About Us

KIDS' QUESTIONS

May 2007

Kids' Questions with Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski

Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski stunned everyone at the 2007 State Farm U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash., by winning the pairs title. The Michigan-based tandem rode their momentum into the World Championships in Japan, where they placed a respectable 12th.

What do you consider the scariest or most dangerous move in pairs skating?
Kate Manzagol, 14 • Clarkston, Mich.

Brooke: I consider the split triple twist the most dangerous element for both the man and the woman. In a twist, there is so much going on so quickly between the two people. Therefore, a lot can go wrong quickly and easily. The scariest can be either a split triple twist or a throw gone wrong. Most of pairs skating is dangerous, but with a good attitude, trusting your partner and courage, less can go wrong. Nothing is more fun than being a pair girl.

Ben: The triple twist is the most dangerous of the elements for a male pairs skater. You not only have to trust that the girl is going to hit all of her positions at the right time, but you also have to be secure with your own movements. If either of you makes an error, it's very easy to at least get an elbow to the face.

Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski

How did you feel when you won the U.S. pairs title, and what was it like when you received your medals?
Jessica Pletcher, 12 • Wichita, Kan.

Brooke: It was a dream come true. Winning the title is an amazing accomplishment, but what is more important was having the skate of our lives at nationals in front of an incredible crowd. I'll never forget the feeling I had going into our ending pose. It's indescribable and the best feeling I've had in my life. The medal ceremony was great, but the highlight for me was definitely the skating.

Ben: It was a bit of a surprise to win the title. I expected us to be in the top three after our skate, so it caught me a little bit off guard. I didn't really understand how it felt to be national champion for about a month. I am still getting used to being noticed a lot more than before. The best part of the medal ceremony was standing on the top of the podium. I felt important in that moment, like the attention of the arena was on us.

When you were unknown skaters and working your way up the ranks, did you have any doubts? Did you ever think that it was going to be impossible to make it this far in skating?
Maria Flemming, 15 • San Diego, Calif.

Brooke: My attitude has always been that anything is possible. There have been some low points in my career, but pushing through them and keeping a good attitude gets you through the tough times. This is true for both life and skating. We try to learn from every experience good or bad, and always try to come out with a smile. “You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you'll find you get what you need.” - The Rolling Stones.

Ben: When I was working my way up the ranks I never really focused on how far I was going to make it in skating. I remember just trying to be as good as was possible for where I was at. I did admire other skaters who were at higher levels than me and wondered whether or not I would ever get to that level, but instead of dwelling on it I did what I could to imitate what I admired about them.

What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome in your partnership?
Brittany Pence, 18 • Middlesex, N.C.

Brooke and Ben: Just being in a partnership is an obstacle in and of itself. Having to mesh two athletes and two personalities into one was our biggest challenge. Everything we do on and off the ice affects each other, whether it be in a negative or positive way. We respect each other and love skating together. That's what makes our partnership work.

How long did it take you to get your double Axels? Do you have any advice on landing that jump?
Sarah Bishop, 14 • Verona, N.J.

Brooke: I landed my first double Axel after about four months once I decided to dedicate time to it. A double Axel is an important and tricky jump. My advice would be to watch videos of high-level skaters and study their technique on a double Axel and compare it to a video of your own. You can do this for any element in skating; it can be effective. The other piece of advice would be work hard and never give up.

Ben: I honestly can't remember how long it took me to get my double Axel. I do remember it taking far longer than I wanted it to take. It took me a little while to learn to finesse the jump instead of forcing it to happen. I agree with Brooke about watching videotapes; I seemed to learn much quicker that way.

How do you put your programs together?
Judy Trinh, 14 • Philadelphia, Pa.

Brooke and Ben: We love creating new programs. We start by ordering our program's elements on paper. Next we lay out the program on the ice, followed by choreography, which is our favorite part. We work with our coach, Marina Zoueva, and together we create the best program we can.

Do you have any role models when it comes to skating?
Shelby Green, 16 • Louisville, Ky.

Brooke: Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are by far the best role models I could have. In previous years, I haven't had any training mate besides Ben. Having recently made the switch to The Arctic Edge in Canton, Mich., we now train with Tanith and Ben. They have taught me about what it takes to be elite athletes and maintaining a professional attitude on an everyday basis. They are great people and great athletes. I am so grateful to have the privilege of sharing the ice with them every day.

Ben: I wouldn't say that I ever had a “role model” when it came to skating or anything else for that matter. I do admire many different aspects of numerous skaters and pick and choose what I like from each one to “model” myself after. If I had to choose a skater that I admired the most, it would be Sergei Grinkov.

Brooke, who does your hair?
Tara Lypin, 15 • Texas

Brooke: I do my own hair. I've always loved doing hair and been pretty good at it. I like to experiment with different styles. I think it would be fun to go to beauty school at some point and learn more about my little hobby. Emily Hughes had me do her hair for the Marshalls event in April. We had so much fun, especially because she gave me five minutes to do it, since she was first to skate.

Do you think the United States pairs teams can place at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games?
Jill Devlin, 13 • Houston, Texas

Brooke: There is no guarantee for a placement, but I do think it's possible. I think with the new judging system there are many more opportunities for Americans. Obviously, it won't be easy, but it's not easy for anyone.

Ben: I think that U.S. pairs are improving as a whole and can be competitive with some of the top teams. Given three more years of hard work and dedication, I think it is absolutely possible.

What do you each like to do when you are not skating? Do you have significant others?
Debbie Billings, 17 • Las Cruces, N.M.

Brooke: I really enjoy just relaxing and hanging out with my friends. I have a girls' night once a week with my best friends Tanith Belbin, Meryl Davis and Lauren Senft. I love all types of art. My dad and I have a studio in our basement where I paint and spend hours designing clothes. My favorite thing to do, though, is spend time with my family, my boyfriend and my puppy Kona-Eugene. My boyfriend is Kevin O'Keefe. We met in 2003 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and have been together ever since. He is a mechanical engineer and an ice dancer. We did long-distance for three years. Kevin lived in Boston and I lived in Detroit. He moved here last April, and I owe a lot of my success this year to him. He is my backbone and best friend.

Ben: I spend a lot of time working and don't have a lot of free time until the weekends. When I do have some time, I like to play sports, play guitar, read or hang out with friends. I do have a girlfriend, who I've been dating for about six months.