Richard Brian

Figure skater Jessica Rearich, 14, poses with skates at the Sobe Ice Arena at the Fiesta Rancho.

By Brent Hinckley

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 (midnight)

When Jessica Rearich became frustrated with the lifestyle of competitive ice skating, her coach knew there was only one solution.

Rearich, 14, needed a break.

The Northwest Las Vegas resident had been active in the sport for nearly a decade, and realized some time off would be refreshing.

"She came back better than ever. It was a rebirth of her ambition," her coach Kris Amerine said.

Following the U.S. Figure Skating Southwest Pacific Regionals in October 2007, Rearich stayed away from the rink until June 2008.

"It was a chance to build myself back up again," Rearich said. "I realized I missed being active on the ice."

Rearich finished the 2008 season at the regional championships in Anaheim, Calif., taking 14th place in the Novice ladies' free skate division. A top four finish would have qualified her for the Pacific Coast Sectional championship.

She said a trip to sectionals is a strong possibility next year. Her best finish at regionals was in eighth place in 2005.

"I can make the top four at regionals. I had a really clean program this year," she said.

Rearich started skating when she was 5-years-old. Her mother, Margie Rearich, said tried to find an activity for her energetic daughter.

"She was always trying to keep up with her older siblings. They went to school and she'd be the only one home. I needed something to wear her out," Margie Rearich said.

It wasn't long before Jessica Rearich found her passion for figure skating.

"I started to really like it, and I would see the older kids skating and thought they were pretty good," she said. "I wanted to do the moves they were doing."

Even though she will not compete until April, Rearich is on the ice two hours a day, five days a week at the Sobe Ice Arena in the Fiesta Rancho and spends another three hours a week in off ice training, which involves ballet and work with a personal trainer.

Amerine has been Rearich's only coach. Even when Amerine was hired as a coach in Southern California, they stayed together. Rearich trained in Southern California every Tuesday to Friday for four months during the summer of 2005. He has since returned the Southern Nevada.

"Her family has sacrificed a lot for her," Amerine said. "And she's been worthy of that most of the time."

Brent Hinckley can be reached at 990-7822 or brent.hinckley@hbcpub.com.