Coaches
Meet Our Coaches At BFSC, our coaches are more than just instructors—they are mentors, motivators, and champions of every skater’s journey. With a passion for the sport and years of experience, our coaching team is dedicated to helping skaters of all levels grow in skill, confidence, and love for the ice. Whether you’re learning your first toe loop or refining a senior-level program, our coaches are here to guide and inspire every glide of the way.


Liz Brazeau
Taking New Students: Yes
About Liz: Liz is going on her 18th year as a figure skater and her 4th year as a private coach. Her favorite part of every day is getting to hop on the ice with her students and watch them make magic. She’s a stickler for foundational skills and loves choreography, test prep, and attending competitions with her students. When she’s not coaching for the BFSC, Liz runs the Western Washington University figure skating team. At school, she is a graduate student earning her Master’s in Secondary English Education.

Jamie Bader
Taking New Students: Yes
About Jamie: Jamie has been a figure skater since age 11. She started right here at the Sportsplex and was inspired by the amazing coaches she learned from growing up. She has always loved gliding along the ice and the freedom she feels. Jamie began volunteering with the Learn to Skate Program at 14 and has been coaching since I was 16. 11 years later, she still wholeheartedly loves the sport and the joy it continues to bring others. She competed at National Showcase in 2014 and 2015, among other competitions regionally. Jamie also had the chance to participate in a Stars On Ice production at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle in 2015.
Outside of coaching, she enjoys creating programs and performing, and spending time outside with her two young kids.

Louise Kapeikis
Taking New Students: Yes
About Louise: Louise has 37 years coaching experience and is certified both in the USA and Canada. She is a current Team USA International coach but has coached skaters from the grassroots level through the Junior World Championships, Senior International competitions and Professional Ice Show careers. Coach Louise is an expert in teaching skating technique, jumping, spinning and skating skills.
As a student, Coach Louise trained at competitive clubs both in Vancouver and Toronto. After competing she performed with Disney on Ice for 4 years. She went on to coach and direct a very successful skating program in Wenatchee, WA from 2000-2020. From 2020 to 2024 she was the CanSkate Coordinator at the highly competitive Connaught Skating Club in Richmond, BC.
At all levels, Coach Louise emphasizes the importance of developing positive life skills through the challenges of learning to figure skate. Her goal is to help each skater achieve their maximum potential on the ice and to see the continued development of a strong competitive skating program here in Bellingham, WA.

Caleb Niva
Taking New Students: Yes, on a limited basis as scheduling permits
About Caleb: Caleb is an accomplished figure skating coach with over six years of experience, specializing in partnered and solo ice dance as well as skating skills. Throughout his career, Caleb’s skaters have earned podium placements at prestigious events, including Solo Dance Nationals, Pacific Coast Sectionals, National Showcase, Adult Nationals, and the ISU North American International Adult Competition. A 7-time U.S. National competitor and 7-time U.S. Pacific Coast Sectional Medalist, Caleb has also achieved 4 Gold Medals from the USFSA, providing him with a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help his students excel.
Caleb’s skating journey began at the Sportsplex in Bellingham before traveling to train under Olympic coaches Steve and Sharon Baker in Seattle. At 16, he moved to Chicago to work with ISU technical specialist Jamie Whyte, and in 2017, Caleb relocated to Detroit to train under Olympic coaches Angelika Krylova and Pasquale Camerlengo. His coaching philosophy centers around creating an enjoyable and fun environment for his skaters, fostering not just technical skills but a love for the sport. Caleb strives to give every skater the opportunity to discover their passion, whether it’s in competition or simply for the joy of skating.

Krista Cohen
Taking New Students: Yes, on a limited basis
About Krista: Krista brings years of experience, a love for the sport, and a down-to-earth coaching style that connects easily with skaters and their families. She began skating at the age of 3 and went on to compete for 15 years before transitioning into coaching and choreography.
For the past 27 years, Krista has taught Learn to Skate classes, and for the last 16 years, she has worked with skaters one-on-one through private lessons. She is currently the Skating Director at the Bellingham Sportsplex, where she supports the development of both skaters and skating programs.
Choreography is Krista’s greatest strength-she has an exceptional ability to bring out each skater’s unique style through thoughtful and impactful programs. Before becoming a coach, Krista performed in professional ice shows including Hope with the Heart and Ice Capades, experiences that continue to inspire the creative and performance aspects of her coaching today. As a PSA and USFSA member and Registered Professional, Krista offers expert instruction in choreography, jumps, spins, skating skills, and competition readiness. She has helped skaters achieve personal milestones and has coached athletes who have gone on to become national medalists. Above all, Krista enjoys helping skaters set meaningful goals and work toward them with confidence and joy.

Karlyn Huntgate
Taking New Students: Yes, on a limited basis
About Karlyn: With 13 years of experience as a competitive skater, Karlyn honed her skills both in Bellingham and Canada. As a member of Ice X-Treme at the Lower Mainland Synchronized Skating Club for 7 years, her experience in synchronized skating has given her a unique perspective on teamwork, precision, and performance.
Karlyn served as the Show Director for the Bellingham Figure Skating Club from 2013 to 2015, With a deep understanding of both solo and team skating, Karlyn focuses on fostering creativity, technique, and performance skills in her students. Her approach emphasizes building confidence and ensuring that skating is a fun and rewarding experience for everyone she works with.

Tina Mauler.
Taking New Students: Yes, on a limited basis
Contact: 360-510-4513 (cell/text)
About Tina: At the age of three, Tina’s father put her on the ice at a small frozen neighborhood pond, wearing little, old fashioned skates with “curly” blades. She lived in Austria, and back then, ice rinks were few and far between; covered ice arenas existed only in major cities. For training she had access to outdoor rinks from mid October to early April. Each summer, she travelled to one of the major cities for three weeks, to train in a covered arena; beyond that she did off ice and cross training.
Tina started competing at qualifying competitions at the age of twelve; within a few years she won the Salzburg State Championships twice, and later on placed second in Free Skate in the Austrian Junior Nationals.
For a number of years, Tina coached part-time in Austria and Germany; after that, in and around Vancouver, British Columbia; and then life brought her here to Bellingham in 1993! Tina was part of the group that founded our very own Bellingham Figure Skating Club, and got it sanctioned by USFSA. From 2000-2010, Coach Tina spearheaded a successful Synchonized Skating Team and those are some of her most cherished coaching memories. Thirty-five plus years, and hundreds of students later, Tina is thrilled to still be coaching here in Bellingham!
Choosing a Coach
Tips for finding a great coach for your unique skater!
Choosing a coach for you/your skater is a very individualized process, depending on factors like age, personality, skating goals and scheduling!
Some key questions to ask a coach might include:
• What is your coaching philosophy?
• What levels are you comfortable coaching up to?
• Do you work individually or as part of a team?
• How often do you meet with parents to do check ins/goal setting sessions, etc?
• What days and times do you currently have open in your schedule?
You might also find it helpful to chat with parents you see at the rink! Parents are often happy to talk about the ways a coach works with their skater and can provide valuable insight on what you might expect.