A Guide to St. Paul

Fabulous Fern's fries with honey mustard are a St. Paul must have
Any veteran of the U.S. Championships can tell you that checking out the local attractions around the arena and hotel can be one of the highlights of the event. St. Paul native Eliot Halverson, competing this year in senior men's, sat down with Figure Skaters Online to discuss his hometown favorites.

Skater's Top Eights

Butler enjoys the cold weather that comes with the nationals
As Southern California natives, Bianca Butler and Joe Jacobsen are used to spending most of the year in sunshine. So it is no surprise that the cold weather that comes with the U.S. Championships is one thing Butler loves about nationals. She sat down with Figure Skaters Online to discuss what else she likes.

Catching up, exploring are things Brynn Carman will enjoy at the nationals
Brynn Carman and Chris Knierim could win the novice pairs title in St. Paul. However, moving up from their fourth place finish at last year's event is not one of the top eight reasons Carman is excited about St. Paul. She sat down with Figure Skaters Online to talk about what she's looking forward to.

Star treatment one reason Vise is looking forward to nationals
Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent could set history at the U.S. Championships by becoming the first pair to land a throw quadruple jump in national competition. Yet, when she sat down with Figure Skaters Online, making history did not make the cut on her list of eight things she's looking forward to in St. Paul.

'No better feeling' than national ice for Ashley Wagner
Ashley Wagner could claim a spot on the World team. But the challenge of competing against America's best skaters is not the only reason that Wagner cannot wait for the nationals. She sat down with Figure Skaters Online to talk about friends, family, friends and the other five things she is looking forward to.

Energy, fans among eight reasons Weir will enjoy U.S. Championships
Johnny Weir is a three-time U.S. Champion but winning is not the only thing he enjoys about the national championships. He sat down with Figure Skaters Online to discuss the eight things he likes best about the U.S. Championships.

Figure Skaters Online's Guide to the 2008 U.S. Championships is
written and produced by Figure Skaters Online in cooperation with the athletes and staff.

Photographs are courtesy of Leah Adams unless otherwise noted.