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Thirty Years as a Winning Team and Still Going Strong: A Profile of

PETER BURROWS AND

MARY LYNN GELDERMAN

 As one of the world’s top ice skating coaching teams, Peter Burrows and Mary Lynn Gelderman, can spot a champion. It helps that both were champions themselves. As teachers and coaches, it is their job to make sure every skater realizes their potential, regardless of level.  Their vast experience at the world and Olympic levels make them uniquely qualified to coach and teach skating unlike no other team. In the highly competitive and costly business of ice skating, Peter and Mary Lynn stand alone as partners collaborators and friends. Together, they run the skating school at Sport-O-Rama Ice Rinks in Monsey, New York. Peter is the Executive Director while Mary Lynn is the Director.   They say in life there are two true measures; relationships and accomplishments.  For Peter and Mary Lynn, their cups runneth over, and then some.  Having coached 14 Olympians and 26 World team members, success is measured one skater at a time.

A key factor in Peter and Mary Lynn’s coaching success lies in their relationship.  For thirty years they have conditioned, molded, counseled and encouraged skaters to reach their highest levels.  They genuinely enjoy each other’s company, respect each other’s opinion and have experienced the ups and downs of their sport together and separately. Recently, Novice National competitor, Lenny Raney had this to say about his coaching team to Unseen Skater; “Both are very caring and talented coaches, but they have their key differences that, in the strangest way, compliment each other.” Mary Lynn was a National Novice and Junior Silver Medalist while Peter is the former British Senior and Junior Champion and a former European and World team member.  Oh yes, they know skating; being able to teach and coach effectively is where this premier teaching team stands alone.

Peter Burrows has a commanding presence both on and off the ice.  In a bright red jacket, he stands on the ice silently watching, his head rarely moving and his eyes remaining steadfast on his skater.  He concentrates as the skater glides from move to move; Peter Burrows is tougher than any skating judge and has more experience. No skater wants to waste his time; they are inspired to give their best effort for him. Peter Burrows is one of the best skating coaches in the world.  He has coached World and Olympic 

Champions including; Dorothy Hamill, Elaine Zayak and pairs Calla Urbanski and Rocky Marvel and Kyoko Ina and Jason Dunjgien to name just a few.  Many coaches refer their students to Peter because, “ he knows what it takes to get a skater where he or she needs to go, Peter will get them there,” says Mary Lynn.  “He is a Rolls Royce with a sporty engine.”

With the huge growth in competitive skating in the ‘70’s, Peter Burrows was one of the first coaches to realize he could not do it “all.”  He broke down the elements of skating and brought in specialist for the specifics; someone for the music, the spins, the jumps and the costumes.  This system of teaching allows Peter to focus on the whole picture, a skater’s entire program.  His only comment on the costumes is that they should not be green.  Today, Peter feels coaches sometimes hold on to skaters for too long, the coach and skater become too dependent and may lose their freshness.  He never wants to know who may have coached a skater in the past, he generally ask just one question; "Are you a good competitor?”

Jane Rather, a 15-year-old regional skater from Stamford, CT spends her summers in Peter and Marylynn’s International Training Center at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey, NY.  Her coach, Kristen Birkhardt, one of Peter’s former students, referred her.  “He knows what he is doing, he brings out the best.  If you are having a technical problem, he knows exactly what to do to fix it,” said Rather. Jane said his wit and supportiveness during competitions helped her see his very human touch.  ‘All the judges know him, you must be good, if you are one of his students,” remarked Rather.  “He helped me fine-tune my long program for regionals, I will be back this summer, for sure,” remarked Rather.  

Peter’s dad was a world ballroom dance champion and a golfer.  He gave Peter the competitive edge and it has stayed and guided him throughout his career.  As a young boy growing up in Great Britian, Peter Burrows played soccer for the Manchester Catholic Boys.  One rainy day when Peter was 12 his best friend asked if he wanted to go skating.  Peter tagged along and found he liked it.  His competitive edge kicked in and by age 15, Peter was National Junior Champion. He was soon training with the legendary Swiss coach Arnold Gerschwiler.  Peter and partner Valeria Hunt competed in the 1962 World Championship.  In 1966 he was asked by Gerschwiler’s nephew Hans to come help him with his New Jersey skating school.

Peter has taught in many rinks in the Tri-State area.  He likes the ice and management at Sporto-O-Rama, which has been his coaching hub for over 27 years.  He has seen rinks open and then be forced to close due to bad management practices.  The more ice the better, agrees Peter.  For young skaters, “Learn to Skate” programs are the way to go and encourages public skating sessions, even in the spring and summer months. Interestingly, Peter is credited with inventing “power skating,” a term associated with hockey players and a necessary tool for any aged player. 

Mary Lynn Gelderman exudes energy, poise and charisma.  Her warm smile and engaging personality make you want to put on skates and join her on the ice, just to chat.  She likes people and clearly enjoys her job. 

As a young competitive skater, she reached the highest levels, however making an Olympic and World team, eluded her.  Today, she feels strongly that by not achieving this life goal, she is a better coach and her students reap the benefits. “There is no question, competition is important in our sport,” remarked Mary Lynn.  “ I don’t believe I set unachievable goals for any of my skaters, some parents, however, may feel differently.”  She teaches from her heart but never forgets to use her head.  As a skater grows physically and technically, Mary Lynn adapts to these changes in stride.  “There are so many levels of talent, it is my job to realize the steps, recognize hard work and move my skaters forward.”  In today’s skating world, reaching a top competing level takes time and money.  Parents are much more involved in every aspect of their child’s progress.  After the birth of her son Taylor and later adopting her daughter Shaylynn from China, Mary Lynn better understand the parent’s point of view and encourages their involvement.  “ I often ask a parent to come and watch a session, it helps the process,” mentioned Mary Lynn. ‘I would never speak to a child in a way I

will not my own.’  She has the ability to read someone’s face very well and emphasizes to the parents that with the right attitude and feelings, the

children respond.  A coach can become a surrogate parent, as Mary Lynn has experienced throughout her career.  “It is a fine line, I know what it takes to get them where they need to go, I am their coach and often times, their friend.”  Mary Lynn worries most about the gifted; those skaters who have the talent but often push themselves too fast, too quickly.  “We are in a generation where no one can fail,” remarked Mary Lynn.

She believes that the only people who end up successful in this sport are those who view skating as a “building block for their lives.”  She wants her skaters to feel good about themselves along the way.   She also fine-tunes her skaters to reach their highest level.

 As a teacher, Mary Lynn takes skaters at any age.  With age and some experience comes the ability to concentrate, which allows Mary Lynn to better judge a skaters potential.  At the moment, Mary Lynn has over 22 students ranging from ages 8 to 20 years old.  “The younger ones are more time managed, more disciplined.”  The older skaters are definitely more challenging and can become emotionally fragile.  In this area, Mary Lynn can relate both as a former competitive skater and now, as a parent.  “By age 13 you know if a child is dedicated to carry on into the higher ranks,” said Mary Lynn.  Very few of her skaters go into ice shows and most are college bound.  Mary Lynn’s students have gone to Harvard, Yale, MIT and many other great schools throughout the United States and abroad.  “A large percentage of all skaters go to college, usually top colleges“ observed Mary Lynn recently. 

 The pressure of competition is always present. To get to the higher levels of competition, skaters must prove themselves early in their careers.   Mary Lynn has watched her sport progress and many observers have suggested that the grace of skating has given way to the surge in jumping and spinning.  “Nowadays, if you can’t jump early, your career is limited,” noted Mary Lynn. She and Peter are regarded as two of the best teachers in the world on jumping techniques.  Ballet training is part of her teaching philosophy as well as Martial Arts.   Like many of today’s coaches, Mary Lynn firmly believes that the lack of school figures in competition have hurt the sport as a whole. “In the end, beauty comes in only if a skater is standing.” mused Mary Lynn recently.  Athletics and television have had such a huge effect on skating, some good and some bad.  After thirty five years, Mary Lynn Gelderman approaches each lesson, each skater and each day on the ice with optimism and pride.  It is Mary Lynn’s mission to make sure her skaters are ready and able to perform well and excel in the beauty and grace of her beloved sport.

 Now a skating teacher, Amy Gamsen was a student of Mary Lynn and Peter’s at Sport-O-Rama when she was a regional competitor.  "They lit a fire under me and got me to perform at the level I was capable,” Amy remarked.  Today, Amy sends her students to this coaching team for skating power and jumping.  “They get the respect they truly deserve, you get results quickly with Marylynn and Peter, “ said Amy. 

 With so many years of success together as coaches, Mary Lynn Gelderman and Peter Burrows have made a great impact on their sport.  Their students have risen to the highest levels; gold medals have been won and continue to be sought.  It is truly a great relationship of two unique and interesting individuals with quite a few accomplishments.

 May, 2004