Tom Zakrajsek
Encyclopedia
Tom Zakrajsek is an American
figure skating
coach and former competitive skater. As a skater, he competed as a senior on the national level.
He coaches at the Broadmoor Skating Club
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
.
. He won the Eastern Great Lakes Regional Junior Men Championship in 1979 and the Southwestern Regional Senior Men Championship in 1986. He competed at the U.S. Nationals 6 times. He also competed once in senior pair skating
with Sheila Nobles at 1985 Nationals. After retiring from competition, he toured with Disney on Ice.
, and later moved to the Broadmoor Skating Club
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
.
He currently coaches 2009 US National Silver Medalist Brandon Mroz
and 2011 US National Junior Gold Medalist Max Aaron
.
He formerly coached 2009 and 2010 US National Champion Jeremy Abbott
; 2010 Olympian and 2010 US National Champion Rachael Flatt
; 2011 US National Champion Ryan Bradley
(for 22 years); 2010 World Junior silver medalist Agnes Zawadzki
(from 2008 to 2011); 2008 US Junior Champion Alexe Gilles
; 2007 US National Junior silver medalist Austin Kanallakan
; and 2002 Junior World Champion Ann Patrice McDonough
.
Zakrajsek was named the 2009 PSA Coach of the Year. He was nominated for the award in 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
coach and former competitive skater. As a skater, he competed as a senior on the national level.
He coaches at the Broadmoor Skating Club
Broadmoor Skating Club
The Broadmoor Skating Club is a figure skating club based in Colorado Springs, Colorado that has long been a major training center for the sport of figure skating. Founded in 1939, it was originally known as the Pikes Peak Skating Club, and was based in the Broadmoor World Arena on the grounds of...
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
.
Skating career
Zakrajsek began skating at age 7, but stopped and only came back to the sport three years later. He competed mostly in single skatingSingle skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...
. He won the Eastern Great Lakes Regional Junior Men Championship in 1979 and the Southwestern Regional Senior Men Championship in 1986. He competed at the U.S. Nationals 6 times. He also competed once in senior pair skating
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
with Sheila Nobles at 1985 Nationals. After retiring from competition, he toured with Disney on Ice.
Coaching career
Zakrajsek began coaching in 1991 in Saint Joseph, MissouriSaint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph is the second largest city in northwest Missouri, only second to Kansas City in size, serving as the county seat for Buchanan County. As of the 2010 census, Saint Joseph had a total population of 76,780, making it the eighth largest city in the state. The St...
, and later moved to the Broadmoor Skating Club
Broadmoor Skating Club
The Broadmoor Skating Club is a figure skating club based in Colorado Springs, Colorado that has long been a major training center for the sport of figure skating. Founded in 1939, it was originally known as the Pikes Peak Skating Club, and was based in the Broadmoor World Arena on the grounds of...
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
.
He currently coaches 2009 US National Silver Medalist Brandon Mroz
Brandon Mroz
Brandon Mroz is an American figure skater. He is the 2009 U.S. silver medalist and the 2006 & 2007 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist. He has the record of the first skater to complete a quadruple lutz jump in a sanctioned competition.-Personal life:Brandon Mroz was born in St. Louis,...
and 2011 US National Junior Gold Medalist Max Aaron
Max Aaron
Max Aaron is an American figure skater. He is the 2011 U.S. national junior champion.- Career :Aaron began skating as a hockey player at age four and later switched to figure skating at age nine....
.
He formerly coached 2009 and 2010 US National Champion Jeremy Abbott
Jeremy Abbott
Jeremy Abbott is an American figure skater. He is the 2008 Grand Prix Final Champion, a two-time Four Continents bronze medalist and two-time U.S. national champion. He represented the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where he placed ninth.-Personal life:Jeremy Abbott was born in...
; 2010 Olympian and 2010 US National Champion Rachael Flatt
Rachael Flatt
Rachael Elizabeth Flatt is an American figure skater. She is the 2010 U.S. national champion, 2008, 2009 and 2011 national silver medalist, and 2008 World Junior Champion....
; 2011 US National Champion Ryan Bradley
Ryan Bradley
Ryan Bradley is an American figure skater. He is the 2011 U.S. champion, 2007 U.S. silver medalist and three time U.S. Collegiate Champion. Bradley is known for his crowd-pleasing programs and backflips....
(for 22 years); 2010 World Junior silver medalist Agnes Zawadzki
Agnes Zawadzki
Agnes Zawadzki is an American figure skater. She is the 2010 World Junior silver medalist, 2011 World Junior bronze medalist, 2011 U.S. national pewter medalist, and 2010 U.S. Junior national champion.- Career :...
(from 2008 to 2011); 2008 US Junior Champion Alexe Gilles
Alexe Gilles
Alexe Gilles is an American figure skater. She is the 2008 U.S. Junior Champion and the 2008 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist., she was ranked 31st in the world by the International Skating Union ....
; 2007 US National Junior silver medalist Austin Kanallakan
Austin Kanallakan
Austin Kanallakan is an American figure skater. He is the 2005 Novice national champion. In his first year on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, he qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final, where he placed second. He later went on to place 13th as a junior at nationals...
; and 2002 Junior World Champion Ann Patrice McDonough
Ann Patrice McDonough
Ann Patrice McDonough is an American retired competitive figure skater. She is the 2002 World Junior Champion and the 2003 U.S. pewter medalist. McDonough retired from skating in 2004.-Personal life:...
.
Zakrajsek was named the 2009 PSA Coach of the Year. He was nominated for the award in 2011.