Katy Jo West was a highly competitive figure skater for nearly 15 years. When she was 16, former NHL player and current Tier 1 coach Doug Smail asked West to take part in teaching edges to the players in his annual summer power skating camp and that’s where her passion for coaching power skating started. Today West runs Katy Jo Power Skating, which offers on-ice sessions, virtual learning, coaches certification and more.

What sets West apart from others in her field is twofold: her genuine passion for finding common ground with her athletes and building lifelong bonds, and her pink overalls and bubbly personality.

As West explains in her 12-minute TCS Live presentation, the relationship between teacher and student has to be about much more than skating and hockey for it to help the athlete become a better person.

“Find common ground, show genuine interest in their aspirations, even in life outside of the rink,” said West. “This is where we talk about their workouts, school, other sports or hobbies they play, besides hockey. I really like to make that connection, with my athletes. Then this connection becomes lifelong bonds.”

As you’ll see in her presentation, West has a bubbly personality that she has learned to embrace. She is also known for wearing bright pink overalls when teaching, which makes her standout even more. She explains that authenticity has helped her connect with athletes in a way she never expected.

When West and her athletes are on the same page, she helps transform them into dynamic players. The hockey world has taken notice.

“Katy blends her own experience, and techniques she acquired as a competitive figure skater, to provide her athletes with not only fundamental skating skills, but a skating foundation that enables them to become truly dynamic players,”said Aaron Wilbur, The Coaches Site Founder. “By making her training fun and engaging, for beginners all the way to pros, Katy has quickly become an industry leader when it comes to equipping players with the tools to compete in an increasingly fast paced game.”

Noteworthy timestamps:

• 00:35 Journey from figure skater to hockey coach
• 03:00 Building trust and relatability
• 04:10 The 3 C’s
• 07:15 Typical session for younger/advanced athletes
• 11:00 Your inspirations for coaching