From Skating Edge Student to Coach: Inspiring the Next Generation of Skaters
At Skating Edge Ice Arena, many coaches have remarkable competitive backgrounds and years of experience in the sport. For Coach Nicolette, what makes her story especially meaningful is that it all began right here at Skating Edge.
A national competitor, three-time Gold Medalist, and coach since 2017, Nicolette has spent more than two decades on the ice. Today, she works with skaters across a wide range of disciplines, including Well Balanced, Aspire, Excel, Solo Dance, Adult, Showcase, and Power Skating, helping athletes of all ages discover confidence, resilience, and a love for skating.
A Birthday Gift That Changed Everything
Nicolette was just five years old when her skating journey truly began.
While she had stepped on the ice before, her future in the sport started with an unexpected birthday gift from longtime Skating Edge coach Arleen Barton.
What began as a few complimentary lessons quickly became a lifelong passion.
“Arleen inspired my love for the sport. She started with me as a little 5-year-old who could hardly stand in skates and led me to become a triple gold medalist, national competitor, and now a coach who absolutely loves what I do.”
That experience shaped not only her skating career but also the coach she would eventually become.
Even at a young age, Nicolette says she was driven by a desire to improve, work hard, and keep pushing forward, regardless of the obstacles in front of her.
Lessons Learned Through Competition
Throughout her competitive career, Nicolette competed nationally in both singles and partnered ice dance. While competitions brought exciting achievements, they also taught her lessons about perseverance, resilience, and self-belief.
She credits her parents with helping her maintain a healthy perspective throughout her career. Rather than focusing on placements, they encouraged her to enjoy the sport and pursue it because she genuinely loved it.
Those experiences continue to shape her coaching philosophy today. She wants her students to understand that setbacks don’t define them and that growth often comes from working through challenges.
“I want my students to love skating as much as I do. I want them to learn the resilience it takes, to understand how to work hard and to be proud of their accomplishments, big or small.”
Her experience in partnered ice dance also taught her valuable lessons about teamwork, communication, and supporting others through difficult moments — skills she brings into every lesson.
Coaching Every Skater as an Individual
Since beginning her coaching career in 2017, Nicolette has developed a reputation for working successfully with a wide variety of athletes and skating pathways.
One of the things she believes sets her apart is her commitment to treating every student as an individual.
With a degree in Strategic Communications and minors in Psychology and Sociology, including coursework focused on child psychology, she understands that every athlete learns differently.
Rather than applying the same approach to every lesson, she tailors instruction based on the skater standing in front of her. Whether she is coaching an Free Skate level athlete, an adult skater, a showcase competitor, or a hockey player looking to improve their skating skills, Nicolette focuses on finding the approach that works best for that individual.
She also places a strong emphasis on positivity and helping athletes develop confidence alongside technical skills.
Building Strong Foundations On and Off the Ice
As both a figure skating and power skating coach, Nicolette believes long-term success begins with strong fundamentals. For hockey players, that means developing balance, edge control, body awareness, and efficient movement before focusing on stick handling and puck skills. For figure skaters, it means mastering the basics that support every future skill.
“The biggest technical skills in skating come down to the basics:
stroking, edges and crossovers.
If you don’t have those three things,
you can’t continue to build and become
a better skater, regardless of discipline.”
While technical development is important, Nicolette says the most rewarding part of coaching isn’t the medals or test results. It’s watching athletes experience those breakthrough moments after putting in the work. Whether it’s a first swizzle or a double axel, the excitement is the same. After nearly a decade of coaching, she still loves watching students grow not only as skaters but as people.
Interested in Working with Nicolette?
Nicolette is currently accepting new students, schedule permitting.
She works with:
- Figure skaters of all ages and levels
- Aspire, Excel, Solo Dance, Showcase, Adult, and Well Balanced competitors
- Power skating students and hockey players
- Skaters pursuing tests, competitions, or personal goals
For Nicolette, attitude and effort matter far more than age or skill level.
“If you want to be on the ice, want to improve, and bring a positive attitude to practice, I’ll be there excited to teach.”
Learn More About Our Coaching Team
The strength of Skating Edge lies in its people.
Our Coach Spotlight series highlights the unique backgrounds, coaching philosophies, and experiences that help make our rink a welcoming place for skaters of all ages and levels.
Follow along as we continue to spotlight the coaches who help shape the Skating Edge community both on and off the ice.
