GLACIER SKATE ACADEMY COACHES
Glacier Skate Academy has a great team of professional coaches who work together to ensure that each skater achieves personal excellence. Our dedicated coaching staff provides a full range of skating disciplines - freestyle, moves, dance and pairs - with professional specialists in jumps, spins, skating skills and choreography.
When choosing a coach for your skater, there are several factors to take into consideration. To assist you with this process, US Figure Skating and The Professional Skaters Association offer resources at:
The Glacier Skate coaching team asks that all skaters and parents adhere to the Glacier Skate Academy club policies and USFSA Parent Code of Conduct.
All coaches teaching private lessons at Glacier Skate Academy must be USFSA Coach Compliant.
Kimmi Jeffers, Director
M.Ed, E-RYT 200
(Available Year-Round)
Accomplishments and Coaching Information
Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Kimmi started skating at the age of five and left home at fourteen to train in Salt Lake City, UT, for over ten years with world-renowned coaches and choreographers and practiced alongside some of the highest-level skaters in the world. She found herself at home on the ice and dedicated herself to full-time on and off-ice training for over twenty years. Kimmi discovered her passion for teaching more than fifteen years ago under the mentorship and guidance of her coaches based out of Salt Lake.
After graduating from the University of Utah in 2011, Kimmi taught skating and yoga full-time while traveling and pursuing other life interests. Upon completing a skating contract on Royal Caribbean, she taught skating and yoga in the Seattle area for two years before settling in Spokane to finish school and be near family. Upon completing her Master's degree in Elementary Education, Kimmi found herself being called back to the ice to apply all that she had learned over the years. Over the last four years, she coached full-time in Spokane, WA, Coeur d'Alene, ID, and Salt Lake City, UT, before settling in Whitefish, Montana.
Through her years of coaching, teaching yoga, and graduate studies in education, Kimmi has built a dynamic skillset in guiding students of all ages and backgrounds to learn how to figure skate in competitive and recreational settings. Kimmi provides consistent jump and spin technique through strong skating skills to build consistent, balanced, and healthy athletes on and off the ice. In addition, she thrives on open communication with students and parents and loves to create a positive and fun learning environment.
Kimmi's primary goal is to inspire her students to become lifelong skaters.
Credentials: Double Gold Medalist, competed multiple years in Regionals, Sectionals, Jr Nationals, US Nationals, Internationally, performed professionally worldwide, specializes in singles, jump technique, spins, power skating, yoga/off-ice for skaters,, and MITF.
Email: sk8kimmijeffers@gmail.com
Kyla Jewell
(Available Year-Round)
Accomplishments and Coaching Information
10 years of coaching experience
Competed multiple years at Junior Nationals in Ice dance and Pairs, as well as at Sectionals in Junior singles
Performed as a Chorus Skater with Holiday on Ice in Europe and the UK
Gold tested in Moves in the Field and Freestyle
Internationally tested in Ice Dance
Novice tested in Partnered Free Dance
Junior tested in Pairs
Kyla loves working with both figure and hockey skaters of all levels. Her goal is to help skaters learn and improve skills to reach their skating goals.
Elyse Knudsen
(Available year-round)
Accomplishments and Coaching Information
16 years coaching experience
Elyse skated professionally for Disney on Ice and as a principal pair skater for Willey Bietak Productions (on Royal Caribbean Cruises). She toured Japan, South America, Mexico and the U.S.
Gold medalist in Moves in Field; Silver medalist in Free Skate; Intermediate Pairs
Degree in Occupational Safety and Health
Elyse loves choreography and is inspired by creating beautiful moments for skaters.
Tanis Blythe
Junior Coach
Tanis has five years of coaching experience and eleven years of skating experience with Glacier Skate Academy. She has completed the Intermediate Moves in the Field test and the Pre-Bronze Dance test. During her skating years, she performed in many club ice shows. Tanis enjoys teaching skaters and watching them grow in the sport.
Tanis teaches Learn to Skate, Star Skate, and Jr Club.
Allie Blythe
Junior Coach
Allie has completed the Intermediate Moves in the Field test, the Pre-Juvenile Free Skate test, and the Bronze Dance test. She has ten years of skating experience and two years of coaching experience with the Glacier Skate Academy. Allie has performed in many club ice shows and competed in and out of Montana. She is enthusiastic, loves the outdoors, and enjoys coaching skaters.
Allie teaches Learn to Skate, Star Skate, and Jr Club.
Willem Gray
Junior Coach
Willem has skated with the Glacier Skate Academy for six years. He has won many medals throughout the Northwest, including at the Regional Championships. He is currently working on his Novice Moves in the Field.
Willem teaches Learn to Skate, Star Skate, and Jr Club.
Andrew Hawken
Junior Coach
Vaughan Irwin
Junior Coach