About Us
2026 marks over 40 years since the founding of The Desert Figure Skating Club. Lud Freiseis established the club in 1985 in Palm Desert, CA as the Palm Desert Figure Skating Club, making it the region's first and only U.S. Figure Skating-sanctioned organization — a distinction it holds to this day.
The club's first home was the Ice Capades Chalet at the Westfield Mall in Palm Desert, where it built its foundation until that rink closed in 2001. After a period of transition, the club found a new home at the Desert Ice Castle in Cathedral City in 2011. When that facility closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the club faced its greatest challenge — but remained steadfast in its mission. In December 2022, TDFSC entered a new era by moving to the Berger Foundation Iceplex at Acrisure Arena, a state-of-the-art facility that has allowed the organization to reach new heights.
Over four decades, the club has evolved from an athletic organization into a cornerstone of community-building in the Coachella Valley — a place where resilience and inclusion are taught alongside axels and spins. To honor this history, TDFSC is hosting a commemorative 40th anniversary weekend in September 2026, featuring a special appearance by two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan.
TDFSC issued a press release marking this milestone — read the full story below.
Board of Directors
and
Leadership
President
Sandra Schulz
Vice President
Walter Stevenson
Secretary, Test Chair, Rink Liaison
Dawn Loyola
Treasurer, Membership Chair, Web Master
Derek Evan
Board Member, Coach Liaison
Jeff Crandell
Board Member
Rachel Rustigian
Board Member
Kat Score
Board Member
Sally Flicker (on leave)
Our Partners
About U.S. Figure Skating
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is a nonprofit organization comprised of nearly 640 member and collegiate clubs and over 1,000 registered Learn to Skate USA® and Aspire programs representing over 249,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States, including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.
Built on 40 years of excellence, propelling our legacy forward.
