Audrey Weisiger

Audrey Weisiger is a two-time Olympic Team Coach, in 1998 and 2002. She was the PSA and USFSA Coach of the Year in 1999. She has a PSA World Coach Ranking and she’s Master Rated in Figures and Freestyle. She gave the Keynote Address at the PSA World Conference in 2000 and again in 2003. She’s held positions on the Board of Directors of the PSA as well as various US Olympic Committee and USFSA committees.

In 2003, she founded Grassroots to Champions, a teaching company providing seminars for coaches and skaters. The mission of Grassroots to Champions is to raise the technical level of US skaters. The seminars focus on teaching coaches optimal instructional techniques and their skaters how to develop from the first steps onto the ice into championship caliber competitors.

Audrey teaches at the Fairfax Ice Arena in Virginia where she’s coached since 1973. Most of you know her as Michael Weiss’s coach. She’s also worked with Timothy Goebel, Lisa Kwon, Christine Lee, and Parker Pennington. More recently, Audrey founded The MK Young Artists Showcase as a way to develop and broaden the artistic side of figure skating by encouraging and supporting young choreographers.

In 2014, Audrey was the recipient of the F Ritter Shumway Award from the Professional Skaters Association. This award recognizes a person who has been a longtime contributor to the development of skating as voted on by the membership of the PSA.

Be sure to check out the interview Audrey did with iCoachSkating.com founder Trevor Laak.

Most recent videos at the top…

Training for Distractions at Competition (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger offers insights and discussion regarding distractions during competition, and how to train and prepare for them. The simple fact is, most distractions at competition are impossible to predict in advance, so coaches and skaters should train for it using a large variety of techniques. Audrey is a coach who […] Continue reading →
Competition Uncertainty – Training for It (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger talks about some of the uncertainties of competition and how coaches can help skaters prepare for it. In particular, the competition warm-up can be very stressful. Audrey says, “Competition is always semi-chaotic if not totally chaotic. So you need to train them (skaters) also to deal with things not […] Continue reading →
Bag of Tricks Game – Another Version of LRP (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger continues with a discussion of how to motivate skaters. This video is a continuation of Audrey’s presentation on The LRP Game and you should watch that video prior to this one to fully understand what Audrey is talking about. The purpose of this game is to challenge skaters to […] Continue reading →
Seminar Exercises – Part 3 (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger teaches at one of her Grassroots to Champions seminars several years ago. The information in this series is as valid and useful today as it was when it was recorded. These drills are intended to challenge the skaters in a seminar setting and address deficiencies in fundamental technique. Make sure […] Continue reading →
Seminar Exercises – Part 2 (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger teaches at one of her Grassroots to Champions seminars several years ago. The information in this series is as valid and useful today as it was when it was recorded. These drills are intended to challenge the skaters in a seminar setting and address deficiencies in fundamental technique. Make sure […] Continue reading →
Lutz Exercises, Part 2 – Pigeon Toe Concept (Laurent Depouilly and Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Laurent Depouilly continues his presentation on exercises for proper lutz development. In Part 1 he discussed the idea of using a back outside pivot to train the alignment and edge pressure. In this video, he has the skater try her very first lutz (on camera!) so we should not be surprised […] Continue reading →
Seminar Exercises – Part 1 (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger teaches at one of her Grassroots to Champions seminars several years ago. The information in this series is as valid and useful today as it was when it was recorded. These drills are intended to challenge the skaters in a seminar setting and address deficiencies in fundamental technique. To begin, […] Continue reading →
Motivating Isolated Skaters – The LRP Game (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger shares a game she developed to help keep her highest level skaters motivated who were training in near isolation. The game is particularly effective for skaters who are the “best” skater in their rink without others at their level to help motivate and push them. The LRP game is a […] Continue reading →
Fun Skids and Letting Skaters Play (Audrey Weisiger)

This is a short video follow-up to World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger‘s previous video on pivots and skids. Here Audrey recommends teaching a backward snowplow stop and skids in spirals. She highlights the need for figure skaters to play and she encourages coaches to let them play occasionally. Continue reading →
Pivots and Motivation for Pivots and Skids (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger talks about pivots and she provides motivation for learning pivots and skids/stops. She begins by showing the 4 backward pivots (right backward inside pivot, left backward inside pivot, right backward outside pivot, left backward outside pivot) and then she shows how to teach them. She explains the value of teaching […] Continue reading →
Toe Hops, Blade Work, Toe Loops (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger covers a variety of topics related to blade control and usage, with an emphasis on toe hops and some discussion of the toe loop jump. This video is a continuation of Audrey’s discussion of split jumps, mazurkas, and ballet jumps. Audrey begins here with a discussion of toe hops, and […] Continue reading →
Double Axel Lesson: More Drills – Part 2 (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger continues with a double axel lesson for a skater who has been working on the jump a while, yet has never landed it. In Part 1, Audrey shared the one-foot axel drill and a variation of a forward outside jump pivot drill. She begins this part of the lesson […] Continue reading →
Double Axel Lesson: Important Drills – Part 1 (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger gives a double axel lesson to a skater who has been working on the jump a while, yet has never landed it. We join the lesson already underway with Audrey asking for a single axel landing with the arms in a “hoop” position and then keeping the feet crossed […] Continue reading →
Ballet Jump (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger talks about the ballet jump. The ballet jump is sometimes mistaken for the mazurka, but the non-picking leg remains behind on the ballet jump. To start, Audrey does not focus on getting the back leg up very high for safety reasons. But she likes the ballet jump as a […] Continue reading →
Mazurka Jump (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger explains what a mazurka is and how to do one. A mazurka is a basic skill that is useful in the development process for jumps such as the toe loop. Audrey begins by explaining the origin of the word “mazurka” (a historic dance) and she offers all kinds of funny […] Continue reading →
Using the Split Jump for Standard Toe Jump Development (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger continues her discussion of the split jump (see Part 1 and Part 2). In this video she focuses on the split toe loop, the split flip, and the split lutz. Audrey spends considerable time explaining why these jump drills are important for developing toe jumps with more flow, power, […] Continue reading →
Split Jump: How to do a Split Jump – Part 2 (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger continues her discussion of the split jump. In Part 1, she explained the fundamentals of the split and a basis for understanding the positions and mechanics as well as controlling the rotation. In this video, she begins by emphasizing the required rhythm and timing. Audrey says, “The left foot […] Continue reading →
Split Jump: How to do a Split Jump – Part 1 (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger explains how she introduces the split jump to a skater for the first time and how she builds it into a competent element. She begins by putting the skater in T position and explaining and demonstrating the basic movement of the split and jump. She then explains how the […] Continue reading →
Correcting the Edge on Flip – Fixing a “Lip” (Audrey Weisiger)

This is a very important video by World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger. In this video, Audrey is working with a skater who has a change of edge problem on the flip jump. In other words, rather than taking off correctly from a back inside edge, the skater takes off from a back outside edge […] Continue reading →
Double Axel Lesson (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger gives a double axel lesson at a Grassroots to Champions seminar. The skater in the lesson is working on a new double axel. Audrey starts by observing a double axel attempt and then discussion the idea of “cutting across the take-off” which is a very common double axel problem. […] Continue reading →
Jason Brown Learning Triple Axel (Kori Ade)

In this figure skating video, we sit in as Olympic coach Kori Ade gives Jason Brown a triple axel lesson. At the time this video was taken, Jason had not yet started to land the triple axel. A cameo appearance is made by yet another Olympic coach, Audrey Weisiger who also shares some of her […] Continue reading →
Triple Salchow Lesson (Audrey Weisiger)

World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger gives a triple salchow lesson at a Grassroots to Champions seminar. The skater in the lesson has a relatively new and inconsistent triple salchow. Audrey starts with some double salchows using two important drills. The first drill is with arms in a frame and a double three before the […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Spins – Building the Backspin (Audrey Weisiger)

Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger continues her discussion on the process of developing the backspin. In the preceding video, Audrey discussed the details of starting a backspin from a standstill. In this video, Audrey shares her thoughts on the next steps in the development process. When using the forward inside edge entry for backspin, Audrey thinks […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Spins – Teaching a Beginner Backspin (Audrey Weisiger)

Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger explains the process she uses for teaching the backspin. Many of these concepts are particularly appropriate for adult skaters. She begins by teaching the back inside pivot in the direction the skater spins with the hands/arms in a hoop. Starting from a pumping back inside pivot with the “spinning” toe anchored […] Continue reading →
Drills for Building a Double Loop (Audrey Weisiger)

In this figure skating video, Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger shares a number of drills to help improve the loop jump with the goal of developing a double loop. The first drill she explains is designed to improve the backward outside edge, which is essential for the take off and landing of a loop jump. Without […] Continue reading →
Edge Drill for Loop Jump (Audrey Weisiger)

In this figure skating video, Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger discusses and demonstrates an edge drill to improve the loop jump take-off. The drill starts by gliding backward on a flat in loop jump preparation position and deepening the back outside edge before pivoting to forward and turning on the bottom toe pick. The drill is designed […] Continue reading →
Loop Jump for Beginners (Audrey Weisiger)

In the figure skating video below, Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger explains how she teaches a loop jump to a beginner skater. Audrey first discusses the importance of basic balance and she suggests a simple drill to help determine whether the skater is really ready to try a loop jump. She also talks about the importance […] Continue reading →
Drills for Loop Combination Jumps (Audrey Weisiger)

Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger discusses valuable drills for improving combination jumps with the loop jump as the second or third jump in the combination. This is a continuation of Audrey’s discussion of combination jumps with the loop as the second or third jump. The wall drill that Audrey recommends is similar to the wall drill […] Continue reading →
Loop Jump as Second or Third Jump in Combination Jumps (Audrey Weisiger)

Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger discusses combination jumps with the loop jump as the second or third jump in the combination. This is a continuation of Audrey’s discussion of combination jumps with the toe loop as the second or third jump (toe loop combinations). Right from the start, Audrey addresses the need use the edge properly […] Continue reading →
Toe Loop Combination Jumps – Toe Axel Error (Audrey Weisiger)

Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger continues her discussion of toe-loop combination jumps with a short discussion of the “toe axel” error. Audrey begins by explaining what a “toe axel” is. Then she describes what a proper toe loop should be. Skaters that have a good solo double toe loop (not in combination) sometimes have problems with the toe axel error […] Continue reading →
Ice Skating – Toe Loop Myths (Audrey Weisiger)

Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger continues her discussion of toe-loop combination jumps with some basic clarifications of proper toe loop technique. This is a short video but the two main ideas that Audrey shares are incredibly important. 1. A good toe loop has a strong reach straight back but the legs start coming together in a scissoring motion before the […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Combination Jumps – Toe Loop Combos (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger continues her discussion of toe-loop combination jumps with ideas for drills to build consistency and mental toughness. One of the primary issues with combination jumps is the reduction in flow or speed across the ice caused by the first jump in the combination. Many skaters, sensing this reduced speed, modify the technique of the second jump. […] Continue reading →
Olympic Coach Tips – Alignment Needed For Combination Jumps (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger begins a series of videos on combination jumps. This series will discuss both toe loop combinations and loop combinations. To begin this series, Audrey explains that successful jump combinations require certain landing qualities of the first jump in the combination. She explains these thoroughly and then offers an incredibly valuable drill for determining if […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jump Landings In Detail – Part 2 (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger offers some additional drills and explanations as she continues her discussion of jump landings. She offers these valuable drills: 1. After a skater has landed and stretched into the final landing position, have them return to the ‘h-position.’ 2. After a skater has landed and stretched into the final landing position, have them do a […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jump Landings In Detail – Part 1 (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger talks about jump landings. Right at the beginning Audrey notes that coaches often focus on every other aspect of a jump and expect the skater to simply land it. Obviously this assumption is often (usually) incorrect, which means skaters need to learn to land by trial and error. By understanding exactly what happens in […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jump Tip – Foundation Skills For Jumping – Part 4 (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger continues her multiple part series on important foundational concepts she has developed during her coaching career. In Part 1, Audrey introduced the “h and d system” and covered the neutral alignment she wants as a pre-requisite for the drill in the video below. In Part 2, Audrey introduced goes into more detail about the “h position” […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jump Tip – Foundation Skills For Jumping – Part 3 (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger continues her multiple part series on important foundational concepts she has developed during her coaching career. In Part 1, Audrey introduced the “h and d system” and covered the neutral alignment she wants as a pre-requisite for the drill in the video below. In Part 2, Audrey introduced goes into more detail about the “h position” […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jump Tip – Foundation Skills For Jumping – Part 2 (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger continues her multiple part series on important foundational concepts she has developed during her coaching career. In Part 1, Audrey introduced the “h and d system” and covered the neutral alignment she wants as a pre-requisite for the drill in the video below. In this video, Audrey explains the development of the “h-position.” Audrey gives […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jump Tip – Foundation Skills For Jumping – Part 1 (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger begins a multiple part series on important foundational concepts she has developed during her coaching career. In this presentation, Audrey discusses her “h and d system” or the “alignment system.” The system is a series of drills used to develop body awareness, proper movement, and correct muscle memory of both moving and static positions. […] Continue reading →
Dartfish Video Training: Using Video In The Development Process (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger continues her discussion of important keys to the development of all skaters (see also Development Process Reminders). In this video, Audrey notes the need for off-ice training and she suggests that skaters learn to play a musical instrument. Although this seems an odd suggestion at first, it highlights Audrey’s emphasis on the performance […] Continue reading →
Olympic Coaching Tips In Figure Skating: Development Process Reminders (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger discusses basic but important concepts for the development of all skaters. Audrey’s main point in this video is that skaters need to develop proficiency with important basic skills before working on more advanced “tricks.” Although this seems like common sense, there is tremendous pressure on coaches and skaters to jump ahead and work […] Continue reading →
Ice Skating Jumps: Flip Jump Reach And Pick Placement (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger talks about one of the most misunderstood aspects of flip jumps. This is a short video but the topic is very important. Almost every top coach teaches a “strong reach” on the flip jump. This reach extends the body and free leg and arms to control and build energy for a successful jump. […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Flip Jump Entrance Options (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger discusses the flip jump and offers some insights about the jump and two entrances that almost guarantee the inside edge prior to take-off. To help skaters to develop the proper feeling of coming off an inside edge, Audrey recommends using lots of different entries. She starts with the back cross-over entry to the […] Continue reading →
Toe Loop Jump Tip From Olympic Coach: Entrance And Combinations (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger shares a number of alternative entrances to double toe loop and discusses toe loop combination jumps. As Audrey mentions and Shannon demonstrates, there are 4 basic or standard toe loop entrances. Interestingly, most coaches only use two of these entrances. However, skaters that can master all 4 entrances generally have to have pretty […] Continue reading →
Triple Toe Jump Technique From Olympic Coach: Ease of Jumping (Audrey Weisiger)

In the context of a triple toe loop lesson, Audrey Weisiger touches upon one of the “secrets” to good jumping. This is a short video, but the point that Audrey makes is incredibly important. When done with proper technique, jumps should be easy and almost effortless. Generally in skating where there is tremendous pressure on […] Continue reading →
Toe Loops Tips From Olympic Coach (Audrey Weisiger)

Audrey Weisiger discusses various aspects of the single, double and triple toe loop. Keep in mind that Audrey has taught at every level in skating and even with her extensive experience at the elite level, notice how much stress she places on correct grassroots or developmental teaching. As Audrey notes, correct technique on the single […] Continue reading →
Tribute To My Coach (Audrey Weisiger)

The following is a short story from Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger. She asked me to put it up here at iCoachSkating.com so all coaches could read it. As coaches we make a huge impact on the lives of the skaters we teach. Continue reading →
Olympic Coach Audrey Weisiger Interview (Audrey Weisiger)

iCoachSkating.com webmaster Trevor Laak interviewed World and Olympic figure skating coach Audrey Weisiger on November 21, 2007. The audio quality for this interview is fair as Audrey was searching for a quiet spot at her rink that still had cell phone reception. Audrey has some really great insights. Turn up your speakers and enjoy! Complete […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jumps: Axel Class – Part 5 (Audrey Weisiger & Nick Perna)

This is the final part of the on-ice axel class taught by Nick Perna and Audrey Weisiger at the 2010 G2C Extreme Supercamp. Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jumps: Axel Class – Part 4 (Audrey Weisiger & Nick Perna)

Nick Perna and Audrey Weisiger continue their on-ice axel class at the 2010 G2C Extreme Supercamp. In the first part of the class, they covered the proper setup and in the second part they covered the step forward. Continue reading →