Director of Skating

Head Coach for Haydenettes, Ice Mates, and Shooting Stars
Choreographer

Biographical Profile

  • Current Residence: Boston, Massachusetts

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2005-Present
    Hayden Synchronized Skating Teams (HSST), Lexington, MA
    HSST is the premier synchronized skating organization in the U.S. by virtue of the unparalleled competitive record of its teams in local, sectional, international and World Championships.
    • 2005-present Head Coach Haydenettes (Senior) and Ice Mates (Novice) Teams
      As Head Coach I am responsible for on and off ice training and fitness, music selection and I digitally cut and produce the music for both long and short programs.
    • 2007-present Director Synchronized Skating
      During 2007 I accepted additional responsibilities as Director of Synchronized Skating for Hayden teams. In this capacity I have overall responsibility for the identification of coaches for all five of HSST's skating teams. I am responsible for all music and program themes and choreography as well as cutting and producing all music for seven programs each year.
  • 2000-2004
    Helsinki Figure Skating Club (HTK), Helsinki, Finland
    The Helsinki Figure Skating Club is the leading skating club in Finland
    • Director - HTK Skating School
      Full-time position with responsibilities for the club's skating school and all programs for skaters 4-10 years of age.
    • Coaching, Choreography, Music Selection and Producer
      • Rockettes (Senior); Assistant Coach 2000-2004
      • Team Fintastic (Junior)
      • Finettes (Novice)
      • Mini Mints (Juvenile)
  • 2000-2001
    Turun Riennon Taitoluistelu, Turku, Finland
    The Turun skating club is located in Turku, Finland where I am originally from
    • Head Coach and Choreographer
      • Filiae Aboenses synchronized skating team (Senior)
      • Festa Aboensia synchronized skating team (Junior)

PERSONAL SKATING ACHIEVEMENTS

As a competitive synchronized skater I hold an ISU World Synchronized Championship Silver Medal; a Finnish National Synchronized Gold and Silver Medal each in the Senior division and a Finnish National Synchronized Junior Gold Medal.

  • 1999-2001 Rockettes synchronized skating team, Helsinki Figure Skating Club
    • 2001 ISU World Synchronized Championships Silver Medalist
    • 2000 ISU World Synchronized Championships 4th Place
    • 2001 Finland National Championships Gold Medalist
    • 2000 Finland National Championships Silver Medalist
  • 1995-1999 Filiae Aboenses, Turku, Finland
    • 1999 Finland National Championship Gold Medalist (Junior)

HEAD COACHING COMPETITIVE ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Haydenettes - ISU World Championships
    2006 World Synchronized Championships, 7th place
    2007 World Synchronized Championships, 4th place
    2008 World Synchronized Championships, 5th place overall, Bronze Medal Free Skate
    2009 World Synchronized Championships, 4th place
  • Haydenettes - U.S. Synchronized Championships
    2006 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Silver Medal
    2007 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Gold Medal
    2008 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Gold Medal
    2009 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Silver Medal
  • Haydenettes - International Competitions
    2006 French Cup, 5th place
    2007 Prague Cup, 5th place
    2008 Berlin Cup, 4th place
    2009 French Cup, 3rd place; Nations Cup, 2nd place
  • Ice Mates - U.S. Synchronized Championships
    2006 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Silver Medal
    2007 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Silver Medal
    2008 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Gold Medal
    2009 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Silver Medal
  • Ice Mates - International Competitions
    2007 Leon Lurje Trophy, Sweden, 3rd place
    2008 Leon Lurje Trophy, Sweden, 4th placel

CHOREOGRAPHY ACHIEVEMENTS

In addition to the previously mentioned record of the Haydenettes and Ice Mates, I have been the choreographer for additional teams noted below.

  • Lexettes (Junior)
    2008 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Bronze Medal
    2009 U.S. Synchronized Championships, Bronze Medal
  • Esprit de Corps (Adult and Masters)
    Team Braemar, Braemar Figure Skating Club
    2007-2009 Consulting choreographer to each of these three teams. Each of the teams have won U.S. National Medals with Team Braemar capturing the 2009 U.S. Junior Gold Medal.

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS RECOGNITION

  • 2008 PSA Synchronized Coach of the Year
  • United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
    2005 & 2008 & 2009 O-1 Visa and subsequent Green Card.
    The O-1 Visa designation recognizes and "individual of extraordinary ability" for Visa approval. USCIS O-1 Visa designation identifies the individual as meeting the criteria to place the person in the top 2 percent in their coaching profession. Similar designations are awarded to Olympic athletes, Olympic coaches, performers in the Arts and Nobel Prize winners.

SKATING CAMPS & PRESENTATIONS

  • 2006-2008 U.S. Figure Skating Training Festivals
    Presenter and On-Ice Coach for the Coaches Clinic
    A coaches clinic for new and up and coming synchronized skating coaches
    • Topic: 2006 The synchro year in review and setting the annual team plan
    • Topic: 2007 The synchro year in review and integrating choreography and training
  • 2006 PSA Seminar: Twenty minute on-ice presentation and Q&A
  • 2007-2009 Hayden Summer Synchro Experience
    Directed the development of Hayden's first summer camp including on and off-ice programs, schedules, instruction and instructor selection. The camps have been highly rated by both skaters, parents and coaches of other teams attending. The camps have consistently sold out.
  • 2009 Hayden Elite Synchronized Skating Camp
    Conceived and developed the first camp for elite synchro skaters age sixteen and older who have passed senior moves-in-the-field. The camp is designed for the skater who wants to train for an international and World Championship type experience.

EDUCATION

  • Diakonia Polytechnic University, Helsinki, Finland
    Bachelors Degree 2007: Social Welfare and Education
    DIAL is a nationwide professional university in Finland, the only one for social and health sector education and certification. I completed my final course work in the U.S. and transferred the U.S. credits back to the DIAK to graduate in 2007.
  • Finnish Sports Institute
    Vierumäki is part of HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences and focuses on physical education activities. Vierumäki is the official training and education centre for Finnish Olympic Sports. The Institute is located in Heinola, north of Helsinki.
  • Professional Coach Certification 2007 (AmVT 21 Special)
    The year-long AMVT21 program is designed to prepare individuals for positions in coaching and training. The education focuses on the student's own coaching development by expanding use of the theory. Training is carried out in multi-form studies, including periods of study at The Finnish Sports Institute, distance learning and coaching requirements for the sponsored sport. Areas of study include: Development of a Coach/Self-Help; Coaching Seminar; Management/Psychology Coaching Theory; Skill/Learning; Internationsl Section; Physical Fitness/Monitoring and Coaching Organization
  • Turku Conservatory 1986-1996
    Part-time study for ten years in music studies for violin and piano

LANGUAGES

  • Finnish (native)
  • English (fluency both oral and writing at the university level)
  • Swedish (conversational)