Michelle Leigh is a three-time Olympic Team Coach, in 1992, 1998, and 2002.  She's coached at 14 World Championships and 25 Canadian Championships.  She's also coached at over 55(!) international events including 4 European Championships.  Michelle was the 1998 Ontario Female Coach of the Year and she's received the Skate Canada Coaching Award of Excellence.  Michelle is also a professional speaker and she's presented at seminars for over 23 years.  She's also been heavily involved in organizational activities within the sport, serving on a number of important committees and councils.

Michelle teaches at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ontario (Canada).  She is probably most well known as one of the primary coaches of World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Elvis Stojko.  She also coached two-time World Bronze Medalist Takeshi Honda and six-time Canadian Champion Jennifer Robinson.

Michelle specializes in Jump Analysis and Progression, Dartfish, IJS, Program Adjustments, Athletic Management, and Mental Training.  She has done extensive study and research on creating success and developing the champion mindset.  She has also assisted numerous coaches with their careers.

Here's what Elvis Stojko said about Michelle, "Michelle has the ability to keep things positive no matter what is going on around us. Her energy and attitude is what makes the difference when working with her and she keeps things in perspective. The positive energy she puts into the task is what is seen in the final product."

Having worked with Michelle for just a few days putting together videos for this website, I agree that she has an amazing positive energy and attitude, not to mention a keen eye and a skill for seeing the big picture.  She has a wealth of knowledge and is eager and willing to share it with others.

Please leave a comment below in appreciation of Michelle's willingness to share her knowledge and insights about skating and coaching.

Most recent videos at the top...

	Michelle Leigh shares a helpful exercise for skaters working on double and triple jump combinations where a toe loop is the second (or third) jump.  This short video has a skater demonstrating the drill with Michelle doing a voiceover.
	Michelle Leigh explains how she introduces the lutz jump.  This video offers important drills and concepts to ensure that skaters learn the lutz using a strong outside edge.  Building the jump in steps is the key and Michelle covers all the basics.
	Michelle Leigh offers 3 important exercises to help build triple jumps from doubles.  In these drills, Michelle is focused on improving take-off control, increasing landing quickness, and ensuring ankle contact.  Great video and important for all coaches and skaters working on triples.
	Michelle Leigh introduces the flip jump.  Michelle builds the jump using a series of exercises and drills and she focuses heavily on head position and control as well as arm and leg timing.  Another brilliant presentation with additional video notes.
	Michelle Leigh explains how she teaches the loop jump.  This is one of the most thorough explanations of the jump you'll ever see.  Michelle covers all important aspects of the jump.  This is a very important video!
	Michelle Leigh discusses how to build a single toe loop into a double toe loop.  Michelle focuses on several simple movements that are critical for success.  Watch and don't just listen to this video.
	Michelle Leigh continues her discussion of toe loop and the various entrances for it.  Michelle offers 5 different entrances and explains exactly how and why she would use each.  Also, hear her explanation for typical triple and quad toe entrances.
	Michelle Leigh introduces the toe loop.  This video clip is one of the most important on the entire website because the information that Michelle shares is basic but not common knowledge.  Every skater and coach should know and apply this information.
	Michelle Leigh discusses how she develops the double salchow from the single.  Although the basic concept here is very simple, there's tons of information in this short video.
	Michelle Leigh shares a "stomach ache" exercise to improve the salchow which can also be used on other jumps.  This drill keeps the shoulders in line and builds awareness of movement and head and arm position/movement.
	Michelle Leigh explains how she teaches the salchow.  This is a fantastic video packed with important insights and drills.  If all coaches painstakingly taught this jump the way Michelle describes it, our skaters would be much more effective.
	Michelle Leigh discusses the similarities and differences between the waltz jump and axel and double and triple axel.  Michelle is making the point that proper technique must be learned right from the start on the waltz jump.
	Michelle Leigh gives a warm-up drill that incorporates the helicopter exercise and walleys.  Michelle discusses what to look for in the drill and she explains why the drill is important.
	Michelle Leigh discusses the axel preparation edge.  Michelle suggests a helpful exercise and offers insights into this overlooked aspect of the axel.
	Michelle Leigh discusses core strength as it relates to multi-rotation jumps.  Michelle offers exercises and drills to help improve skater strength and quickness for landing double axels and triples.  The final exercise also applies to double jumps.
	Michelle Leigh continues the axel lesson from below.  In this video, Michelle focuses on axel take-off mechanics as she works with the skater to develop a double axel.  To make important changes, she reverts back to an easy "part axel" exercise.
	Michelle Leigh explains how she teaches a walley jump.  This video shows how Michelle starts the jump and progresses through to it's completion.  She also discusses why the walley is important for all skaters to learn (and why it's hard for many skaters).
	Michelle Leigh gives an axel lesson.  In this video, we sit in on an actual lesson.  The skater's natural tendency is to not step up into the jump.  Michelle gives many solutions to this common problem.
	Michelle Leigh discusses how she develops the axel from the waltz jump.  This video is a continuation of Michelle's discussion of waltz jump below.  This video is jam packed with information.
	Michelle Leigh continues her discussion of the waltz jump.  In this video, Michelle focuses on the step, with emphasis on head position and placement.
	Michelle Leigh explains how she teaches the waltz jump and how it relates to the axel.   There's tons of great information in this video.  The explanations she provides to help young skaters understand are fabulous.  She also provides drills to help skaters get ready for axel.
	Michelle Leigh shares some of the exercises she uses to teach the lutz.  She wants her skaters to have a strong sense of the outside edge and these drills develop this for the skater.  When done correctly, the drills also add power to the edge.
	Michelle Leigh discusses the importance of foot contact for proper jump air position.  She provides a drill to help the skater understand and apply this concept.  This is a common theme among elite coaches that we can all learn from.
	Michelle Leigh shows the "plexi-glass exercise" for head stabilization on jumps.  This drill is one of the most effective drills for fixing head issues and is one of the best drills on this website.  Also, see how Michelle uses Dartfish in her lessons to emphasize and reinforce the ideas she's trying to get across.
	Michelle Leigh discusses the Helicopter Exercise.  Michelle uses this drill to work on her skater's body alignment and movement prior to jumping.  There's also some hidden gems in this video so watch and listen carefully.
	Michelle Leigh discusses arm movements and positions for jumping, especially for loop, flip and lutz.  Michelle shares a tip for checking your skater's timing in flip and lutz and she explains arm movement during the entire jumping motion.  This is an awesome video!
	Michelle Leigh demonstrates some general concepts for jumps.  Michelle shows position and movement for head, shoulders, hips and arms.  She also focuses on air position and she describes the take-off direction for the backward entrance jumps.
	Michelle Leigh discusses one of the most overlooked aspects of jumping:  head position during take-off.  Listen to Michelle's comments to understand why such a high percentage of elite skaters use the head in this manner.  This WILL help your skaters.