Michelle Leigh
Michelle Leigh is a three-time Olympic Team Coach, in 1992, 1998, and 2002. She’s coached at 16 World Championships and over 30 Canadian Championships. She’s also coached at over 60(!) international events including 4 European Championships. Michelle was the 1998 Ontario Female Coach of the Year and she’s received the Skate Canada Coaching Award of Excellence. Michelle is also a professional speaker and she’s presented at seminars for over 35 years. She’s also been heavily involved in organizational activities within the sport, serving on a number of important committees and councils.
Michelle is the Director of Competitive Skating at Skate Oakville in Oakville, Ontario (Canada), her home club. She taught for years at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ontario and she is probably most well known as one of the primary coaches of World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Elvis Stojko. She also coached two-time World Bronze Medalist Takeshi Honda and six-time Canadian Champion Jennifer Robinson and more recently, the 2016 Canadian Ladies Champion Alaine Chartrand.
Michelle specializes in Jump Analysis and Progression, Dartfish, IJS, Program Adjustments, Athletic Management, and Mental Training. She has done extensive study and research on creating success and developing the champion mindset. She has also assisted numerous coaches with their careers.
Here’s what Elvis Stojko said about Michelle, “Michelle has the ability to keep things positive no matter what is going on around us. Her energy and attitude is what makes the difference when working with her and she keeps things in perspective. The positive energy she puts into the task is what is seen in the final product.”
Having worked with Michelle for just a few days putting together videos for this website, I agree that she has an amazing positive energy and attitude, not to mention a keen eye and a skill for seeing the big picture. She has a wealth of knowledge and is eager and willing to share it with others.
All iCoachSkating.com subscribers and visitors owe a debt of gratitude for Michelle’s willingness to share her knowledge and insights about skating and coaching.
Most recent videos at the top…
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Learn To Ice Skate Video: Wally Jump (Michelle Leigh)
In this video, Olympic coach Michelle Leigh explains how she teaches the walley. Continue reading →
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Online Figure Skating Lesson: Axel Jump – Part 1 (Michelle Leigh)
In this video, we sit in on an axel lesson with Olympic coach Michelle Leigh. This is a great follow-up the Michelle Leigh axel video. Continue reading →
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Online Figure Skating Lesson: Axel Jump (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh discusses how she develops the axel from the waltz jump. Continue reading →
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Learn To Ice Skate Video: Waltz Jump – Part 2 (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh continues her discussion of the waltz jump. In this video, she talks about the step. Continue reading →
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Learn To Ice Skate Video: Waltz Jump – Part 1 (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh talks about how she introduces the waltz jump and she continues the discussion through some helpful exercises that also apply to axel and double axel. Continue reading →
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How To Figure Skate: The Lutz Jump (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh shares some of the exercises she uses to teach lutz. Continue reading →
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Ice Skating Jumps: Air Position Of Feet (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh talks about one of the most important concepts of successful multi-rotational jumping. Continue reading →
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Olympic Figure Skating Coach Teaches Head Position On Take Off (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh works with a skater on drills intended to fix head issues. Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Jump Exercises: Helicopter Drill (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh explains one of her favorite drills for her skaters. Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Jump Technique For Arms (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh discusses some very helpful information regarding arm motions and positions throughout jumps, and particularly loop, flip and lutz. Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Jumps – General Jumping Principles (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh discusses some general jump principles she uses with her skaters. This discussion continues her thoughts on head placement and movement. She then moves to a more thorough discussion of shoulder and hip movements, take-off direction, and air position. Continue reading →
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How to Figure Skate – Head Position on Jumps (Michelle Leigh)
Michelle Leigh discusses head position in jumps. This topic is very well understood by a small group of top coaches. After all, a very high percentage of top skaters Continue reading →











