Private Ice Skating Lessons
Paradice Ice Skating offers private lessons to promote accelerated learning through one-on-one lessons with our Skating Academy coaches. We have different options available depending on you ice skating level and availability, as well as a choice of one-off or ongoing lessons.
Please continue reading to find out more about our different options.
One-off Lesson (Saturday or Sunday Day Public Session only)
Private lessons during a public session on a Saturday or Sunday are perfect for
-gaining confidence and essential skating skills
-birthday party guests learning new skating skills
Please keep in mind that the coaching is an add-on product which means that you will also need to pay for you skating admission.
To find out more about our prices and availability contact one of our rinks at avondale@paradice.co.nz or botany@paradice.co.nz
Regular Private Lessons – during Public Sessions
If you are looking into having ongoing coaching sessions to give a boost to your skating career or maybe working on specific skills seen on our Skating Academy, then this is the option for you. We have a wide range of coaches that can adapt to your requirements and skills.
Please have a look at the table below to learn a bit more about our coaches and get in touch with them to coordinate your lessons.
Alex Shaw
Alex has been figure skating for six years, and first learned to skate through the Paradice Skating Academy. As a coach, Alex’s motivation is to share his love of the sport, and he is committed to helping skaters of all ages unlock their full potential. With a particular emphasis on teaching and inspiring adult skaters, Alex creates a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
Experience and Qualifications:
Coaching skating for two years, additional coaching experience in other sports.
AVAILABILITY:
Sundays and limited weekday times.
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Avondale
Contact Alex
Ella Smith
Ella is a current senior-level figure skater and has been skating for 14 years. She learned through the Paradice Skating Academy and began coaching 5 years ago. She has a holistic viewpoint on coaching and believes that lessons not only offer the chance to develop technical skills, but also other valuable skills like determination, confidence, and sportsmanship.
Qualifications:
All Kiwi Skate levels
Current Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) student
Experience and Achievements:
6x New Zealand International Representative
2x New Zealand National Champion
Kiwi Skate coach for 5 years
Attended seminars from internationally recognised coaches
AVAILABILITY:
Tuesday 5:45 pm – 6:30 pm
Can arrange weekends
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Avondale
Contact Ella
Georgia Hessell
Georgia has been skating since 2008 and is currently a senior level Australian representative synchronised ice skater. She learnt through the Paradice Skating Academy and began coaching since 2017. Georgia enjoys helping skaters gain confidence as well as encouraging them to grow a passion for the sport, helping them reach their full potential.
Qualifications:
All Kiwi Skate levels
Heath and Safety certificate
Current Bachelors of Sports and Recreation (coaching, heath and physical education) student
Experience and Achievements:
3x New Zealand International Representative
3x New Zealand National Champion
5x New Zealand Nationals Medallist
Current Australian Representative skater as of 2022
Kiwi skate coach for 6 years
Attended seminars from internationally recognised coaches
AVAILABILITY: Can arrange times.
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Avondale
Contact Gerogia
Gordon Rushton
Originally from Canada, Gordon has been involved in figure skating for 58 years. He has been coaching professionally in Canada and New Zealand for 36 years. This includes all levels of skaters from beginners to international competitors. Gordon enjoys encouraging skaters to gain confidence to reach their potential and develop a love for ice skating.
Qualifications: Level 1 Coaching Accreditation in Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance. Canadian Gold Figures, Gold Free skate, Gold Senior Competitive, Gold Dance Tests. Canadian NCCP Accredited Level 1
Experience and Achievements: Trained with Olympic and World Coach Dr. Helmut May for 12 years. Competed in Canada and United States. Gordan has had skaters competing at World and Junior World championships, Four Continents, ISU Junior Grand Prix’s and numerous other International competitions. Has coached many New Zealand champions of all levels. ”
AVAILABILITY: Monday to Friday 10am to 3:30.
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Avondale & Botany
Contact Gordon
Jenna Scholtz
Jenna has been skating at Paradice for the past 9 years. She has done Solo skating for 6 years and Synchronised Skating for 8. Jenna has achieved Kiwi Skate and repeated the course at the beginning of the year. Jenna first started coaching in 2019.
Qualifications: All Kiwi Skate Levels
Experience and Achievements: Coaching since 2019.Solo skating for 6 years. Synchronised skating for 8 years
AVAILABILITY: Weekdays.
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Botany
Contact Jenna
Krishnaa Patel
Krishnaa has been skating for the past 10 years. She has done synchronized skating for the past 7 years and has started off in skate school for 3 years as a little girl. She enjoys teaching all ages.
Krishnaa has her figure skating tests up until bronze and wants to pass up her knowledge to others who aspire to teach others how to show their passions through the sport. She wants to help others to test their skills and show them.
Qualifacations: Figure skating tests up until bronze
Experience and Achievements: Synchronised skating for 7 years
AVAILABILITY: Saturday and Sunday day time sessions, school holiday week days from 10am. Other times can be discussed.
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Botany
Contact Krishnaa
Megan Weir
Megan is a figure skater in training and has a passion for utilising her own ongoing learning experience to help others learn how to skate. She enjoys teaching all ages including adults. Megan is a strong believer in structured learning and working with skaters to achieve their best in whichever area of ice skating they wish to pursue.
Qualifications: KiwiSkate levels beginner to advanced, First aid level 3, NZIFSA KiwiSkate coach accreditation, Qualified teacher of swimming and water safety AUSTswim accreditation, She also has a bachelors degree in business (HR/ER) from AUT.
Experience and Achievements: Megan has been coaching KiwiSkate since 2022, and has also coached swimming for both adults and children for four years. She started learning to skate though the Skating Academy as a teenager and so understands the challenges of learning to skate as an older student.
AVAILABILITY:
School Term Schedule:
Tuesday 10am – 1pm
Tuesday during skate academy practice 5.30 – 6.30pm (full for 2023)
Wednesday 10am -3.30pm
Thursday 10am – 3:30pm
Thursday during skating academy practice 3:45pm – 5:30pm (full for 2023)
Friday 10am – 2:30pm
Sunday 12 – 4pm
Monday and Saturday by special arrangement only
School holidays schedule:
10am-1pm Monday to Friday,
Weekends and evenings by special arrangement only
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Botany
Contact Megan
Skyla Macdonald
Skyla has been skating for 16 years, skated 12 years competitively. She has skated in Canada, Japan and New Zealand. Before moving to New Zealand in 2020, Skyla coached and assisted with CanSkate, Canada’s equivalent of KiwiSkate.
Qualifications: Skyla is currently working on achieving the level 1 coaching qualification.
Experience and Achievements: Skyla has experience in figure skating, ice hockey and speed skating.
Competed at Novice level in Canada for figure skating.
Coached and assisted with CanSkate, Canada’s equivalent of KiwiSkate.
AVAILABILITY:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Can arrange for other times
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Botany
Contact Skyla
Stepan Kadlcik
Stepan has been figure skating for 9 years and is currently competing at Junior level. NZ representation 2017-2020. Stepan’s dream is to represent NZ at the World Championships and the Olympic Games. He loves skating because it makes him feel free and happy inside. Stepan enjoys moving to the music on the ice, and the feeling of connection with it. Stepan loves coaching because it reminds him of when he was starting out and enables him to pass his knowledge and love for the sport on to the skaters he teaches.
Qualifications: All Kiwi Skate Levels. First Aid course level 2.
Experience and Achievements: Coaching for 6 years
AVAILABILITY: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday and occasionally Saturday term time. Some extra time in the school holidays
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Botany
Contact Stepan
Victoria Larsen
Victoria is a current competitive figure skater who learned to skate through the Paradice Skating Academy. As a coach, Victoria wants her skaters to have the best chances of success, in the most fun environment possible. She fully believes
all skaters are capable of achieving their potential.
Qualifications: All Kiwi Skate Levels. NZIFSA Level 1 Coaching Accreditation. Head Coach at Skating Academy. Attends all continuing education forums and seminars, including Drug Free Sport NZ.
Experience and Achievements: New Zealand Ice Figure Skating National Development Squad & International Team Member since 2017. 2 x NZ National medalist, 4x New Zealand International Representative. Attended various coaching seminars all over the world from internationally recognised coaches. 2022 Paradice Skating Academy Coach Of The Year.
AVAILABILITY:
Tuesday 5:45-6:30pm at Botany.
Can arrange weekends at either rink (on a casual basis)
School holidays 10am-12:30pm
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Avondale & Botany
Regular Private Lessons – during Figure Skating Sessions
If you have passed Novice 1 in our Skating Academy curriculum, you can join a figure session instead. Figure sessions are specifically for figure skating training and our coaches can help you taking your career to a whole new level.
Please have a look at the table below to learn a bit more about our coaches and get in touch with them to coordinate your lessons.
Please note that figure sessions are charged at a different rate than public sessions.
Gordon Rushton
Originally from Canada, Gordon has been involved in figure skating for 58 years. He has been coaching professionally in Canada and New Zealand for 36 years. This includes all levels of skaters from beginners to international competitors. Gordon enjoys encouraging skaters to gain confidence to reach their potential and develop a love for ice skating.
Qualifications: Level 1 Coaching Accreditation in Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance. Canadian Gold Figures, Gold Free skate, Gold Senior Competitive, Gold Dance Tests. Canadian NCCP Accredited Level 1
Experience and Achievements: Trained with Olympic and World Coach Dr. Helmut May for 12 years. Competed in Canada and United States. Gordan has had skaters competing at World and Junior World championships, Four Continents, ISU Junior Grand Prix’s and numerous other International competitions. Has coached many New Zealand champions of all levels. ”
AVAILABILITY: Monday to Friday 10am to 3:30.
RINK OF PREFERENCE: Avondale & Botany