LENA BELOUSOVSKI

Head Coach, Junior Academy and StarSkate Development Director

Certified CanSkate Coach, Certified Regional Coach. Certified Master of Sports of International level in Figure Skating.

Six times Ukranian National Champion in pairs skating, multiple participations in European and World Figure Skating Championships, Olympics and Grand Prix.

Lena has skated her entire life. She competed at the Lillehammer Olympics at the age of 13 as a pair skater. Over the years, she became a Ukrainian champion multiple times, international medalist and later, after her retirement from the competition world, an ice show performer. Lena brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her, precision execution of elements and creative choreography.

You can watch her competition performances HERE:

Lena has been coaching for multiple years in Canada and coaches all levels.

Igor Koreshev

CanSkate Director & Club Program Coach – NCCP Level 3

Professional Qualifications

  • Ph.D in Sports Science 
  • NCCP Level 3 (National Coach Certified) – Singles, Ice Dance
  • NCCP Level 2 (Provincial Coach Certified) – Pairs
  • Former National and International competitor
  • National and International Figure Skating Coaching Experience
  • Over 40 years’ combined coaching experience in Canada (Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia) and former USSR
  • Coached Provincial (British Columbia, Saskatchewan), Divisionals (Skate Canada Challenge) and National competitors in Singles (Pre-Novice, Novice, Junior)
  • Coached Canadian National competitors in Senior, Junior and Pre-Novice Ice Dance, and Provincial championships (British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario, Quebec) medal winners
  • Coached members of USSR National Junior Figure Skating Team; worked with USSR World and Olympic Ice Dance Champions
  • Coached Estonian National Senior Ice Dance Champions, International competitors and Bronze medal winners (2006 ISU Pavel Roman Memorial, Czech Republic)
  • Coached skaters who successfully auditioned for and worked in professional figure skating shows in Europe and North America
  • Have students who passed Gold tests in Freeskate, Skills, and Artistic, and Diamond tests in Dance
  • Have many years’ experience in choreographing figure skating programs for freeskate, ice dance, artistic, and pair skating
  • Design, plan and conduct off-ice conditioning programs for figure skaters. 

Coaching Philosophy

I have always believed that coaching young people is a huge responsibility; not only are you teaching them the technical aspects of your sport, but you can also make a positive impact on their lives by teaching them important life skills, such as understanding the importance of health and fitness, evoking their interest in life-long participation in skating, perseverance, discipline, sportsmanship and many more. 

I see my role, as a coach, in helping skaters achieve individual goals: for CanSkaters – learn to skate, for STARSkaters and competitive skaters – passing their tests and perform to the best of their abilities at skating competitions. When I coach my students, I always remember that skaters of all ages learn best when they are engaged, challenged, motivated and having fun!

Laiken Richardson

CanSkate/Junior Academy/StarSkate Development Coach

Laiken Richardson has been skating at the Maple Ridge Skating Club since the age of 9. She started in the CanSkate program and has worked her way up through Junior Academy and Star Skate. Laiken has many years of competitive experience in Freeskate, Artistic, and Synchronized Skating. In 2022, she represented British Columbia at the Skate Canada Synchronized Skating National Championships. 

Laiken continues to compete in Freeskate and Artistic events, and is hoping to add another Synchro Nationals to her skating career in 2023. She is also hoping to compete at an international level for synchronized skating. 

Laiken is currently a CanSkate coach and aiming to complete her Regional NCCP in the near future. She is graduating high school in June 2022 and is looking forward to continuing her skating and coaching career next year. Laiken loves coaching because of the strong bonds that she makes with the skaters. She wishes to give the skaters an amazing experience and help them grow into strong, confident athletes. Laiken is excited to be a part of the MRSC coaching team and looks forward to contributing to the growth of the Club.

Angelique Bergheim

Club Program Coach

Hayley Galati

Ballet/Dance Instructor