Nick Perna

Nick Perna is a National, International, and World coach and has been coaching for over 30 years. He’s been on the faculty of several Team USA Training Camps and has been instrumental in the development of many skating champions worldwide. His students have included Michael Weiss, Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes and all have benefited from his innovative coaching ideas and knowledge of the hand-held jump harness. Nick is a US Figure Skating Gold Medalist and a PSA Master Rated Instructor in Freestyle and Pairs. He’s also been a presenter at several PSA Conferences. Nick was a World Coach at the 2001 World Championships with Christine Lee.

Nick is perhaps most well known for his pioneering and promotional work with the hand-held jump harness. The hand-held harness, also called a pole harness, allows skaters to use their normal jump entries while providing safety, a sense of security, and added flight time when attempting difficult jumps. Nick has used the hand-held harness since it was created. In fact, because he’s been using the pole harness so often and for so long, almost everyone in the skating industry thinks he invented it.

Although Nick did not invent the hard-held harness, he has invented a number of other skating-related tools and equipment. He holds Patents on several different inventions, including his latest, the “Freedom Blade.” To learn more about his inventions, please see this article at About.com.

Nick has been teaching with Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger for over thirty years at the Fairfax Ice Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. Nick is also a faculty member of Audrey Weisiger’s Grassroots to Champions seminar series. Nick regularly works with skaters from around the country and around the world.

Most recent videos at the top…

Remote Off-Ice Video Jump Lesson – Part 3 (Nick Perna)

International coach and jump specialist Nick Perna walks us through a remote off-ice video jump lesson. We can’t hear what Nick is saying to his skater, but he talks over the entire lesson with detailed information about what is going on. In Part 1, Nick had the skater warming up with a jump rope. In […] Continue reading →
Remote Off-Ice Video Jump Lesson – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

International coach and jump specialist Nick Perna walks us through a remote off-ice video jump lesson. We can’t hear what Nick is saying to his skater, but he talks over the entire lesson with detailed information about what is going on. In Part 1, Nick had the skater warming up with a jump rope. In […] Continue reading →
Remote Off-Ice Video Jump Lesson – Part 1 (Nick Perna)

International coach and jump specialist Nick Perna walks us through a remote off-ice video jump lesson. We can’t hear what Nick is saying to his skater, but he talks over the entire lesson with detailed information about what is going on. In this first video, Nick has the skater warm up by jumping rope on […] Continue reading →
Double and Triple Loop Jump Prints and Theory (Nick Perna)

International coach and jump specialist Nick Perna continues his series of videos discussing and explaining the prints left on the ice for various jumps. In this video he discusses the double and triple loop jump print. Other videos in this series: Axel Prints Part 1 Axel Prints Part 2 Salchow Prints Part 1 Salchow Prints […] Continue reading →
Double and Triple Toe Loop Prints and Theory (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna continues his series of videos discussing and explaining the prints left on the ice for various jumps. In this video he discusses the double and triple toe loop from a forward inside three turn entrance. Nick not only discusses the print, but he also offers many important observations regarding how to […] Continue reading →
Double and Triple Salchow Prints – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna continues a presentation on the print left on the ice by a good double or triple salchow. In Part 1 of this presentation, Nick talked at length about the print and the salchow technique needed to create that print. In the short video below, Nick offers additional insights and clarifications. Nick […] Continue reading →
Double and Triple Salchow Prints (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna discusses the print left on the ice by a good double or triple salchow. This video is related to Nick’s other presentations on jump prints such as axel prints and landing prints. In this video, he starts by explaining that a good double or triple salchow rarely has an obvious three […] Continue reading →
Landing Prints and What They Mean (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna talks about jump landing prints and what they mean. This video is related to Nick’s other presentations on jump prints such as axel prints. Nick begins this discussion with typical landing prints for under-rotated and down-graded jumps. There is a huge variation in prints left on the ice for cheated jumps […] Continue reading →
Important Axel Tips (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna continues his discussion of the axel jump. In a related video, Nick described in detail an axel setup he uses and the print left on the ice from a good axel take-off. In this video, Nick clarifies the print further and offers tips to avoid common problems with the setup and step. […] Continue reading →
Print Left on Ice for Axel (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna explains in detail what the print or tracing looks like for an axel based on how he teaches the jump. A good axel needs to have flow on the jump entry and flow on the landing as well, and it also needs a powerful “active” take-off edge. And although there are […] Continue reading →
Tips For Power and Speed (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna talks about speed and power and offers some tips for developing more speed and power. To begin the video, he stresses the need to encourage skaters to “crunch” the ice on every push. He says, “If you listen to good skaters, you’re going to always hear a crunch. Every time they […] Continue reading →
The U-Turn Drill (Nick Perna)

International coach and jump specialist Nick Perna shares a simple drill or jump concept for properly “turning over” the axel jump. The drill is done at the wall to provide something for the skater to hang on to. Nick explains that skaters need to “create a U-turn in the air” with the axis (landing) foot. […] Continue reading →
Jump Air Position – The Knuckle Drill (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna shares a drill he calls the “knuckle drill” to help skaters work on their jump air position for multi-rotation jumps. The drill can also be effective as a training tool for the backspin. To do the drill, Nick has the skater get into the desired air position near the wall (with […] Continue reading →
Waltz Jump and Axel Drill – 3 Statues, Part 2 (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna continues his explanation of the “3 Statues Drill” that he uses to help skaters develop the proper timing necessary for stepping up strongly into a waltz jump or axel. One of the most common errors with the waltz jump or axel (or even double or triple axel!) is that skaters often […] Continue reading →
Waltz Jump and Axel Drill – 3 Statues, Part 1 (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna explains the “3 Statues Drill” he uses to help skaters develop the proper timing necessary for stepping up strongly into a waltz jump or axel. One of the most common errors with the waltz jump or axel (or even double or triple axel!) is that skaters often press up out of […] Continue reading →
Skating Fundamentals: One Foot Balance (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna talks about the importance of learning to balance at a standstill on one foot. To help skaters master the control of the exit edges of turns, Nick uses a drill he calls the hitchy coo which he explaines in detail in another video. But part of the hitchy coo drill has […] Continue reading →
Comparing Lutz Take-Off Techniques (Nick Perna)

Figure skating jump specialist Nick Perna compares the 2 different types of take-offs we see for the lutz jump. In the video he is comparing a triple lutz take-off by 1998 Olympic Champion Ilia Kulik and a triple lutz take-off by 2018 Olympic Silver Medalist (and 2-time World Champion) Evgenia Medvedeva. Although there is more […] Continue reading →
3 Types of Jump Walk-Throughs (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna offers important insights regarding jump walk-throughs. Nick begins by explaining the importance of doing walkthroughs, and cites examples of elite skaters repeatedly doing walkthroughs just before competing. But just doing walkthroughs is not enough. They need to be done correctly. Nick explains that he can often predict problems in a given […] Continue reading →
Air Position Exercises and Insights (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna begins a jump lesson with some h-position and d-position drills. The skater in the lesson is a relatively high level skater, and she makes the drills look easy. But for younger and less advanced skaters, there are often lots of movement and control problems. This is especially true when using the […] Continue reading →
Double Axel Lesson, Part 2 – Press Up Not Out (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna continues a double axel lesson. In Part 1, Nick focused on quickness drills and used the double loop to work on quickness, alignment, and air position. In this video, Nick starts with a double axel attempt and this skater tends to jump out rather than up. This is one of the […] Continue reading →
Double Axel Lesson, Part 1 – Warmup and Quickness Drills (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna gives a double axel lesson. To begin the lesson, he “learns about” the skater by observing a backspin, several waltz jumps, a single axel, and then some double loops. In this first part of the lesson, Nick is trying to see if the skater possesses the necessary air position and quickness […] Continue reading →
Drills to Cross Feet in Jumps (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna is giving a skater a lesson on the double toe loop, and trying to get the skater to cross her feet in the air. This is a common problem, so seeing the process that Nick uses will be helpful to many coaches (and skaters). Nick starts by having the skater do […] Continue reading →
The Stomping Drill, Part 2: The Jumps (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna continues his discussion of the stomping drill. In Part 1, he introduced the drill and showed how to use it with a variety of skating elements. In this video, he focuses on the jumps and how to use it effectively for salchow, toe loop, loop, flip and lutz. Notice that he […] Continue reading →
The Stomping Drill (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna talks about “stomping” and how and why to use it in figure skating. He calls these exercises “The Stomping Drill.” Nick says, “If you can hit any edge at any time in a gliding position, whether it’s an active edge or a passive edge, you should be able to stomp.” Nick […] Continue reading →
Flexed Toes – A Secret of Top Coaches (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna shares a controversial “secret” used by top coaches and top skaters. Common wisdom in skating has skaters constantly trying to point their toes. But as Nick explains, there are times where straightening the free leg is so important that flexing the toes is usually a better solution. Nick discusses this in detail, […] Continue reading →
Building a Double Toe Loop (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna gives a double toe loop lesson at a skating camp. Overall, this video provides a progression of exercises and drills any coach and skater can use to build a double toe loop. On the initial single toe loop, the skater doesn’t “kick through” very well, and the jump lacks height and flow. […] Continue reading →
Alignment Tip for Double Loop Jump (Nick Perna)

International coach Nick Perna works with a skater on her double loop. This is a short section of a much longer lesson, and this section offers a valuable tip for coaches and skaters. For skaters having trouble with alignment when working on double and triple loops, Nick recommends an entrance that starts from a standstill. The […] Continue reading →
Learn to “Flox” (Nick Perna)

In this very short video, Nick Perna is working with a skater on his air position. One of the most common similarities among elite skaters in terms of air position is a locked axis leg and a flexed axis foot in the air. Not all elite skaters do this, but a large percentage do, even […] Continue reading →
Drill For Teaching Jump Direction – The Disco Dance (Nick Perna)

International and World figure skating coach Nick Perna shares a drill he calls the “disco dance” which he uses to help skaters understand the concept of flow or flight direction in a jump. In the last video by Nick, he talked about a similar concept using a frisbee. Nick uses a demonstrator in this video to […] Continue reading →
Using a Frisbee to Discuss Jump Trajectory and Flow (Nick Perna)

International and World figure skating coach Nick Perna talks about jump trajectory and flow in the context of throwing a frisbee. Nick notes, “A jump is supposed to be moving through space, turning, and in a straight line, in an arc.” But a high percentage of developing skaters do not allow the energy of the jump […] Continue reading →
Teaching Turns Using “Hitchy Coo” – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

International and World figure skating coach Nick Perna continues his explanation of how he teaches turns for complete mastery. In the first part of this video, Nick showed how he teaches a forward outside three-turn on a straight line using what he calls a “hitchy coo.” In this video, he shows how the other 3-turns look […] Continue reading →
Teaching Turns on a Straight Line Using “Hitchy Coo” (Nick Perna)

International and World figure skating coach Nick Perna shares a method for teaching complete mastery of all one foot turns in figure skating. He does not introduce this at the Learn-to-Skate level, but after a skater has developed some level of control of the entrance and exit edges. He usually begins with the forward outside three […] Continue reading →
Edge Control With Turns (Nick Perna)

International and World figure skating coach Nick Perna explains and demonstrates a simple drill he uses to build edge control and complete mastery of turns. This video is a follow-up to his video on the Shut Up Drill. The concept of this drill is straightforward, but it can be incredibly challenging for all but the […] Continue reading →
Edge Control With the “Shut Up Drill” (Nick Perna)

International and World figure skating coach Nick Perna explains a very simple drill he uses to build edge control. This is a drill every figure skating coach has used at one point or another, but probably not with all the variations and detail that Nick does. The drill consists of simply gliding around a full […] Continue reading →
Alignment Drill, Part 2 – Edges and Turns (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna shares a drill related to the alignment drill on 2 feet with the feet crossed. This version of the drill is simple in concept, but it can be very challenging. It develops great awareness of the outside edges and helps many skaters with proper alignment for turns and edges. Nick […] Continue reading →
Alignment Drill – Mastering Feet Underneath (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna offers a set of drills intended to improve a skater’s alignment and get them comfortable with their feet under them. These drills fall under the category of “skating skills.” Alignment issues plaque skaters of every age and level so mastering these drills is important for all skaters. A large percentage […] Continue reading →
Back Outside Pivot – Basic Skills (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna continues his explanation of pivots. Check out Part 1 and Part 2. In this video, Nick discusses the back outside pivot. This pivot is typically learned in basic skills classes and it helps develop many important skating skills. As Nick notes, it’s helpful for building the body positioning and pivoting […] Continue reading →
Pivots – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna continues his explanation of pivots. You can see Part 1 of his presentation here. In this video, Nick begins by noting there are 8 different pivots in total. These are forward inside, back inside, forward outside, and back outside, on each foot making 8 total. Nick says, “I make sure […] Continue reading →
Pivots – Part 1 (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna explains how he teaches pivots. Nick thinks pivots are often overlooked because skaters usually learn them so early in the skating development process and coaches aren’t demanding about improving the positions. Also, even relatively advanced skaters typically do not work on pivots and some high level skaters have never even […] Continue reading →
More Edge and Blade Usage Drills Including Secret Double Axel Drill (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna provides a more advanced version of his Banana Drill on one foot. The inside edge version of this drill is easier, but skaters should master stopping on both inside and outside edges, and both when skating forward and backward. This drill is advanced because it requires not only excellent edge […] Continue reading →
Drill for Blade Usage, Alignment, and Balance on Turns (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna explains a drill he uses to help skaters develop balance, proper body alignment, and better blade usage in order to improve turns. The basic drill has the skater standing still on two feet, and while keeping both legs straight, marching in place like a tin soldier (hence Nick’s name for […] Continue reading →
Multi-purpose Skating Drills All Skaters Should Master (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna shares two very important drills. These exercises are deceptively difficult, and represent a clever way to develop important skating skills. Both of these drills benefit the skater in two major ways: The skater learns to fully control internal and external rotation of the hips in isolation, and The skater learns […] Continue reading →
Axel Edge Pressure – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach and jump specialist Nick Perna continues his discussion of the axel take-off edge. In Part 1, Nick shared the wall kick drill. In this video, he starts with a discussion of the hockey glide or hockey lunge as a tool for developing the axel take-off edge and the associated body position. Notice […] Continue reading →
Axel Edge Pressure – Part 1 (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna offers tips for skaters to improve their axel take-off edge. The take-off edge on the axel jump is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of figure skating. Nick explains that many skaters tend to lunge forward with their body and “they never really get underneath the jump.” Nick […] Continue reading →
Adult Figure Skating – Adult Leg Syndrome – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

World coach and adult figure skating advocate Nick Perna continues his discussion on correcting a common jump issue for adults that figure skate. He calls the problem “adult leg syndrome.” In Part 1, he discussed the problem and offered a wide range of solutions. In this video, Nick focuses on the concept of rotation on […] Continue reading →
Adult Figure Skating – Adult Leg Syndrome (Nick Perna)

World coach and adult figure skating advocate Nick Perna addresses a common jump problem for adults that figure skate. He calls it “adult leg syndrome” and it’s characterized by landing with the free foot to the side or behind the skating leg at the moment of landing impact. Nick notes that the free leg and […] Continue reading →
Loop Jump Development – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach Nick Perna continues his discussion about the process and drills he uses to develop the loop jump. In Part 1, he covered a quite a few drills including the Bread Drill, Backward Power Pulls with the free foot in front, and the Ace of Spades drill which are all intended to build […] Continue reading →
Loop Jump Development – Part 1 (Nick Perna)

In this figure skating video, coach Nick Perna discusses the process and drills he uses to develop the loop jump take-off edge. Typically a skater learns a waltz jump and a single salchow and a single toe loop before learning a loop jump. This makes the loop the first jump a skater learns that does […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jumps: On-Ice Air Turns – Part 3 (Nick Perna)

This video is the third and final part in a series with Nick Perna teaching an on-ice air turn class. In the previous two videos in the series Nick showed several very helpful jumping exercises for skaters (see Part 1 and Part 2). This video is focused on air turns that lead directly to the […] Continue reading →
Figure Skating Jumps: On-Ice Air Turns – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

The figure skating video below is the second in a series of videos covering on-ice air turns with Nick Perna. In part 1 Nick taught several air turn drills down a line to help skaters move jumps across the ice while jumping and remaining in control with the upper body. Nick begins this video by […] Continue reading →