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KIDS' QUESTIONS
December 2008
Kids' Questions with Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent
Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent kicked off their Grand Prix Season with fifth-place efforts at Skate Canada and Trophee Eric Bompard. One of the top U.S. pairs teams, Vise and Trent made history last year by landing the first throw quad Salchow in international competition. When they are not skating, they stay busy. Vise studies kinesiology at Scottsdale Community College, while Trent earned his Master's of Business Administration last spring from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He coaches skating.
How did you feel about your performance at Skate Canada? Did you think you would place so high? I saw your programs and I thought the throws were cool.
Clara Daly, 11
Santa Rosa, Calif.
Tiffany: The performance at Skate Canada was a good start of the season. It was our first showing with two new programs internationally, and we got a lot of feedback from the judges to improve the programs. The throw quad was going great during practice, but in the competition I opened out a half turn too early. This rarely happens but will not stop us from putting it in our program for U.S. Championships.
Derek: Our first big event of the season is always a good learning experience. It is a great feeling to step out on the ice with the best in the world and overcome our nerves. We have been honored to represent the U.S. in three seasons of Grand Prix events. We skated well at the event and I was thrilled to land our triple toes in both programs. We received valuable input from coaches, judges, skaters and fans to improve the programs for the season. In the week following Canada, we rearranged and enhanced the musical selections that make up our free skate. We also chose to increase the level of difficulty with a new lift and a different order of elements. Although we were happy with our skate, we constantly work to improve the overall package and reach higher goals.
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| Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent Photo by Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images |
How did it feel to be the first team ever to land a throw quad Salchow in international competition?
Chase Braun, 16
Jasper, Indiana
Tiffany: It felt great to finally land the throw in competition. I had the biggest smile all day knowing that we became the first to land the quad in an international event. We landed it many times in practice, but the real trick is landing it in competition under pressure. To go down in history will always be a wonderful memory of my skating career.
Derek: Wow. It was an amazing experience to watch Tiffany land the first throw quadruple in the world. We worked so hard and we are ecstatic to be a part of history.
What is the hardest thing about being a pairs skater? Do you ever wish you were a singles skater?
Blythe Leonard, 12
Houston
Tiffany: I competed both singles and pairs until I was 18 years old. I competed at the senior level in both. The higher level you go, the harder it is to be successful in both disciplines. I had to make a choice and decided that I should put all my effort into pairs. I love being out on the ice with someone by my side and flying through the air. The hardest thing for me is unison and learning to skate as one. Every year that Derek and I skate together, our unison improves. Being in our sixth season together, we are more aware of each other's movements and are able to perform together.
Derek: The free skate including the very last lift! Our biggest challenge has always been our mirror skating. There are very few teams in the world that skate “opposite,” so we work to highlight this aspect of our programs and make it a feature rather than a distraction. I have competed in figures, freestyle, dance and pairs at the national level. I enjoy skating pairs with Tiffany and chose this discipline because it allowed me to bring together the fun of all disciplines into pairs skating. After skating together for so many years, I could not imagine skating alone.
Do you believe in the, “No pain, no gain” theory when training/coaching? If so, why?
Rori Lakewold, 15
Spokane, Wash.
Tiffany: Yes! Definitely being a skater, the “no pain, no gain” theory applies. I have had many bumps and bruises along the way, but in the long run it was all worth it. At the same time, it is important to practice and train smart by developing the skills along the way to avoid injury.
Derek: Tiffany is a gutsy woman. The pair elements she is capable of constantly amaze me. During my career, I have overcome significant injuries including a major back injury that almost took me out of figure skating for good. At the same time, fear has no place on the ice and we as a team are working to overcome fears and train smart.
What do you want to accomplish in skating before your amateur career is over?
Kate Manzagol, 15
Clarkston, Mich.
Tiffany: I would like to be on the World and Olympic Team.
Derek: I want to make the World Team this year and attend the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada (with an athlete credential around my neck).
Do you have any favorite hobbies outside of skating?
Bonnie Weinberg, 12
Sterling
Tiffany: I like to take my dog, Bailey, to the dog park. I like to do outdoor activities such as running and hiking. I also enjoy bowling, getting together with friends and playing the Wii.
Derek: I love to travel and eat. I particularly enjoy eating while traveling. Politics are my biggest passion.
What is your daily life like?
Regina Yan, 12
Overland Park
Tiffany: On a typical weekday I skate in the morning for two hours. I come home and have lunch and a small break before I go back and skate another two hours in the afternoon. Right after I finish skating, I normally teach a couple lessons. As soon as I get off the ice, I get dressed at the rink for work and go to the restaurant where I am a server. At the end of a very long day, I come home, relax, watch some TV and go to bed. It's a hectic schedule, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Derek: I have very long days of skating and coaching.
Derek, I understand you work as a real estate agent part-time. Has the economic downturn hurt your sales?
Andrea Middleton, 17
Eugene, Ore.
Derek: A year and half ago I decided to venture out of real estate so that I could concentrate on skating and education. I finished my MBA in International Business and Management this June and I am looking forward to a new career path in the future. Currently, I am focused on my training and coaching. I have a great group of kids I work with in Arizona that keep me busy.
Tiffany, do you get scared attempting the throw quad Salchow?
Ginger Springs, 17
Topeka, Kan.
Tiffany: Yes, who wouldn't be? Throws are my favorite element to do in pairs but you do have some off days. On those off days, I tend to stick to the triple and avoid the throw quad. Normally, when the triple is good, we do the quad and it is mind over matter. I trust my technique and I trust that Derek will throw me correctly, so then nothing can go wrong.
Derek, Do you want to get into politics, and if so, at what level?
Candace Sanders, 17
Denver
Derek: I would like to be involved in politics one day following my skating career. I have served on many committees in U.S. Figure Skating and volunteered for various causes over the years. In addition, I was very involved and encouraged by the demonstration of the youth of this country in this election. At this point, with all of the exciting changes taking place, who knows? The sky is the limit.
