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Phillip Mills Selected to Present Double Sessions at the 2010 PSA Conference in Colorado Springs, May 27 - 29. Along with Merry Neitlich from The Coach's Edge, Phillip presented off-ice and on-ice segments on Increasng Coaching Effectiveness Using the Secrets of Master Educators.
Phillip Mills Selected to Present Double Sessions at the 2010 PSA Conference in Colorado Springs, May 27 - 29. Along with Merry Neitlich from The Coach's Edge, Phillip presented off-ice and on-ice segments on Increasng Coaching Effectiveness Using the Secrets of Master Educators.2.The Creative Edge Seminar by Phillip Mills presented his seminar to the Skating Club of Oregon in 2010 . This four-part seminar contains off-ice and on-ice modules on ballet, footwork, stroking, choreography and the IJS. A special rapp session for all skaters and parents will provide an opportunity to dialogue about the challenging questions in the sport of figure skating.
The Creative Edge Seminar by Phillip Mills presented his seminar to the Skating Club of Oregon in 2010 . This four-part seminar contains off-ice and on-ice modules on ballet, footwork, stroking, choreography and the IJS. A special rapp session for all skaters and parents will provide an opportunity to dialogue about the challenging questions in the sport of figure skating.3.International Figure Skating Magazine, April 2009 – In a full-page article Becky Bereswill Claims Stunning Victory at Junior Grand Prix Final Becky's interesting background and training regime are shared. The article states, "For the past decade, Bereswill has worked with choreographer Phillip Mills, who crafted her long program this season to Puccini's 'Nessun Dorma' from the opera 'Turandot'."
International Figure Skating Magazine, April 2009 – In a full-page article Becky Bereswill Claims Stunning Victory at Junior Grand Prix Final Becky's interesting background and training regime are shared. The article states, "For the past decade, Bereswill has worked with choreographer Phillip Mills, who crafted her long program this season to Puccini's 'Nessun Dorma' from the opera 'Turandot'."4. Skating Magazine, January 2009 – In an article about the upcoming 2009 US Championships, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, Phillip’s internationally ranked National pair champions and World competitors, discuss their consistent, well-planned training and choreography provided by Phillip.
Skating Magazine, January 2009 – In an article about the upcoming 2009 US Championships, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, Phillip’s internationally ranked National pair champions and World competitors, discuss their consistent, well-planned training and choreography provided by Phillip. 5.Professional Skaters Association Magazine, January 2009 – Phillip was the only coach or choreographer mentioned in this article about the USFS Championship Ladies’ event. His choreography of Ashley Wagner’s short program received positive feedback as he helped Ashley connect her softer side with her athletic prowess. Watch program
Professional Skaters Association Magazine, January 2009 – Phillip was the only coach or choreographer mentioned in this article about the USFS Championship Ladies’ event. His choreography of Ashley Wagner’s short program received positive feedback as he helped Ashley connect her softer side with her athletic prowess. Watch program6.Icenetwork News, January 18, 2009 – In an on-line article, “Zayak Makes National Coaching Debut”, Elaine Zayak makes reference to Phillip’s choreographic success with her 1994 comeback program. (Read article)
Icenetwork News, January 18, 2009 – In an on-line article, “Zayak Makes National Coaching Debut”, Elaine Zayak makes reference to Phillip’s choreographic success with her 1994 comeback program. (Read article) 7.Phillip is featured in an Allison Manley Podcast. She has produced over 25 such skatecasts interviewing well known skaters, choreographers, and coaches from the past and present. Allison is preserving great skating history with these colorful and insightful skatecasts. www.manleywoman.com
Phillip is featured in an Allison Manley Podcast. She has produced over 25 such skatecasts interviewing well known skaters, choreographers, and coaches from the past and present. Allison is preserving great skating history with these colorful and insightful skatecasts. www.manleywoman.com 8.Phillip was nominated for the 2010 USFS Jimmy Disbrow Award for demonstrating the same zest and enthusiasm that the late Jimmy Disbrow gave to the skating world. (See below)
Phillip was nominated for the 2010 USFS Jimmy Disbrow Award for demonstrating the same zest and enthusiasm that the late Jimmy Disbrow gave to the skating world. (See below)9.Phillip was featured in the Orange County Register's news story about the comeback of an Adult USFS two-time National Champion who needed his support, encouragement and excellent coaching and choreographic skills to find her way back to the podium in 2008. (Read article)
Phillip was featured in the Orange County Register's news story about the comeback of an Adult USFS two-time National Champion who needed his support, encouragement and excellent coaching and choreographic skills to find her way back to the podium in 2008. (Read article)
World & Olympic Skating Choreographer
Choreographing the perfect edge.
Articles & Media
2010 Jimmy Disbrow Award Nomination
To: Jimmy Disbrow Award Committee
Jimmy Disbrow Award CommitteeFrom: Merry Neitlich, Competitive Skater and 2008 Adult Silver National Champion
Re: The Jimmy Disbrow Award
The Jimmy Disbrow AwardAs I read the description about Jimmy’s zest for life and how he always created smiles and enthusiasm wherever he went I couldn’t help but think of my coach and choreographer, Phillip Mills. Phillip is an internationally renowned choreographer and coach to over 17 world champion competitors, 4 Olympic competitors as well as 17 U.S. National Champions. He has choreographed programs for the likes of Michelle Kwan, Sasha Cohen, Ashley Wagner and John Baldwin and Rena Inoue.
But that is not the reason I feel compelled to nominate Phillip. You would have to come to the Aliso Viejo Ice Palace in California to get to know the real Phillip Mills. You know, the one who arrives at the rink every morning at 5:00 AM with the smile radiating on his face. Phillip is the coach that puts as much energy and warmth into his coaching for his pre-preliminary skaters as he does his elite competitors. He greets every skater on the rink by name every day. He has nicknames for most of his students which he uses to lighten the mood and call them to lessons. Some of these names include the Countess and the Contessa. Me? He calls me the Grand Dam – for age-obvious reasons!
Every student Phillip works with cannot wait for their lessons with him. His enthusiasm is contagious – the parents all love him too. Phillip encourages every student to the max but is not overly solicitous. He draws on his deep love of the sport and his unending adage that every student can “get it.” He knows when to tease in a loving way and when to be tough. Mostly though, he is a beam of encouraging light that shines mightily on every one of his students in the rink.
Phillip can be traveling the globe with his elite skaters at competitions but the instant his feet hit the ground back home he is back at the rink ready with that warmth and support for each of his students.
Several months ago one of our Novice men skaters accidently bumped into a small girl knocking her down and falling on her. Ouch! This young girl was not one of Phillip’s students but that didn’t stop him from sitting with her for 45-minutes performing first aide on her potentially broken arm. Mostly though he smiled at her, soothed her and calmed her down. Phillip has chosen to stay on top of his first aide training and lends it whenever it may be needed – anywhere, anytime.
A little over 26 years ago Phillip was a professional dancer. He has a most unorthodox history transitioning into a professional skating choreographer. He literally taught himself to skate over a period of time during the same timeframe that he was choreographing programs for high-level skaters. (He thought it might speed up the process if he skated on the ice with his students!) He is an accomplished skater and has some of the smoothest moves in the building!
Phillip continues to give back to figure skating as a faculty member for Team USA Camps, USFS Coaches College, and numerous USFS Judges Schools. His constant devotion to our sport to help take it and his students to the next level is commendable. His warmth, compassion and love of coaching personify the essence of Jimmy Disbrow.
It is with great enthusiasm and confidence that I nominate Phillip Mills for this prestigious award.
Urbanski & Marval
Andrea Gardner
Elaine Zayak
Jill Trenary
Roca & Yorke
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