Where and when were you born?
Dec. 10, 1963 in Garfield Heights, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland).Anything you wish to share about your family and your childhood?
I have three siblings: older sister Terri, younger brother Tim and younger sister Tricia. We all have skated at one point in our lives.How did you begin skating?
I started skating when I was 7 and was so bad at it that I had to use double runner blades. All of my friends made fun of me so I didn't want to skate. I did not try skating until 3 years later when I went to an ISI learn-to-skate class with my sister on a snowy day. We lived about 2 miles from the rec center and my mom wouldn't take my sister to her class because she did not want to get the car stuck in the snow drifts. So I walked with her and the skating instructor, Betty Bosell, said that I should take a class since I was there and that very first day I caught up to my sister who had been taking lessons for 3 years. Somehow, my body was ready to skate. Betty called my dad and said I needed private lessons and he thought she meant my sister.Did anyone else in your family skate?
They all skate recreationally, including my parents.Who were your coaches?
Phil Racine was my first coach. I had a special bond with him. When he moved to Canada, I was crushed and it took some time for me to find another coach that I could relate to. I found that in Norma Sahlin.- Phil Racine (4 years)
- Ginny Luttenton (1/2 year)
- Sherry Marvin (1 year)
- David and Rita Lowery (1/2 year)
- Dick Rimmer (1 year)
- Johnny Johns (1/2 year)
- Terry Viviani (1/2 year)
- Nina Stark-Slapnik (1 year)
- Norma Sahlin (7 years)
Where did you train?
I trained in Cleveland for many years, but also went to Detroit and Cincinnati because they were so close to my home and had great coaches and skating programs. After I graduated from high school, I moved to Denver and trained their with Norma Sahlin.Highlights of your own skating career?
I won the Eastern Great Lakes Regional Junior Men Championship in 1979 and the Southwestern Regional Senior Men Championship in 1986. I competed at the US Nationals 6 times (Junior Men 1983; Senior Men 1985-1988; Senior Pairs 1985-partnered with Sheila Nobles).Why you began coaching?
I began coaching after I left the Disney on Ice show in 1991 in St. Joseph, Missouri.Your first students?
My first students were Ryan Bradley and Becky Bradley.Did you become a successful coach immediately?
In my first year of coaching, I had skaters medal in many different levels and events at the regional level.Your first successes?
Russell Sale and Megan Insco were my first two Junior National competitors. Russell competed in Juvenile Men and both he and Megan competed in Intermediate Pairs in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Stephen Demarest was my first Junior National Champion. He won Intermediate Men figures in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ryan Bradley was my first National Champion. He won Junior Men in Salt Lake City. He was also my first skater to qualify for the World Team.How do you make champions? How do you use the talent you have?
I think being talented is over-rated. Last year at the Champs Camp in Colorado Springs, John Nicks told the room filled with all our best skaters in every discipline that even though they were all talented, they were all not going to make it to the Olympics or to the top of the podium. He said that the hardest working talented skaters would reach the top. I really identified with what he said. I think that talent is common in every aspect of life--music, sports, education, politics, etc. What is unusual is disciplined talent. I think when a coach can teach a disciplined and talented skater--that is very rare and very rewarding.When I work with my athletes I use UCLA Basketball Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success as a guideline for their training.
A few years ago, I did some work with the Center for Creative Leadership and Steve Furman to identify my strengths and weaknesses as a person. I have worked hard since at trying to understand myself better. I think that has helped me be a better coach. I also think becoming a parent has helped me become a better coach.
Are you able to pick out talented skaters?
Yes, but I actually think anyone can spot a talented skater. I think there are many hundreds even thousands of talented skaters in our country. If you watch Junior Nationals on IceNetwork you can come to the same conclusion.Are you selective about who you accept as students?
Yes, I like skaters who want to work hard and be pushed both physically and mentally. I expect them to be respectful and cooperative. I also have certain rules that must be followed. I guess you can say that I favor a disciplined approach. Even though I create a culture for success that is disciplined, I can make exceptions when necessary and I think that my athletes and I have a lot of fun in the process of all the hard work we are doing.More About Tom Zakrajsek:
Contact Tom Zakrajsek at: tomzak1@msn.com
