Local figure skating coach shares her knowledge
“Coaching for about 30 years brings a certain kind of joy that can‘t be described”
Local figure skating coach, Ms Susan Marais, has been part of the figure skating community for more than 40 years.
In 2018 the SA School of Skating (SASS) was formed with her daughter, Lejeanne Hennessy, who happens to be a six-time Senior Women’s South African champion and a world competitor.
They are licensees of Flexafit South Africa, a Canadian sport-specific off-ice training program.
They have since produced three very successful ice shows with the Ice Spectacular national skaters.
“Our intentions at SA School of Skating are to build a solid figure skating foundation with correct technique and form in a safe group environment. We are here to help skaters have fun, keep fit and healthy, stay focused and disciplined and one day realise their dreams of becoming the best that they can be,” Ms Marais said.
This mother-and-daughter team is extremely excited to share their years of knowledge and experience with young skaters as they continue looking forward to making everlasting memories for many families, who will be able to look back in years to come, and say, “those were the best days of our life”.
Ms Marais has had the most amazing journey with this figure skating.
From being part of the first athletes to be allowed to compete in the SA Games in 1986, known as a rebel international event during the apartheid days, for which she received her Springbok colours, to becoming an international coach.
She received full Protea colours from SASCOC in recognition of her numerous skaters that have competed in Junior and Senior World Championships and Four Continents Championships over the years.
She has been coaching for more than 30 years and her passion and joy just keeps increasing.
“We have participated in two Winter Universidad’s, which are the equivalent to the Winter Olympics, but it is only for elite athletes around the world that are full-time students at a certified university.”
Looking back, Ms Marais still remembers when she stepped onto the ice at the age of nine after she joined the Simba Skating Club.
A British figure skating champion, Marion Leslie, who had moved to South Africa and began coaching here, spotted her talent.
“My once a week training turned into six days a week and my relationship with figure skating went to a whole new level.
“I want to give my skaters the same experience.”
