ICE SKATING : International first

Athlete, 13, does well in overseas contest

Stephanie Rigley glides across the ice. The southwest Las Vegas resident recently took first place in the short program and overall in her age group at the 2007 Morges Cup in Morges, Switzerland.Special to View Advertisement

It was her first international competition. She traveled to Switzerland, without her coach. It seemed like a daunting task, especially for a 13-year-old.

But Stephanie Rigley rose to the occasion, winning first place in the short program and first place overall in her age group at the 2007 Morges Cup in Morges, Switzerland, near Lake Geneva.

Rigley, who lives with her parents in southwest Las Vegas and trains here and in Southern California, was one of 10 ice skaters chosen for Team USA to compete in the event in April.

"It was probably my biggest accomplishment since it was my first international competition," Stephanie said. "I wasn't really surprised because I felt I prepared for it, but I was really happy to win. I didn't expect that much my first time."

Her coach, former Olympian Wendy Burge -- who works with Stephanie every week in Yorba Linda, Calif.-- was unable to make the trip, but her young protege did just fine on her own.

"I was quite nervous because my coach wasn't with me, but also because there were so many people there from different countries," Stephanie said. "But I just tried to concentrate and do what I needed to do."

It was a great trip overall, as she also got to visit the Olympic Museum in Switzerland and she saw some beautiful lakes and other sights. Then it was back to the U.S. and back to training. Stephanie is getting ready for a regional competition in Escondido, Calif., in October.

She started skating at the age of 3, but said she really got serious about the sport when she was 8.

"That's when I started moving up to different levels, doing harder jumps and competing with other kids at a higher level," she said.

She currently ranks among the top skaters in the Southwest Pacific Region and has won 16 first-place titles.

She skates Mondays and Tuesdays at local facilities and then commutes with her mother, Debbie, to California to train the rest of the week.

"It's hard to not be home a lot, but I'm glad we get to do it," Stephanie said.

She just finished the eighth grade at the Bethesda Christian Academy through a home-school program, and, in a few subjects, she's already at a high school level.

Incredibly, Stephanie has found time for other things besides studying and skating. She runs a small business with a friend called S & R Shelter Helpers. They sell homemade cards and jewelry and donate funds to local animal shelters. She's also performed in ballet, including a rendition of "The Nutcracker," and she won the Miss Pre-Teen Youth Pageant of America in 2005.

Despite her other interests and hobbies, Stephanie is focused on becoming the best skater she can be. She hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of her coach and make it all the way to the Olympic Games.

"Of course I want that, but I'm just taking it step by step," she said. "I want to have all the elements. I want to be able to work my way up and compete around the world."