Q: Dan, you have competed at Midwesterns,US Nationals and World's. In terms of pressure, which event is the more difficult?
A: It really depends. Pressure wise, I felt the most pressure whenever i'm not as physically and mentally as prepared as I would like to be. At my first Worlds--not a lot of pressure. At my second Worlds, when had tendonitis all year, I felt HUGE pressure because of lack of being able to consistently train all year.

Q: How did you get into skating? When did it first become an "everyday" training experience for you?
A: I was 4 and went with my mom to the roller rink. She was my sister's brownie troop leader, and that was the event they were doing. Needless to say I loved it, asked to go again, but the ice rink was much closer, so that is how I started. I was first in hockey skates, and then it came the time to pick between figureskating and hockey. At 5 I remember seeing a comercial for a Detroit Red Wing, and it had a this guy who was cut up, scared and mean looking. As they got closer, he cracked a toothless grin. I thought, "Man, I would be soo ugly, no girl would ever marry me!" So figure skating it was! I skated a lot, and it just got more and more enjoyable as the years went by!

Q: Who taught you how to do a backflip and what is the largest number of people you have flipped over?
A: The largest number of people that I flipped over is 5. I learned it in a week and a half. I went to a gymnastics studio, learned it on the trampoline, then on the ice with a harness. I couldn't get weened off of the belt though. I went to a competition near Mike Weiss's rink, met with his dad on the weekend, got on the ice, and he spotted me without a harness, and bam, no problem. Greg Weiss is a good guy, taught most people how to do their backflips.

Q: What is your favorite part of skating, jumping, flipping, "just skating", or footwork?
A: Wow, that is rough, to be honest, I LOVE IT ALL. The thing I enjoy most is doing shows and entertaining!

Q: How did you learn to have such great footwork?
A: I owe that to my main man, J. Scott Driscol! He is awesome and has given me some great footwork. I noticed great response to it from the judges and audience, and made sure I always had one screaming fast footwork section in all my programs.

Q: Do you like serious, dramatic, or comical programs best? Which is your "favorite program ever"?
A: I love comical programs best...but also cool programs too. My Tappin' with Bob program I love because it is unique and cool, but i also love the Janitor and Mrs. Doubtfire too because of the fun and laughter they generate.

Q: My name is Molly. I am 11 years old. I am a juvenile skater with the Duluth Figure Skating Club. Here is my question: I'm coming to your seminar in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, on June 3. What kinds of things will we be working on? Will we be working on triple sows?
A: YES WE WILL!!!! We will cover basics on all things, and do some jump drills that will help you for all jumps... never fear, you will learn a whole lot, so come prepared to have a lot of fun and work hard! :) Dan

Q: What do you think your biggest accomplishment is off of the ice? Also, I used to skate with you at SCS :)
A: Off the ice? Well my life is so connected to skating that its hard to say. I guess the friends that I have made and the support we give back and forth is the biggest accomplishment. Money, power, all those things don't mean a thing without good friends and good times. 

Q: Do you all travel by bus or plane? We noticed your next stop is in Houston, TX and that would entail a long bus trip with no time for playing tourist in between shows. We noticed COI semi's and wondered if props, costumes, etc.; take the road and skaters take to the sky?!?
A: Skaters will take bus or plane, sometimes stay in one location and bus back and forth to venues, like we did in Florida. The props and stuff is semi trucked to every venue, and only one city this year is a "red" city. A red city means the semi's can't make it there in time, so there is a 2nd set of equipment that is already there, and we have to take our own outfits then. The crew guys have a sleeper bus that they use too.

Q: I noticed in your journal that you will be with COI for the entire summer. The information that I have access to on the web shows the summer tour schedule going thru May and that's it. Do the tours stop for the months of June, July, and August?
A: The length of the tour depends on the year, Olympic year being the biggest year. Yes, we are done at the end of May. Olympic year tours usually goes until the middle of July.

Q: Do you plan to stay with COI year-round now that you're professional?
A: If Mr. Collins would like me on his tour, yes I will skate on it.

Q: Why does COI take on the eligible skaters during the summer tour and double the size of their program and Stars On Ice keeps the same group year around? Is COI the skating tour that everybody wants to be a part of? Is SOI just closed to temporary skaters? Is there any animosity between the 2 camps? Or are they just different two tour groups because you can't fit everybody into one?
A: Each tour is very friendly to each other. Stars on Ice is an IMG run show and is all professionals. COI happens to be eligibles and non-eligibles, and if you notice, mostly all non-eligibles during winter. Why? Because that is the eligible training and competing time and therefore most are unable to do the winter tour. SOI is a more of a group show where everyone skates together in group numbers, so they aren't as able to take on different people in different cities like COI are. Hope that answers everything, and it isn't a touchy subject at all.

Q: Hi Dan! I just came back from Champions On Ice, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I thought you where absolutely fantastic, and I gave you a standing ovation! It was the first time I have ever seen you skate, too! I have a question for you. When you act as the old lady in your exhbition, did you stuff your behind with anything?
A: HOLLY COW!!!!!!!! Do you really think I have that big of a butt??? I have a body suit underneath that has pockets for 1) breasts 2) stomach 3) butt, and 4) hips :)

Q: Greetings from Tucson, Arizona! I was curious who you are the closest to on the Champions on Ice tour, skater wise?
A:Who I'm the closest too? I'm friends with them all, and have hung out more often with Mike and Elvis.

Q: When I was a kid I used to ice-skate and later gave it up. Two years ago I went to take Ice-Skating lessons and when I got onto the ice I was really scared about falling. Plus, I'am 40 years old and 5'11" and didn't realize how tall I was until I looked down and couldn't see the ice!! :p Is it ever to late to learn to ice-skate? I really would like to do it for fun and to face my fear of falling.
A:It is never too late to start skating. For many years my main students were adults, and they are the best to have. You know what goals you want and are disciplined to get there. Being tall, go ahead and pad what you are afraid to hurt, i.e., elbow and knee pads if you would like. Make sure you have good boots that are supportive in your ankles. If your feet hurt, skating will never be fun. Please write back in a month and tell us how you are doing! Be well and good luck!

Q: Where do you get the ideas for your performances like Mrs. Doubtfire and Tappin' with Bob. Do you have someone you work with (coach or choreographer) ? Do you think you will ever go back to competing? --Laurie
A: I will not go back to amatuer, but will do professional competitions. I
usually come up with all my own ideas, and either do the choreography myself, and have help from Mitch Moyer and Stephanie Pizzo (my off ice dance coach). Tappin' with Bob was done by Simone Grigorescu, who is awesome! I expanded the program and did most of the circular footwork section myself, my favorite part!

Q: Can you tell us anything about your new programs? Becky, VA
A: New programs??? A lot is in the works, I can't give them all away, but the newest one has to do with Barber of Seville, (the Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd version).....

Q: I heard you might compete in the American Open - is this true? Stacey, NY
A: Filled out the forms and mailed them in, look out baby, here I come!

Q: So when are we going to see an extreme-sports-type program from you? Wouldn't it be fun? Are there different tricks you could aim for hitting-it might be a little different every night...different skaters could get involved? Or perhaps this is too much for COI to travel with? 'cause with your creativity, skill, and talent I know it's within your performance realm. LOVE LOVE LOVE your journal. Thanks for keeping me entertained! Marjory
A: That is definitely something I am working on... :)

Q: Do you have a girlfriend?
A: Yes I do, thanks for asking. :)

Q: I loved your "Tappin' with Bob" program. Do you know who wrote/performed it?? --Jody
A: Simone Grigorescu choreographed with me to counts of 6 and 8. Then we sat down and wrote out the noises that I wanted played and when so they would match my skating. Then I turned it over to my good buddy Scott Sumner who wrote it, played it via computer and handed it back to me. So, it is an original composition.

Q: You've had a remarkable eligible & pro career. In reflection, what one thing would you change if you had to do it again? How cool is it hanging out with Elvis?
A: I wouldn't change a thing, because if I did, who knows if I would have the same output, which might be for worse. There were things that I didn't like, but I have no regrets and learn from everything. Hanging with Elvis is like hanging with a cool dude, cool!

Q: What is your favorite part about being a pro skater as opposed to doing the 'amateur' thing?
A: That you aren't pressured to do all the jumps. I know that I can go out there, and miss some things, but still get the result I'm going for, ENTERTAINMENT!

Q: I enjoy your skating career and have one question. What type of boots and blades do you use? Inquiring minds want to know. Thank you for your time. Ken in Taberg New York
A: Hi Ken, I skate in Graff skates, LOVE THEM, and Ultima blades. The company (Ultima) went under, and it got bought, I think.

Q: I was able to take both of my nieces to the American Open, the 7 year old on the first night and the 17 year old on the 2nd night. Without a doubt, you were the favorite of both of them. On the second night, your performance was to a song where your attire was that of an angel. Would you be able to tell me what the music is called and if that music is available anywhere? The 17-year-old is bugging me like blazes to find out! Thank you so much for your continuing entertainment and skill. --Patti Cluelow
A: It is called, "Heaven is a Halfpipe" which is about skateboarding, and the group is called "OPM." I warn you that the song was edited big time, has the "s" and "f" word in it and makes 2 references to drugs. The rest of the CD has a lot of songs with even more profanity, but then again not any more than most music these days. --Dan