Daily Inspiration: Meet Brad Kleffman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Kleffman.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I was younger, I trained in Colorado Springs as a competitive figure skater. I moved back to the Denver area to attend college and that’s when I began coaching at the Ice Centre at the Promenade in Westminster.

Along with teaching learn-to-skate classes and private lessons, the rink offered me a position to coach the Power/Edge class. After teaching this class for about 5 years, I experienced a large amount of success with growing attendance and accelerated improvement among the skaters. Both skaters and parents were inquiring about the possibility of me offering additional group classes.

My goal as a coach is to help motivated athletes take their skating to the next level. I found what helped in the success of elite training centers was the wide variety of classes they offered their skaters. This structure created well-rounded athletes. Considering that, the idea of starting a figure skating business that offers a multitude of weekly group classes started to sprout in my mind. But, where to start?

This is when my childhood coach from Chicago, Debbie Storey, came to mind. Debbie was ahead of her time and was a major advocate of utilizing other sports and skills to help her athletes become successful. Debbie’s skaters would take tap dance classes to improve coordination, balance, and ankle strength. She would also provide a pool jump class, where we did rotations in waist-high water.

This water resistance training would provide major improvements in our lower body strength. On top of that, she would offer jump rope classes, ballet, and figure skating specialized strength training.

Motivated by Debbie Storey, I decided to start a business that offered a similar opportunity for figure skaters.

Dynamo would strive to offer a multitude of weekly classes during the school year and a Summer Surge Program, which offers 25+ classes a week. Rooted in the Power Class, Dynamo would also provide classes like skating skills, sports psychology, off-ice motorized spinner/harness, jump rope club, ballet, contemporary dance, strength and conditioning, and pilates.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My skating life came full circle when I began coaching at Rocket Ice Arena, the rink where I first started figure skating. I utilized what I had learned from all of the great coaches I trained with in Illinois, Colorado, and Michigan.

The transition into coaching was fairly smooth. A lot of new coaches, including myself, start by teaching learn-to-skate lessons through the rink. I think this is highly beneficial because you get to work with a wide age range, from about 4-year-olds to adults.

This certainly helped me to determine what types of learning styles suit each age range best, in regards to ice skating.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I went to film school in Denver and I have worked to utilize these skills in my coaching. I have applied my knowledge in production design to allow me to make educated decisions on costumes and props for programs. The editing skills I learned in school have aided me in cutting music and making optimal content for social media.

I’ve also found a strong connection between choreographing a program and directing a short film. I always develop a story, when doing choreography. Then, I create a lookbook by gathering images and videos that capture the types of movements that will help tell the story and portray the specific emotions.

This is very similar to the pre-production of a film. When I’m choreographing the program, I’m working to create the visuals that will best portray the story being told. I’ve enjoyed finding the parallels between film and figure skating because it has allowed me to provide a unique mindset towards my coaching.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see A.I. already making big impacts in our industry. In regards to social media, Chat GPT can generate post captions for you in a fraction of the time. Chat GPT can also give detailed business and advertising advice, specific to figure skating. I can only imagine how much A.I. will be used to help business growth within the next 5-10 years.

Another big trend that has taken hold since the pandemic is Zoom lessons. Having a lesson with any coach from around the world is a click away, due to the advancements in technology. I could see clinics and seminars being held with coaches over Zoom, or a similar app, soon.

This would help to save money on travel costs and also opens the door to receiving lessons from coaches you might have not had the opportunity to work with.

Pricing:

• Power Class: $20
• Pilates: $10
• Modern Dance: $10
• Jump Rope & Plyometrics: $10
• Strength & Conditioning: $15

Contact Info:

• Website: dynamofigureskating.com
• Instagram: @dynamofigureskating