Y-Generation.com Interview
Talking About Skating
Transcript by Angie

Y-Generation: It's really an honor to get to meet you Tara and to spend some time with you. Thank you. I appreciate it.

Tara: No Problem :-)

Y-Generation: Now most people only dream about even going to the Olympics let alone performing as an athlete in the Olympics. What is that like, to have performed in the Olympics and won a gold medal?

Tara: It's indiscribeale, and even now as I look back on it it's like you realize how lucky you are and how how rare it is for it to happen and for me I really look back and I really wouldn't have changed it for the world. It was perfect for what I dreamed of.

Y-Generation: Ok. So, how did you get to this point? What's your daily work out schedule look like now and when did you start working as an athlete?

Tara: Well, now, as a professional we tour so, I love that. Every night performing for a different audience is just so much fun. We have a really fun show, and great skaters and it's what you look foward to after winning an Olympic medal so, I have a blast every night.

Y-Generation: So do you have a two or three hour, do you work our for two or three hours every day?

Tara: Well, the show is two and a half hours and you have practice earlier and you do some stretching and warming up and you know, some strength training and things like that but, it's not like when you were an amateur and you trained five hours a day.

Y-Generation: We saw you perform in New York City during the winter and it was like 32 or 34 degrees and so it was freezing and I think it was either raining or sleeting but, there you were on the ice you didn't (inaudible), you didn't wipe the rain off of you. How do you do that? How do you go on when either you've fallen or the conditions are just really bad?

Tara: You just get used to it. Um, and, you know, as a skater you have to expect to fall, expect to make a mistake because it happens and you have to try to make the rest of it as, you know, the best you can.

Y-Generation: Okay. Besides skating, what, are there other things that are really important to you?

Tara: Acting. I've been doing a lot of that. It's kinda like my new goal. And um, it's been so much fun just experiencing that and doing that for a while.

Y-Generation: Do you have shows are movies that are coming out?

Tara: I have done a few but now, this summer, I'm just kinda working, auditioning and hopefully later on and hopefully in a few months, after the tour is over I'll be able to do some things this summer.

Y-Generation: Ok. Anything you're really interested in as far as a certain type of show or a type of role?

Tara: Just not a skater....

Y-Generation: (laughs) Anything but a skater.

Tara: ..anything but a skater. I wanna have a more in depth kind of role where I'm not Tara or a skater.

Y-Generation: Okay. And off the ice, how would you describe yourself?

Tara: I dunno. Pretty happy.. um, outgoing, I guess, I dunno. You'd have to ask my friends (laughs)

Y-Generation: (laughs)

Tara: I don't know. I mean, on the ice and off the ice I'm pretty much the same person and I have great family and friends and a support system to keep me grounded.

Y-Generation: Yea, that's good. How do you... do you get to choose your costumes?

Tara: Um.. sort of. We get some imput but we have an awesome costume designer, his names Jeff Billings and he's amazing so, he makes me look good all the time so I just, I love to see what he comes up with every year.

Y-Generation: Ok. What is your style like off the ice? What do you like to wear? Are you a sweat shirt girl? Are you a skirt girl?

Tara: I like both. I like to get all dressed up and go out always have something new to put on and whatevers new, but I do like sometimes just to be in sweats and a T-shirt and put your hair up in a knot and just be in your flip flops around the house, but um, it depends.

Y-Generation: Ok. What were some... who were some of your insperations?

Tara: Well in skating like Kurt Browning. I think he's amazing and for me to tour with him and Scott Hamilton is pretty awesome but off the ice I'd have to say its my mom. Just um, she's my best friend and she helps me through every obstacle that I come across.

Y-Generation: With such a hectic schedule how do you keep from burning out?

Tara: I don't know. 'Cause I love what I'm doing and if I don't then I cut back or take away something that's not making me happy. So, the most important thing is to enjoy it. I had hip surgery earlier this year so skating for me every night is, you know, I don't take anything for granted.

Y-Generation: Right, right. What do you have coming up for the rest of the year?

Tara: Well, the tours almost over and then hopefully some acting and things like that in the summer. Just relaxing. Trying to recoop.

Y-Generation: Ok, well great. Thank you for..

Tara: Thank you.

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