Arena Professional Skating Staff

William Abel
William began his skating career as a singles competitor, and then turned his attention to pair skating.  He became a USFSA gold medalist in pairs, and competed in elite competitions, including the United States Figure Skating Championships.  After joining the ranks of professionals, he performed in a variety of ice shows as a principal pair and adagio skater.  Throughout his skating career, it was the technical training that he enjoyed the most, and what he is most interested in sharing with his students, as well as choreography and musical interpretation.  William teaches both singles and pair skating to students of all levels.

Tahlma Ahlers
Tahlma is a Professional Skaters Association Master rated coach who trained under the legendary Carlo Fassi. She began coaching in 1972 and came to the Redwood Empire Ice Arena in 1974. Tahlma graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, which enables her to help her students with motivational strategies. She enjoys coaching skaters of all levels and considers the technical aspect of jumps and spins to be her expertise.

Lloyd "Skippy" Baxter
Skippy began skating in November 1929 in Oakland, CA. He began coaching in 1956. Skippy's professional career has spanned more than 64 years and has included 5,532 consecutive performances with the Rockefeller Center Theatre and The Hollywood Ice Revue with Sonia Henie. He qualified for the 1940 Olympic team, but didn't get to go due to World War 2. Skippy has been coaching at Snoopy's Home Ice for 35 years. At age 84, he still teaches private and group lessons and the occasional hockey lesson , he is the oldest active skating instructor in the United States. Every July, Skippy participates in Snoopy's Senior World Hockey Tournament.

Stephanie Ewing
Stephanie was born and raised in Santa Rosa and has been skating at Snoopy’s Home Ice since 1992. She has been skating competitively since 1994 and has continued to do so to this day. She is a double gold medallist in Freestyle and Moves in the Field and currently is Pre Gold in Dance. Her numerous competitive accomplishments include placing first in the 2002 Crystalline Classic and, more recently, placing 2nd in the Pacific Sectionals Adult Championships. In March of 2006 she competed in the Adult National Figure Skating Championships in Dallas, Texas. Stephanie competed in her first amateur show in the mid nineties and graduated to professional shows in 2001. She has skated in 3 Holiday Ice Shows here in Santa Rosa as well as 4 summer ice shows in Ohio. She was also a featured performer in the Knott’s Berry Farm Christmas Show and will be featured in this summer’s show at Knott’s Berry Farm as well. She has been teaching ice skating for over 6 years in both volunteer and Jr. Professional roles. She enjoys the fulfillment she gets from watching her students improve and gain confidence. Her lessons focus on all aspects of ice skating such as stroking, spinning, posture and jumping.

Faye Ghielmetti
Faye has been coaching since 1974 and is rated in Freestyle by the Professional Skaters Association. She is a native San Franciscan and trained in the Bay Area and Squaw Valley. Faye attended college in Reno, Nevada, and has coached in Squaw Valley, San Francisco, Reno, and Santa Rosa. She was the Skating Director, a competitive coach, and the club show choreographer at the Meadowood Ice Arena in Reno. Faye has been at the REIA since 1980 and coaches competitive, showcase, and recreational skaters in Moves in the Field, Freestyle, and Choreography. She is also affiliated with the Santa Rosa Junior Hockey Club as a Power Skating Coach. Faye has had students achieve Gold Medals in Moves in the Field, Freestyle, and Figures, and some have continued in the skating profession as successful coaches and featured performers in professional ice shows.

Melissa Johnson
Melissa, a Sonoma county native first began skating at Snoopy’s Home Ice in 1991 and has been teaching there since 1999. Since then she has competed and trained all over the west coast. She has also done numerous amateur and professional ice shows including the Santa Rosa Figure Skating Clubs Spring Shows, Beaglefest and special holiday events at Snoopy's Home Ice. She has also skated in numerous Christmas ice shows at Snoopy’s Home Ice as well as Snoopy ice shows at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. She has a B.A. in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Dance from Sonoma State University. She is highly trained in movement analysis, improvisation, choreography, character work, stagecraft, and ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop. She is a member of the Santa Rosa Figure Skating Club and still enjoys competing all around the Bay Area. She is currently working on finishing up her gold tests in Freestyle and Moves in the Field.

Judy Levesque
Born and raised in San Francisco, Judy began skating in 1956 at Sutro’s Ice Arena with the San Francisco Figure Skating Club. She competed all over California including the Central Pacific Regional competition. At Regionals she competed at the novice and junior level and placed in the top four numerous times. She has tested through her fifth test in figures and freestyle. As a teenager in 1968 she joined Ice Follies and skated with them until 1970. In the early 70s she began teaching at Snoopy’s Home Ice but took a break to raise her three children. In 1997 she resumed coaching at Snoopy’s Home Ice. Since then she has taught group and private lessons, basic skills, and school program. She currently resides in Santa Rosa and is a member of the Santa Rosa Figure Skating Club. Judy enjoys watching her young student’s progress with confidence through the world of figure skating.

Ainis Lejins
Ainis has been coaching since 1981 and is rated by the Professional Skaters Association in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, and Dance. He was the National Champion of Latvia from 1972-1979 and won International Awards in Men's and Ice Dance from 1974-1980. Ainis trained in the Ludmila Pachamova Ice Dance Group in Moscow 1976-1981, he passed the ISU Ice Dance Judge's Seminar in 1992, and he has performed in many Charles M. Schulz Ice Show Productions. He taught Freestyle and Dance in several European Countries before coming to Santa Rosa in 1994. Ainis now coaches competitive, showcase, and recreational skaters in Freestyle, Dance, and Moves in the Field.

Choeleen Loundagin
Choeleen has been coaching since 1992 and is Master Rated in Freestyle by the Professional Skaters Association. She is a Triple Gold Medallist in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, and Figures, traveled extensively overseas as a principle performer in Walt Disney on Ice, and has appeared in a variety of Charles M. Schulz Ice Show Productions since 1985. Choeleen holds an MA in Sport Psychology, has a private practice as a performance enhancement consultant, authored The Inner Champion: A Mental Toughness Manual for Figure Skaters, co-produced Sport & Soul: Skate for the Love CD, and founded The Center for Inner Champions. She coaches tots through adults of all levels in Moves in the Field, Freestyle, and Choreography, and specializes in coaching USFSA competitive skaters. Choeleen emphasizes the development of the mind/body connection and encourages the application of the athletic experience to enhance life beyond skating.

Lisa Navarro
Lisa was a national and world professional pair skater with partner Dan Henry. Their 27 year career included worldwide tours with Ice Capades and Holiday on Ice, the original Nutcracker on Ice, numerous Christmas shows, and seven television specials. Lisa, a USFSA gold medalist, has been on the teaching staff of the REIA since 1980. She has co-directed and choreographed the amateur ice shows for the SRFSC and has been the associate choreographer for several professional shows including the popular Christmas ice show.

Colleen Phillips
Colleen is a full time competitive and recreational ice-skating coach with over 30 years of experience. She began her coaching career in 1974. She has coached exceptional skaters during this time, and continues to work with all levels of skaters, from beginners to championship level. Colleen also owns her own music editing business www.edgemusicproductions.com.

Her accomplishments include:

• Training Gold Medalists in Freestyle and Moves in the Field
• Pacific Coast Champions, Training students competing at the United States Junior National Championships.
• Silver Cup Champions, and Crystalline Classic Champions. Senior Freestyle rated by the Professional Skaters Association.
• Co-directed the Santa Rosa Figure Skating Club's amateur ice show from 1986 through 2005.
• Worked as the USFSA Basic Skills Program Coordinator from 1980 - 1996.
• Performed in many of Charles M. Schulz Ice Show Productions including Flashbeagle, Opening Ceremony of the Embarcadero, Snoopy's television special in Sacramento, and Snoopy's Wonderful Magical Christmas.
• Fifteen years coaching Juvenile through Adult Synchronized Team Skating with teams reaching the Pacific Coast and United States National Championships.
• Her own two children skated for 14 years acquiring many awards and medals in skating competitions along the way!
  

Paul Spruel
Paul has been coaching since 1971 and is a double Gold Medalist. He was a five time United States National Championships competitor in singles and dance and was an alternate on the US World Team. Paul enjoys teaching the technical, artistic and expressive aspects of skating in Moves in the Field, Dance and Freestyle. Paul has had numerous Gold Medalists in Moves in the Field, Compulsory Dance, Free Dance and Freestyle and he has taught both US and Canadian Champions in singes and dance as well as International Ice Dance and US Olympic Competitors.