Meet the Coaches

Elena Strong

Elena Strong has over 25 years of  skating experience, and over 10 years of coaching experience. Elena’s coaching expertise includes freestyle, moves in the field, choreography, and synchronized skating.  Elena is the current head coach of the Howell High School Figure Skating Team.

As a skater, Elena was an accomplished synchronized skater, and was a member of Team USA 1 (The Haydenettes) in 2002 and 2003, being a part of Team U.S.A for synchronized skating from 1999-2006.  Elena attended The University of Michigan where she was a member of their Senior Synchronized Skating team. She has passed her Senior Moves in the Field, Juvenile Freestyle, and Pre-Gold Dances.

Kristen Paulson

Kristen (Roth) Paulson has been coaching figure skating for the past 17 years.  She is a former Senior Pairs National competitor, Jr. World’s Pairs Bronze medalist, Junior Pairs National Silver Medalist, and Novice Pairs National Champion.  She has coached skaters of all levels and ages ranging from beginner to Senior Level in freestyle and moves.  Kristen previously coached at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, MI, Copper County Figure Skating Club in Houghton, MI, and the Foothills Figure Skating Club in Littleton, Colorado.

Rachael Razor

Rachael Razor is a member of the USFSA and has been teaching for 20 years. She is a USFS certified coach and is qualified to teach all levels of Freestyle, Moves in the Field and Basic Skills. She has taught skaters through Senior Moves in the Field and Novice Freestyle. Rachael was a USFS competitive skater for 10 years and has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design.

Cindy Roth

Cindy has taught figure skating and hockey skating skills at Grand Oaks for the past 32 years. She also taught Learn to Skate and Junior Club for several years at both the Lakeland Figure Skating Club and Detroit Skating Club (DSC).  Cindy served on the Detroit Skating Club’s Board of Directors and as Secretary for seven years. She served as co-chair for Skate Detroit competition for nine years. Cindy represented DSC at the yearly US Figure Skating Governing Council meeting for five years. Aside from skating, Cindy has over 20 years of dance and choreography experience where she trained in both Michigan and California. She taught dance for Julia Adler Dance Academy, Copper Country Dance Academy, and Diane’s  Dance Academy.

Marissa Berry

Marissa (Berry) Aguer started skating when she was 6 years old at Grand Oaks. She was a competitive skater until graduating high school. She was part of  the Livingston Skate Club Synchronized  skating team and the Howell High School Skating team. Marissa has coached at  Livingston Skate Club for 6 years. Marissa is currently attending Oakland Community College for her Registered Nursing Degree.

Kim Sabo
Kim started skating at Grand Oaks at the age of 3 and has around 12 years of coaching experience. She hasalways loved preforming in the ice show and has participated in many competitions throughout her skating career. Skating runs in her family and she’s excited to be coaching at her home rink.