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KIDS' QUESTIONS

March 2008

Kids' Questions with Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker

Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker are back in Colorado Springs, Colo., training for next season after winning the U.S. senior pairs title in Saint Paul, Minn. The second-year team is undefeated in two seasons on home soil and won two silver medals this fall during the senior Grand Prix campaign to qualify for the Grand Prix Final.

When you realized you had won the gold, what went through your mind?
Megan Hisano, 12
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Keauna: I was like, ‘Whoa, I can't believe this is happening!' It was unbelievably exciting. The first thing that went through my mind was our picture is going to be on the U.S. Figure Skating web site!” I was really excited about that (lol).
Rockne: I knew that it was a dream come true. I remember that as I was skating off the ice after our free skate, I turned around and glided backward so that I could take it all in. Seeing cameras flashing and people on their feet clapping and yelling was so amazing. I remember wishing I could stay in that moment for a while longer because you never know what the next year will bring. It's a memory that I will always have with me.

Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker Photo by Paul Harvath

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome with your partner?
Francesca Tait, 15
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Keauna: Learning how to compete with the best in the world and not be intimidated by them. Also, putting ourselves in the right place mentally to be able to compete as well as we train.
Rockne: There were a lot of expectations at the beginning of this season. There was a lot of pressure. Keauna and I, this year more than the previous year, had to learn how to work as a team when things got rough. It is easy to point a finger somewhere else when things aren't going as well as you would like them to. The pressure, competitions, training, and trials made us so much stronger as a team.

How did it feel to skate with Stars on Ice at the Pepsi Center?
McKenzie Pedersen, 14
Arvada, Colo.

Keauna: When I was about 9, I went to watch Stars on Ice and I got to go backstage and I distinctly remember thinking to myself, ‘I want to be here someday, not just watching, but skating in the show.' Now, six years later I'm making a guest appearance on Stars on Ice. It was an incredible moment for me. I had a blast not only performing, but being with the whole cast of amazing skaters. It was a lot of fun and super exciting. I know that's where I want to be after my amateur skating career is over.
Rockne: It was such an honor to be asked to skate in Stars on Ice. The Stars on Ice cast are some of the best skaters ever in the history of the sport. Keauna and I love to skate in shows. It is one of our favorite things to do. The best part about the whole thing was that everyone in the show made us feel like we deserved to be there and we felt so honored because of that.

What is an average training day for you guys? How does it compare to singles training?
Morgan Bell, 16
Tulsa, Okla.

Keauna: An average training day starts with an hour of off-ice warm up that includes running, stretching and off-ice lifts. We do three pairs sessions and one singles session per day and three days a week we do ballet. We also go to the Olympic Training Center to either work out or get physical therapy. I think pairs skating is more challenging than singles. When you skate pairs you have a lot more responsibility because you really have to be committed and aggressive to your elements, otherwise it could be dangerous. A big part of pairs skating is respecting your partner, meaning being considerate of their time and energy. In pairs, not only do you have to think about you, you have to think about your partner.
Rockne: Many of us also work out on our own throughout the week. Skating takes a lot of work. We usually dedicate four to six hours a day to skating.

You guys are so much fun to watch because you really look like you are having a lot of fun. Keauna, how is it being coached by your mom? Also, what advice do you have for someone who wants to start pairs skating?
Amber Ruiz, 14
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Keauna: I'm glad it shows because we really do have a lot of fun skating together. I love being coached by my mom and I wouldn't have it any other way. She helps me with the mental aspect of this sport and helps me put it into perspective. However, Dalilah is the wonderful driving force behind this team and we wouldn't have accomplished this much without her strength. My advice is to be passionate and love pairs skating because it is a lot of hard work, especially for someone who is just getting into pairs because it is difficult to learn all these new elements and it takes a lot of time and perseverance. Most importantly, keep a positive attitude and don't let mistakes get in the way of enjoying yourself.
Rockne: My advice is to start with the basics. Make sure that you have strong skating skills. If you are a strong skater then you will be able to learn pairs more easily.

What is it like knowing that you are the new champions and can not compete at Worlds?
Susie Serneholt, 10
Coventry

Keauna: I'm just happy we have a national title and I'm not even focusing on the fact that we can't go to Worlds. Even though we both would love the opportunity to go to the World Championships, it's kind of a blessing in disguise because not going just gives us another year to grow and mature as a team. And besides, there is an age limit for a reason; I need more time to develop and mature as a person and as a skater.
Rockne: We would have loved to have gone and competed at Worlds, but there isn't anything we can do to change the fact that we can't. We are, however, going to use it to our advantage. We are going to rest up, get a head start on new programs for this next season, and basically take the extra time to be comfortable and ready to compete this next season. We are looking to have a big year.

In the future, is there a piece of music you would love to skate to?
Kate Manzagol, 15
Clarkston, Mich.

Keauna: Definitely Swan Lake. I think it's a beautiful and powerful piece of music that tells an amazing love story.
Rockne: There is a lot of great music out there. I have always wanted to skate to a very authentic Spanish piece. We are looking to skate to something like that for our short this year, so maybe I will get my wish.

Rockne, do you have a girlfriend? And Keauna, what's your favorite store to shop in?
Breanna Rix, 14
Beaumont, Texas

Keauna: Hmm…It's a toss up between Target, Bebe and Sephora. Sorry, I can't pick.
Rockne: No, I don't have a girlfriend. I am currently single.

What will you guys have to do to beat the Chinese and Germans when it comes to Worlds and the Olympics?
Taylor Heath, 16
Houston, Texas

Keauna: Our focus this year is to increase our technical mark by doing triple Salchows and triple toes in the free skate, but our biggest focus is to increase our component mark. For us, that's our biggest weakness. We are working hard on trying to get the command and presence on the ice that the Germans and Chinese have.
Rockne: I think that the biggest gap between us and them are our components. We are working with a very good choreographer this year which I am excited about. I think that it's going to help us out a lot.

Do you guys watch tapes of other pairs skaters to get ideas or information for your programs?
Alissa Ireland, 15
Detroit, Mich.

Keauna: No, not really. Sometimes I watch old skating videos of amazing pairs performances such as, Gordeeva and Grinkov and Shen and Zhou to get inspiration but not so much to get info or ideas for our programs.
Rockne: I watch a lot of videos. I don't watch them to copy other teams, but I watch them to help me with my skating. If there is an element that I am struggling with or want to see how to make something easier then a lot of times I will watch older videos. A good athlete will always try to learn more.