Meet the Coaches

Kathy Valburg

USFSA Registered Coach
PSA Registered Coach
Learn to Skate USA Registered Instructor​

Qualifications:

• USFSA Gold Medalist in Figures, Ice Dance and Free Dance
• USFSA Junior Freestyle test

Experience:

• Coaching since 1979
• Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center Learn-to-Skate Program Coordinator
• Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center Skating Coordinator; 2013- 2019
• Coached Regional, Sectional & National Competitors
• 10 years as a competitive figure skater
• Extensive training in classical ballet & jazz dance
• Experience teaching all skating levels & ages
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Ice Dance and Basic Skills
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

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Rachel Peterson

USFSA Registered Coach
​PSA Registered Coach

Qualifications:

• USFSA Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field, Freestyle and Ice Dance
• USFSA Junior Figure test and Juvenile Pairs test

Experience:

• Coaching since 2003
• 3-time USFSA Junior Olympic Competitor; 15 years of competitive skating experience
• Former Regional & Sectional Singles Champion, and National Synchronized Skating Competitor.
• 2002 Winter Olympic Opening & Closing Cast Member
• Co-Director, Choreographer & Cast Member of Ice Theater of Utah
•  Master Choreography Techniques Graduate
• Coached Regional & Sectional Competitors, as well as coaching skaters through the Gold level Moves in the Field and Freestyle tests
• Team USA recognized coach and choreographer, as well as team coach of National and International competitive skaters
  
• Extensive knowledge & education of the ISU International Judging System​
• Experience teaching all skating levels & ages
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography, Basic Skills and Power Skating.
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

Ellie Nielsen

USFSA Registered Coach
​PSA Registered Coach

Qualifications:

• USFSA Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field & Ice Dance
  
• USFSA Intermediate Freestyle test
• PSA Basic Accredited and Registered Sports Science Certified Coach

Experience:

• Coaching since 2004; private lessons since 2008
• ​8 years of competitive skating
• Former Sectional & National Synchronized Skating competitor
• Head Coach & Director of the Star Lit Blades Synchronized Skating Teams
• Ice Theater of Utah Assistant Director and Choreographer​
• Co-Director of Drag Queens on Ice; 2018
• Experience teaching all skating levels & ages
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography, Ice Dance, Basic Skills and Power Skating.
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

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Caitlin Ross

USFSA Registered Coach​

Qualifications:

• USFSA Novice Moves in the Field test
• USFSA Pre-Juvenile Freestyle test
  
• USFSA Silver Ice Dance tests

Experience:

• Coaching since 2005; private lessons since 2012
• 6 years of competitive skating
• Choreographer & Cast Member of Ice Theater of Utah
• Former Regional, Sectional & National Synchronized Skating competitor
• Experience teaching all skating levels & ages
  
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field,
  Choreography, Ice Dance, Basic Skills and Power Skating.
  Contact information available upon request

Tamara Bell

​USFSA Registered Coach
PSA Register Coach

Qualifications:

• USFSA Intermediate Freestyle test
• USFSA Novice Moves in the Field test
• USFSA Bronze Ice Dance test
  
• USFSA 3rd Figure test

Experience:

• Coaching since 1999; SLCounty Ice Center Skating School Director 2005-2015
• Former Sectional & National Competitor in Synchronized Skating at the Junior & Senior levels
• Central Pacific Regional Intermediate Figures Champion
• 14 years of competitive figure skating and two years of high school
  hockey
• ​2002 Winter Olympics Opening & Closing Ceremonies Cast Member
  
• ​Coached skaters through Gold Level Moves in the Field tests
  
• B.S. in Exercise & Sport Science from the University of Utah
•  Experience teaching all skating levels & ages
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography, Basic Skills and Power Skating.
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

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BreAnn Duckett

USFSA Registered Coach​

Qualifications:

• USFSA Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field
• USFSA Junior Freestyle test

Experience:

•  Coaching since 2007; private lessons since 2018
•  National Synchronized Skating competitor
•  9 years of competitive figure skating
•  Choreographer & Performer for Ice Theater of Utah
• Coach for the Star Lit Blades Synchronized Skating Teams since 2021
  
•  Experience teaching all skating levels & ages
•  Experience working with children with disabilities
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography, Basic Skills and Power Skating.
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

Giselle Gorder

USFSA Registered Coach
PSA Register Coach​

Qualifications:

• USFSA Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field & Freestyle
• National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer
• High Fitness Certified
• Certified in Master Choreography Techniques

Experience:

• Coaching since 2003
• ​Competitive figure skater for 13 years
  
• International Professional performer since 2000, including skating on plastic & aerial acrobatics
• 2002 Winter Olympics Opening & Closing Cast member
• Executive Director, choreographer & performer of the Ice Theater of Utah
• Specializing in personal training and off-ice strength & conditioning for figure skaters and hockey players since 2016
• High Fitness and Strength and Conditioning Instructor​
• Coached skaters through Gold Level Moves in the Field and Freestyle
• Experience teaching all skating levels & ages
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography, Basic Skills and Power Skating.
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

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Ashley Green

USFSA Registered Coach​

Qualifications:

• USFSA Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field, Freestyle and Ice Dance ​

Experience:

• Coaching since 2016; private lessons since 2021
• Skating since 2004
• 3 years as a competitive figure skater
•  Star Lit Blades Synchronized Skating Intermediate Team member 2016-2018
• Ice Theater of Utah performer since 2015
  
• Professional Show Skater since 2022
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Power Skating and Basic Skills
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

Kelli Gotberg

USFSA Registered Coach​

Qualifications:

• USFSA Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field
• USFSA Pre-Gold Ice Dances
• USFSA Juvenile Free Skate test

Experience:

• Coaching since 2013. Coaching with the Star Lit Blades
  Synchronized Skating Team since 2019; private lessons since 2021
• Sectional Competitor in Synchronized Team Skating
•  6 years as a member and competitor of the Star Lit Blades
  Synchronized Skating Team
•  Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Champion in 2015
•  Experience working with all ages and abilities
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Power Skating and Basic Skills
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

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Bailey Boyce

USFSA Registered Coach

Qualifications:

• USFSA Gold Medalist Moves in the Field
• USFSA Gold Medalist in Freestyle
• USFSA Gold Medalist in Ice Dance

Experience:

• CHRC Learn to Skate Instructor for 3 years; Former CHRC SuperSport Camp Counselor
•  11 years of competitive figure skating
•  Professional cast member with Ice Theater of Utah
• Experience working with children of all ages & abilities
  *Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography and Basic Skills.
  Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

Heidi Tew

USFSA Registered Coach
​PSA Registered Coach

Qualifications:

• USFSA Junior Moves in the Field test
• USFSA Novice Free Skate test
• USFSA Pre-Silver Ice Dances
• ISSA Certified Personal Trainer
• ISSA Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach

Experience:

• Coaching since 2013; private lessons since 2017
• Five-time National Showcase Competitor; three-time National Showcase medalist
• 18 years of skating experience competing, testing, and performing

*Available for lessons in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Choreography, Basic Skills and power skating
Contact for rates & lessons: [email protected]

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