Coaches

 


Skate Winnipeg has high-level, dedicated and successful coaches. All coaches listed on our website are qualified to Skate Canada standards. All would be deserving of the Coaching Manitoba – Coach of the Month award. If you want to nominate your coach, go to Coaching Manitoba – coach of the month


Head Coach & CANSkate Coordinator – Dana McKee

Dana is a professional coach who is currently involved with coaching Skate Canada Programs including CANSKATE, STAR, Competitive SKATE and Adult SKATE and off ice training in which she provides private and group instruction.  Dana also work as the CANSKATE Coordinator for Skate Winnipeg, and answers questions from parents, planning and organizing sessions, as well as training program assistants.  Dana assists skaters wishing to transition from the CANSKATE program to figure skating in Skate Winnipeg’s STAR and competitive sessions.

As head coach of Skate Winnipeg my goal is to create a positive and inclusive environment for all skaters. Skating should be a fun and rewarding experience for skaters of all levels.

Qualifications & Experience:

  • 24 years professional coaching experience
  • NCCP Level 2 certified (Provincial Coach)
  • NCCP Level 3 Technical Singles, (National Coach in Training)
  • Respect in Sport Certified
  • Making Ethical Decisions Certified
  • First Aid Certified
  • All STAR Seminar Clinician 2010-2018
  • National CANSKATE Resource Team Member 2010-2016

Additional Education & Experience:

  • Bachelor of Education, University of Manitoba
  • Skate Canada Manitoba Competitive Committee Member (7 seasons)
  • Regional Coaching Representative Interlake Region (5 seasons)
  • Beyond the Pond Skate Manitoba COVID Recognition 2020-2021
  • Skate Canada Manitoba Volunteer Coach Award 2009-2010
  • Skate Canada Manitoba Club and Recreation Coach Award of Excellence 2004-2005

Contact:

headcoach@skatewinnipeg.ca

canskatecoordinator@skatewinnipeg.ca

marrinsmom@yahoo.ca

(204) 896-9104

Fees:

$34/hour – $8.50/15 mins

 

Tina Chen

 

Tina has over 20 years coaching experience, working with competitive, STAR, and active-for-life skaters in Canada and the United States. Her own skating background includes 3-time competitor at Canadian Championships in pairs (Novice) and dance (Junior), and Ontario Intercollegiate Champion (University of Toronto Varsity Skating Team). She enjoys working as part of a coaching team to assist in all areas of skater development, with a particular passion for skating skills, choreography, and dance. Tina is also an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity in figure skating. 

Qualifications:
Regional Coach Certified
Emergency First Aid
Respect In Sport
Making Ethical Decisions
Anti-Racism and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training Facilitator

Coaching:
Skating Skills, Choreography, Freeskate, Dance
All levels.
Works primarily as part of coaching teams

Fees:
Private lessons – $9.00 / 15 mins.

Contact:

tinamaichen@gmail.com

 

Kevin Dawe

Contact:

Kevin_48@hotmail.com

 

Emma Kasian-Gutierrez

Emma Kasian-Gutierrez began her journey with competitive figure skating at the age of 8, and has continued it for 10 years. Throughout the years, she has achieved gold on her freeskate, skills, and dance skating tests. In 2019 Emma qualified for the Skate Canada Challenge Competition in Montreal. She has been a CanSkate Program Assistant since 2014, and enjoys teaching people of all ages to learn to skate. Since 2020, she has been coaching CanSkate programs, and recently became a Regional Certified Coach. Emma is currently going to school at the University of Manitoba, and plans to graduate in the faculty of Education and become an elementary school teacher. Emma loves to skate, and enjoys spreading her joy on the ice.   

Qualifications:
Competitive Figure Skater for 10 years
Competed in 2019 Skate Canada Challenge Competition
CanSkate Certified
Regional Coach Certified
Emergency First Aid
Respect in Sport
Making Ethical Decisions

Coaching:
CANSKATE
STARSKATE

Fees:
Private lessons – $32 / hour

Contact:

ekasian.scwirl@gmail.com

 

Mattina Lisi

Mattina started skating at the age of four and immediately fell in love with the sport. She skated competitively for 9 years and ended her career at the Junior Level.  Throughout her many years of skating Mattina achieved quint gold test status including, skills, dance, free skate, interpretive and couples interpretive. She began coaching in September 2016 and is CANSKATE and Regional Coach Certified. Mattina is currently attending the University of Winnipeg in the faculty Kinesiology studying Physical Health and Education. Mattina loves to coach skating because it gives her the opportunity to share her passion with others. Mattina was nominated by Skate Winnipeg for the Ian Charmicheal Memorial Award for the 2021 season and was the recipient for Skate Manitoba.

Qualifications:
CANSKATE Trained
Regional Coach Certified (formerly Primary STARSkate Certified)
Emergency First Aid
Respect in Sport

Coaching:
CANSKATE
STARSKATE

Fees:
Private lessons – $8.50 / 15 mins

Contact:

mattinalisi@hotmail.com

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Marrin McKee

Marrin is a certified CanSKATE Coach and a Regional Coach in training. She has two seasons coaching experience in the CanSKATE program and one season of experience coaching the Pre Junior Group, STAR 1&2 Group and Private Lessons. Marrin is continuing her personal skating journey and trains in the Podium Pathway stream. Marrin has achieved her gold assessments in Skills, Dance and Freeskate and is a member of the 2022-2023 Skate Manitoba High Performance Team.

Marrin enjoys coaching skaters of all ages. She is creative in her approach and develops training plans that align with the individual goals of the athlete.

Qualifications:
CANSKATE Certified
Regional Coach in Training
Emergency First Aid
CPR Level C & AED
Respect in Sport
Making Ethical Decisions

Coaching:
CANSKATE
STARSKATE
Off Ice

Fees:
Private lessons – $28/ hour

Contact:
marrinmckee@gmail.com

 

Vanessa Navarro

Vanessa was a competitive figure skater, last competing at the Novice level and has completed her Gold Skills, Dance, Freeskate and Interpretive tests. She also competitively danced for many years with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Marquis Dance Academy and Maples Collegiate’s Dance Team. While at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Vanessa did ballet for 12 years as well as pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap and musical theatre. She completed several Cecchetti ballet exams and in 2011 and 2012 she performed in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s professional production ‘The Nutcracker’. Vanessa competed in hip hop with Marquis Dance Academy, and in 2019 her team won the ‘Final Showdown’ at View Dance Challenge. Vanessa has also danced in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2017 Canada Summer Games. Vanessa is currently attending the University of Manitoba majoring in Kinesiology as her undergrad, in hopes of becoming a physiotherapist. She has been coaching CANSKATE since 2018 and has more recently been coaching off ice dance/stretch classes. Vanessa is now a Regional Coach in Training with an interest in program choreography. 

Qualifications:
CANSKATE Certified
Regional Coach in Training
Emergency First Aid
CPR Level C & AED
Respect in Sport
Making Ethical Decisions
 
Coaching:
CANSKATE
STARSKATE
Choreography
Off Ice Dance/Stretch
 
Fees:
Private Lessons – $6.50 / 15 mins

Contact:
vnavarro55609@gmail.com.

 

Roni Swischuk

Roni Swischuk3

Roni brings 47 years of coaching experience to Skate Winnipeg. She has coached skaters at all levels from beginner to Novice Competitive in Singles, Dance and Pairs, as well as Novice, Junior and Senior in Synchro. Roni has taken many Synchro Teams to Nationals as well as Pre-Novice Dance Teams. She had a juvenile dance team at junior nationals in 2009 and has taken a skater to Skate Canada Challenge for the last 3 years. Roni has attended many PSA and Canadian conferences throughout the years.

Awards:
2016 Skate Canada Section Volunteer Coach Award

Qualifications:
NCCP Level 3 Certified – Singles, NCCP Level 3 Technical – Pairs and Synchro
NCCP Level 2 Hockey, Emergency First Aid, CEP – Gold Level
Star 1-5 Coach Assessor Trained

Coaching:
All ages and skills
PowerSkating

Fees:
Private Lessons – $12.00 / 15 mins

Contact:
coachroni49@gmail.com
(204) 226-9310

CANSKATE COACHES:

Rosalyn Bauer

Yohnatan Elizarov

Emma Kasian-Gutierrez

Paige Kasian

Mattina Lisi

Aimie Martin

Emily Martin

Natalie Malyon

Dana McKee

Marrin McKee

Vanessa Navarro

 

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