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KIDS' QUESTIONS
May 2006
Kids' Questions with Lisa Darken
With the recent success of all the Chicago Jazz teams, what do you think are the chances of a gold medal at the World Challenge Cup for Juniors in the next few years?
Chris Iacullo, 15
Barrington, Ill.
I think our chances are excellent. We need to keep training harder each season and build on our current success.
Is it hard to work with a large group of skaters? Is it difficult to get them to listen and do what you ask, or are they all interested and attentive?
Emma Feickert, 15
Sebastopol, Calif.
It is not hard to work with our large group of skaters. I really enjoy working with the team on the ice, but what is hard is traveling with a large group. Nintey-eight percent of the time our skaters are interested in their practice and programs and are focused to learn.
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| Lisa Darken |
Is it hard to be your daughter's coach? How does she feel about it, and is it difficult to keep skating separate from home life?
Lisa Holmes, 17
Novi, Mich.
I enjoyed coaching both of my daughters, who skated together on the junior team in 1998. My youngest daughter stopped skating in 2001, but my oldest daughter coaches with Jazz and was the one to deliver the good news to our locker room at the World Cup for Juniors in Finland of us winning the bronze medal. Their experiences on the team were great; it wasn't always good for their brothers, who stayed home and did their sisters' chores while they were busy training. There really is no way to keep skating separate from family; skating becomes part of your family life.
Where do you think synchronized skating will be in the future? Do you think it will be in the Olympics? Do you think there will eventually be 50 teams competing at Worlds?
Laura DeWitt, 16
Verona, N.J.
Synchronized will be a strong sport with great speed and dramatic programs. I do feel that it will be in the Olympics some day. It is already growing but so are the financial responsibilities of skating families. It is hard for some countries to afford to do this sport.
I am interested in choreography, and after seeing synchronized groups perform and reading requirements, I believe there is much teams can do that is untapped. How difficult is it to come up with new and interesting choreography for a team, to break away from the norm? Do you hire someone or do you create the programs?
Jessica Stratton,
Rochester, N.Y.
I do like to pick the music and lay out our programs. When I am done with this, we do bring in outside help.
With all of the pressure going into the competitions, how do you calm down and focus the team, especially with all the hype and everyone expecting them to come out on top?
Cerene Belli, 16
New York
We have a pre-competition routine that we follow to keep us focused, which includes drills, music and prayers.
What is the most effective way of coaching a synchronized skating team?
Caly Crouch, 15
Kingston, Ill.
Knowing the basic skills of figure skating and being able to teach all levels and ages, because a team is made up of different ages and level of abilities.
I enjoy both individual and synchronized competitive skating. I skated on an intermediate team this year and am planning on competing in pre-juvenile at regionals this fall. I am also working on my novice moves and silver dances. Do you think a skater can be successful in both or should a skater specialize in one area?
Allie Rosemann, 12
St. Louis, Mo.
I think it is great to compete in both. I do not feel that a skater has to choose; you will know yourself when you are a little older if you need to go in one direction. Keep up the great work and good luck.
How did you become the head coach of Chicago Jazz, and what was your reaction when you found out?
Traci Van, 14
In 1984 I was given the job as coach of the youngest team at the skate school at an arena. We started with a juvenile team and named it the Jazz Babies. In 1989 we moved up to intermediate and continued to grow, and in 1983 we added junior. In 1994 we added juvenile and novice. In 1995 we added a preliminary (team). Due to the limited amount of ice for these five teams, we had to look for more ice and skaters to fill these teams. In 1998 we moved into another arena along with our original (arena) and renamed our teams Chicago Jazz. At this time I was named synchronized skating director and coach of the junior and novice teams.
