Episode 4: Amy Hanson-Kuleszka

posted on: June 10, 2019
author: Brian Lomax, Ed.D.

On this episode of the PerformanceXtra podcast, I talk to Amy Hanson-Kuleszka, a figure skating coach in the Boston, MA area.  Figure skating is an incredibly difficult sport, and Amy is one of the best coaches around.  But Amy is more than a figure skating coach.  She’s a valuable mentor for her students, and she has developed a whole-person approach to her coaching philosophy that helps her students on and off the ice.  In this conversation, we discuss Amy’s background in the sport as a participant and as a coach, and we delve into the mental challenges associated with this sport.  As you’ll hear in this conversation, it’s not easy.

Here is Amy’s official bio:

Raised by a skating coach mother & a rink-managing father, Amy has been skating since age 2 1/2.  Throughout her amateur career, Amy won numerous medals at Opens & Interclubs, participated at several Regional Championships & competed Internationally with NSSC’s Precision (Synchro.) Team.  Representing NSSC and performing in several Ice Spectaculars as an amateur, Amy returned to NSSC to begin coaching full-time after graduating with a BA in English in 1994. 

Throughout her professional career, Amy has devoted many hours apprenticing with some of the sport’s most accomplished coaches including Frank Carroll.  Traveling with students to training camps like Ice Castles, the University of Delaware and Lake Placid provided coach & skaters with invaluable learning experiences as well as inspiration and motivation. 

A firm believer in the value of off-ice conditioning & ballet, Amy has worked closely with a variety of off-ice performance enhancement specialists.  Collaborating with the Marblehead School of Ballet, Amy developed “The Art of the Program Walk-Through”, a workshop designed to strengthen skaters’ mental, physical & emotional performance preparation.  Also on staff at the Colonial Figure Skating Club, Amy received the Choreographer’s Award for her group number in Ice Crystals 2006.

For over 20 years, Amy has coached all levels of skating -beginners through National competitors.  She coached a 3-time Junior National competitor, 3-time Regional medalist, medalists in final rounds at Boston Open, Cranberry Open, & numerous medalists at the State Games of America.  In addition to her competitor’s success, Amy earned her Master Rating in Moves in the Field through the Professional Skaters Association.  She also has a Senior Rating in Freestyle, passed the Master level exam in Sports Science, & has a Level III (Jr. National) Ranking. As the Professional Skaters Association Area Representative for 4 years, Amy kept all area coaches updated on rule changes, technical clarifications & served as a liaison to the PSA.  Whether it’s choreographing a program, teaching tots, or mentoring a new coach, Amy’s goal is to empower each athlete to maximize his/her fullest potential.

If you are interested in working with Amy, you can find her coaching at the North Shore Skating Club in Reading, MA, the Colonial FSC in Acton, MA or at Essex Sports Center in Middleton.  In addition to teaching private figure skating lessons to recreational and competitive figure skaters, Amy also works with hockey players to develop better edge quality & power.