Jr. Sr. Dance Coach Reputations?

[Wind]

It might be interesting to hear opinions regarding Canadian and US Dance coaches at the Junior and Senior level. Where they train, how many teams they handle, their coaching style or philosophy and do they deserve their reputation - good or bad?

[sonora]

I am bumping this topic up because I am very interested in it. I know many folks are Igor Shpilbrand fans, but my personal favorites are Iasa and Iouri from Ann Arbor. I think they are the future of ice dancing in this country.

Other likes: Darlene Gilbert, Doreen Denny, Robbie Kaine

Dislikes: I won't tell yet, but I do have a few I think are overrated, or just unable to put together a high level team.

[rinkrat24/7]

it seems to me that alot of people on this board seem not to think highly of Warren Maxwell. I was wondering why that is?? ;) :?:

[IceDanceSk8er]

Originally posted by rinkrat24/7
it seems to me that alot of people on this board seem not to think highly of Warren Maxwell. I was wondering why that is?? ;) :?:

Warren has a bit of a reputation. Depending on who you speak to, he's either thought of highly or not held in high regard. He has been a successful dance coach, taking a number of teams to Nationals (Flo and Augie, Jana Napier & Peter Kimzey. Warren was a world competitive ice dancer with Janet Thompson (Great Britain) in the mid to late 1970s.

It just depends on who you speak to. To say anything more would not be looked upon favorably by the Board Moderators.

[icecat]

Let's not forget the formidable Boston coaches, Barret Brown and Tom Lescinski and now you can add in Ron Kravette to the group.You could never hope to find higher quality coaching where they consider the well being of their skaters as well as how much time they put in on the ice.

[IdmaIjan]

I don't think too much of Barret, Tom or Ron. I think they teach their competitive skaters to engage in unsportsmanlike behavior. Their teams seem to go after their competitors on warm-ups in a dangerous fashion.

It's one thing to be competitive and confident...and quite another to be vendictive and dangerous.

[icecat]

I don't know what teams to which you are referring. The teams coached currently in Boston, Galler-Rabinowitz/Mitchell, Devins/O'keefe,Cepican/Lichtor and now Gibbons/Pekarek are some of the most respectful,amiable skaters on the ice. Barret, Tom and Ron would NEVER allow, much less encourage, dangerous,vindictive behavior on or off the ice. Having dealt with skaters and coaches from all over the country on a professional level, that comment could not be further from the truth.

[IdmaIjan]

Ha...well then you haven't been on the other end of Barret and Tom's mission. I can assure you they do teach their skaters to engage in dangerous and vindictive behavior on the ice.

[icecat]

Seing the respect that they have for their skaters and the sport in general,I just find that so difficult to believe... could you please give me an example of where this "dangerous and vindictive " behavior has surfaced?

[IdmaIjan]

This is nothing new...ask Kate Robinson and Peter Breen.

[JS]

Originally posted by icecat
The teams coached currently in Boston, Galler-Rabinowitz/Mitchell, Devins/O'keefe,Cepican/Lichtor and now Gibbons/Pekarek are some of the most respectful,amiable skaters ...

So why did Gibbons/Pekarek leave Laurel and their coaches Liz Coates and G. Sretenski?
By the way what are you opinons of these coaches?

[IceDanceSk8er]

Originally posted by IdmaIjan
This is nothing new...ask Kate Robinson and Peter Breen.

I think you need to be a lot more specific with your comments about Kate and Peter. They spent five years together as a team and did very well winning the Basel Cup, the bronze at Nationals and being named first alternates for the 1998 Olympics. Peter also had a very successful run with his previous partner Rachel Mayer.

[IdmaIjan]

Originally posted by IceDanceSk8er
I think you need to be a lot more specific with your comments about Kate and Peter. They spent five years together as a team and did very well winning the Basel Cup, the bronze at Nationals and being named first alternates for the 1998 Olympics. Peter also had a very successful run with his previous partner Rachel Mayer.

And??!! What does this have to do with what Kate and Peter dealt with from Tom and Barret's teams? Specifically Amy and Ron? And this has been an ongoing thing. Anyone who has watched a warmup at a major competiton can attest to this. Tom and Barret teach their teams to be aggressive to the point of being dangerous.

[IceDanceSk8er]

Originally posted by IdmaIjan
And??!! What does this have to do with what Kate and Peter dealt with from Tom and Barret's teams? Specifically Amy and Ron? And this has been an ongoing thing. Anyone who has watched a warmup at a major competiton can attest to this. Tom and Barret teach their teams to be aggressive to the point of being dangerous.

You know, not only do you whine too much you need to get your facts straight. Peter has never complained about Tom or Barret, or Amy and Ron.

I've read your other posts. You are a very bitter person. Why?

[IdmaIjan]

Originally posted by IceDanceSk8er
You know, not only do you whine too much you need to get your facts straight. Peter has never complained about Tom or Barret, or Amy and Ron.

I've read your other posts. You are a very bitter person. Why? :roll:

Anytime anything negative is said you're either bitter, a jealous competitor, or a troll.

Please people skating isn't always as pretty as it is on the ice.

[IceDanceSk8er]

Originally posted by IdmaIjan
:roll:

Anytime anything negative is said you're either bitter, a jealous competitor, or a troll.

Please people skating isn't always as pretty as it is on the ice.

That may be true, but words are just as powerful as the "pretty images" we see on the ice. You're welcome to send me a private message if you want to continue this conversation. I am very interested in your point of view.

[rinkrat24/7]

Originally posted by JS
So why did Gibbons/Pekarek leave Laurel and their coaches Liz Coates and G. Sretenski?
By the way what are you opinons of these coaches?


:?:

[tsolomon]

Originally posted by IdmaIjan
I don't think too much of Barret, Tom or Ron. I think they teach their competitive skaters to engage in unsportsmanlike behavior. Their teams seem to go after their competitors on warm-ups in a dangerous fashion.
As a parent of a skater who has been on the ice with two of Barret's and Tom's couples on numerous warm-ups and practice sessions, you are wrong. If you are interpreting what you see to be overly aggressive, I can see where you might think this, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Most of these couples are friends both on and off the ice, but they are also unfamiliar with each others programs and this leads to a few near collisions.

What you see is pretty normal and shouldn’t be seen as coaches telling their skaters to run other skaters off as the potential for injuries to both couples is way too high. It is a tense situation and there are a lot of close calls. Sometimes one couple just seems to be out of synch with everyone else and always in the way, but for the most part, it’s controlled chaos.

The point is that everybody needs to get their programs or patterns in on a 4 minute warm-up and you can have 4-6 couples on each warm-up. There are many times where one couple has to yield to another, but they “all” cut it pretty close. These couples have been doing this for a long time and know their limits and what looks close to us up in the stands is completely ignored by the two couples on the ice.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for both Barret Brown and Tom Lescinski. Both Barret and Tom have been extremely friendly and nice to my daughter and us, both on and off the ice.

Tom Solomon

[Moto Guzzi]

Tom, best wishes to your daughter for a successful and happy new partnership. I hope they do well in the upcoming season!

[WeBeEducated]

You couldnt find two nicer kids than one of the teams from Boston, Cepican and Lichtor, trained by Ron Kravette.
Being rude, on or off the ice, just doesnt seem to be a part of Boston ice dance coaching in my experience.