WAIR was thrilled to welcome Nicole Garrido, an esteemed ISU coach from Canada, for a dynamic and enriching development camp held from April 25th to 27th. Nicole was accompanied by Max Thibault, who supported the camp as a demonstrator, bringing exceptional energy and skill to the ice.

The camp drew strong attendance and enthusiasm from across our skating community, delivering a fantastic blend of learning, inspiration, and fun. Nicole introduced innovative drills and fresh coaching strategies that energized both skaters and coaches. Her leadership extended beyond the ice, as she also conducted focused educational sessions for our coaching team—equipping them with new tools and techniques to elevate their practice.

One of the camp’s standout features was Max’s awe-inspiring on-ice demonstrations. His athleticism, precision, and dynamic style captivated skaters and spectators alike, providing a powerful visual complement to Nicole’s instruction. Both Nicole and Max consistently reinforced the value of a supportive and team-focused culture—an ethos clearly reflected in the strength of the Canadian program.

From our newest skaters to our most seasoned athletes, everyone left with something meaningful to apply to their own development journey.

Earlier in the school holidays, Nicole and Max also took part in the Elite and Emerging Skaters Camp, led by AIR in partnership with the ISU. WAIR was especially proud to have five WFIRC skaters invited to this high-level event. It offered an incredible opportunity for these athletes to experience elite training firsthand.

During the camp, participants trained alongside standout athlete Lucas Warham and learned from Olympic-level professionals including Brendan Corey, National Coach Deanna Lockett, and High-Performance Director Richard Goerlitz. It marked an inspiring step forward in the rebuilding of Australia’s High-Performance program.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nicole for her expertise, leadership, and commitment to coach and athlete development. We also thank Max for his enthusiastic demonstrations and the positive energy he brought to the camp. Finally, we thank AIR and the ISU for making these camps possible and for their continued support of skating in Australia.