Melissa is a full-time figure skating coach, skating director at Great River FSC and also the owner and director of Premier Skating Academy. She is a Senior Double Gold Medalist with gold medals in Singles and Skating Skills.
She graduated from UW-River Falls with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Athletic Coaching, and has been coaching figure skating for over twenty years in the Twin Cities area. She has trained many athletes from their first steps on the ice through gold medal tests, State, Regional and Sectional titles, and has skaters compete at US Figure Skating National Championships and an international competition. She works continually to improve her education in skating and has been mentored and educated by several international and Olympic level coaches. She also has extensive experience in skating programming, and has her certificate in Learn to Skate programming through NARCE. She is SafeSkate Certified, First Aid & CPR certified, a US Figure Skating Coaching member and a member of the Professional Skaters Association.
She truly loves what she does. The transformation of a beginner level athlete through the high levels of skating is one of her most motivating and exciting aspects of her career, and she hopes everyone finds their inspiration and joy while on the ice. Skating is a wonderful journey of self-discovery and learning that also develops an athlete’s character, and she works hard to instill values and mentalities that help skaters become successful in all areas of their lives and for their future selves.
Melissa Jasperson
Cora is a coach with ten years of experience and is the ice show director and business manager of Premier Skating Academy. She is a quadruple USFS Gold Medalist in Skating Skills, Solo Free Dance, Partnered Ice Dance, and Solo Ice Dance and a Silver Medalist in Singles. Cora grew up training under national, international, and Olympic coaches, and is a former student of Great River FSC’s director, Melissa Jasperson. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences, Policy, & Management, and has minors in Sustainability Studies and German.
She believes in pushing athletes to reach their goals while ensuring they maintain a love and appreciation for the sport of figure skating.