Page Lipe
Page Lipe is a National and International (PSA Level V Ranking) coach and has been coaching for over 30 years. She’s PSA Master Rated in Freestyle and Group Teaching. She is the founder and owner of SportQuest Skating Academy at the Parade Ice Garden in Minneapolis, MN.
Page was a US Figure Skating Gold Medalist and a professional skater with Ice Capades. She also performed in several television commercials. She was the coach of Rohene Ward and a number of other high level competitors. She has presented at PSA and ISI seminars as well as her own seminars. Page and the staff at Parade run an extensive summer training program with on and off-ice classes, dance classes, conditioning and mental training classes.
Most recent videos at the top…
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Filling the Time Between Warm-up and Competition (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe explains how she handles the critical waiting time between a competition warm-up and competition skate. This wait time can be significant, especially for IJS events and high level events with longer performance times. Page takes a very organized and analytical approach to this period of waiting, taking into account skate order […] Continue reading →
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Insights About Days and Weeks Before Competition (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe shares important insights about the critical training time in the days and possibly weeks leading up to an important competition. Like most elite coaches, Page wants her skaters prepared for competition well in advance. But as competition nears, many well-prepared skaters start having problems with certain jumps or elements in their […] Continue reading →
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Motivating Skaters With Small Amounts of Money (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe shares an effective way to use small amounts of money to help motivate skaters. In this example, Page lays out quarters for each element in a program and may use small bills (such as $1 or $5) for very challenging elements. This game is very motivating for highly competitive skaters, as […] Continue reading →
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Using LRP Chart for Motivation and Tracking (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe explains how to write out an LRP Chart on the ice and use it for more focused program practice and tracking. LRP stands for Landed, Rotated, or Popped and this is a concept often discussed by Audrey Weisiger (see here and here). Landed means a successful element, Rotated means the skater […] Continue reading →
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Using Video Tools for Small Successes (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe talks about using inexpensive video tools for motivating skaters. Page uses video for “breaking skills down so that skaters can have little successes and little goals.” She continues, “If you don’t have some sort of success every day you’re probably not going to stick with this sport because there’s […] Continue reading →
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When to Start Introducing the Axel (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe offers some insights about when a skater is ready to begin working on the axel jump. As a minimum, Page recommends having a strong loop jump and ideally, a backspin or at least the ability to balance on one foot without wiggling in the backspin position on the ice. […] Continue reading →
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Important Axel Concepts (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe discusses some foundational concepts for the axel jump. To start, Page notes that the take-off foot does not simply point in the direction of the jump, but rather creates additional edge pressure just prior to leaving the ice. In other words, the take-off foot turns slightly into the skating […] Continue reading →
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On-Ice Core Exercises and Position Work (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe offers 3 on-ice drills that are particularly helpful for developing core strength and stability, as well as leg strength. The first exercise is a spiral, shoot-the-duck, spiral sequence down the ice in a straight line. The second exercise is a spiral, lunge, spiral sequence. The final exercise is a […] Continue reading →
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Teaching a Bigger Reach on Backward Crossovers (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe shares a trick for getting beginner skaters to create more “reach” on backward crossovers. The concept is simple, and involves the coach gliding along inside the skater’s circle, and asking the skater to reach out with the skate all the way to the coach, placing the skate onto the […] Continue reading →
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Coaching Advice: Pre-Competition Pep Talk (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe offers insights about what to say and do with a skater in the final moments before they take the ice to compete. This is a follow up to the presentation Page made on choreographing the competition “section” for taking the starting pose. These final moments for a coach are […] Continue reading →
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Choreographing Section Before Starting Pose (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe explains how she typically choreographs the “skating” between when a skater’s name is called and when the skater takes the starting pose prior to a competition program. As Page notes, there is a maximum amount of time allowed for a skater to take their starting position (currently 30 seconds), […] Continue reading →
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More Salchow Tips – Basic Salchow Continued (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe continues her discussion of the salchow. In the previous video, she discussed free leg and skating leg movements, as well as where the skater’s center of mass needs to be relative to the skating foot. In this video, she begins by talking about the back-outside-three-turn-to-forward-inside-mohawk entrance for the salchow. […] Continue reading →
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Basic Salchow Tips (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe offers some tips and insights for salchow jump development. One very common problem with the salchow is when skaters balance on the backward entry/take-off edge with their head outside the circle or tracing the skate makes on the ice. Especially during the final “hook” or “pivot” movements it’s very […] Continue reading →
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The Walley – Part 2 (Page Lipe)
This follow-up video on the walley jump is presented by International figure skating coach Page Lipe. In Part 1 she explained how she introduces and teaches the walley, with important insights and demonstrations. In this video, she continues with additional insights and random thoughts about the learning process. To organize the upper body and develop […] Continue reading →
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The Walley – Part 1 (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe explains how she teaches a walley. She starts by drawing a tracing on the ice and describing what a walley is. Then she explains the first step of the learning process as simply standing at a standstill on a (back) inside edge, and jumping without rotation to a (back) outside […] Continue reading →
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Opposite-Direction Jumping in Harness (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe explains how she often trains opposite-direction jumps with her skaters in an overhead harness. She uses opposite-direction jumps as a way to help skaters break the monotony of training. She notes, “I have my students work on opposite jumps because it’s good for them and because it’s highly entertaining. And if […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Tips: Spread Eagles and Ina Bauers (Page Lipe)
International figure skating coach Page Lipe shares some great tips for developing and improving spread eagles and Ina Bauers. These elements can be very challenging to learn and require good drills and lots of persistence and patience. For the spread eagle, Page shows a drill where the skater leans with their back against the boards (where […] Continue reading →
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Double Loop Lesson (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe gives a skater a double loop lesson. As you’ll see in the video, the skater is rotating and landing the jump, but the jump lacks flow. Page wants the arms to be more organized so she uses a skate guard drill where the skater holds a guard in one hand and transfers it […] Continue reading →
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Double Lutz Analysis (Trevor Laak)
Jump specialist Trevor Laak analyzes the following double lutz jump: This skater was in a couple previous videos on iCoachSkating about the double lutz. Those videos were part of a lesson that Page Lipe was giving the skater. At that time the skater was not landing the jump, so it’s nice to see the update and […] Continue reading →
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Double Lutz Lesson, Part 2 – Picking In (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe continues with a double lutz lesson and shares more valuable tips regarding the lutz. In the first part of this lesson, Page focused on the arms. In this video, the primary focus is the hips and how the skater picks into the ice. Notice how Page wants the skater to have a […] Continue reading →
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Double Lutz Lesson, Part 1 – Arms (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe gives a double lutz lesson and shares some valuable tips regarding the lutz. This part of the lesson focuses on the arms, and this information is applicable to other jumps as well. Skaters that lack awareness of their arms often struggle with consistency and timing on jumps. Page offers some tips on […] Continue reading →
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h-Position Clap Drill (Page Lipe)
In this short video, International coach Page Lipe explains the h-position clap drill. She uses this drill with skaters on loop, flip, and lutz jumps and she explains it doesn’t work very well on salchow (and toe loop does not have an h-position). As she explains, the drill helps skaters create more height on these jumps […] Continue reading →
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Exercises for Body Awareness and Skating-Specific Strength (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe explains and demonstrates a number of valuable exercises to help skaters develop body awareness as it relates to figure skating. These exercises not only build awareness, but also strength and muscle memory for correct positions and movements. In the first exercise, Page has the skater stand on tip-toes while she presses […] Continue reading →
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Box Drill – Concept for Weight Transfer Jumps (Page Lipe)
International coach Page Lipe explains and demonstrates the take-offs for the weight transfer jumps, axel, salchow, and toe loop using drawings on the ice. These drawings help skaters (and coaches) understand how to create a take-off with flow and get to the desired air position. Page begins by drawing a tracing for an axel take-off […] Continue reading →
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Warm-Up Drill Called “Basketball Exercise” (Page Lipe)
In this short video, international coach Page Lipe shares a simple but very effective warm-up drill she calls the “basketball exercise.” The drill was adapted from a warm-up used by a basketball team many years ago. The drill consists of the skater holding on to the boards and jumping and tucking the legs repeatedly and […] Continue reading →
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When Is a Skater Ready to Learn a New Element (Page Lipe)
In this short video, Page Lipe talks about when a skater is ready to learn a new element. This is a common question from coaches, skaters, and skating parents alike. Here’s Page’s thoughts on this topic. It’s helpful to understand the pros and cons of attempting new skills, even if a skater isn’t ready. The […] Continue reading →
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Brilliant Advice for Coaches (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe shares some tips with coaches on how to stay motivated and use their ongoing education to help bring more passion to the rink. Many coaches don’t have other coaches at their rink to help motivate them and to learn from. It’s very common for figure skating coaches to get burned out. The reasons […] Continue reading →
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Camel Spin for Adult Skaters (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe gives a camel spin lesson to an adult skater who struggles with the spin. Overall, the video offers a large number of ideas and tips that Page has found useful with this skater. Adult skaters often struggle with the camel spin for a variety of reasons. The demonstrator in this video lacks flexibility […] Continue reading →
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Double Toe Loop in Combination (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe offers a wealth of tips and tricks and stories regarding the toe loop in combination. This is an outstanding video and everyone working on double and triple toe loops as the second or third jump of a combination should watch this video. Page begins by telling two stories. The point of the first […] Continue reading →
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Double Loop in Combination – Part 2 (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe continues her discussion of doing loop jumps in combination as the second or third jump of the combo (see Part 1 here). In this video, Page offers more insights and begins by sharing a “trick” that often works to prevent skaters from releasing the free side. She has the skater “punch back” to […] Continue reading →
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Combination Jumps – Double Loop in Combination (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe shares her thoughts regarding combination jumps where the second (or third) jump in the combination is a double loop. Combination jumps with double loop tend to be easier for most skaters than combinations with double toe loop. But some skaters, typically those with poor double toe technique, fare better with double loop combinations. […] Continue reading →
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Edge Quality of Flip Jump – Jump Drills for Flip (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe discusses the challenge associated with getting flip jumps to come off a back inside edge. Teaching the correct edge early on in jump development saves tremendous time and frustration later on. In this video, Page starts with a process for improving the edge quality of the flip take-off. She starts with a forward […] Continue reading →
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Using Video Technology as a Coaching Tool (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe works with a skater on drills intended to fix an edge change problem on a double flip. Little coaching information is shared in the video. Instead, this video shows how a coach like Page uses a tablet computer with inexpensive software to enhance a skater’s lesson. Page uses an iPad and the Sk8 […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Jump Drill – The Cheat Exercise (Page Lipe)
Coach Page Lipe shares an important figure skating tip for jumps. Page calls this the “Cheat Exercise” and notes that it’s very helpful for skaters who are afraid to rotate multi-rotation jumps. It can be especially helpful as a drill during double axel development. The idea behind the drill is very simple. Skaters take off […] Continue reading →
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Flip Jump – Correct Inside Take-off Edge (Page Lipe)
In the figure skating video below, national and international coach Page Lipe shows exercises to help skaters use the correct edge when entering a flip jump. Although the lutz jump is typically more of a problem for skaters in terms of edge change, the flip edge can also be a major problem. Throughout her 25 […] Continue reading →
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Flip Jump for Beginners (Page Lipe)
In this figure skating lesson, Page Lipe explains and demonstrates how she teaches a flip jump to a beginner skater. She typically starts by teaching a half-flip from a mohawk. Notice that Page wants a full stretch but the pick doesn’t enter the ice until it’s almost directly under her. In other words, the legs […] Continue reading →
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Compulsory Figures – Threes to Center (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe continues her discussion of compulsory figures (also called school figures). In the previous videos in this series, Page laid out a set of circles without using a scribe , discussed the forward outside 8, briefly demonstrated the forward inside 8, explained the backward outside 8, and showed the backward inside 8. In this […] Continue reading →
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Compulsory Figures – Backward Inside 8 (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe continues her discussion of compulsory figures (also called school figures). In the previous videos in this series, Page laid out a set of circles without using a scribe , discussed the forward outside 8, briefly demonstrated the forward inside 8, and explained the backward outside 8. In this video, Page explains the details […] Continue reading →
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Compulsory Figures – Backward Outside 8 (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe continues her discussion of compulsory figures (also called school figures). In the previous videos in this series, Page laid out a set of circles without using a scribe , discussed the forward outside 8, and briefly demonstrated the forward inside 8. In this video, Page explains the push for the backward outside 8, […] Continue reading →
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Compulsory Figures – Forward Inside 8 (Page Lipe)
In this very short video, Page Lipe demonstrates the forward inside 8 compulsory figures pattern. This is a continuation of Page’s earlier figures videos. The value of this short video is in Page’s description of the starting position and the alignment that Page demonstrates throughout the pattern. (Note that we were sharing the ice with […] Continue reading →
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Compulsory Figures – Skating the 8 – Push Off, Alignment, Movement (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe continues her discussion of compulsory figures (also called school figures). In the previous video in this series, Page laid out a set of circles without using a scribe. In this video, Page demonstrates how to skate the basic 8. She explains when and how the arms and free leg move and you can […] Continue reading →
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Compulsory Figures – Drawing the Circles Without a Scribe (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe demonstrates how to draw figures circles without using a scribe. Although figures were dropped from international competition back in the early 1990’s, school figures are seeing a resurgence in popularity as coaches recognize the value of these exercises. Page has been a strong figures proponent and shares information about her Compulsory Figures Project […] Continue reading →
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Flying Sit Spin Video Tip (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe explains how she introduces and teaches a flying sit spin. At the beginning, Page just tells her skaters that it’s just a sit spin, but “you’re going to jump that three-turn from forward to backward.” She uses this explanation and simple drill so the skater knows when to leave the ice. She initially […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Technique – Building A Single Jump Into A Double Jump (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe discusses how she moves from the single jump to the double jump. This is a very important video as most coaches and skaters do this wrong or at least in a way that is not beneficial. The basic concept of this video is universal in figure skating. Almost all coaches ask their skaters […] Continue reading →
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Loop Jump – Single Loop Through Triple Loop (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe explains how she introduces and develops the loop jump all the way through triples. She notes that when they’re ready it’s common for skaters at her rink to simply try a single loop jump and usually the jump is basically correct. For those skaters than need more explanation and skill building, Page initially […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating – Balancing Exercises (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe shares three valuable exercises to increase body awareness. These drills are very effective in bringing out issues with alignment and core stability. Not surprisingly, these drills are harder than they look. The purpose of the first drill is to help skaters find their axis and it applies to all jumps. In this drill, […] Continue reading →
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Double Lutz Jump: Slow Motion Techniques (Page Lipe) (Trevor Laak)
Play the top video first to see two axel attempts that are being analyzed. Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Slow Motion Video: Double Axel-Double Toe Combination (Page Lipe) (Trevor Laak)
Play the top video first to see the jump being analyzed. Continue reading →
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Lutz Jump Tips – Take Off (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe discusses the correct lutz take-off and how to correct flutz problems. Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Spins – Change Foot Spins – Forward-Backward-Forward (Page Lipe)
Page Lipe discusses how she introduces change foot spins, particularly as it relates to the ISI Freestyle 3 requirement. Continue reading →