Ice Skating: Summer Figure Skating School

July 31 - August 4, 2023

Registration opens on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 8:00am EST.

Email sportscamps@mtu.edu to be added to our list for future announcements, notifications, and reminders.

Camp Overview

Take your skating to the next level with Michigan Tech’s Summer Figure Skating School at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. All skaters, beginner through advanced, will learn new skills and techniques through private lessons with our highly qualified coaching staff.

US Figure Skating (USFS) Test Session - August 4, 2023

In conjunction with the Michigan Tech Summer Figure Skating School, the Copper Country Skating Academy will sponsor its annual test session on Friday, August 4. Skaters not registered for our summer program are welcome to participate in the test session as well.

The following tests will be offered:

• Dance: Preliminary through International
• Skating Skills: Pre-Preliminary through Gold/Senior
• Singles: Pre-Preliminary through Gold/Senior
• Contact the test chair for Adult, Pairs, Figures, or Free Dance tests

Dance Partner Testing Rates:

• Preliminary/Pre-Bronze, $25
• Bronze, $30
• Pre-Silver, $35
• Silver, $40
• Pre-Gold, $45
• Gold, $50
• International, $75

Test registration will be available on EntryEeze. Test registrations must be submitted no later than 8:00 pm Wednesday, August 2. Late applications will be accepted until 8:00 pm Thursday, August 3, space permitting, and with a $25 late fee. Only online applications will be accepted.

For skaters who are not members of CCSA, please upload the completed Permission to Test Form in EntryEeze.

For more information or questions regarding the test session, please contact CCSA's Test Chair, Debra Charlesworth, at debra.charlesworth@gmail.com.

Session Guidelines

Sessions are open to skaters of all levels. Private lessons will be provided by coaches contracted by Michigan Tech. Skaters must indicate on their registration form the number of lessons requested and their first, second, and third choice for coaches. Coaching assignments will first be made based on the order of the registrations received, but all requests may not be able to be honored regarding the number of lessons and coaching desired.

Daily Session Schedule

2023 Professional Coaching Staff

Coaching fees are based on 15-minute private lessons and are paid at the end of the week, directly to your coach. Skaters must indicate on their registration form the number of lessons requested and their first, second, and third choice for coaches in each discipline. Coaching assignments will be made on a first come first served basis. 

Collin Brubaker, Guest Coach/Dance Partner

Lesson Rates

• Preliminary through Silver Dances, $25/15 minutes
• Pre-Gold through Gold Dances, $30/15 minutes
• International Dances, $35/15 minutes

Collin is from Chicago, Illinois. He started skating at the age of six following in the footsteps of his older siblings. Collin is a former team USA member. He is a US National Junior Silver Medalist and represented the USA in ISU Junior World Championships, ISU Grand Prix Skate Canada, and other international competitions. After finishing his competitive career, he completed his degree in Finance & Communications at Eastern Michigan University.

Marcie Kierpiec, Guest Coach—$25 (available Monday - Thursday)

Marcie has been a part of Michigan Tech's Summer School coaching staff for more than 29 years, and she brings with her 37 years of coaching experience. She is a Junior National Coach who spent 19 years in Delaware as a staff professional at both the University of Delaware Training Center and the Skating Club of Wilmington and now currently resides in Michigan. She has to her credit US and Canadian Gold Dances, Senior and Junior International Dances, Novice Freestyle, Silver Free Dance, 6th Figure and is a certified Level 4 hockey coach with USA Hockey. Marcie coaches all levels of dance, choreography, moves in the field, and P.O.W.E.R. Hockey, and specializes in the latter two disciplines. In addition to her skating and coaching credentials, Marcie holds both a BA (Michigan State University, ’91) and MA (West Chester University, ’11) in French. She recently completed her BS degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in strength and conditioning at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. In addition to coaching figure skating at various camps in Michigan and Wisconsin, she is a full-time P.O.W.E.R. Skating instructor and off-ice strength coach for Tier 1 AAA hockey teams in the metro Detroit area.

Elena Rodrigues, Guest Coach—$18

Elena Rodrigues is a USFS Gold Medalist in Freestyle, Moves, Dance, and Solo Free Dance and has passed all International Dances. She has 16 years of teaching experience, has been on the coaching staff for the Eagle River and Michigan Tech summer skating school since 2013, and currently coaches at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, WI. She specializes in teaching all levels of freestyle, choreography, and moves in the field but has also had much success coaching skaters through high-level ice dance tests. She has passed the Registered free skate and Registered moves in the field exams through the PSA. She is also a coach to Regional competitors at the qualifying level. She is the Wisconsin FSC Learn to Skate Director and the Head Coach of the Wisconsin Edge Synchronized Skating teams. As a skater, Elena was an ISU Junior World, ISU Four Continents, and Winter University Games competitor. Elena earned a BS in Kinesiology and Health from Miami University with a double minor in Coaching and Management and Organizations where she competed for both the Miami University Synchronized Skating program and the Intercollegiate Freestyle Team. Elena also has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.

Jennifer Bukovich—$13

Jennifer Bukovich has been involved in figure skating since 1981. She has tested through her Adult Freestyle, Adult gold, Adult Moves, Junior Moves, Pre Gold Dance, and Novice Freestyle. During her skating career, she competed in several states, which included regional competitions. Jennifer has 21 years of coaching experience and can teach through the Gold levels in all disciplines.

Jessica Comfort—$12 (available Monday - Friday, 8:00-11:15am)

Jessica is a member of the Copper Country Skating Academy professional coaching staff. She has earned her USFS Gold Medal in Dance. Also to her credit are Canadian Gold Dances, Intermediate Freestyle, Novice Moves in the Field, 3rd Figure, and Intermediate Free Dance. She has 24 years of active coaching experience including Basic Skills, small group instruction, and private lesson instruction working with skaters of all ages and abilities.

Sherry Karnosky—$10

Currently coaching for the Copper Country Skating Academy, Sherry has been skating for 42 years and teaching professionally for the past 28 years. Along with coaching, Sherry was a USFS trial and appointed Judge for eight years. She has a BS and MS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and teaching certificates gained in Wisconsin, New York, and Michigan. Areas of expertise include the compulsory dances from Preliminary to Gold and the development of posture and carriage for dance, along with the Moves in the Field (Pre Pre to Juvenile) and Freeskating (Pre Pre through Pre Juvenile).

Nicole Rossi—$15

Nicole Rossi is a USFS Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field, Dance, and Solo Free Dance and has passed all International Dances. She has passed through Novice Freestyle but can teach through Senior Freestyle. During her skating career, she competed at regional competitions, as well as the intercollegiate level. She has 11 years of teaching experience, has been on the coaching staff for the Eagle River summer skating school and clinics since 2016, and is currently coaching at Copper Country Skating Academy and L’Anse Baraga Figure Skating Club. She specializes in teaching all levels of moves in the field, ice dance, freestyle, and choreography. Nicole earned a BS in Community Health from Northern Michigan University while skating on their Intercollegiate Freestyle Team.

Sara Rutz—$10

Sara is a member of the Copper Country Skating Academy coaching staff with 20 years of coaching experience. She is the former director of the Michigan Tech Learn to Skate Program and the Summer Skating School and has worked with skaters of all ages and levels. Sara earned a degree in Elementary Education from Alma College and currently teaches at Houghton Elementary School. 

Cost

Registration Fee

A $25 registration fee is required of all Figure Skating School participants.

On-ice, 45-minute Practice Session Fee

• 10 sessions or less per week: $20 per session
• 11–20 sessions per week: $18 per session
• 21 or more sessions per week:  $16 per session
• Drop-in on any session: $25 per session (Purchase session in the SDC Recreation Office.)

Deadline to register: July 17, 2023

Payment in full is due at the time of registration. Refunds, minus a $50 cancellation fee, are refundable until July 17. After July 17, refunds will be issued for medical reasons only.

Special Requirements

A confirmation packet of required camp forms will be made available to participants/parents via email once their application is processed. The confirmation packet must be submitted within two weeks of registration.

Based on the nature of the Michigan Tech Figure Skating School and variable programming for each individual, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure that their child is picked up by an authorized release person each day.

Parking

Parents and commuter campers can request a parking permit for the duration of camp. The permit will allow you to park in SDC Lot 22 (at the main entrance to the SDC). You must display the permit on the driver-side dashboard while parked in Lot 22. The permit is valid for only the dates listed on the permit. Parking tickets will be issued to violating vehicles and will not be the responsibility of Michigan Tech Sports Camps.

Meet the Coordinator

Jada Gullstrand is the Director of Programming and Membership Services at the Student Development Complex. She joined the Athletics and Recreation Department at Michigan Tech in 2010.

Prior to returning to her roots, Gullstrand spent 6 years as the Marketing and Programs Manager at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy. Following her time in Florida, she was hired as the Marketing Manager for FMC Ice Sports in Pembroke, Massachusetts where she worked in the Corporate Office and oversaw 22 ice rinks throughout the state for programming, membership, and special events promotion.

She is a 2002 graduate of Miami University of Ohio, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

Gullstrand and her husband, Ben, have two sons, Gage and Gunner. They reside in Houghton, Mich.

Phone: 906-487-2975
Email: jmgullst@mtu.edu