: Jump Techniques" (The guide to understanding the mechanics of figure skating jumps), which offers deep insights into figure skating jumps' mechanics, clearly states, "Each part of a jump is linked."
This philosophy applies not just to jumps but to all skating elements, from basic steps to full-blown choreographed performances.
Have you ever tried teaching a group of skaters the same move, only to watch as each interprets and learns it differently over time? That's the beauty of figure skating coaching.
The Joy of Teaching
As a High-performance analyst, I immerse myself in each student's journey, closely observing their progression and participating directly in their growth and development. This is the passion I committed to sharing when I started my career as a young figure skating coach, and it continues to fuel my work each day.
As Arnaud Muccini recently demonstrated during his video analysis lesson, figure skating is a beautiful, complex sport requiring us to learn and adapt constantly. And that is a joy.
Teaching a complex sport such as figure skating is an absolute joy. I love how skaters interpret instructions regarding their coordination abilities and motor skills. It sometimes creates some exciting results. That's one of the reasons that a coach should stay open-minded. The growth of an athlete is long-term development.
"Each part of a jump is linked."
This quote can include all the skating elements ( steps, choreography, etc.).
Did you try to show and learn the same move to a group of skaters and see how it becomes with time?
As a High-performance analyst, I work with elite skaters. Benoit Richaud, an Olympic choreographer, says,
"Arnaud is a solution seeker. His work is precise and offers an innovative approach to the coaches with whom they collaborate. He helped me a lot with my top skaters to fix details."
The passion for coaching is intense, and helping a young skater with their single axel is as satisfying as landing a quadruple jump or winning a championship.
I remember my dad saying that my figure skating experience was a school of life. I hope to transmit good values to my skaters that they can use in their future lives.
The passion allows you to be a motivated worker and get a fantastic new daily challenge. When you follow your skaters for many years, you can enjoy and emphasize growth and transformation in your students. This is the best reward to see them reach their goals.