Coaches and Board

Violetta Afanasieva and Pete Dack are joining the Skate Muskoka family as coaches for the 2021-22 skating season.

Growing up in Russia and Canada, Violetta Afanasieva and Pete Dack competed at the National level in both singles and pairs events, wowing audiences with their signature combination of figure skating and gymnastics. They have toured the globe extensively in events like “Battle of the Blades,” Eugeni Plushenko‘s “Golden Ice of Stradivari,” Shizuka Arakawa‘s “Christmas On Ice,” and Katarina Witt‘s “Enjoy the Stars” tour. In 2006 they won the first ever “Extreme Ice Skating World Championships” in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Elizabeth Piper-Beane has been a professional figure skating coach in the Muskoka region for over 30 years. Her Bachelor of Physical and Health Education (BPHE) and her accomplishments as a skater and coach demonstrate a unique and highly refined skillset that has been a huge hit with both her recreational and competitive skaters.

Coach Liz is a crucial asset to our unique “team coaching” environment and has a great deal of experience sharing her knowledge in each of the skating disciplines.

She is an NCCP Level 2 provincially certified coach as well as a full-time school teacher. Throughout her tenure, she has coached skaters to “Quad Gold” achievement and to compete in the Ontario Provincial championships. Email Coach Liz

Christine Whyte was born and raised in Toronto and grew up skating all over the GTA. She knew very early into her skating career that she wanted to coach.

While still competing as an ice dancer, she started working with younger skaters and partnering dance tests. She has a passion to teach and took that passion into her own education. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a Master of Science Degree in Education.

She is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers as well as the College of Early Childhood Educators. This will be her 19th season as a Skate Canada Professional Coach and she holds a National Coach-In-Training certification.

Coach Christine looks forward to continuing her education and expanding her knowledge both on and off of the ice. “People who aren’t skaters, don’t understand the courage it takes to be one.” – Unknown Email Coach Christine