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KIDS' QUESTIONS

May 2008

Kids' Questions with Caroline Zhang

Caroline Zhang made a major impact in her debut season on the senior level in 2007-08. The 14 year old from Brea, Calif., placed at both of her Grand Prix events, qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. She finished fourth at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and was second at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Zhang has her sights set on the World Figure Skating Championships in 2009.

What was your age when you started skating? Did your mom or dad force you to skate or did you decide by yourself?
Magali Castells, 12 • Barcelona

Caroline: I started skating when I was 5 years old because my friend from ballet class was skating at the Costa Mesa Ice Chalet. Both of us really liked dancing. As a recreational activity, my parents brought me to the ice rink to skate during the Thanksgiving holiday. After that first time, I fell in love with skating and I haven't stopped since.

Caroline Zhang

What made you name the spin you invented “The Pearl,” and how did you come up with the spin?
Mirielle Chambers, 17 • Wichita

Caroline: I've always loved spinning, and I especially loved the layback position because you can do so many variations of your arm and leg position. One day when I was trying to get my back as low as possible while maintaining the same free leg position, I realized that I could almost see my blade. I reached around and held onto it like I was doing a Biellmann, and I kept spinning. Afterward, my mom told me that my head looked like a pearl inside an open oyster. I guess my legs would be the oyster halves. I thought the name was really pretty, so it stuck.

Are you a home-school or regular public school student? How do you manage your time? How many hours do you skate each week?
Lisa Sam, 14 • San Diego

Caroline: I attended regular public school until the middle of last year. When I started traveling on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, it got harder and harder to keep up with the tests and projects. So, now I do a very structured home-school program, where I learn the same things as a regular ninth grader, but I turn in all of my assignments online. I try to skate about three or four hours every weekday and two hours per day on the weekends. It's hard to balance all of my responsibilities, so I usually write down everything I have to do on a “to-do” list. When it seems like too much, I try to remember that as long as I keep working at it, eventually I'll get everything done.

What is your favorite food to eat before you compete?
Christiana Fragale, 13 • Aliquippa, Pa.

Caroline: I have a ritual/superstition about what I eat on a competition day. For breakfast I have a donut. When I start getting ready for the program, I usually have a chicken drumstick or two. I don't like to feel too full before I compete, but after the competition I have a regular meal. I'm happy to report that I usually try to eat more nutritiously on non-competition days.

I love your flexibility. What kind of stretches and exercises do you do to improve it?
Meredith Jones, 15 • Louisville

Caroline: A lot of people always ask me if I did anything special to improve my flexibility. I've always just thought of flexibility the way I think of anything else in my life – like a challenge. When I started ballet, I could already do the splits and basic flexibility moves. Then I kept trying to push myself to do everything just a little bit better. I'd try to get my leg just a little higher or my back just a little lower on everything that I could already do. Eventually, I just made up my own set of stretches that seemed to help the most. Now I do those every morning.

What is the hardest jump you have learned? What advice do you have for a skater in the lower freestyle level learning jumps?
Katharine Beghouzian, 17 • Glendale, Calif.

Caroline: I think the hardest jumps that I have worked on so far have been triple loop combinations (for example, triple loop-triple loop or triple flip-triple loop). I really think that when you're at the lower levels, you should focus on your basic technique before you try to move on to higher jumps. Sometimes, when I'm having trouble with my triples, I still go back and practice my singles to make sure that my technique is correct.

What do you have for breakfast each day? Do you think breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Do you think eating a good breakfast helps your skating?
Lily Larkson, 7 • St. Louis

Caroline: I like to have a bowl of cereal for breakfast every morning before I head to the rink. I think breakfast is really important because when I have a good breakfast, I have more energy for the rest of the day.

How do you feel about being so young and competing at the senior level, and balancing skating with your studies?
Lizzie Turner, 12 • Silver Spring

Caroline: I think it's really exciting that I get to travel to so many places that most people my age haven't gotten to see yet. Even though it's a lot of work to balance school and skating, I still think it's totally worth it.

I understand you train at Michelle Kwan's rink. Have you ever gotten a chance to skate with Michelle?
Vicky Carlson, 13 • Cleveland

Caroline: I've seen Michelle a lot since I've started skating at the East West Ice Palace. She used to train there, and now I see her practicing when she's home from college. It's always exciting for me to share the ice with Michelle, but I always catch myself staring at her when she skates.

The 2009 World Championships take place in Los Angeles. How important will it be for you to make the team and go to your first senior World Championships in your home state?
Simone Enright, 16 • Holyoke, Mass.

Caroline: Since I started competing, I've always wanted to make it to the World Championships. If I did make the World Team, I think I'd be so excited to be able to represent the U.S. that I would compete anywhere. The fact that it's basically in my hometown is just an awesome bonus.