2016 ISI/PSA CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW BITTERSWEET
Ganicheva and Letov named developmental coaches of year by LYNN RUTHERFORD
Accepting their award as 2015–16 Profes-
sional Skating Association (PSA) Developmen- tal Coaches of the Year was bittersweet for Olga Ganicheva and Aleksey Letov. Te Russian-born couple, married since
1997, enjoyed the finest season of their 15-year coaching career. Ten of their students at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Plano, Texas, competed at the 2016 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Four of those skat- ers brought home medals. Two — juvenile girl Stephanie Ciarochi (Dallas FSC) and junior lady Emily Chan (Dallas FSC) — won gold. Yet as Ganicheva and Letov attended the
ISI/PSA Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, in early June, they learned that one of their top students, U.S. junior silver medalist Vivian Le (Dallas FSC), was leav- ing Texas to join Rafael Arutunian’s group in Southern California. In Las Vegas, Arutunian — coach of World
silver medalist and three-time U.S. champi- on Ashley Wagner (SC of Wilmington) Junior Grand Prix Final champion Nathan Chen (Salt Lake FSC) and U.S. champion Adam Rippon (SC of New York) — picked up his second straight PSA Coach of the Year Award. “Tey said, ‘We want to go to an Olym-
pic coach,’” Ganicheva said. “And Vivian is an amazing skater, and she will do very, very well, I am sure. But of course, it was a little sad
Cindy Stuart
for us. I wish the coaches who work hard, and from their hearts, would have a few skaters in their coaching careers that stay with them until the end.” Ganicheva and Letov hope their current
students will reach new heights. Chan now competes as a senior, the first time one of their skaters has stepped up to that level. Several of their other students, Ganicheva said, are gain- ing the triple-triple combinations they will need to successfully compete in the Junior Grand Prix a season or two down the road. “Many of our skaters come from our
rink’s learn-to-skate classes,” Ganicheva said. “We try to raise strong personalities, skaters who will fight for every program they have and be successful at all different levels.” Te two former Soviet competitors, who
both earned degrees from Moscow’s Acade- my of Physical Education and Sport, each do stroking classes and off-ice instruction. Letov is the technical specialist and competition strat- egist, while Ganicheva handles choreography and keeps parents informed. “Each child is equally important to us,”
Ganicheva said. “We work with the kids’ per- sonalities, and hearts, to pull out their best. We don’t only want them to succeed in skating; we want them to be good people.” More than 600 coaches attended the conference, which featured keynote speeches
2016 INTERNATIONAL EDI AWARDS
Professional Skaters Association Coach(es) of the Year: Rafael Arutunian, Vera Arutunian, Nadezda Kanaeva
Paul McGrath Choreographer of the Year: Cindy Stuart
Developmental Coach(es) of the Year: Olga Ganicheva and Aleksey Letov
Pieter Kollen Sport Science Award for use of scientific technology in figure skating: Lindsay Slater
Betty Berens Award: Paul Wylie
Established in memory of Betty Berens who gave unselfishly of her time and talent both on the ice and off. It is presented to a coach who has
Rafael Arutunian and Nadezda Kanaeva
from Arutunian and 1984 Olympic champion Scott Hamilton as well as technical demonstra- tions with coaches including John Nicks, Tom Zakrajsek, Alexei Kiliakov, Kori Ade and Janet Champion. A crammed schedule of classes on topics ranging from budgeting and accounting to growing business via social media was of- fered. Attendees kept easy track of it all via the Sk8PSA App on their smartphones.
overcome adversity — physical or emotional — and who has continued in dedication and perseverance to serve their profession with dignity and fortitude.
Sonja Henie Award: Ekaterina Gordeeva Presented to a female, professional skater who has brought recognition to the sport in a positive and favorable manner.
Gustave Lussi Award: Ben Agosto Presented to a male, professional skater who has brought recognition to the sport in a positive and favorable manner.
F. Ritter Shumway Award: Richard Dwyer Presented to a person who has earned distinction for unending dedication and significant contribution to the
world of figure skating.
Joe Serafine National Volunteer of the Year Award: Becky Stump and Alex Chang Recognized for outstanding service to the PSA over the past year.
Action Photo of the Year: Mark Walentiny
PSA Hall of Fame Inductee: Hans Gerschwiler (posthumously awarded)
2016 Distinguished Official Award: Doug Williams
2016 Honorary Member and Lifetime Achievement Award: Angie Riviello and Garrett Swasey
2016 Fritz Dietl National Award for Ice Arena Excellence: Ice Den Scottsdale
SKATING 51 Aleksey Letov and Olga Ganicheva
GABRIELE PHOTOGRAPHY
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