About Us

KIDS' QUESTIONS

December 2003

2003 U.S. pairs champions Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn are featured in this edition of Kids' Questions. Be sure to check out the questions at the bottom that aren't printed in the magazine.

Tiffany Scott & Philip Dulebohn at the 2003 World Championships

Q: What would you say has been the defining moment of your career? What is the highlight or most exciting moment of your career? Margaret, 15, Buffalo, N.Y.; Alyssa Danesh, 11, Needham; Amy, 13, Rossford

TS: I would say that the most defining and exciting moment of my career was our long program from Worlds last year. It was great to be able to perform a clean long program in front of all our friends and family. We came back strong after a shaky short program and proved to ourselves that we could skate cleanly.

PD: Last year's Worlds long program was definitely memorable. I also feel that our performance at nationals in 2000 to qualify for our first World Team was a big moment for us. It was a great feeling to have qualified for our first Worlds. That meant so much to us at that time.

Q: How old were you when you began skating pairs? Cassandra M. Wilson, 8, Toledo, Ohio; Lilian Rose Palmere, 5, East Windsor, N.J.

TS: I was 19 years old when I began skating pairs. Philip is my only partner, and I moved from Hanson, Mass., to Newark, Del., to skate with him.

PD: I was 19 when I started with my first partner. Tiffany is my second partner. We started skating together when I was 22.

Q: What was your mindset going into this season? Rachel, 13, San Francisco, Calif.

TS: Going into this season, we want to really have a solid base with our programs and choreography. We have new coaches (Isabelle Brasseur, Rocky Marval and Lloyd Eisler) and are excited to go through this season with them. I am looking forward to trying out the new judging system, and look forward to experiencing that in the upcoming season.

PD: I'm looking forward to a new season with our new coaches. I really feel that we have much more to accomplish in the competitive arena.

Q: Congrats, Tiffany, on your engagement! I was wondering if you know when your wedding will be? I wish you the best! Rebecca Chen, 11, Houston, Texas

TS: Thank you!! My fiancee, Brian Pryor, and I are going to get married on May 21, 2005, in Hanson, Mass.

Tiffany Scott & Philip Dulebohn

Q: What is your ultimate skating goal right now? Elena Mik, 15, New York

TS: My ultimate goal for right now is to stay in for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, and to place well for the United States.

PD: My ultimate goal would be to win an Olympic medal for the United States in 2006.

Q: What do you like best about figure skating? Grace You, 12, San Jose, Calif.; Bryan Santiago, 16, Vacaville, Calif.

TS: I really enjoy performing. It is a wonderful feeling to have a large audience cheering for you after completing a good performance.

PD: There is nothing like having that great skate at a big event. It is gratifying when all your hard work comes together for that flawless performance. It also gives me a great sense of satisfaction when my skating inspires others around me.

Q: What types of things do you do before a competition? Do you have something that you do for good luck? Mallory Houghton, 16, Newark, Del.

TS: I sometimes tend to be superstitious before a competition. If I have a good practice the day of the short program competition, I will follow the same routine the next day for the long program. Also, right before I go on the ice to compete, I like to go to a spot where I can be totally alone to allow myself to focus and relax just before I skate.

PD: I am not as superstitious as Tiffany. I really don't have any precompetition rituals that I follow. I always just try to stay relaxed and enjoy the experience.

Q: What are your goals for this season? Garrett, 13, Watertown, Minn.

TS and PD: Our goals for this season include medaling at our Grand Prix competitions, qualifying for the Grand Prix Final and defending our U.S. title.

Q: How much pressure is on the girl during a death spiral? Bryce, 15, Escondido, Calif.

TS: Although the girl must maintain a strong, solid position, the centrifugal force coming from the man's pull in the pivot of a death spiral helps to maintain the position. It is also very important for the girl to not let her hips drop and to have a strong arch, while pushing her ankle up, so as not to let the pull from the man pull her off her edge.

Q: What inspires you to skate and make it to the top? Dani, 12, New York

TS: Although I have many role models that I look up to, it ultimately comes down to me motivating myself to train every day. I train and skate because I want to and because I enjoy it. If someone was pressuring me to skate, I don't think that I would enjoy it as much.

PD: I have always been self-motivated with my skating. From the time I was young I knew that I wanted to compete at the World Championships and the Olympic Games. This ultimate goal was always in the back of my mind through all my years of training. I just wanted to be the best I could be.

Exclusive to U.S. Figure Skating Online:

Q: Who is your favorite skater that you have looked up to? Liann W., 10, Issaquah, Wash.

TS: I really look up to Kristi Yamaguchi. She has always been a consistent and beautiful skater. I especially admire her ability to have a well-balanced life off the ice.

PD: I really don't have a favorite skater now, but when I was younger Brian Boitano was the most inspirational skater to me. It was his 1988 Olympic long program that was most memorable. I used to watch the tape over and over and wonder how it must have felt to win the Olympic gold medal.

Q: How do you prepare for competitions? Micaela, 13, Hamden

TS: Usually we begin preparing for a competition a few months before we actually compete. We begin doing basic run-throughs of our programs, and add elements one at a time. This helps to build our stamina while not over-training.

PD: This is how we have prepared for most of our competitions in the past. The only time we have to deviate from this plan is when one or the other of us is dealing with an injury. In that case, we usually train and do as much as we can without causing more damage to the injury.

Q: What was it like for you to win your first U.S. gold medal? How did you feel? Alyson Duete, 10, Tiviton, R.I.; Dice Murakami, 12, Corona

TS: Although it did not feel like the highlight of my career, I was happy to achieve one of my goals in skating. I felt like our first Worlds, qualifying for our first Olympics and skating a clean long program at Worlds last year were the highlights of my career thus far.

PD: It was a nice feeling to win the national title, but I do think that if we skate better at nationals next year we will feel even better about it.