Learn to skate on the Isle of Wight
Planet Ice Ryde organises ice skating lessons (Galaxy Gliders) on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Lessons cost £60.00 for an six-week course. Contact Planet Ice for details (see Link to right, or phone 01983 615155). The rink runs one session of lessons on Saturday mornings and one session on Sunday mornings.
Newcomers are advised that learning inevitably involves falling over. It can take longer than the first lesson to find your sense of balance and develop confidence – so stick at it! Remember all those celebrities on Dancing on Ice have been skating intensively for at least three months before appearing on the show.
Taking it further
Skaters can receive individual tuition from the ice rink’s coaches. The coaches can provide private individual and group tuition. Individual private tuition, which usually takes place during patch ice sessions, costs £7.50 for a 15-minute lesson or £15 for 30 minutes (rates from 1 May 2010).
THE COACHES
Our resident coaches are head coach Terri Smith (nee Fleming), Matthew Russell, Thomas Eklund and Georgia Whelan.
TERRI SMITH
Terri is head coach at Ryde. She introduced synchronized skating to the Isle of Wight and in five years has raised the profile of the discipline to the extent that the junior team, the Wight Jewels, have won the British championship three times in succession, and are competing at world level.
Terri was born here on the Isle of Wight and trained in figure skating and ice dance at Ryde Arena. She started skating at the age of 12 and turned professional at 18.
During her professional show career, Terri travelled the world performing in ice shows in England, Europe, China and America, skating for Stageworks World Wide Productions and Holiday on Ice.
Terri completed her coaching qualifications mentored by Katie Nyman, the former head coach at Ryde. She holds her level two recognised National Coaching Certificate Programme qualification from NISA and is a member of the British Iceskating Teachers Association (BITA).
Terri would like to share her skating experiences with skaters on the Island, bringing back the fun and enjoyment she received from the rink.
MATTHEW RUSSELL
Matthew was born on the Isle of Wight and started skating at Ryde Arena at the age of nine. During his competitive career Matthew has skated at events across the UK, winning various competitions and medals. He skated for Great Britain in the Aarhus cup in Denmark, and competed in the British championships in 2002. After having a break of about two years he has now returned to skating as a NISA qualified level 2 coach, and was mentored by our very own Terri Fleming.
Matthew has also attended various seminars around the UK with guest coaches as Kathy Casey and Brian Orser (Olympic/world competitors) and Janet Champion (World’s top spin technician). He hopes to pass on all that he has learned throughout the years to Isle of Wight skaters of the future.
TOM EKLUND
Born on the Island, Tom has been skating since the age of seven when he started visiting Ryde Arena with his school as an after school activity. Competing in his first competition here on the Island in 1996, Tom went on to compete nationwide as well as attending seminars run by guest coaches such as Kathy Casey, Janet Champion and Brian Orser, and getting the chance to meet top British skaters such as Matthew Parr, Elliot Hilton, John Hamer, Jenna McCorkell and Danielle Guppy.
In September 2004 he was invited to skate for top designer Peter Jensen at London Fashion week, alongside Island skater Kirstin Ginger. The event received full media write-ups with pictures, an incredible feat considering that 160 fashion shows took place during that week.
Tom, who started working towards his coaching qualifications in 2002, has always had aspirations to be a coach and dreams of one day being a level 5 master coach with pupils skating at World and Olympic standard, although would just like people to come and enjoy the thrill of skating for the moment.
He grew up training and competing with good friend Matt Russell. Tom was mentored by head coach Terri Smith. He believes that the coaching staff here on the Island are truly united towards the progression of the sport.
Tom can be contacted through the rink or on 07512 569798.
GEORGIA WHELAN
Georgia Whelan is a level 2 ice skating coach from the Isle of Wight. She was one of the Island’s elite skaters, and skated competitively for 12 years, having started skating at the age of five.
She has an extensive background in professional ice shows, which began when she joined Holiday on Ice in 2004 aged 18. She toured extensively for four years across Europe, Russia, central and south America. Georgia has worked alongside top international skaters, including Olympian and Dancing on Ice judge Robin Cousins in the making of Peter Pan on Ice (2005).
Georgia returned to the Island to learn how to become a coach, and was mentored by Ryde head coach Terri Smith. After achieving her level 2 coaching badge in 2008, Georgia began coaching in Cardiff. There she taught skaters of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to elite competitive figure skaters. Her youngest pupil was aged 2 and the eldest was 66.
She moved back to the Island in May 2011 to settle and continue with her coaching career.
Georgia is very proud to be a part of the Isle of Wight coaching team at Ryde ice rink. She looks forward to passing on her knowledge and 20 years’ experience of figure skating to children, adults and perhaps even potential Olympians!
Georgia can be contacted on 07871 614227 or by email
