Austin Figure Skating Club

When Charnell tragically lost his sister in 2008, tiny 2.5 month old Kiara transitioned from being his niece to his daughter. Charnell says simply, "Sometimes the most beautiful gifts come in the ugliest of wrappings." Charnell has been on ice for 35 years and skates at the Masters Junior/Senior level. "As a skater, I like to work towards a goal, and achieving success feels good. I enjoy providing an enjoyable moment with my skating. I like to skate smarter, have fun, and not feel like I'm skating harder. In the next year, I hope to get into better shape to create a Gold Free Skate program for me to test and to pick up with a few more Adult Championships appearances. Initially, it was never the plan for Kiara to follow in my skating footsteps. I was coaching, so being at the rink was always where we were. She tried it, enjoyed it, and progressed. I never expected to coach her, but watching her on the ice is always a joy for me as her father and coach."

Kiara has been skating for 15 years and is at the Senior Ladies Excel level. "As a skater, I am determined and always willing to put in the work to improve my skills and reach my goals. I am also expressive on the ice, using my performance to show emotion and connect with the program. I stay resilient and don't give up, even when skills or tests become challenging. I like the sense of freedom I feel on the ice and the rewarding feeling of finally landing something I've been working hard on, along with the supportive community around me. In the next year, I hope to pass my Gold Free Skate test and continue building my confidence in my overall performance as a skater."

Charnell adds, "Both of us passing the Gold Skills almost simultaneously is truly a monumental achievement that was never planned. The original idea was to take the test the same day just to say we did. But to have passed in the same year with the idea of 'Let's see what happens' feels good. The hard work and dedication has paid off, and I have several members of the skating community to thank for their support and positive influence on Kiara's and my skating achievements."

Some final shots as we close out another successful Skate Austin Bluebonnet Open 🪻 💜

Thank you to all the skaters, coaches, volunteers and officials who joined us this year.

We were very privileged and honored to celebrate the International Skating Union "Coach of the Year," Phillip DiGuglielmo as he joined our esteemed line up of officials! 🪙

Congratulations to all and we look forward to seeing you again next year! ⛸️

That's a wrap on Day 2!

Shout-out to all the Adults that competed today! Y'all are rock stars!! 🤩

Make sure to come back tomorrow to cheer on your skating besties for the final day of competition at the Skate Austin Bluebonnet Open! 🪻

Hi, Day 2! You're lookin' good!

Amazing skating happening on both rinks today! We're so happy to see so many skaters and their families visiting us from all over!

What club are you proud to represent? Tag them in the comments! ⛸️

🪻 Bluebonnet Open 2026

End of Day 1 at the 2026 Skate Austin Bluebonnet Open 🪻!

We hope you had as much fun as we did. ⛸️

We look forward to seeing everyone for Day 2. Good luck to everyone competing!!

Day 1 of the 2026 Skate Austin Bluebonnet Open 🪻 has officially begun!!

Tag us in your photos and use the hashtag for a share!

Good luck to all skaters! 😁

Hello, everyone! I'm running for Coaches Council to support all coaches, especially those in Texas and the southwest.

All coaches in the US can vote via the link sent from US Figure Skating.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. And, don't forget to vote!

The 2026 Bluebonnet Open schedule is now available on EMS!

Our competition runs on volunteers. From ice monitors, to music players, award presenters, and first aid - every volunteer makes a difference.

If you have an hour or two to spare in your schedule, we can always use new volunteers.

Click the link in bio to register.

Thank you to all those that have registered to volunteer already!


Rick Reyor McLaughlin Elite Skate Academy Coach Laignier Alice Gee Deana Spencer Enchanted Edge - 📍Austin, TX

Just a friendly reminder that TODAY is your last day to register for 2026 Skate Austin Bluebonnet Open 🪻held April 16-19 at

Steps to register:
1. Log into your usfsaonline.org account
2. Click on the EMS logo
3. Search competitions > By State > Texas 🤘
4. Select 2026 Skate Austin Bluebonnet Open 🪻
5. Speak with your coach and register for your event(s)! ⛸️

All levels and ages are eligible to compete. There's no prerequisite to compete at the beginning levels of Snowplow 1, Basic 1, or Adult Beginner. Make Bluebonnet Open your competitive debut! ⭐ (Consult with your coach regarding competition level.)

Don't forget to register for practice ice and your 2026 Bluebonnet Open T-shirt while supplies last!

Did you watch the Winter Olympics? Were you inspired by Team USA? 🇺🇲

There were so many great memories, we can't pick one we loved the most. 😍

The first step for all those athletes was joining their local club and competing in their first competition. Some of those athletes even competed in Austin!

We can't wait to see our champions grow and compete. And, maybe one day cheer them on as they represent Team USA at the Winter Olympics!

Join us this year!

💻 Registration for the 2025-2026 season still open!
💫 Weekly Club Ice practice sessions
🏆 Applications for the Competition Team available
⛸️ Skate Austin Bluebonnet Open April 16-19
⛸️ Austin Autumn Classic September 24-27
🧾 Virtual and In-Person Testing

📷 Photos and videos courtesy of board member, official, and coach .skating who got to witness history in the making.