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Richmond Figure Skating Club

Our Coaches

Richmond Figure Skating Club deals with all coaches as independent contractors. They do not work for the club, but at times the club does reimburse them on behalf of its members for services rendered. Skaters/Parents pay the coaches directly for their coaching time (typically in increments of 30 minute lessons). Coaching fees are set directly by the coach and may vary. Some coaches offer bundled rates and some accept online payments via PayPal. Skaters will incur additional fees for ice time, test sessions and competition fees.

RFSC does not make recommendations on specific coaches, but encourages the skater and the parent to start out by trying one that the student may have had as a group teacher in Learn to Skate classes or who matches them in personality and skating philosophy. Some coaches may specialize in specific disciplines of skating. If you have any questions about our coaches, please consult SkateNation’s Figure Skating Director, Lea Rizer, learizer@hotmail.com or (804) 364­1477 ext. 119. Lea would be happy to help you find the right private coach for your skater!  

Lauren Currin

​Lauren started skating at the age of seven and still trains and competes at the Senior level. She is a triple Gold Medalist with U.S. Figure Skating and has earned Gold medals in Free Skate, Moves in the Field, and Solo Free Dance. Lauren has trained under internationally renowned coach Valentyn Nikolayev and international ice dancer Olga Mudrak for most of her skating career. She is a member of USFSA and PSA. She works with all levels and all ages. She specializes in jumps, spins, skating skills and off ice conditioning. Lauren enjoys working with skaters to help them achieve their goals and is very passionate about working with young skaters.

Lisa Fuller

Lisa began skating at age 5 with the Skating Club at Dartmouth in NH. During her competitive career Lisa was coached by 2-time US National Dance champions Lois and Mike McGean, as well as Red Bainbridge and Julie Graham-Hawkins during her summers training in Lake Placid. Lisa tested/competed in figures and freestyle through 4th test/Novice until she turned 18, at which time she enrolled in Grinnell College in Iowa. That is where she began her coaching career in both group and private lessons.

As a coach Lisa has been teaching Learn to Skate groups and private lessons for 25 years, has served on the RFSC board, and was Director of the Learn to Skate program at SkateNation for 4 years. Lisa has years of experience with off-ice classes, summer camps, and Freestyle clinics. She skated on the Richmond Adult Synchro team for 3 seasons, and then turned to coaching the younger teams with Richmond Synchro. Lisa enjoys teaching all levels and ages, from beginners through advanced/adult skaters, including MIF (through senior and adult gold), Freestyle and synchro. She is a member of USFSA, ISI and PSA.

She now has 2 grown children and lives in Midlothian, and is thrilled to be able to do what she loves and share that love with her students.

CER: A

Steffi Jenkins

Stefanie began skating in Virginia Beach when she was 4 ½. Born in Neumarkt, Germany (Bavaria), she is fluent in her native language. She received a Bachelor of Arts in German from Randolph-Macon College (in Ashland, VA) in January 2006. On August 12th, 2006, she married Bryan Jenkins. And in 2014 gave birth to her daughter, Laney.

Stefanie competed in ISI through Freestyle 7 until she was 10 and USFS to the Novice level until she was 14. She has also competed as an adult skater in 2013. Her coaches have included PSA Master rated Coach Audrey Weisiger (Michael Weiss’ coach), Linda Reynolds, Elena Betchke, and Sherry Pence. Stefanie spent one week at the German National Training Center in Obersdorf working with program director Michael Huth. She has been coaching for over 20 years and is a USFS double Gold Medalist in MIF and Freeskate. Stefanie has also passed 3 of the Pre-Gold Dances as well. As a coach, she has had students pass Senior MIF, Senior FS, Adult Gold MIF, competed at Junior & Senior FS, competed at the Collegiate Senior level, and etc. Stefanie is a member of USFS coach in good standing. Stefanie enjoys coaching all levels and disciplines in skating one-on-one and in group classes.

CER: A

Stephanie Meier

Stephanie has been coaching since 1997 and is the Program Director and Co-Head Coach of Richmond Synchro. She has coached Beginner skaters of all ages through Senior Level Tests, and has worked with Regional, Sectional and National competitors. In addition, Stephanie has coached Synchronized Skating Teams on the East Coast from Beginner through National-qualifying levels, including Collegiate and Adult divisions as well.

Stephanie is a former competitor in Freestyle, Figures and Synchronized Skating. She is a current member of USFS/PSA. She holds a degree in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, and has an extensive background in music and editing. Stephanie resides in Richmond with her husband Eric, also an RFSC coach, and their two young children. While she greatly enjoys the athletic and competitive achievements of her skaters, she also feels one of her greatest accomplishments in coaching is having a positive influence on her skaters’ lives and seeing them reap the benefits of hard work in the sport not just on, but off the ice as well.

CER: A

Eric Meier

Eric is a two-time US National Medalist and International Competitor in Ice Dance, and a Gold Medalist in Compulsory Dance, Free Dance, Figures and MIF. He has coached skaters through Gold level tests and International Dances, and taken individual skaters and dance teams to US Championships. As a competitive skater he trained across the US and Internationally in England, Colorado Springs, Lake Placid and the University of Delaware, under International and Olympic level coaches. He is a member of USFS and has coached on the East Coast for over 20 years. Eric resides in Richmond, VA with his wife Stephanie (who is also an RFSC Coach) and their two young children. Eric not only strives to help skaters reach their technical and athletic goals, but also enjoys watching the skaters develop strong character and benefits of participation in the sport.

CER: B

Eva Meyer

Eva Meyer began her skating journey at a friend’s birthday party in 4th grade. She took Learn to Skate classes at the University of Delaware and passed through Freestyle 4 and Ice Dance 3 in the ISI system.

After skating once a week for 4 years, Eva took a hiatus and came back to the sport as an adult and began Learn to Skate classes at SNP. She had to relearn all of her previous skills as an adult and retest through the USFS system.

Currently, Eva is a double Gold medalist in Moves in the Field and Free Skate (Adult track). She has also passed her Silver Pairs and Novice Moves in the Field tests and continues to be a competitive adult figure skater.

Eva’s coaches include Olga Mudrak, Nick Perna and Kim Ryan-Lewis. She is also a two-time medalist at the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships in free skate and pairs. Eva enjoys teaching Learn to Skate and especially loves coaching adult beginners.

Olga Mudrak

Originally from Odessa, Ukraine, Olga represented her country as an ice dancer at the National and International levels. With her partner, she won the Ukrainian National Junior Championships and competed at Junior World Championships. Olga was a Grand Prix competitor at the senior level.
Olga has been coaching since 1994 and specializes in choreography, ice dance, freestyle and MIF. She has choreographed for Ukrainian National champions, European Champions and the World Bronze medalist. Her students have competed at the National and Sectional levels and have earned gold in MIF, ice dance and freestyle. Olga holds a degree from the Institute of Culture in Ukraine and is good standing with USFS/PSA.

With her unique, creative flair, Olga has choreographed many holiday shows at SkateNation Plus. After years of coaching, Olga’s philosophy and coaching goal is aiming to bring the best out of each skater with love, care and hard work realizing that every skater has their own potential and ability.

CER: A

Beth Parker-Silver

Elizabeth began skating at the age of five. Elizabeth specializes in skating, jumping and spinning techniques. She has 20 years of coaching experience and has coached numerous athletes through their Senior tests and has taken skaters from Regionals to Junior Nationals.

Elizabeth skated competitively in Canada for the Granite Club under Louis Stong and for the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club under Douglas Haw and Ellen Burka. She competed through Junior Nationals in Canada. Upon returning to the United States she attained her 7th figure test, Junior Freestyle Test, Senior Moves in the Field (MIF) and Pre-Silver Dance tests. She represented the SC of Wilmington under the direction of Ron Ludington and the Detroit Skating Club under David Lowery and Mitch Moyer. She has had instruction from many top coaches including Sandra Bezic, Osborne Colson, Bernard Ford and Cindy Watson Caprel. Elizabeth works with beginner to Senior level skaters.

PSA Rating: Master Rating MIF; Senior Rating Freestyle
CER: A

Lea Rizer

Lea started skating at the age of 5 in Cincinnati, OH. After graduating from Virginia Tech, she settled in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two teenage daughters. She has been coaching for 21 years and has been the Figure Skating Director at SkateNation Plus for 18 years.
Lea passed her Junior Freestyle and 7th figures tests and competed at the Regional and Sectional levels. She was coached by Richard Callaghan and Bobbie Shire among many others. As a professional, Lea’s students have competed at Regional and Sectional competitions. Lea has worked with skaters from beginning levels through gold level MIFs and freestyle. She’s had students compete in Basic Skills through Senior level. Lea is a member of the USFS/PSA.

Lea has loved the sport of figure skating her entire life and brings that philosophy to all of her students. She wants them to push themselves to be the best skaters they can be but also to love the sport. Skating provides a lot of discipline that will be used throughout a skater’s entire life. Lea is happy to share her love of figure skating with others.

CER: A

Tracey Solomons-Henn

Originally from London, England, Tracey has enjoyed 57 years of skating experience. As a skater, Tracey was the Junior Ladies Champion of Great Britain and the Ladies Bronze Medalist at the Junior World Championship. She was a World Professional Pairs Champion twice and has achieved British tests including Gold Figures, Gold Free, Gold Pairs, and Silver Dance. She’s toured the world as a principal lady and principal pair with Holiday on Ice, Ice Capades, Broadway on Ice, and the Torvill and Dean Show.

As a coach, Tracey has served as choreographer, coach, and assistant coach to numerous British and German singles and pairs World and Olympic competitors. Most recently, Tracey finished 4 years as choreographer and skating coach at the Olympic Training Center in Mannheim, Germany.

“Ice is my life passion and my goal is always to share that passion and my experience to ensure all my students enjoy their skating experience.”

Tracey is happy to work with skaters of all ages and abilities.

Karen Watson

Karen was born in Richmond, VA and started ice skating briefly as a teenager at Ice Unlimited until it closed after 1 ½ years. Ice skating became a passion once again with the opening of SkateNation Plus in the late 1990’s. In 1998, she started competing and testing. She won a gold medal at Adult Nationals in 2005. She also medaled at Adult Nationals in 2017 as well as 2022. She skated for many years on an Adult Synchronized Skating team earning a bronze medal at Sectionals. She has passed her Adult Silver MIF test.

Karen started teaching Learn to Skate classes in 2000. She is a member of USFS as well as the PSA. She has volunteered as a coach for the annual holiday show for many years.

Karen is married and has two children. She graduated from Columbia Southern University, Summa Cum Laude, with a BS in Business Administration and a concentration in Project Management. She retired as an IT Systems Analyst from the Department of Juvenile Justice and is currently employed at SkateNation Plus as the Assistant Skating Director. Karen enjoys teaching students from the very young to the young at heart. Skating is for all ages and abilities.

CER: B

Ashleigh Welch

At age 6, Ashleigh Welch began private figure skating lessons in Charlottesville, followed by training in rinks on the East Coast for 16 years, and competing for the USFSA South Atlantic region. She is a USFSA Double Gold medalist (Senior Freestyle & Moves-in-the Field), and has tested Pre-Gold Ice Dance, Intermediate Pairs, and ISI 8. Ashleigh's training included coaches Serguei Kouznetsov, Kimmie Meissner, Chris Conte, and Luis Lovett. She is a member of USFSA, ISI, and PSA (Cat. A), and is a certified ISI Bronze level judge. She has been teaching group classes for 10 years and private lessons for 8 years, and has experience teaching all ages and levels within the ISI and USFSA Basic Skills curriculum. She is a figure skating group/private instructor at Massanutten Resort, Ice Zone and Skate Nation rinks in Richmond. ​Ashleigh is also the Assistant Learn to Skate Director at Ice Zone and the Skating Director at Generations Park. She specializes in Moves in the Field, jumps/spins, choreography, and off-ice training for figure skaters.

Maude White

Maude was born in Brooklyn, NY and started skating at the age of 9. Maude came to Richmond in 2012, having taught in the Philadelphia area for over 45 years. She was the Director of Skating at the Philadelphia Skating Club & HS in Ardmore, PA the last 8 years before moving to Richmond. She is married and has three children and 8 grandchildren. In 1996, she graduated from Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley, PA with a BS in Business Administration, with a minor in Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations.

Maude is a USFS triple Gold Medalist in Figures, Freestyle and Dance having competed in Eastern Sectionals at the Intermediate, Novice, Junior and Senior levels. She was coached by Gustave Lussi and Red Bainbridge. As a professional, Maude has coached many Regional, Sectional, and National competitors. The love of skating she has instilled in her students has led many of them to go on and coach. She is a member of the USFS and PSA. Maude believes that skating provides many lifetime lessons to her students as they grow and develop through this sport and they make many lifelong friends.

Maude teaches all levels and aspects of skating from beginners thru high level to all junior and senior skaters. Introductory pricing is available and lessons are available upon request.
PSA Rating: Master Rated in Figures, Freestyle, Dance, MIF, and Group Instruction; Certified Pairs

CER: A

Raya Willoughby

Raya Willoughby is a four-time Malaysian National Champion and competed internationally on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. Raya is a member of PSA and USFS and has earned her USFS Gold Medal in MIF. She has expertise in coaching freestyle, choreography, and MIF. In addition to being a private lesson coach, Raya is the Head Coach for Virginia Ice Box Ensemble, Richmond Figure Skating Club's Theatre on Ice organization, and is the Power Skating coach for the Richmond Generals.

When she is not working with figure skaters, Raya also coaches ice hockey power skating and has worked with players that have gone on to play in USPHL, NAHL, ACHA, NCAA, FHL, EIHL, ECHL, AHL, and NHL. During 2015-2018, she coached the Penn State Men’s Division 1 Hockey Team as their Power Skating Coach and was also the Head Power Skating Coach for Pegula Ice Arena’s 8U, 10U, and 18U Skills Clinics for 4 years. She now has worked with the Richmond Generals as their Power Skating coach since 2019, working on edges, agility, transitions, and overall skating skills.

Having skated since 2000, the sport of ice skating has had a tremendous influence on Raya and has taught her important life lessons about hard work and determination. Raya is excited to share her skating philosophy and passion for the ice with athletes in the Richmond area. She works with beginner through Senior level skaters.

CER: A

Erica Wilson

Erica Wilson is a former competitive figure skater with 25 years of skating experience. She trained under a former Olympian and World Championship Medalist and is a double Gold Medalist in Senior Freestyle and Moves in the Field. She holds a USFS membership and has worked with skaters of all levels, from Basic Skills through Senior. Her students have passed through Senior level tests and competed in regional competitions. Erica specializes in Freestyle, Moves in the Field, choreography, and off-ice training. She enjoys sharing her love of figure skating, and the valuable life lessons the sport brings including hard work, dedication, and discipline. Erica coaches with genuine care for her skaters' development and supports their growth on and off the ice.

Erica graduated from Virginia Tech, where she studied Visual Communication Design and Leadership Studies. She currently resides in Richmond with her husband, Philip, daughter, Emery, and dog, Bauer.

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