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Meet Our Coaches
Iceland would like to introduce our professional staff of skating coaches!
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Michelle Bardeen
Michelle started skating at the age of 6 years old in Fairfax, VA. She competed in Regional, Eastern, National & international competitions for synchronized skating as a competitor. She passed both her junior moves and Freestyle 7 as well. Michelle has now been coaching for over 20 years and has professional membership with ISI with a silver judges' credential. She specializes in ISI (all levels), synchronized skating, and beginning USFSA. She has a MBA degree and experience working with children of all ages. |
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Delandra "DJ" Brokaw
DJ started skating right here at Iceland when she was 9 years old after her sister started playing hockey and continued to skate here until college. DJ attended Western Michigan University and earned a Bachelors in Exercise Science. While at WMU, DJ was a 4-year member of the Collegiate Synchronized Skating team, earning a National medal her senior year. DJ has passed her Senior Moves in the Field test, is USFSA compliant coach with Safesport training, an ISI Bronze level judge and also maintains her certification in CPR, AED and First Aid. DJ works with figure skaters and hockey players of all ages and levels and specializes in Moves in the Field, synchronized skating, power skating, and conditioning both on and off the ice. Outside of the rink, DJ is also a full time Recreation Counselor at LeafSpring School, working with children of all ages. |
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Kathleen Brown
Kathleen began skating at the age of 11 in Charlottesville, VA. As both a child and adult she has participated across many well-attended competitions. Leveraging her intensive training experiences with both National and Olympic level coaches, her competitions have included Regionals, Adult Sectionals, and Adult Nationals. Kathleen decided to follow her passions and develop skaters herself. She especially enjoys coaching skaters at the competitive level. Her coaching style is influenced by techniques that she developed from her coaches and while attending Grassroots to Champions, an intensive clinic that is taught by Olympic coaches Audrey Weisiger and Nick Perna. Further, her familiarity with both 6.0 and IJS judging systems serves as the foundation from which she designs choreography. Over the past 6 years her skaters have successfully competed up to the Regional level, with many medal placements at various competitions. Kathleen is a life-long student of the sport and is USFS CER Category A, an ISI Gold judge, as well as a member of Professional Skaters Association. At home, she enjoys spending time with her Husband and their 4 children. Additionally, she is a current Sport Management major at Old Dominion University. |
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Susan Howell
Susan started skating at a young age and trained in Lake Placid, New York, under national coaches. She has been coaching for over 44 years and is a
member of PSA and ISI with a gold level ISI Judge’s Certification. She is also a member of USFS. Shehas completed her Continuing Education Requirements (Level A), SafeSport Training, Learn-to-Skate Certification, and Special Olympics Coaches Certification. She works with Hockey Players and Figure Skaters (recreational, competitive, freestyle, dance, moves in the field, and power skating) of all ages & levels. Susan has a master's degree in education and a passion for skaters who are eager to learn. |
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Jeff Lubertazzi
Jeff started roller skating at the age of 13 right here in Virginia Beach. He competed in U.S. Roller Nationals and is gold level in Freestyle, Figures and Dance for roller skating. He is a 3-time national medalist (Silver & Bronze). As Jeff transitioned out of roller skating, he transitioned into ice skating. In ice skating, he competed at U.S. Adult Nationals and won 2 national titles. Jeff specializes in choreography, moves in the Field, and Freestyle (with a concentration in spins) for all levels and age groups. Jeff believes that passion and exercise are key in ice skating.
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Gail Thomas
Gail started skating in Ohio when she was 4 years old and has been coaching skating for 30 years. Gail has competed in many USFS competitions including Regionals, Tri-States, CRCs and many other invitational competitions in the Great Lakes Region including Canada. She teaches all levels and ages of skaters specializing in Freestyle, Moves in the Field and IJS Choreography. She is USFS trained in Freestyle, Figures, Dance and Moves In The Field. She maintains memberships with the Professional Skaters Association, United States Figure Skating and the Ice Sports Industry. She is PSA (Professional Skaters Association) rated in Freestyle and Moves in the Field. She is ranked Level III with the PSA, a lifetime achievement award for having a student compete in USFS Nationals. She is a Gold level Judge and Synchro Judge for ISI Competitions. Her former students have gone on to skate with Disney On Ice and she has several former students coaching Figure Skating. She has been the head coach for the Beach Blades Synchronized Skating Team for the past 4 years as well as Competition Director for the Azalea Competition for the past 5 years. Gail has completed her USFS Level A Certification Tests and Safesport Training. Her daughter also skated and coaches in the Baltimore area. She earned a BA Degree with Majors in Secondary Education, French and German. Her coaching philosophy is to help every student be the best they can be and love the ice as much as she does. |
Each coach is unique and
specializes in different areas.
Our entire staff of professional
coaches help with Learn to Skate
as well as offer private lessons.
For more information about our
coaches or private lessons,
please call us at 757-490-3999.
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