About Christy Ness

I have been involved in skating from the age of four when I first put skates on my feet at Berkeley Iceland in Berkeley, California where I lived. I started on a regular basis taking lessons at seven and from then on began testing and competing.  I won and placed at the Regional level quite easily, but then was somewhat unprepared to compete at a higher level.  I did skate at the US Nationals at the Novice level, but only gained 4th place in Juniors at Sectionals, which in those days did not go onto Nationals.  I competed at the Senior level, but again after qualifying for the Sectionals did not get that third spot for Nationals.  It was then that I enrolled at UC Berkeley where I graduated in Sociology, while also starting my coaching career.

I already loved skating, but I also became excited about teaching skaters the best technique that could take them as far as they wanted to go in skating. A year and a half after my graduation from UC Berkeley I had my first pupil win Sectionals and go onto US Nationals.  The next year I had my first skater place at the US Nationals. In order to advance my coaching I attended every seminar, PSA Conference, and any competition I could in order to learn. It is completely different to be a

skater than a coach  where you need to analyze different skaters with different parameters and abilities while helping them achieve success.  As a young coach, my vacations were going to the World Championships and watching every practice and competition that I could. I went with tour groups and did get to see some major cities in Europe and there was always some fun as well. Those “vacations” were fortuitous as the next year I had a skater competing (and winning)at the Senior level International level.  I coached International and National skaters in the SF Bay Area for 19 years. I moved to Canada with my husband where I coached at the Royal Glenora Club for 7 years, where I helped former pupils and new international champions. A groups of my pupils came up for the Summer to work with me and one of them, Kristi Yamaguchi, stayed on to train at the Glenora.  It was there that she spent her last two and a half years training before her 1992 Olympic Gold Medal in Albertville. In 1995, an opportunity came up to become the Figure Skating Director at a new rink in the SF Bay Area. I was interested to direct a competitive program and a skating school where the next generation of skaters could learn, grow, and succeed.

The rink went through another management change ( there had been over 6 different management groups in the 6 years of operation), so I stepped back from skating and concentrated on my family’s needs. I was Andrew’s Administrative Manager at his office until he retired in 2022. I had done some coaching since 2007, but only when a coach or skater would ask me for help.  I was able to work with Polina Edmunds both before and after the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.  Her coach, David Glynn would try to make it up to sit in on her lessons if he could.   I found I really enjoy being a consultant as well as working both with skaters and their coaches.  It is invaluable to have the coach be there and understand what I am saying and why.  I am hoping to reach more skaters and help them unlock their hidden potential in skating.

Coaching History

  • Primary Coach for over 35 years

  • Coached and developed National Medalists and Champions since 1977 both in Canada and the U.S.

  • Coached and developed International Medalists and Champions since 1979

Coaching Journey

  • Coached at 8 World Championships (skaters from US, Canada, Taiwan, Switzerland)

  • Coach at 3 Winter Olympic games (1988 Calgary, 1992 Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer)

Most Decorated Pupil

  • Kristi Yamaguchi 1991-1992  World Champion, 1992 Olympic Champion, 1992 US Ladies Champion.

Future Goals

I have always enjoyed skating and the “kids’ or adults who’ve the sport.  I work to instill in my pupils the passion and drive to reach their potential. I want to be able to pass on my knowledge, expertise, attention to detail, as well as the excitement to skaters in order to help them unlock their full talent.