Gilberto Viadana
World and Olympic Figure skating coach
ISU Technical Specialist
PHILOSOPHY
Technique and style, this is the goal.
To travel across the ice at 20mph, to perform 1 revolution in the air in 0.2 seconds, to fly for 0.7 seconds across 12 feet, to transmit emotions, to create suspense, and to deliver excitement.
All of this is figure skating.
To reach this level of performance, it is fundamental to start at a young age, creating and following an instructional schedule that builds the proper level of skill through the years.
Exercises and drills have to become part of a daily routine and must be performed with consistency. Simultaneously, a long-term goal has to be set and pursued.
It is also very important to create a staff around the athlete that will help cover all technical areas.
Vanessa Giunchi at the 2001 European Championship Bratislava SVK
With Alexia Paganini at the 2014 US National Championships in Boston , MA
The coach must be able to balance the activity of the staff, create and coordinate the events that will help the athlete reach the best of his or her potential, and be able to monitor the athlete's progression through the years.
The last fact to consider is that figure skating requires the development of high skill levels at a young age, thus requiring an intense schedule in the first years as an athlete in this sport.
All of the points that I raise are, in my opinion, necessary to create the right balance of technical skill and mental strength that this sport requires.