Northfield Skating School

Our coaching staff includes regional and national athletes and long-time recreational skaters from around the nation. Instructors are hired for their skill, enthusiasm, professionalism, and desire for ongoing development. All staff is professionally trained. Being an NSS coach means much more than teaching skating skills: It means being a role model, a team member, and having an active voice in our organization.

Our Core Values: QUALITY ~ COMMUNITY ~ COMMITMENT ~ LEADERSHIP ~ ENTHUSIASM

Our Team

Jump to bios:

• Carey Tinkelenberg, Founding Owner/Director
• Kelly Gulbrandson, Assistant Director, Skating Instructor
• Sophia Kissin, Skating Instructor
• Sasha Zerin, Skating Instructor
• Amber Barksdale, Skating Assistant
• Elizabeth Penny, Skating Assistant
• Alicia Reuter, Skating Assistant
• Emma Sayner, Skating Assistant
• Anna Sheehan, Skating Assistant
  
  Hear it from the coaches:

  NSS is my sanctuary, my home away from home, and my favorite part of the week. Let me tell you why. NSS connects me with kids of all ages, parents and families, other college students, Northfield businesses and resources and combines all into a unique and vibrant community. Coaching allows me to share my knowledge and love for skating while empowering the skaters to be leaders. Every Sunday afternoon is a new opportunity for the skaters´ energy to revitalize, renew and rejuvenate me.
  - Michaela McLaughlin, Skating Instructor 2006-2012, Assistant Director 2009-2012

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Carey Tinkelenberg Founding Owner Executive Director Head Coach Carey is a U.S. Figure Skating Double Gold Medalist and a PSA Master Rated Program Director, Senior Rated Group Instructor, and a Registered coach in Freestyle and Moves in the Field. Carey began skating in a USFS Basic Skills Program at age 6. She trained with Olympic Committee Developmental Coaches of the Year Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson, and with Kate McManus at the Colonial Figure Skating Club in Acton, MA and the Skating Club of Boston. She was the 2010 U.S. Adult National Silver Medalist in Masters Pairs with Peter Biver and the 1998 New England Regional Silver Medalist. She was also a national competitor with The Colonials synchronized skating team. Carey has danced since age 8 (ballet, modern, and jazz) and has been a dance instructor and choreographer for Phillips Academy in Andover, MA and for various groups in southern MN. Carey has coached numerous recreational and competitive skaters ranging from beginner through Senior level skaters. Carey earned her B.A. in Psychology from Carleton College and established the Northfield Skating School in 2005. She has written articles about leadership and management for SKATING Magazine, Professional Skater Magazine, and RINK Magazine and she has delivered presentations at national and international skating conferences on behalf of U.S. Figure Skating and the Professional Skaters Association. In 2008 she was selected as a member of U.S. Figure Skating’s Basic Skills Subcommittee and serves as a mentor to directors and author of national handbooks and training programs. In addition to skating and dance, Carey loves music, yoga, cooking, writing, and traveling.

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Kelly Gulbrandson Assistant Director, Skating Instructor Kelly started skating when she was 3 years old and joined the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club at the age of 6. She started competing when she was 7 and continued to skate and compete until graduating high school. While in high school she worked as an instructor for Albert Lea’s Learn to Skate program and assisted coaches for the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club. She took a break from figure skating while completing her Doctor of Pharmacy at Drake University in Des Moines, IA. She currently works as a Pharmacist at Hy-Vee Pharmacy in Faribault. Kelly is currently a member of the St. Paul Figure Skating Club and is working on her Adult U.S. Figure Skating tests.

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Anna Sheehan Skating Instructor Anna Sheehan is a senior in high school attending the Northfield School of Arts and Technology. Anna started skating 5 years ago with the Northfield Skating School, and loves the physical, mental and artistic challenges that figure skating provides. Anna has enjoyed being given the opportunity to be an assistant coach during previous skating season, and loves working with the children and the other coaches.

Sophia Kissin Skating Instructor

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Sasha Zerin Skating Instructor Sasha has been figure skating for 18 years. She has passed her Senior (Gold) Moves in the Field test and is currently working on her Junior Free Skate test. She has been a member of the Eagan Ice Crystal Figure Skating Club since 2003. Sasha has been teaching at the Eagan Skate School since 2006, and enjoys working with skaters of all ages and abilities. Sasha teaches off-ice conditioning classes for the Eagan Ice Crystal Figure Skating Club. She has also been a presenter at several area skating camps and seminars, instructing primarily in off-ice conditioning and nutrition. Sasha is a student at the University of St. Thomas and expects to graduate in the Spring of 2013 with a degree in Health Promotion and a minor in Community Health Education. She also enjoys running, yoga, and spending time with her younger brother and sister on the ice.

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Amber Barksdale Skating Assistant Amber is currently a junior at Northfield High School, and has been with NSS since the very beginning. Skating combines two things Amber loves doing: physical activity and art. She has been in shows at Shattuck St. Mary’s and also likes to skate with friends. This will be her first year as an assistant. Other activities Amber is involved in includes: Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival, Speech, Ultimate Frisbee, Youth In Government, piano, choir and directing the One Act Plays.

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Elizabeth Penny Skating Assistant Lizzy is 15 years old and a sophomore at Northfield High School. She has been skating for five years and began with NSS. After taking a group lessons for a few sessions, she began adding private lessons with NSS Director Carey Tinkelenberg. She had the opportunity to join the St. Paul Figure Skating Club and has had the chance to compete, skate in shows, and take many different classes. Elizabeth is a USFS Regional Championships competitor and was a finalist at the 2013 Minnesota State Championships, placing within the top 15 skaters in her division in the state. When she’s not skating she likes to hang out with her friends, read, and spend time outside.

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Alicia Reuter Skating Assistant Alicia Reuter has loved figure skating for as long as she can remember, and held Tara Lipinski as her skating idol when she watched her win the Olympic gold medal in fourth grade. Alicia got back into figure skating with the Northfield Skating School after she graduated from St. Olaf. She now works at the Rice County Historical Society and is pursuing her Masters of Library Science degree.

Emma Sayner Skating Assistant Emma is currently a junior at the Northfield High School. She has been figure skating at the Northfield Skating School for the past five years, and has always admired the beauty of the sport of figure skating. Emma also enjoys performing in local skating competitions. In her second year as an assistant coach, Emma hopes to combine her enthusiasm for working with young children, figure skating, and fitness. Emma’s other interests include her cross country team, downhill skiing, and playing the piano and clarinet.

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Interested in joining our team? Contact Carey!

Interested in taking private lessons with one of our coaches? Contact Us to make a request!