About Us

KIDS' QUESTIONS

November 2006

Kids' Questions with Dann Krueger

Is there any future for synchronized skating on the Olympic scene?
Mac Dinsmore, 13 Charleston, S.C.

Everyone in synchronized skating dreams about inclusion in the Olympics. Although there are no definite plans at this time, we have taken an important step forward. Synchronized skating will be included in the 2007 World University Games in January 2007. This is the debut of synchronized skating in a multi-sport international event. Miami University will be competing, and we wish them well.

Dann Krueger with the Hockettes.

What is the hardest part about your job?
Francesca Tait, 13 Colorado Springs, Colo.

The hardest part of my job is finding time to accomplish everything. All the officials in U.S. Figure Skating are volunteers with jobs and lives outside of skating. It is a definite balancing act to get everything done, but it is well worth it.

What types of jobs do you have on the committee? How did you get started with this?
Kaity Vermillion, 12 Basking Ridge

As chair of the Synchronized Skating Committee, I am responsible for oversight of all aspects of synchronized skating in the United States, including competitions, development and international teams. Luckily, I have additional committee chairs to help me with these tasks.

I have heard that being able to field a large team may not be as important as it once was. I am on a juvenile team with only 16 skaters. Will the lower number hurt our chances of winning if all else is held constant?
Colleen Farmington Hills, Mich.

The most important aspect for a team's success is the ability of the team to execute edges and elements. A smaller amount of athletes on a team does not preclude a team from winning.

Do you know if they will have the Beginner category at the Eastern sectional in Rhode Island this year?
Kelsey Magri, 10 Pittsfield, Mass.

The beginner division is a Basic Skills division and is not part of the current synchronized competitive pipeline. This event is not included in our qualifying competitions. However, it is available at nonqualifying competitions.

How long did it take for you to get used to the new judging system?
Aziza Alaoui, 15 Perry Hall, Md.

Learning anything new takes time. As judges, we have received a lot of additional training to become comfortable with the international judging system (IJS). Although at first the IJS seemed very complicated, it was actually a very easy transition with the skills I had acquired under the 6.0 system.

Synchronized skating was invented in the United States, so why has the U.S. struggled to win World medals?
Jenny Hawver, 16, Caldwell, Idaho

The international arena for synchronized skating is very competitive. As our U.S. teams improve, so does the rest of the world. However, the advent of the IJS has motivated our teams to work even harder. As a result, the past two years at the World Championships and the World Challenge Cup for Juniors have produced the best results ever.

What city in the world do you consider to be the hotbed for synchronized skating?
Christina Rodriguez, 17 Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Although we have several strong areas in the United States (Detroit, Chicago, Boston), I would have to say that the “hotbed” in the world is Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki currently has three senior teams training in the same city, and all three teams have competed at the World Championships.

Do you skate on a synchronized team?
Jill Boston, 11 Kansas City, Mo.

Although I am not currently skating on a team, I did compete on a team in 1997 in Syracuse, N.Y. Hopefully, all video evidence of this event has been erased.