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KIDS' QUESTIONS

May 2001

2001 U.S. and Grand Prix Final bronze medalist Matt Savoie meets the kids' press. You sent in some great questions, and Matt provided some informative responses.

Matt Savoie

Q: At the U.S. Championships, did you feel left out when everyone was talking about Todd, Michael and Timothy? Did you feel like you proved everyone wrong when you medaled? Marissa Priestap, 12, Erie, Pa.

MS: I didn't feel left out when my name wasn't being discussed at nationals. If I had been grouped with the front-runners, I probably would have been more uncomfortable since there was considerably less pressure outside that group. I didn't feel like I proved people wrong when I medaled as much as I felt happy that I skated well, especially since my placement was a result of other skaters' mistakes.

Q: How do you deal with nerves when you compete and how do you take criticism? Jason Wong, 14, Lexington, Mass., and Grace Chun, 16, Irvine, Calif.

MS: I get very nervous before I skate, whether it's for a show or competition. My nerves never go away, but it helps me to think that the more nervous I get, the better I skate. I actually value good constructive criticism more than a compliment because that kind of criticism shows that the person cared enough to want to help my skating. Criticism that is non-constructive or frivolous does not come up much, but when it does, it hurts for a second until I realize that no one can please everybody, and that my most damaging critic is myself.

Q: How hard is it for you to compete with the World medalists like Alexei Yagudin, especially since they are doing all those quads? Benjamin Ren, 14, Xi'An, China

MS: Naturally, I get intimidated, but it is also exciting to compete against great skaters like Yagudin and others who are doing quads. It also helps motivate me, since I can see in those skaters what I need to accomplish in order to have similar success.

Q: How does it feel to start being rewarded for your talent and hard work? How do you plan to prepare for the upcoming Olympic year? What parts of skating are you working on to get to the top? Rohene Ward, 17, Minneapolis, Minn.; Victoria Cai, 11, Millis, Mass.

MS: Being rewarded for anything is more fun if you're pleased with your performance. Though I'm glad that I've been skating and placing well by my own standards, I know that I'll have to work harder to improve and to be completely satisfied. For the upcoming season, I'll be focusing on getting a reliable quad and improving my artistic and technical consistency.

Q: What's your big accomplishment in your career so far and why? Danny Gratzer, 16, Rockland, Mass.

MS: In my skating career, my biggest accomplishment was winning the 1997 U.S. Junior Championships because, even though I skated as well as I could have that week, my placement was a complete surprise. Everything I have done since is based in the confidence I gained from that performance.

Q: What is your warm-up routine before you compete? JeniLee Kathleen Olejarz, 15, Saugus, Mass.

MS: Before I compete I jog in place and go through other jumping exercises for about five minutes, and then I stretch. After that, I walk through my program, trying to imagine what it will feel like when I compete. Then I just try to keep moving and avoid watching other skaters or hearing scores.

Q: How are your quad jumps coming? Do you plan to put one in your program this year? Marci Reidy, 11, Marshfield, Mass.; Brad Vigorito, 14, Attleboro, Mass.

MS: I'm not landing a quad yet, but it is my main focus for the upcoming season. I feel like I'm getting closer, but I'll only attempt one in my program if I can land it as often as any other jump.

Q: Michelle Kwan recently said her favorite part of skating is "feeling the wind in her face." What's your favorite part? Emma, 12, Cambridge

MS: My favorite thing about skating is the feeling you get in the middle of the air right before you land a good jump. It's like relief and excitement at the same time.

Q: To what do you attribute your success this year? Robbie Flynn, 14, Beverly

MS: This year I ran through my programs more consistently than I had in the past, especially in the summer off-season. That fact, combined with more off-ice training, gave me more confidence artistically and technically through the competitive season.

Q: I have seen on TV at recent competitions that you have more than one coach. Has it always been that way? How does that help you and not make you confused on certain things? Katy Bonner, 16, Omaha, Neb.

MS: My primary coach, Linda Branan, was my first and only coach for the first 10 years I skated. My secondary coach, Gene Hefron, started working with me two years ago, though he had coached many of my friends over the years. In addition, my choreographer often works with me at a couple of competitions each season, so sometimes I have three coaches talking with me at the boards. Though it is sometimes confusing, I like the support and the variety of angles that each coach works from. It gives me more confidence when I have to make corrections, especially when they all agree.

Q: Were you ever teased in school for being a figure skater? If so, what did you do about it? Johnny Smith, 14, Detroit, Mich.

MS: Early in middle school I was teased for being a skater. It didn't stop until I stopped reacting to it. People that will make fun of you for being a skater are really only seeking attention for themselves, so by not responding you're basically taking away their motivation for teasing you. Teasing wasn't an issue in high school because most people realized that teasing in that way was a sign of immaturity. Ultimately, the people who you really want to associate with are those who don't care that you skate, but just like you as a person.

Q: What do you plan to do with your skating career and off-ice career after you graduate from Bradley University? Michael Skidmore, 15, Pekin, Ill.

MS: Hopefully, I'll graduate from Bradley within the next two years. After that I plan on taking time off school to concentrate on skating for a while. Later on I'd like to go to law school, but I tend to keep my long range plans very general because so much can happen to change them.

Q: What's your secret to such consistent jumps? Is there a certain technique that you use? Caralyn Baxter, 11, Bow, N.H.

MS: I don't consider my jumps to be any more consistent than most of my competitors, but it is something I work on. Generally, I try to do more jumps when they are not going well and less when they are easy. I also do a lot of doubles to maintain the basic timing of each jump.

Q: What kind of off-ice training do you do? Do you do any mental training to prepare yourself for competition? Sarah Summers, 10, Atlanta, Ga.; Cooliana Panarrozzo, 12, Reading, Mass.

MS: I train one hour a day, three days a week by lifting weights and working on aerobic conditioning at a local gym. Mentally, I prepare for competitions by running through programs in my head and finding other subjects to focus on, like school or sometimes sightseeing.

Q: Sometimes I think about my life and then compare it to someone else that doesn't skate. I think it's very cool to have such a talent, but other times I wonder if I'm missing out on other things in life with my friends. Do you ever feel that way? What is your advice? Kellie Weiss, 12, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

MS: It is true that a commitment to skating can keep you from pursuing other activities or opportunities. In high school, many extra-curricular activities that my friends participated in were either just before or just after school, and since I practiced at those times I couldn't participate. Still, budgeting my time according to my priorities has helped me take advantage of what is left open to me, like school or hanging out with friends. Consequently, I can take advantage of unique opportunities in skating while simultaneously leading a pretty typical life otherwise. I think my skating has also benefited from this balance.

Q: I'm working on my double Axel. I just can't seem to pull in. I've tried the backspins and off-ice jumping, but nothing seems to work. Do you have any tips? Grant Hochstein, 10, Chesterfield, Mich.

MS: When I first landed a double Axel, I thought about using my arms and free leg more to help me lift and snap into the jump. Don't get frustrated if a jump doesn't come right away. Most jumps came to me when I wasn't expecting them, so I think just being relaxed and focused is more effective than trying too hard. Good luck!