Brynn Carman and Chris Knierim

The goal for Brynn Carman and Chris Knierim at the U.S. Championships is simple. In St. Paul, where they will compete in the novice event for the second consecutive season, the pair wants to improve on their pewter medal winning performance from last year.

Carman and Knierim will attempt a triple twist in their quest for a higher spot on the podium. They also plan on performing a new lift that will set them a part from the other pairs—"a star that goes into a pencil like Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski's and then it turns upside down into our butterfly, which we invented," Carman said in an April journal entry.

The pair made it to nationals with a first place performance at the Midwestern Sectionals. Although Carman performed the free skate despite having food poisoning that caused her to throw up 10 times, they earned 92.07 points for their first place City Slickers program. They also won the short program with 42.12.

When Carman is not skating singles or pairs, she likes shopping for her favorite brands including BEBE and Juicy. Her other hobbies include watching movies, text messaging and hanging out with her friends.

Knierim is a San Diego Chargers football fan who enjoys bowling and fishing. He works at a local Sears Automotive store in Colorado Springs, Colo., which will help him with his off-ice goal of receiving his degree in automotive technology.

For more information on Carman and Knierim, visit figureskatersonline.com/carman-knierim/.

— Jamie M. Blanchard

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.
Photo of Brynn Carman and Chris Knierim courtesy of Brynn Carman and Chris Knierim.