About Us

KIDS' QUESTIONS

June/July 2006

Kids' Questions with Johnny Weir

Who influenced you to start skating? When you went through tough times, what kept you motivated?
Lauren Pannepacker, 13 Newtown, Pa.

My first inspiration in this sport was Oksana Baiul. I thought she was so beautiful at the 1994 Olympic Games and that she was the rightful winner. When I heard there was an uproar over the result, I knew it was the sport for me. There are so many intrigues in this sport, and even if you skate the best you may not be the best; it keeps it interesting. When I get knocked down the best thought is that I can get back up. This is what keeps me motivated.

Johnny Weir

Do you think you're too hard on yourself when it comes to your skating?
Casey Dickinson, 18 Cottage Grove

You have to be hard on yourself to be successful in any industry. I don't believe in sugar coating things and that when you skate poorly, you should be cuddled and told everything will be OK. When I skate poorly, I deserve to be hard on myself. You can't learn if you don't fail, and you can't be easy on yourself if you want to win. That is the reality. Some of the top skaters right now are happy with skating and they always place well, but you may notice they don't get much better as time goes on and that's because they can't push themselves or they think they're already the best. I am very hard on myself and critical, but that's what makes you successful. No excuses.

Do you believe in life after death, in rebirth of the soul?
Inna Likhovid, 15 Odessa, Texas

I believe in having many lives. I had mine read a few years ago and it was astonishing. Often times I feel deja vu and I have no idea why, and I chalk it up to having done that or been there in a previous life. It's very interesting. I don't believe anyone knows for sure what happened to you in a previous life, but there are some people that I believe to have special powers. They can tell you if you suffered or if you were a king. Life is made up of energy and certain people are very in tune with that and can see things, while the average person can't. I think some psychics and mystics are like omens.

How do you pick your music so when you skate, people see your personality and skating style?
Mirielle Chambers, 15 Wichita, Kan.

I have two very different personalities. I am very serious on the ice and I am all business, but off the ice I'm very open and crazy and love to laugh. It is hard to separate things sometimes. I choose music that reflects my skating style, elegant and romantic. This isn't always the best route, and I'm changing my style a bit as I grow as a person and skater, but generally I play to my strengths. This year I will have some new flavor to my style, and I'm excited for the change. You have to be inspired by your music if you want other people to be inspired.

You're in great shape. What's your daily diet?
Ashtin Baker, 14 New York, N.Y.

Lots of coffee. I don't like to eat before or in between sessions because I feel heavy. I have a nice dinner every night but before skating is a no-no for me. Everyone is different. I've seen some people eat full meals and go win competitions, and that just isn't a good thing for me. I usually have four cups of coffee before I eat in the day, and I don't eat after 6 in competition season. I love meat, chicken and salad, and I don't like to deprive myself of things, so if I want cheesecake, I'm going to eat it. It's all about being careful but enjoying what you're eating.

Why do you love Russia so much, and when will you visit Russia this season?
Nastya Kubrak, 13 Moscow

I love Russia because I think it's a beautiful country and I really love Russian culture, history and the language. Russia is very mysterious, and I'm very inquisitive so I want to know as much as possible about the country. I also admire the Russian system and their athletes, and being in a sport dominated by Russians has made me very appreciative of their country. I hope to have a home in Moscow one day and to speak the language fluently. Russia is very intriguing to me, it's like a hobby, just the same as video games or karaoke. It's hard to explain my infatuation with Russia, but I just love it.

What's the absolute best advice you could give to a skater just starting out?
Nancy Acuna, 18 Los Angeles

Grow a thick skin.

I saw you at Champions on Ice in Detroit and you were amazing. What's your favorite part of doing a tour like that? Do you hang out with the other skaters? Kyle Goedert, 17 Chelsea, Mich.

My favorite part about the tour is being with the other top skaters in the world and knowing them as people aside from competitors and athletes. I have admired Irina Slutskaya for a long time and getting to know her as a person has been so wonderful for me. Just being around other people who understand the training and hard work and good results makes me feel like I'm in a good niche and I belong. I also love performing for an audience almost every night. I get so excited to skate for people and show them something beautiful that it makes all the traveling and time easier to deal with. I love the tour.

Your costumes are so different from any other skater. How do you design them? Do you have to listen to the music or do the designs just come to you?
Jenna Tavares, 14 Falmouth, Mass.

I work with a group of people who help me make the right decisions as far as costuming goes. They range from professionals to my friends and family. If I'm going to look like a moose in a certain costume, but I love it, I need someone to push me in a different direction. The swan costume is probably my most famous costume and it was designed by a friend of Tatiana Anatolievna Tarasova before last season. I had to tweak some things and so did my seamstress, but overall the vision came from Russia. I have designed my own and they are starting to look very similar to one another so I need to try and change my sense of on ice style and I have people to help me with that.