The following are coaches that are available for lessons at Orange County SportsPlex and help our CCSC members, many who primarily skate at the SP. Coach biographies are being added on a rolling basis – the full list may be found through OCSP’s website.
Name: Ellen Bennett
Email: ellen.bennett@duke.edu
Cell: (919) 616-3220
Coaching Facilities: Orange County Sportsplex (primary), Hillsborough, NC; WCC (Friday afternoons), Morrisville, NC
Years Coaching: 25 years
Personal skating background: I was born in Montreal, Canada and first started skating as a young child on outdoor rinks. I began taking skating lessons when I was 8 continuing until I began University. After graduate school, I moved to North Carolina and resumed skating as an adult and coaching at the CCSC in Hillsborough, NC
Education: PhD, Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Skating Experience: USFSA Adult Gold Medalist Skating Skills; USFSA Pre-Silver Dance; Skate Canada Junior Silver Free Skate; Women’s Intramural Hockey (McGill University)
Name: Elizabeth Curtiss-Cabell
Email: ecurtiss48@gmail.com
Cell: 336-207-2552
Coaching Facilities: Orange County SportsPlex, Greensboro Ice House
Years Coaching: Over 30 years
Personal skating background: Elizabeth had an extensive competitive career. She started skating in freestyle and finished her competitive career as an ice dancer. She was a competitor in the Eastern
and Pacific Coast Championships and a US National competitor in Senior dance. Elizabeth is a double gold medalist. She was also a hockey player in the highest competitive women’s league on the east coast.
Education: PhD in education
Disciplines coached: Elizabeth specializes in coaching skaters of all ages in the areas of ice dance, Skating Skills (Moves in the Field), and spins. She has coached multiple students through their gold tests in the areas of partner dance, solo dance, solo free dance, partner free dance, skating skills (moves in the field), and freestyle tests. She has had dance and single skaters at the regional, sectional, and junior national competitions. Elizabeth loves working with her skaters on achieving their goals in a positive and encouraging way.
Association memberships: PSA ratings in the areas of ice dance and Skating Skills (Moves in the Field)
Name: Renee Kramer Di Gangi
Email: renee.k.digangi@gmail.com
Coaching Facilities: Orange County SportsPlex
Years Coaching: 12 years
Personal skating background: Individual freestyle through junior level, skating skills through senior, ice dance through gold, synchronized skating, including 3 time eastern sectional champions, 3 national medals (at the collegiate University of Delaware Synchronized Skating Team), 2010 3rd in the country, 2012 2nd and 2013 2nd
Education: Duke University Masters of Environmental Management
Disciplines coached: Skating skills, freestyle, ice dance; has coached adult skaters, gold medalists in skating skills and ice dance
Association memberships: USFA
Name: Mary Catherine McKee
Email: mcmckee261@gmail.com
Coaching Facilities: Orange County SportsPlex, and only in the early mornings M-F.
Years Coaching: 21 years
Personal skating background: I began skating in the Learn to Skate Program at the Sportsplex not long after it first opened its doors. I competed in singles and was on the very first synchronized skating team in Hillsborough. I began coaching while in high school and never stopped.
Education: Bachelors Degree from Meredith College
Disciplines coached: Skating skills, singles, choreography; all ages and abilities. I pride myself on finding an individualized path for each student, whether that is testing, competing, or just for fun. I’ve been with skaters from their very first test all the way through their gold medal skating skills.
Association memberships: PSA, USFSA
Name: Gina Moser
Email: ginamoser8@gmail.com
Coaching Facilities: Orange County SportsPlex
Years Coaching: 2 years of Private Coaching Experience
Personal skating background: Grew up with the Washington FSC and The University of Delaware FSC; Senior Moves in the Field, International Ice Dances, Pre-Gold Free Dance and Novice Freestyle; University of Delaware Collegiate Synchronized Skating Team, 4 years – 2013 National Silver Medalist, 2012 National Silver Medalist, 2010 National Bronze Medalist, 4-time Eastern Regional Gold Medalist
Disciplines coached: Works with kids and adults on Skating Skills, Freestyle, Ice Dance, Basic Skills, Choreography
Association memberships: PSA & USFSA Certified Coach
Junior Coaches
Name: Lorissa Zhou
Coaching Facilities: OCSP
Email: lorissazhou06@gmail.com
Years Coaching: LTS for three years, private for one year
Personal skating background: Gold Medalist in skating skills, free skate, partnered pattern dance, solo pattern dance, and solo free dance. Competed in free skates levels No-test through Novice. Competed in pre-silver (2nd in Eastern section, 8th at nationals) and gold level (3rd in Eastern section, 7th at nationals) solo pattern dance.
Education: Senior at East Chapel Hill High School
Disciplines coached: Ice dance and singles; experience in basic 1-6 and free skate levels
Association memberships: USFSA member