FAQ’s

EFSC is the Eugene Figure Skating Club, a membership-based club for figure skaters and figure skating supporters and enthusiasts that supports ice sports in the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

EFSC is based in Eugene, Oregon. Our home rink is The Rink Exchange, located on the Lane County Fairgrounds at 796 W. 13^th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97401. Phone number is (541) 225-5123;http://www.therinkexchange.com

No, EFSC is a separate, non-profit organization that is run entirely by volunteers. We rent the ice for all our events including freestyle sessions, group skating lessons, workshops, shows, and competitions.

Email us at sk8eugene@gmail.com or give us a call at (541) 357-7032.

Anyone who wants to be part of and contribute to a dedicated figure skating community is encouraged to join! Membership is required for skaters who wish to perform a solo or duet in our Winter or Spring Shows, and you must be an official USFS member (included in EFSC membership) to participate in competitions or testing sessions. Skaters who regularly skate on club freestyle sessions enjoy a discount as members. Visit our Club Membership page for more information.

Please visit our Club Membership page for information and how to sign up.

No, membership in Learn to Skate classes is different from EFSC membership. You do not need to be an EFSC member to participate in Learn to Skate group lessons, but you do need to be a registered participant of Learn to Skate USA, a national organization for skating lesson participants (this is included in your annual LTS Admin Fee). If you want to compete or perform a solo or duet in a performance, you do need to be an EFSC member.

The skating year is from July 1 through June 30, so all memberships begin on July 1 and go through June of the following year.

Our non-profit organization is run entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers who can always use your help! We have a wide variety of tasks that can be done at home, behind the scenes, or at the rink. Please contact us at sk8eugene@gmail.com.

Yes, EFSC hosts fundraising events throughout the year to help support our skaters and our on-ice learning programs. We offer a Poinsettia and Wreath Sale, Frozen 5k Event, Dine to Donate events during the year, and we have prize drawings available at all of our shows, events and competitions.   

The Rink Exchange officially opened as Lane County Ice Arena on December 22, 1989, after community effort convinced the Lane County Commissioners and the Fair Board that an ice arena in the old horse arena at the fairgrounds could work. The grand opening skating exhibition featured Tonya Harding, at that time the top figure skating competitor from the Northwest. Our group lessons had waiting lists for classes and full rosters at every level, while public session skaters waited in line for a chance to skate. The initial coaching roster had a dozen or more coaches in order to meet the demand of group and private instruction skaters.

By 1995 the figure skating program included freestyle sessions for private coaching opportunities, and clinic ice for power and ice dancing practice. With the popularity of the annual holiday ice show productions and ISI team competitions, additional clinics were added for performance teams and synchronized skating. Our week-long Skate Camp was introduced in 1990 and the rink held its first annual ISI Love to Skate Competition in February 1992. Not long after that the new Eugene Figure Skating Club began to hold invitational USFS competitions and the “skating bear” became a staple of the Club’s fund raising efforts. In 1994, and again in 2000, the EFSC hosted the Pacific Coast Sectionals Synchronized Skating Competition. These tremendously successful events helped to put the Club “on the map”.  

There are some very special memories in our 20 year history, not the least of which are the skating extravaganzas held during the Lane County Fair. In 1990 Richard Dwyer, Mr. Debonair, brought the first fair show for a six-day, two shows a day performance run. Even our Lane County Ice coaches, including Vance Kirklin and Cindy Jensen, skated in that first big production at the Ice Center. In the years that followed we enjoyed many wonderful fair shows featuring Scott Hamilton, Peter and Kitty Caruthers, Brian Orser, Elizabeth Manley and Paul Wylie. Local skaters have had great experiences producing the Country Coach Shows as well as our traditional holiday show, which benefits the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

The Rink Exchange has become a regional mecca for hockey with a strong Learn to Play program. The Lane Amateur Hockey Association has been a mainstay of the Rink Exchange from the beginning producing both a house league and a travel league. With the reemergence of an elite level Junior B team, hockey is proving to be both a recreational and competitive power at the Rink Exchange. It is great to see beginning hockey instruction coexisting with beginning figure skating classes in group lessons and our schedule allows for both groups to get the ice they need for their programs at all levels of performance and play.

Through the years the Rink Exchange has sustained a solid core program of group lessons and clinics, as well as maintain special traditions such as the Holiday Show. The Rink Exchange currently has outstanding figure skating coaches and continues to provide a solid instructional program with a wide variety of skating opportunities.

WHY CALL IT THE RINK EXCHANGE….
A twitter follower simply asked, “Why is it called the Rink Exchange.”

As with most things that seem simple on the surface, the answer is quite a bit more complicated and speaks to the history of the place itself. So, let’s call this the ultimate TT.

The ice rink itself was built (well repurposed) back in 1989. It was a project Lane County completed with the help of a lot of local citizens many of whom still skate at the rink today. The building used to be a Horse Barn. The rink, in the first few years, was incredibly popular with a pretty large user base, especially when it came to public skating.

Fast forward to 2010 and for various reasons, with the County itself facing large budget cuts of its own, they decided that the rink was no longer an asset it wanted to finance directly. The rink itself was losing close to $250k per year and by some estimates needed over $1 million in maintenance upgrades.

At the same time (since 2005) the Eugene Generals had been operating in the facility as the area’s premiere hockey team playing at the Junior level. When 2010 came along, and the rink decided it needed to shutdown, the Generals came to an agreement with the County that allowed it to operate the facility. The asset (building, land, etc.) would remain public property, but the operations (maintenance, staff, etc.) would be a private venture.

As with all things of this nature, the first year was a “kick the tires” kind of year. The Generals were asked to operate some sections of the rink (namely Public Skating Sessions, some scheduling, and the pro shop) while others including staff and private ice rental remained under the County domain.

With the pro shop being operated privately, it needed a name. At the time, it was assumed that the model that was established would remain. The Generals would only operate public skating sessions and the store. So the team needed to come up with a name that kind of equated with with the Generals. Some on the staff had served in military circles and the name needed a Generals theme. Given it was a store, the name Rink Exchange was crowned. An exchange on a military base is a store where goods and services are bought and sold. It was a good description of exactly what was going on at the time at the Rink. The Rink Exchange was the middle man between the public and the County in exchanging goods and services (namely ice).

Well, as luck would have it, the roles grew, rather quickly. Soon the Exchange had it’s own phone number, email addresses, and services. Little by little, the roles increased from operating the pro-shop to running the entire facility completely independently but in partnership with the County. This occurred in June of 2011. By then, the name kind of stuck. The internal users already knew it as the Rink Exchange and with any brand, we just decided it needed to be introduced to the public.

To this day, it really is an Exchange with the ice being the primary good. But services are a huge part as well with major user groups participating in the development of ice sports as well as Rink Exchange run programs such as Adult League, Adult Learn to Play, and Learn to Play for Youth.

The Rink is growing and in some circles larger now than ever in the past. Public skating sessions routinely fetch 150 plus skaters and during the Christmas season that number grows to be over 200 plus skaters. The youth hockey program now sports over 250 participants (a large size as a percentage of the population) and there are now 16 adult league teams playing out of the Rink.

The Annual Eugene Figure Skating Holiday Show brings participants from all over the region and brings in upwards of 500 viewers of the show and unwrapped toy donations at this event benefits the local “Relief Nursery”.

So as you can see, it really is an Exchange that has brought Ice Sports back into the forefront of the community.

Eugene figure skater Perry Johnston heads to Disney on Ice

Congratulations Perry!

https://www.kezi.com/news/eugene-figure-skaters-getting-an-edge-on-ice-dancing/article_39d0e408-7f5e-11ed-b45a-eb34b2b356b2.html

Eugene figure skater heads to Disney on Ice | News | kezi.com

We offer group skating lessons for beginning skaters up to advanced levels. We follow the official Learn to Skate USA programming that teaches skaters of all ages and abilities. Visit our Skate Lessons page for more information and registration links.

Anyone can take lessons! Skaters start as young as age 4 all the way up to adults. We have classes for age groups 4-5, 6-12, 13-adult, and have a robust and dedicated adult skating population. 

Skating is for all ages. We have beginning and advanced adult lesson groups with a specialized curriculum and advancement track. We have a robust and dedicated adult skating population that take group classes and skate on public and freestyle sessions. Whether you are an adult who became a skater or a skater who became an adult, we have a place for you.

We offer 3 sessions of group lessons each year in the Fall, Winter and Spring. Please visit our Skate Lessons page for more information and registration links.

The Learn to Skate Administrative Fee is a $50 annual fee that is due once a season (between July 1 to June 30) to cover insurance, administration, magazine subscription, progress book and materials. All skaters will need to pay this fee in the Fall as it is the first session of the skating season.  

TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST DAY

• For young skaters and beginners, a safety helmet may be worn. Be sure they fit comfortably and snug to protect the forehead. Do not wear anything under or attach anything to it.
• Wear attire that gives you the ability to move about freely.
• Layers along with a jacket will keep you warm and allow for removal as you become warmer.

• Hats and gloves or mittens will keep your head and hands warm, as well as protect you while learning to skate.
• Lightweight or thinner socks work best. Bulkier, thicker socks limit support and create uncomfortable bumps inside your boots.

SKATES

Note: be aware that rental skates are not designed to fit everyone. Shoe size also does not necessarily match skate size.

Boots should be snug, giving toes just enough wiggle room without pinching.
The rule of thumb: the closer the fit, the more control.
Heel should be snug without being able to lift up.
Solid support is necessary for staying upright.

A tall pair of socks, long pants, coat, gloves, and a water bottle. You are also welcome to bring and wear a helmet if you would like. Pick up rental skates, if needed, at the skate counter (don’t forget to return after class!).

If you are taking class one day per week you may make-up one lesson per session. There are no refunds for missed lessons without prior arrangements. 

If you are a beginner (enrolled in class levels Snowplow Sam-Basic 4 or Beginner Teen/Adult) then rental skates are typically suitable. If you are in higher level classes, find that rental skates do not work well for your feet/ankles, or are skating more and more frequently, then it might be time to buy personal skates.

The more time skaters spend on ice, the better. Improvement is not linear, but the more you skate the more you learn and the more fun you have! Taking both the Tuesday and Saturday classes provides more instructional and practice time, so yes- enroll in both! But, we understand that schedules get busy, so once a week is also great!

Talk with your child’s instructor about your concerns. They will be able to assist with re-evaluating the skaters’ class level placement.

Consider that the Free Skate levels in our Learn to Skate program include elements and skills that are not necessarily included in the official LTS curriculum and that the instructors will always meet the skater at their level and give them what they need. Group lessons are a great way to continue to practice and refine skills, even if the level has been achieved. At this point, the skater should be considering private lessons if they wish to continue to gain skills and further their skating journey, and we recommend watching Club announcements for workshops and potential new program information. 

Beginning private lessons is the bridge between recreational skating (taking group lessons and occasionally attending a public session) and more advanced skating. Private lessons are helpful for skaters around Basic 5 and up or Advanced Teen/Adult, but anyone can benefit from them if a skater wants additional instruction or wants to pursue figure skating more seriously. 
If a skater feels that they are struggling in group class and wants some more individualized instruction time and feedback, we recommend arranging a Booster Lesson (15 minute one-on-one with instructor scheduled during the lesson practice time on the same day as your regular skating lesson; $20). 
A private coach is necessary if the skater wants to participate in USFS testing and competitions.

Private lessons are available either on public sessions, EFSC sponsored freestyles, or Rink Exchange freestyles. Each coach manages their own schedule, appointments, rates and payment directly. Each coach works a bit differently: some teach only on club freestyles, others teach only on public skate sessions. Lessons are typically 30 minutes, but some coaches offer shorter or longer sessions based on availability.
For private lessons, you pay for your ice time (to either EFSC or the Rink) as well as paying the coach for the lesson. For example, if you schedule a lesson on a Club freestyle session, you will register online and pay for a spot on the freestyle session as well as pay the coach for the lesson time. Skaters will pay for Rink Exchange freestyles in-person at the front desk and no pre-registration is required. Be sure to ask the coach for a description of what is included in their services and what their policies are. See Freestyles Page for rules and more information.

Ask your instructor, ask other skaters, observe coaches and visit the “Coaches” page and contact any that interest you. Communicate your goals and any other details you think are relevant. Keep in mind that schedule and ice availability will be a factor so sometimes your first choice is not a match. If you don’t have a preference or need more direction, please complete the Private Lesson Request Form (on the “Coaches” page) and we’ll try to help you find a coach.  

Every year we provide two performance opportunities, a winter show following the Fall LTS class session (December) and a spring show following the Spring LTS class session (May). All Learn to Skate participants are invited to perform with their class level. While skaters are not required to perform, we highly encourage it. It is a fun experience, a great way to get more time on the ice and interact with fellow skaters, and an awesome way to celebrate and show off new skills and accomplishments to friends and family!

Registration forms will be passed out in the 4th week of classes – so be on the lookout! We try to keep our participation fees low to include rehearsal times, coach fees and costumes.

Start preparing in advance to be ready:

• Become an EFSC club member
• Sign-up for a solo when announced prior to each show
• If you do not already have a private coach, contact a coach for choreography lessons (exception if you choreograph your own routines)
• Choose a song and ensure that it is compliant within USFS music regulations: use https://www.usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/U.S.%20Figure%20Skating%20Music%20Policy.pdf to check song compliance and/or to purchase music rights
• Cut/edit music choice into mp3 format (students typically pay their coach for this service unless they can do it themselves)
• Get a costume/dress/outfit/props as needed
• Practice, practice, practice! Attend freestyle sessions to practice your routine with your music over the main ice sound system
• Attend the dress rehearsal the day of the show to practice show order

In addition to becoming an EFSC member, soloists pay a participation fee, typically around $30.

All of our shows have free admission! We do ask for a voluntary donation to offset the production costs.  

Life happens, we get it. Rehearsals for group performances are tricky to miss, so definitely tell your instructor in advance when possible if you must miss a rehearsal. We do not provide any refunds for missed rehearsals. 

To guarantee a regular schedule of freestyle sessions, EFSC reserves and rents the ice for a higher level of skating practice than the public sessions allow. These sessions are called “Club or EFSC freestyles” and are regularly scheduled on Tuesday evenings, Friday mornings, and Saturday mornings.
Skaters must register and pay for a spot before the session online through this website (see FREESTYLE PAGE). The Rink Exchange has scheduled other freestyle sessions throughout the week that are not EFSC affiliated. These sessions are called “Rink freestyles” and are typically labeled as “RX Freestyle” on the rink’s calendar. There is no registration necessary for the Rink freestyles, skaters pay for the session at the front desk upon arrival. Rink freestyles are often offered in ½ hour increments allowing skaters to purchase a spot on the first 30 minutes, the last 30 minutes or the full hour. Please check with Rink staff on current prices and policies.  

The minimum level allowed on freestyle ice is Beginner Teen/Adult (with instructor approval) and Basic 3. Skaters can skate on freestyles when they start full rotation jumps and/or are working on testing and choreography for shows and competitions.

Visit the Freestyles page for information and Freestyle Rules.

When a skater is interested in testing or competing they should discuss it with their instructor. USFS has competition opportunities for all levels, including Snowplow Sam and Basic 1 through 6. Learn more about the opportunities here (https://www.usfigureskating.org/skate/compete) 

Instructor Apprentices are skating volunteers that regularly attend Learn to Skate lessons and assist Instructors with class activities while learning instruction basics, class management skills, and acting in a leadership role. EFSC accepts a limited number of Instructor Apprentices each season. 

Minimum requirements for the apprentice program are:

• Must be a current, full EFSC member in good standing 
• Must be at least 12 years old
• Have completed FreeSkate level 3
• Must commit to one lesson day (Tuesday or Saturday) for the full session
• Registered as an instructor on the Learn to Skate website yearly
• Successfully complete LTS instructor certification exam

Applications are available here or by talking to a Club representative about your interest. 

Email sk8eugene@gmail.com a copy of your resume that includes your relevant skating/coaching experience and we will contact you with additional details.

Yes, we are a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax ID is 93-1022477.

                  Constitution (May 2015)

                  Injury Waiver 2023-2-24 (pdf printable form)

                  EFSC-Code of Conduct

                  Conflict Resolution Policy (ver.060917)

                  U.S. Figure Skating Member Code of Conduct (Safesport)

                  Safe-Sport-Statement-for-Membership-Renewal-05072018

                  Draft Whistleblower Policy (ver.050917)

                  Member-Privileges-Policy-050718

Board of Directors 2025-26 link

Board Meeting Dates 2025-26 link

You can email the president at efsc.clubpresident@gmail.com or the club’s main email at sk8eugene@gmail.com.

July 2025

August 2025

September 2025

October 2025

Medford (south of Eugene) – http://www.therrrink.com/
Sherwood (south of Portland) – http://sherwoodicearena.com/
Lloyd Center (Portland) –  http://www.lloydice.com/
Winterhawks (west Portland) – http://winterhawksskatingcenter.com/
Mountainview (northeast Portland in Vancouver) – http://www.mtviewice.com/
Bill Collier Ice Arena in Klamath Falls – http://klamathicesports.org/
Seventh Mountain Resort Ice Rink near Bend – Closed March to Novemberhttp://seventhmountain.com/recreation/cold-weather-activities/ice-skating/
The Pavilion in Bend – Closed May – October
http://www.bendparksandrec.org/the-pavilion/drop-in-skate-sessions/
The Village at Sunriver Ice Rink –  Closed March – November
http://villageatsunriver.com/directory-of-businesses/name/ice-skating/
The Rink Exchange in Eugene –
http://www.therinkexchange.com/index.html

SUMMER SKATING: Some ice arenas are closed during summer months. All have varying closure dates. Please check each website for more information, this includes our ice arena, The Rink Exchange in Eugene, which is generally closed May 1- August 15.

Also, call first for updated skating schedules, as sometimes there
are events that may cause changes/cancellations.