Video Reviews
Please feel free to submit your thoughts to us at any time on any one of our productions. Your input is always greatly appreciated!

• ALL 4 VOLUMES: "I purchased all of your training DVD's to enhance my coaching. I am always looking for new perspectives and new technique or simply different wording for similar technique. Anyhow, the bottom line, I love your products. You are very easy to understand, very articulate and very positive. I would purchase other products from you. You easily have an open-ended topic with an open-ended market. I always tell my skaters that one of my favorite aspects of our sport is that there is soooooo much to know, the learning process never ends, and learning keeps us young. Well, thank you for quality products, and I love the positive approach you take."
  Melinda Taylor - PSA Coach
  
  
• ALL 4 VOLUMES: "The Senior Crystallettes are on the podium at Nationals due, in part, to the techniques taught and demonstrated by Charlie in these videos."
  Shannon Peterson & Holly Teets - Head Coaches of the Crystallettes, 2004 World Team.
  
  
• ALL 4 VOLUMES: "The video's were great! I have viewed volume 2 and 3 several times, implemented many of the exercises into our technique and power classes. The skaters have found them to be fun, challenging, and definately beneficial. The presentation on the video was well done, and easy to understand. Congratualtions on putting together a great teaching and learning tool for skaters and coaches, without having to leave their home. I look forward to future volumes!"
  Chris Gauthier - PSA Coach
  
  
• ALL 4 VOLUMES: "I appreciated the fact that there were skaters of all levels including adults in the videos. As an adult skater I don't want to feel left out. Some of the exercises gave me new ideas to try, particularly the rise and fall of the weight and the pressure at the end of the lobe.
  
  I thought the videos were very well done. The sound quality was excellent and the presenters spoke clearly without rushing.
  
  I particularly liked the "bloopers' segments. These segments were amusing. I liked the top down views of the exercises, first shown on a board and then shown from high up in the rink. The sequence of having the skaters try the exercise then point out those good and bad things to help make corrections was very useful. "
  Eben C. Cobb
  
  
• ALL 4 VOLUMES: "I'm Pitak Chuawong, one of your customer. I purchased the whole DVD series from your company. I found the instruction very clear and easy to follow. I love the basic techniques that you provided in the first DVD, Physics on Ice. I also enjoy the more advanced lessons on your 2nd and 3rd DVDs."
  Pitak Chuawong
  
  
• VOLUME 1: "This video is a valuable educational tool on the mechanics of stroking technique for anyone in the sport of ice skating"
  Margaret Faulkner - International & National Judge, Team Leader, Referee, Representing USA
  
  
• VOLUME 1: "I have been coaching for close to 20 years, and this by far is the best tape out there on the market! Are there any other video's available? If so, please let me know. Thanks again for the tape, the best $40 I have spent!"
  Dave Loncar - PSA Coach
  
  
• VOLUME 1: "It's an excellent video for the more advanced, serious skater. It shows in great detail the "art" of stroking properly with good body posture, knee bend, ankle pressure, and thrust, to maximize power from the stroke. It also develops the use of body weight over the blade and correct blade usage."
  Sandy Lamb - Olympic, World, International and National Coach. Former Professional Skaters Association (PSA) President. PSA Ranked Level VI
  
  
• VOLUME 1: "The video "Physics On Ice makes learning logical -- Charlie explains the 'why' as well as the 'what' of skating techniques."
  Michelle Harvath - 2002 Adult Nationals Championship Dance Bronze Medalist, Skating Photographer.
  
  
• VOLUME 1: "I found this video to be highly informative, with many concise technical points. I was reminded of some things that I teach, but haven't used recently. I learned a couple of new skills in the Hydroblading section that I implemented with my students immediately!"
  Brenda Vail - Master Rated: Moves In The Field, Ratings Examiner For PSA, Triple Canadian Gold Medalist In Freestyle, Dance, Free Dance
  
  
• VOLUME 1: "Charlie brings to light the power of the edge! This video helps to analyze the anatomy of motion and describes techniques for generation quality edgework and power - key skills for the synchronized athlete."
  Lois Long - International Synchronized Judge, Chair Of Synchronized Skating Competitions Committee
  
  
• VOLUME 1: "I recently bought your video and I must say that I am totally satisfied and impressed at the quality of the video and the instruction given. Charles Butler is certainly a qualified professional to be hosting these instructional tapes and I was glad to hear him say that this was "Volume 1," hinting that there may be more to follow. If so, you can certainly count on me to be one of the first to purchase additional tapes. Thanks Again, and congratulations on such a fine production."
  Martin Ripley - Pair Skater
  
  
• VOLUMES 1 & 2: "I veiwed both DVDs (Vol.1 and Vol.2) and found them extremely helpful in learning correct body positioning for forward and backward cross overs and the basic stroking positions to optimize our skating through correct knee and ankle bending during the stroking process.
  
  Charles demonstrates clearly with his visual and vocal presentation on both DVDs ...I am looking forward to viewing the Volumes 3 and 4 "
  Fred Hottenstein
  
  
• VOLUME 2: "I feel like a better coach after watching this video! This video will allow any serious Freestyle or Dance Skater/Coach to learn valuable techniques both on and off the ice, thus saving valuable ice time and lesson costs. This video is unique in that it presents an easy way, through freeze frame technology and bullet pointed sections, for students and coaches to understand Charlie's advanced concepts."
  Karolyn Flaherty - Coach and Director of Competitive Figure Skating, Taylor Sportsplex
  
  
• VOLUME 3: "Received my order of Vol 3 many thanks. What can I say - apart from the fact that my DVD player is probably sick of playing it!!!! I can see how these take you years to make!!! Wow, it has come on so much from Vol. 1 in terms of use of more camera angles, commentry and overall production quality....your presentation ......but still glad to see my old favourite "bloopers" section still in there!!! Gives us all hope!!!
  
  It was great that many of the key basic lessons (such as knee cycle, contra body checking, where on the blade you should be etc) learned in Vol 1 were also very prevalent in this Vol too. Although I am not at this level (yet) I still found the video applicable to myself on so many levels. I really think that by watching these videos it gives you a fresh way of looking at your own ice skating and thinking and gives you back some of that "BUZZ" to want to go out on the ice and have a go at some of these exercises...........which I have ......mmm lets say didnt look quite like the demonstrators in your video....tee hee!!! I'll keep on trying!!!
  
  I thought that the mixed age class was also a really good part of the video and showed the unique skills of each student - as so many videos nowadays are aimed purely at youngsters, nice to see that ice skating is for ALL ages. It was good to have the contrast in the video of sometimes having a group lesson, then with partner then single demonstrators. In particular it was also really nice to see synchronised skating (which I can bet is a skill and and video in itself!). I do like the way that the commentry on the "mistakes" that the students make are handled and come across - as by watching others first try an exercise we can see where and when they are going wrong and common mistakes made - so this can be used in our own skating.
  
  I particularly liked in this video watching the birds eye footage of you on the ice and really demonstrating the exercises to see other important issues such as speed, pattern, coverage across the ice as well as the sheer extension and power of each step - which is something hard to portray in a video or demonstating it on a small patch of ice in front of the camera. Great!!! Although if I had to say something I would say that the noise level of the commentry on the parts where you are letting rip does vary it gets really loud sometimes....but that is being VERY picky!!!
  
  For me perhaps the biggest thing that I have learnt from this video has been to do with contra body/ checking issue.....I loved the analogy you used about the falling apple and putting it on the ground. How logical it is when you sit down and think about it! Keep more of these gems coming!!
  
  I understand that you are going to be doing some new volumes on spins and jumps...great (will of course add these to my Charles Butler collection ..tee hee) Hope these comments have helped, please keep more of these videos coming!!"
  Karen Lindley
  
  
• VOLUME 4: "After watching Eve's video I was impressed to see the level of dance complexity incorporated in the skating world. I have taken four years of modern dance, so the concepts introduced in her video were very familiar to me. It was easy to translate Eve's lessons in a skating context."
  Erin Tongue