Ryan Robson

Ryan is the Director and Head Coach of Glace Bay Miners Skate Club. Ryan has 10 years of coaching experience and has coached skaters from Pre Canskate to Novice competitive. 

I grew up figure skating for the Glace Bay Skating Club. Dominion was my home rink, and I skated many cold mornings at 6 am before school. I loved skating growing up and was so excited to begin coaching when I graduated from high school. As a child I remember the feeling of skating with my skating friends, going fast, pushing each other to push harder and skating as fast as we possibly could. I loved that, and I want to instill that feeling of speed, friendship and of pushing your limits, in my skaters. I was lucky growing up that I got to train away every summer. My father sold hot dogs on Mira Gut beach to make money for my summer school. My mother was a driving force behind my skating journey. She was the president of the club and a skating judge. I loved and respected my coaches (especially Gwen haha) and they emphasized the importance of being a well rounded skater. By 13 I was triple gold and I had completed all my dance, skills and freestyle tests.

Along my journey there were many things I did not succeed at as well,  and I always say that if skating taught me anything, it taught me how to fail and bounce back. After coaching a mix of competitive and recreational skaters in my early twenties I moved away mostly for about 14 years. I knew at some point I would return to Cape Breton and coach CB skaters. CB skaters always had that spirit and drive that inspired and excited me.

5 years ago James Edwards asked me to coach 12 skaters with their parents. That’s where it all began and now we have re-opened the Glace Bay Skating Club and have about 300 members. Coaching skating is my second job, I am also a Registered Canadian Art Therapist and own Cape Breton Art Therapy. Balancing both jobs can be tricky but honestly there's never a day that I don’t look forward to going to the rink. I love coaching all levels of skating and am grateful for all the skaters I get to work with.