Zawadzki Makes Coaching Change

[PRlady]

A relatively minor-level skater you might not have come across yet - Patrick Chan

He has a coach? I thought he sprang full-grown from the head of Zeus.

[RockTheTassel]

Thank you, Agnes, for having the sensibility that Rachael didn't regarding Tom Z.

I'm really excited to see how she does next season.

[chipso1]

Just noticed that there's no quote from Tom in the press release. Makes me wonder if it was a messy break-up...

Nonetheless, go Agnes!

[Debbie S]

Wow, this has been quite the off-season for coaching changes, and it's only June, lol. Good for Agnes, although it sounds a bit odd - she's staying in CO Springs but Santee is her head coach. I'm guessing she's staying put for school reasons (w/o checking her birthdate, I *think* she would be a senior in h.s. this coming year) and perhaps will make a physical move next summer. I look forward to seeing what her new coaches can do. She's got tons of talent, but her current situation just wasn't working.

Unless any of them have switched recently, he coaches Brandon Mroz, Max Aaron, David Wang, Alex Johnson, McKinzie Daniels, Jessica Pfund (all Nationals competitors)...

Based on her deteriorating performances last season, Pfund might do best to make a coaching change, too.

I think Alex Johnson is looking to switch to pairs - is he still doing singles?

[chipso1]

I think Alex Johnson is looking to switch to pairs - is he still doing singles?

I believe so, yes. He mentioned on Twitter this week about competing at the Broadmoor Open this month.

[just wondering]

Pfund would be wise to consider a move, as well. I do wonder why what used to be a good training environment for many skaters deteriorated rather quickly. Sure, Tom was never a Frank Carrol, who could produce the whole package, but at one point he had a stable of skaters who competed well and seemed happy. And certainly, Tom could have sought and still could seek out advisers or specialists to assist with the deficits in packaging, spins etc . . . Maybe I'm wrong, but to me, these moves appear to be deeper than just skating and packaging.

[maureenfarone]

He has a coach? I thought he sprang full-grown from the head of Zeus.

I wondered about his background

[ks777]

I don't know much about David Santee.. Krall is a jump specialist? I am thinking Agnes needs a good basic skating coach instead? David Santee is what kinda coach?

[maureenfarone]

I remember reading something awhile back about Agnes Z having a fairly difficult financial situation. Perhaps she needs to stay in Colorado Springs to finish high school and allow her parents (mother?) to get them situated back in Chicago. JMO.

[Vash01]

Agnes is very talented. I hope this change works for her.

[Sylvia]

David Santee was the interview subject of a manleywoman skatecast a few years ago: http://www.manleywoman.com/episode-10-david-santee/

ETA: Best of Chicago 2010: Sports and Recreation

ICE-SKATING COACH DAVID SANTEE A four-time silver medalist at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and two-time Olympian, David Santee now coaches competitive ice-skating six days a week, in both private lessons of 20 minutes or more and group classes on topics such as power skating or jumps. An internationally certified technical specialist, Santee teaches positively to increase skaters’ confidence—no old-school negative reinforcement. “I want skaters to be better people and better skaters,” Santee says. OAKTON ICE ARENA, 2800 W. OAKTON ST., PARK RIDGE

[Iceman]

I really don't see the benefit of this. Krall has always been available to her and how can David provide any significant coaching with him in Chicago and Agnes in Colorado? If they were so great together, why did she leave Santee in the first place?

[museksk8r]

double post!

[museksk8r]

Well, this is a good news development. I wish Agnes all the best with her coaching change!

Still in a million depressions over other recent developments though, especially regarding Caitlin and Paul.

[chipso1]

I really don't see the benefit of this. Krall has always been available to her and how can David provide any significant coaching with him in Chicago and Agnes in Colorado? If they were so great together, why did she leave Santee in the first place?

The benefit is that she's getting away from Tom and his misguided views of training and competition.

In addition, Krall is a jump specialist who can hopefully assist Agnes in developing greater consistency, fixing her slight lip, and adding 3/3 combinations to her repetoire.

If Agnes feels more comfortable with Santee in charge of her training versus having Zakrajsek as her coach, then more power to her.

[luenatic]

and adding 3/3 combinations to her repetoire.

Doesn't she already have 3T/3T?

[letsskate]

Doesn't she already have 3T/3T?

Yes, but maybe she wants to do 3F/3T or 3Lutz/3T, esp since how good her lutz is.

[chipso1]

Doesn't she already have 3T/3T?

Yes, but she's reportedly been working on 3Lz+3T's in practice for the past year. Hopefully Krall can help her make this combination competition-ready.

[FunnyBut]

I wish Agnes great success with her new coaches. I had wondered if their would be some budding rivalry with Agnes and Rachael contending for Nationals medals under the same coach, but now BOTH have left, so we'll never know.

And a for Patrick Chan, um, just because he is swoon-worthy and tangentially somewhat relevant to this thread

[victoriaheidi]

I remember reading something awhile back about Agnes Z having a fairly difficult financial situation. Perhaps she needs to stay in Colorado Springs to finish high school and allow her parents (mother?) to get them situated back in Chicago. JMO.

It's just her mother. I believe she lives with grandparents as well.

I assume (but can't be sure) that, unless she becomes an international superstar in the skating world and can basically go to any college she wants with tons of scholarships, she will likely consider colleges based on cost. Where is Santee? Is he near some good schools?