COACHING & OTHER SPORTS RELATED EDUCATION
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Certificate Kids Skill coach 2002 - Ben Furman
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Level 1 Coach and Instructor Training (VOK-1) Specialization in Children and Youth Sports
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Finnish Ice Hockey Association: Children's Coaching Courses, LOK 1 & LOK 2 and
"Leijona" Hockey School Instructor Certification and Education for how to coach and toy with children on ice and off the ice.
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Advanced Power Skating & Hockey Seminars – Helsinki, Finland
Attended multiple high-performance camps and seminars led by NHL Skating & Skills Coach Steve Serdachny.
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Reseived two diplomas being under the coaching tutelage of coach Alexei Mishin, Tartu, Estonia
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University of Helsinki, Faculty of Law
Ph.D. Studies: Research on Sports Law & Governance ("From self-regulation and autonomy of sports to legal norms")
Areas of Expertise
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Kids skating skills development, specialized coaching children and young adolescent
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Providing tailored private coaching and long-term athlete mentorship.
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Mastering figure skating jump techniques and core fundamentals.
Elise Luovula
Founder, Chairman, and professional figure skating coach at Hertta Club
Competitive & Coaching Background
As a former Finnish and Nordic Champion as well as international-level competitor, Elise has represented Finland in Junior World & World Championships, European Championships, Nordic Championships, and numerous international competitions throughout her competitive career.
Her skating background includes training for several years under some of the most recognized coaches in the sport, including Carlo Fassi, Peter Burrows, Barbara Roles, Alex McGowan, Viktor Kudriavtsev, and Rubin Huron-related international training environments. Through decades of international exposure, Elise has developed a broad understanding of both traditional and modern figure skating methodologies.
She continues to actively expand her expertise through international seminars, camps, and coaching observation programs, including training environments led by Alexei Mishin, Brian Orser, Kim Ryan Lewis, and other highly recognized coaches in figure skating world.
After her own competitive career, she has worked as a figure skating coach since the early 1990s, coaching competitive skaters from beginners to international-level skaters in several figure skating clubs. Between 1997–2012, Elise dedicated her time to coaching ice hockey players and was honored with Finnish Ice Hockey Federation Fair Play Coach Diplomas in 2000 and 2003. During these years, she produced several seminars and coaching training programs for ice hockey coaches and led significant long-term coaching projects in ice hockey. Since 2013, Elise has focused exclusively on private lessons and mentoring for figure skaters and ice hockey players.
Since 2013, Elise has worked as a private coach, holding private camps and providing comprehensive mentoring, empowering under-recognized skaters to become noticed in competitions and within their own clubs.
Coaching Philosophy
Her coaching is known for its structured and detail-oriented approach, where technical understanding, consistency, and the individual needs of the skater are all considered as part of the training process. Drawing from international coaching environments, she focuses on quality skating skills, technical precision, and consistent step-by-step development.
Elise believes that a skater cannot achieve their dreams through technical coaching alone. Success requires someone by their side who truly believes in the athlete's potential, cares genuinely, and supports their holistic development. This is why Elise's coaching philosophy is rooted in comprehensive mentoring: together with the athlete, she seeks out the best possible training conditions and international coaching networks. For Elise, coaching is about continuous mutual growth and constantly developing her professional expertise alongside the athlete.
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Competitive figure skating development
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Specializes in the international coaching methodologies and training systems
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Power Skating, Skating Skills & Agility Development for Figure Skaters and Hockey Players
Ksenija Agafonova
Professional figure skating coach, Coaching Director, and board member at Hertta Club.
Competitive & Coaching Background
As a former women’s Senior-level competitor with national team experience, Ksenija has extensive international competitive experience at the senior level. Alongside her competitive background, she has gained coaching experience in several countries and worked with skaters of different ages and levels in both camps and daily training environments.
Coaching Philosophy
Her coaching approach combines technical skating development, off-ice training, and long-term athlete development. Drawing from both Eastern European and Western coaching methods, she focuses on building strong skating fundamentals while supporting each skater’s individual strengths, goals, and long-term progress.
Her coaching is known for its structured and detail-oriented approach, where technical precision, athletic development, and the individual needs of the skater are all considered as part of the training process.
Ksenija is known for her determined and detail-oriented coaching style, as well as her individualized and athlete-centered approach to training. Every session is built around clear goals and structured planning, ensuring that each exercise serves a specific purpose and supports the skater’s long-term development.
Areas of Expertise
Ksenija has completed multiple coaching education programs through the Finnish Figure Skating Association and is currently completing the association’s advanced-level coaching education focused on professional athlete development.
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Advanced Athlete Development Coaching Education (currently being completed)
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Continuing-Level Coaching Education
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Basic-Level Coaching Education
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Figure Skating Instructor Education
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On-ice jump and spin technique
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Fundamental and advanced skating skill development
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Skating-specific off-ice training
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Long-term athlete development
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Strength, explosiveness, speed, rotation, and stability development for figure skaters
Additionally, she specializes in skating-specific off-ice training built around modern science-based approaches to physical development, helping skaters develop critical physical qualities such as strength, explosiveness, speed, rotation, and stability, while taking into account the aesthetic nuances essential to figure skating.