Vanessa Price
Vanessa Price
Full time coach with over 30 years of coaching experience, and a background as a professional dancer and national ice skating choreographer. Passionate about supporting coaches, particularly early career female coaches transitioning across disciplines, to grow in a safe and nurturing environment.
Why I want to be a mentor
I am a full time coach. I have always been a full time coach. That is the only job I have ever known after finishing my professional career as a dancer. Coaching is my life, my soul and my passion, and I would love to share everything I have learnt over my 30 years of coaching with others via a mentor role. I have had many wonderful mentors in my life who have taken the time to help shape who I am today as a person and coach, and now I would love to give back by becoming a mentor myself.
What I can offer mentee coaches
I think with my diverse background and over 30 years of coaching I can bring a lot to this programme, especially for early career female coaches who have swapped from a different discipline, as I have. I understand you may be high up in one discipline, but swapping to another discipline means you start at the bottom again and work your way up. Sometimes this can be challenging, other times it can be extremely rewarding and a wonderful journey. I would love to be there for mentee coaches to help guide them through the journey they are on with athletics and make a positive impact on their future selves.
What I hope to gain from participation in the programme
My reward from being a mentor on this programme is to see young mentee coaches flourish in a safe and nurturing environment. To feel free to be themselves, express their hopes and ideas, and to be able to guide them in the right direction. Hoping to add success to their coaching careers and squads would be so rewarding for me as a mentor.
Coaching and related qualifications
Key coaching achievements
- Coached athletes to podium finishes from zone through to Oceania level each season
- Supported multiple athletes to state and national level results
- Coached athletes who became state record holders, and National and Oceania Champions
- Supported athletes progressing to college in the United States
- Coached a masters athlete who is an Oceania Champion
National team experience
- Selected on three Winter Olympic teams: Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, and PyeongChang 2018
Experience in other sports and performance domains
- Professional dancer for 10 years across Australia
- Ice skating coach and nationwide choreographer
Leadership experience
- Founded and ran a performing arts studio in Sydney, The VL Performing Arts Centre
- Produced dancers who progressed to companies overseas, including Japan, New York, London, and Sweden
- Built and manages an athletics squad with a quality over quantity approach
Coaching experience and background
I moved into athletics during Covid when my daughters could not access their coach due to lockdown. I started with Level 1, moved through Level 2, and then completed Level 3 as my squad athletes progressed to National Championships. I have recently completed the Level 4.
Squad: Supreme Speed
- Two junior squads and a senior squad
- Junior squad started this year, with state and national level athletes
- Focus on maintaining a high standard so athletes pursue aligned goals and results
- Senior squad of 10 athletes, keeping numbers small with a quality over quantity philosophy
Notable athletes and outcomes
- Shari Hurdman, now at college in San Diego, United States
- Brooke Xavier, now at college in the United States
- Both are state record holders, and National and Oceania Champions
- Several junior athletes who have medalled at state and national level
- Masters athlete Stephen Hindmarsh, Oceania Champion
Other employment history
- Owner and director of The VL Performing Arts Centre in Sydney
- Professional dancer and ballet teacher
- Ice skating choreographer, including work connected to three Winter Olympic teams
