Questions & Answers from June 2007

How long does it take you to learn a new program from start to finish?
Brynn: It takes about a week to complete a program if we use full sessions to choreograph. It takes longer if we divide up our time.
Chris: It takes a couple days.

How does it feel having your own web site?
Brynn: It is really cool because people can learn more about who we are and how we are doing with our training.
Chris: It feels cool!

Do you think it is possible to land a double axel after 10 weeks of skating?
Brynn: Yes, anything is possible. However, a good one with good flow and technique is another story.
Chris: You can do anything you put your mind to!

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you while skating?
Brynn: At nationals this year I got a very bad case of pink eye the night before our first practice. My mom called Dalilah late at night to tell her and she thought my mom was over-reacting. Early the next morning when Dalilah saw me, she was shocked and then said to my mom: "Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?" My eyes were swollen shut and I could barely see. She immediately got me in to see the team doctor 20 minutes before our official long practice. The doctor got my eyes cleaned up so at least I could see a bit better. We then skated and I honestly don't know how we did it.
Chris: I fell on a cross over. I have really big feet.

Do you ever get distracted in practice because of all the good skaters you skate with?
Brynn: No. We are all friends and know that we push each other in a good way to get better. We try to learn from and support each other. When one team is doing something especially good we all clap. Chris and I are the lowest level team so we just absorb all that the other teams do and it makes us better. We try to keep up with all the other teams in terms of speed, power and high level elements like our triple twist. Not many novice teams can do a triple twist and we do it because we see other teams do them all the time. Also, when you are skating with all these high level teams with tons of speed and power, you learn real quick to go fast or you will never get your element in. So right from the beginning we were doing all our elements at full speed. It is no big deal. Its just expected to push hard, work hard and have no fear! Everyday!
Chris: No, it just makes me practice harder.

Do you watch skating on TV?
Brynn: Yes. All the time. My mom is a big fan of figure skating. When I was little I would watch figure skating on TV with her and one day I asked my mom if I could try it. About a week later, I was in Learn to Skate classes. And by the way I was very bad at skating at first. One of my Learn to Skate teachers actually told my mom, after I failed my first test four times, that I should try something else. But instead, my mom got me into private lessons and I soon started to get it.
Chris: Not really. I only watch the pairs.

Did you go to the Pair Camp in Colorado Springs?
Brynn: Yes. It was great! We really learned a lot and it was super exciting to work with all the famous skating coaches that flew in to teach us. I also loved seeing all my new friends I had made at nationals.
Chris: Yes, and it was a great experience. 

Are you friends with Jeremy Abbott?
Brynn: Yes! And Ryan Bradley, Brandon Mroz, Rachel Flatt, Austin Kanallakan and many more great skaters!
Chris: Yes.

Why did Chris answer all of the Web site questions before?
Brynn: Chris answered the first set of Web site questions because I was very busy in school at that time. We will try to both answer them as a team as time goes by. This summer is very busy for us because we are competing at Liberty, Indy and a Developmental International in Canada.

If you could have any famous designer design your skating dresses who would you choose?
Brynn: We used Julie McDonough this year for both our pair short and long outfits and they are unbelievable! They are just amazing and I think she is the best skating dress designer in the world! I have never had a "Julie Dress" before and feel so special wearing her dresses. However, if I were to choose a famous fashion designer I would choose Dolce and Gabana.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Brynn: I love mint chocolate chip milk shakes and any flavor of sherbert.

What is a grapefruit Izzie?
Brynn: It is a sparkling grapefruit bottled juice that you can get at almost any grocery store.

Who is your favorite pair girl?
Brynn: My favorite pair girl of all time is Ekaterina Gordeeva. She was so beautiful to watch. I also like Brooke Castile's and Keauna McLaughlin's triple twists because they are so huge!

Are you the only child?
Brynn: No. I have one younger sister named Caroline and one younger brother named Cole. Caroline is so sweet and my number one fan who is also a fantastic Irish Step Dancer. Cole is a great little baseball player and loves to go hunting and fishing with my Dad. I also have two dogs. A chocolate Lab named Jamocha and a Pug/Beagal mix named Buck.

What is your dream car?
Chris: My dream car is 1969 Chevy Camaro SS.

Why do they call you Twinkle Toes?
Chris: That's my nickname because I'm a figure skater.

How is working with Brynn different from working with Shawnee Smith?
Chris: Brynn works very hard and is totally focused on pairs. We seem to have the same goals so Brynn and I just click in all the right ways.

Was it hard to skate with your sister?
Chris: I actually threw her into the wall and she was done. It was by accident! No really!

What male pair skater do you look up to most?
Chris: A pair skater that I look up to is Rockne Brubaker.

Have you ever considered ice dancing?
Chris: I passed my pre with my sister but I got paid to do it. I prefer pair skating.

When I (Brynn) get mad at you on the ice what do you do to not get mad or grumpy?
Chris: I use humor to lighten the mood.

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Questions & Answers from April 2007

How did it feel to stand on the podium at the U.S. Championships in Spokane?
Chris: The feeling was unreal. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Being up on the podium knowing I gave it all I had, it was awesome. Also from coming up from 8th in the short to 4th overall was a great accomplishment.

What was the best part about being a competitor at nationals?
Chris: The experience that I had from being in the competition was the best part. Skating with a lot of new people, making friends. It gave me a chance to see the best in the country, seeing all the stuff that Brynn and I need to work on that will help are skating in the future.

What motivates you to go to the rink everyday?
Chris: I get motivation from knowing I am doing something that I enjoy doing. The competitions that I have coming up motivate me to work harder when I am on the ice skating.

What is the biggest challenge that you've faced in skating?
Chris: The biggest challenge that I have had to face would be the financial part of skating. Skating is a expensive sport and Brynn's mom and family help me out a lot with paying for ice time and lessons.

How do you overcome bad days in practice?
Chris answers: I get over bad days in practice by not holding a grudge against Brynn or even myself if something is going wrong. We just talk about how to fix the problem and try again. Another good thing to do is not to take on ice skating problems and take them off the ice to school or work.

Have you had any embarrassing moments on the ice?
Chris answers: I was at the end of my program to a cowboy theme piece and went into a flying camel and jumped into it and never landed on my feet. I went strait onto my face it was not fun but I still have the video tape and watch it every once and a while with friends and laugh about it.

How does it feel to train at the World Arena with several of the successful junior pairs teams, who have won international medals, and also some senior teams that have placed well at nationals?
Chris answers: It is great because it helps us train harder to try and compete with the junior and senior teams. It pushes Brynn and I to skate faster and stronger to make us look like a junior team.

If you could have the career of one pairs team, which team would you choose and why?
Chris: Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker because they work so hard and have had a very good year. They set their minds to it and accomplished all their goals. Brynn and I would like to do the exact same thing.

If you could meet any celebrity, who would you choose and why?
Chris: Robin Williams so I would never stop laughing.

What three words would you use to describe yourself and why?
Chris: Even tempered, really calm, competitive, is how I mostly see myself. I have been told, tall, dark, and handsome though.