Above: Faculty coach Peter Johansson talks to a group of coaches on the ice at the 2024 Access to Excellence event.
Registration for the second Access to Excellence national educational event in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is underway. The event takes place at the Broadmoor Ice Hall and the DoubleTree Hotel, May 14–17, 2025.
Access to Excellence is a multi-day event featuring programming tailored to coaches, athletes, judges, technical panel officials and parents. Attendees engage in educational sessions, on-ice activities and networking opportunities designed to foster growth, collaboration and excellence.
“Access to Excellence is the only figure skating event of its kind in North America,” Heidi Thibert, director of coach development and education at U.S. Figure Skating, said. “The way that athlete, coaches, officials and parents are brought together to exchange information, learn new skills, and network with others with similar experiences and goals is a fantastic way to begin the new season. It is an opportunity to make connections within the U.S. Figure Skating community and commit to excellence in any role in the sport.”
The event features the National Coaches College. Olympic and World medalist/coach Tracy Wilson headlines this segment. She’ll be joined by an all-star faculty that includes Peter Johansson, Mark Mitchell, Garrett Lucash, Damon Allen, Janet Champion, Heather Paige, Denise Williamson, Rick Perez, Jeremy Allen, and numerous other national, international and master-accredited coaches.
The National Coaches College coach curriculum includes four full days of classroom instruction and discussion, on-ice collaboration and technique, observation of the athlete training sessions and the Sweet Awards Dessert Party honoring recipients of the first U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E. Awards.
“It’s [National Coaches College] just a special event for anyone who attends,” Thibert said. “We had so many great comments last year about the scope and content of the education and information. We are excited to showcase some new faces and new voices for this year.”
The Athlete Acceleration Training Camp returns. It is open to qualifying-level athletes (juvenile-senior) who competed in the National Qualifying Series or Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships. The two-day training camp features competitive group training from national and international coaches and Team USA athletes.
A parents track is also part of the itinerary at the Athlete Acceleration Camp. Parents will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of subject matter experts in a variety of athlete-centered discussions and informational sessions.
In addition, registration is open for the in-person Judges Promotional School for prospective singles competition judges.
The Judges Promotional School is a chance to start one’s judging career with no prior judging experience needed. Attendees will learn from top judges through hands-on training, live evaluations and interactive sessions designed to build confidence and expertise. This program is a gateway to earning a nonqualifying singles judging appointment and making an impact on the sport.
Deadline to register for Access to Excellence is April 15. Click here to register.
