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KIDS' QUESTIONS
February 2007
Kids' Questions with Bebe Liang
What is it like to go from taking lessons at your local rink at a young age to now traveling the world as a senior-level figure skater?
Stephanie Armbrust, 15, Davenport
It's amazing. Getting the opportunity to travel the world and experience new cultures is not something that everyone gets to do. I think that because skating takes me to so many different places, I enjoy it even more. It motivates me to work harder and appreciate all the work put into skating.
What is your daily routine like, and how do you juggle school, homework, a social life and skating at the same time?
Nikki Martin, 15, St. Cloud
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| Bebe Liang |
My daily routine consists of going to the gym for about an hour and a half in the morning before skating. I am at the rink from about 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and skate at least two sessions. Then I head home to do some homework and relax. Juggling school, skating and friends was tough for me at first because I was so used to going to full-time school until I was 16. But soon it became easier as I understood how to place my priorities. It was always skating and schoolwork at the top of my list, but I also got to hang out with my friends on the weekends. It was important to me to have some time just to hang out and be a normal teenager.
How does competing among some of the most elite figure skaters help you improve individually? How does it feel to realize that you are becoming one of the top figure skaters?
Annalisa Tester, 14, Minneapolis, Minn.
Competing against World and national champions is always a learning experience. You can always learn something from your competitors. Because they are such great athletes, you know that there is something there that you can take and make it your own. All those little things that you learn make you who you are. It's awesome to hear people say that they think I'm one of the top figure skaters. It's good to know that something I love and work hard at is helping me accomplish such goals.
How long have you been skating? If you could change one decision you made about skating, what would it be?
Jackie Keresman, 16, Kirtland
I've been skating since I was 6 so that would be almost 13 years. If I could change one thing about my skating, it would probably be that I would have pushed myself harder when I was younger because I would have appreciated more what my parents and family sacrificed for me to skate.
I know you have recovered from a painful injury, but I was wondering, when you get ready to practice or compete, do you ever get nervous that you will re-injure yourself?
Jessica Ploss, 13, Antioch, Ill.
I try not to dwell on the fact that I COULD injure myself during a practice or competition. I just focus on the present and the thing that I am trying to accomplish right then. If something does happen, I do everything I can to take care of the injury so that I can get back onto the ice as soon as possible.
What is the hardest, easiest and most enjoyable part of your training?
Brenda Duenas, 8, Houston
The hardest part of training would probably be making myself do those long program run-throughs every day, but I know that the more I do it, the easier it will be in competition. The easiest part would be enjoying my skating. Most enjoyable? Hanging out with all my friends at the rink and having a good time.
Every time I watch you skate on TV your dress and your music seem to be so perfect together. I'm having trouble finding a dress.How do you choose?
Jessica Pletcher, 11, Wichita, Kan.
Finding the perfect dress can be hard sometimes, and it could take a few tries to get it right. I usually work together with my coaches and my dressmaker to come up with designs that go with the music and that we all like. You know it's right when you really love the dress and feel comfortable skating in it.
Are you working toward being able to participate in the Olympics in 2010?
Kit Thomas, 14, Charleston
Yes, I'm definitely working really hard to get on to the 2010 Olympic Team.
Do you get nervous when you compete in big competitions? And if you do, how do you calm yourself down and not get worked up?
Justin Kozikowski, 13, Berlin
I used to get extremely nervous at competitions. Now, I'm better only because I've done so many of them. But the best way for me to calm myself down would be taking a few deep breaths and telling myself that skating is fun and that I can do all of those things in my program perfectly. It's not such a big deal after you've convinced yourself that you're good and there is nothing to be afraid of.
What is the best program you ever performed and why?
Christiana Fragale, 12, Hopewell Township
The best program I performed I think was my free skate at the 2004 U.S. Championships. That was the first time I landed my triple-triple combination in competition, and it got to be put down in the record books.
You graduated from high school last year. Are you going to college right now? If not, do you have plans to in the future? What are your career interests when you are done skating?
Abby House, 15, Shoreview
I am actually enrolled at a city college right now. I take a lot of online courses so that my schedule is more open for my training. I plan to transfer when I know I can make a full commitment to school. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do but there are a lot of things that I've been thinking about.
You starred in “Ice Diaries.” Was it weird doing what you love but being filmed while doing it?
Kim Benton, 12, Cincinnati
It was really fun filming “Ice Diaries.” At first, it was a little strange with cameras following me everywhere, but it got to be fun. It was really interesting to see how those kinds of things work, and the people were really nice and great to work with. I'm glad that I got to participate in the show and I hoped the show let people see just how exciting skating can be.
