Ice Skating Magazine
Interview
Transcript by Audrey

Every so often, Tara Lipinski flies down to Hollywood from her home in South Carolina to run the audition circuit for the latest movie or TV casting calls. On one such trip we arranged to meet Tara at her friend’s apartment in the Fairfax District of West Hollywood. En route to the interview/ photo shoot, which is scheduled for 1PM sharp, we are dismayed to be stuck in that dreaded parking lot, the Los Angeles 5 Freeway. With each passing minute, we glance nervously at the clock and try to wish away the legendary traffic that sits between our very important appointment and us. Finally, we reluctantly admit defeat as we pick up our cell phone to call Tara and inform her that we will be late. As we start to flip open our phone, it suddenly rings unexpectedly. It’s Tara. She’s also stuck in traffic, on the other side of the freeway, and asks if can postpone the meeting by one hour. We’re saved!

Ninety minutes later, as we wait for Tara outside the two-story, Mission-style apartment building across from CBS Studios, a trio of women approach us and apologize for the delay. We make small talk with Tara, her best friend personal assistant, Erin Elbe and manager Karen Embry as they escort us to the second floor apartment. Right away it’s obvious that Tara is exhausted form the day of auditions and dealing with the grueling LA traffic. She carefully places a thick script, which she is expected to memorize by 8AM the following day, on a dining room table and tiredly runs her fingers through her hair. Probably the last thing she wants to do is pose for pictures and endure a long interview, but the Olympic Champion smiles cheerfully as she excuses herself to prepare for the shoot as we begin setup.

We had stressed that this is a casual shoot and Tara’s outfit fit the mood perfectly. Aside from the suffocating heat in the apartment, the building has no air conditioning; the photo shoot goes quickly and smoothly. Already a seasoned photo shoot veteran, Tara needs little instruction regarding out pose requests, as she fans herself between each setup. With the pictures out of the way, we retreat to the couch to begin the informal interrogation into her skating career.

ISM: Are you enjoying your summer?

Tara: I’m actually having a wonderful summer. It’s my first summer in South Carolina in my new home that I’ve been building for a long time. My life kind of seems like it is taking lots of twists and turns, but I’m enjoying every part of it.

ISM: You’ve spent a good deal of time in Los Angeles going on acting auditions. Any progress?

Tara: They’re going well. Acting is one of the big, new things in my life. It takes a long time to get into and be respected in a community like this. It finally feels like things are picking up. It’s exciting for me to go out get feedback or also get to work.

ISM: Do you have a favorite acting experience yet?

Tara: I did an independent film in Paris last summer. It was pretty cool. I like anything now that gives me a chance to really show that I have been working at this and have a coach. I’d have to say there have been so many memorable experiences. You meet so many incredible people at each one.

ISM: Back to skating for awhile, you wrapped up your fourth year on the Stars on Ice Tour. Does touring ever get stale for you?

Tara: That’s home. That’s life. Just to be able to perform for an audience. And now every year I come back I feel like I know those people in each city. Every year I feel at home with them even more. It’s very comfortable for me, and I feel I can really expand and try new things.

ISM: Were you ever one of those young girls sitting in the audience soaking up the show?

Tara: I was. I actually have pictures of myself, like nine years old, in a little pink dress with a big hat on trying to get autographs. It was pretty exciting.

ISM: And now you’re the show’s headliner.

Tara: Incredible. It took four years of hard work and watching so many great skaters out there. I couldn’t even believe I was in that position. It’s crazy to think about it. Like I said, I feel I know the audience now. As I keep skating it’s going to feel more at home for me.

ISM: Do you still battle nerves?

Tara: I do. I mean you learn how to deal with it better when you’re 13 and you’re shoved on a World team. You just want to do well for yourself. Of course you stand there and there are all these people…No matter what, you’re still going to get a little nervous.

ISM: Speaking of your first World team, did you have any expectations of making it to the big show when you competed at your first Senior Nationals?

Tara: I didn’t at all. I just changed coaches. My life was in turmoil at that point. I just kind of went out there and skated. Than I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! How did I end up third? Everyone is so good. How did I end up in this pack?’ I was in shock to realize that I made a World team.

ISM: It was even more impressive when you remember you had to skate your long program earlier than expected after Nicole Bobek with drew at the last second.

Tara: I do remember that. At the time, it kind of puts you in the position of, ‘Oh my gosh, this is not normal. What am I doing?’ But you just have to stay under control. I look back now, and I just went out and did my thing. At the time, you look for your support system- my coaches and my parents- and when they say its ok, its ok. So you just do it.

ISM: At your first Worlds, you were 23rd after the short program but rebounded with a perfect long program to catapult all the way to 15th place. How did you find that motivation to put that short program behind you and skate as well as you did in the free program?

Tara: That night was just to show everyone that I deserved to be there. I went out in the short, and it was new for me. It was just a bad day. Everyone has them. I wasn’t going to leave a competition showing that it was the entire competition. I remember putting it out there on practice right before the long program and saying, ‘OK, I see I’m out here with Lu Chen who’s going to almost win this thing. I’m going to have a shot too. I’m going to go out there and show them what I can do.’ I just had that determination, I was just mad. I thought, ‘It’s not fair, I can do it.’

ISM: So you shock the world by winning the Nationals the next year. Was it ever in the back of your mind that you could win?

Tara: No. I felt I had a chance at the World team again. At the same time I remember being very nervous because that can slip away so fast. I did not think I could win with Michelle there at that time.

ISM: And your life was never the same after that win.

Tara: No, it was never the same. It puts you on the map. It tells people, ‘OK, now she has a shot at anything.’ It was great for me because it gave me the opportunity to work hard. If my work was good, then I had a chance.

ISM: You unveiled your trademark triple loop- triple loop combination that season. How long did it take you to master it?

Tara: It took a while. For me it was just doing it for fun one day, and all of a sudden I landed it. Then you try it again and you can’t do it. But then since you already did it once, you’re like, ‘Well, I can do it.’ So it took a while. For me consistency was a big, important part of my skating, so every day I did a lot of jumps. It took a toll on the body but it was worth it.

ISM: And your mindset going into Worlds?

Tara: Now going into 1997 Worlds, I was kind of like, ‘Wow, I’m doing OK here. I do have a shot.’ It didn’t feel like a probable shot but I said, ‘You know what? I can do it, so go out there and show my stuff.’

ISM: Over the years, many female skaters had begun downgrading the technical difficulty of their jumps after winning a major title. It was great to see you return in the 1998 season with even more difficult programs than the previous year.

Tara: That was my key. That really set me apart because I was so young. The other skaters were not doing as difficult technical jumps at the time, so I knew that was what I needed to keep improving.

ISM: We think your performance at that year’s Champions Series Final is your most underrated of all time. It was particularly impressive because you had to skate directly after Tanja Szewczenko in a remarkable, comeback performance in her home country. Was that the most difficult performance you’ve ever had to follow?

Tara: It was not the most difficult one, but it was very high up there. I remember thinking for the first time, ‘This is going to be a bad night. I don’t know how I’m going to do this. I’m in Germany. She just skated the performance of her life.’ I wanted to come back and win that competition and I remember just being so incredibly nervous Hearing those marks was discouraging at the time. I remember thinking, ‘Oh they didn’t leave any, any room!’ But I remember something that changed my frame of mind. I remember circling saying, ‘It’s not about winning. Yes I want to win, but I’d be a lot happier if I went out and skated a good program and lost, then if I skated a bad program trying to win.’

ISM: After Michelle Kwan’s performance at the US nationals, people were saying that she could fall twice at the Olympics and still win. How did this talk affect you and how were you able to stay motivated for Nagano?

Tara: Well, it was a really difficult time after Nationals because I really had no support going into it. I’d read all the magazines and watch everything on TV and it would be like, ‘Tara could not win even if she did a quadruple.’ At 15, I didn’t understand this at all. I’d go to the rink and I was emotionally upset by it. My mom was the one to help me through it. We blocked everyone out. Then that’s where I got my determination to show them that I did have a shot at it.

ISM: Can you discuss you parent’s role in your success?

Tara: I’ve had incredible support and I would have to say I owe it all to my parents. I know there’s no way I could have done any of it without them. Especially my mom since she never gave up on me. There’s so many misconceptions about parents in sports and I’d have to say my mom was the exception. She never pushed me too hard. When I had one of those bad days, she was always there to comfort me. She still is. If I have a bad day, I still call her. She knows what to say.

ISM: You seemed to have so much fun at the 1998 Olympic Games. Did you make a conscious decision to enjoy yourself?

Tara: It was conscious to know that I want to enjoy what I do. I’m a little stubborn in my ways. Skating has never been a chore to me. My parents always let me have fun and never took things away form me socially, where as that sometimes happens in this sport. Some of the coaches were telling me, ‘You can’t go that early. You’ve go to stay here. You’ve got to do that.’ But I wanted to. It’s like you miss out. That’s why I also feel about turning pro, I don’t regret anything. I don’t have anything that I missed out on. I enjoyed every moment, every part of it. I think that’s ultimately what kept my nerves so calm.

ISM: Let’s take you back to the night before your long program at the Olympics. How were able to simply relax and get a good night’s sleep?

Tara: It’s hard, but I’m a good sleeper. (Laughs) I used to do this visualizing thing, where I thought out what I wanted to do the next day. That kind of put me to sleep, because after a while you’re tired of doing it; you’re tired of going through those programs.

ISM: You seemed so happy when you came off the ice, like you weren’t even concerned about your final placement.

Tara: I wasn’t. I can say that truthfully. When I skated that program I was so excited, because I knew I couldn’t have done any better. If I came in last I would have acted the same way. I would have run across the ice and screamed and yelled because that’s how I felt. I was so excited that I pulled it off, when I was so nervous every day in practice. It could have gone 50/50. I could have fallen. I could have messed up. To achieve that performance at an Olympics was incredible.

ISM: Before you took to the ice, were you aware that Michelle Kwan and Lu Chen had brought the audience to their feet with their performances?

Tara: I was. I tried not to be but it was hard not to. I remember hearing some marks. Maybe that put me at ease. Maybe I thought, ‘You know what? I can’t control what everyone’s going to do. Maybe if everyone messed up I would have thought I have a chance, but I just went out there and blocked everyone away. I remember just saying, ‘I’ve done this millions and trillions of times in practice. There’s no way I’m going to have that 1% chance that I’m not going to do it tonight.’

ISM: Is there a better way to win then when everyone skates clean?

Tara: That’s the best part. I look back now. Sometimes you probably think at the time, ‘I hope I can go out there and skate great and show everyone else doesn’t do quads or something.’ Looking back now, I’m so glad everyone skated well. It just proves that it was a tough competition. To skate against great skaters like Michelle Kwan and Lu Chen and have them skate awesome and perfect…to me that is even more rewarding.

ISM: Do you remember the first time someone called you Tara Lipinski, Olympic Champion?

Tara: I remember. It was right after I won. I came out and they announced my name. I just couldn’t get over it, I still can’t. To see that as my title is weird, just weird.

ISM: Your on-ice rivalry with Michelle Kwan seemed pretty healthy.

Tara: Well, I think the media wanted it to be more of a rivalry than it was. We were both from the States, we were both good, and we both wanted the same thing, but we didn’t get in each other’s way doing it. One would win. Another would win. One would want to win. It was just a healthy competition. There was nothing bad between us. We were both good kids form good families. It didn’t affect us on the outside.

ISM: Kristi Yamaguchi once remarked that she resented being labeled as an artistic skater when she was landing difficult jump combinations on the ice. In the same vein, you were labeled as a technical skater but your excellent presentation was overlooked. Did that bother you?

Tara: It did. When I was younger maybe that was true, but if you look at the tapes you can see the improvement that came by the Olympics. I really don’t see how there was a difference. I felt artistically very strong at that point. Now I don’t find it much of a problem. By being on tour and with my hip surgery, I can’t keep training like I used to, so now I have the balance of jumping and artistry. I’m having a blast. I love the artistic style of skating now. I think that really shows and people have seen that as I grew up.

ISM: How long did it take you to decide to turn professional?

Tara: There were a lot of things that went on for me to make that decision. Most importantly, I was hurt with my hip. I knew what I had to do. I knew. I really didn’t want to come out with that at that time. Now thinking back, maybe I should have. It’s hard for a 15-year-old to come out and say, ‘You know, my hip is hurting and this is why.’ I had surgery. There’s no way I could have stayed in. Before the Olympics, I was in and out of hospitals going through MRIs, and I was in a lot of pain. That’s why the Olympics were so important, because I knew I had my chance; I knew I had to do those jumps. I knew there was no way my body could last for another four years. Also I was living away from my family. It takes a toll. I saw my parents… (Trails off) I wanted them to be home and be healthy. I look at them now, I don’t know, maybe we wouldn’t be healthy right now if we didn’t get back to a normal relationship where we all live together and took care of ourselves. So I don’t regret one thing. I accomplished everything I wanted. I got the Nationals, Worlds, and Olympics with the great performances that I wanted.

ISM: Did the negative back lash from your decision hurt you?

Tara: It did. I’m a little sensitive anyway because I feel like I’m trying to be a good person. I love skating and I love my fans. I don’t want to disappoint anybody. At the same token, I wouldn’t want to stay in for four years and have troubles, be in pain and then have to quit afterwards. I would not be able to tour and keep seeing those people every night. I just couldn’t give that up. I couldn’t give up that feeling that I feel inside when I’m on the ice.

ISM: Were there any skaters that took you under their wing in your first year as a professional?

Tara: I didn’t have one skater that took me under their wing, but I’ve always been young, I’ve always been thrown into a situation where everyone’s older. I was there and people just accepted me. It’s a sport that’s so close where you all know each other.

ISM: How much did you absorb by working with these professionals?

Tara: I never realized as an amateur what skating is about until I actually got on this tour. I learned about performing, entertaining, connecting with the audience and coming up with new ideas, and it’s not just going out and skating to classical music and jumping. It’s incredible what you learn.

ISM: How are you feeling now?

Tara: I’m trying to get on a steady track where I can keep my body healthy but it’s hard especially with my hip. I’ve had the surgery, and hopefully I’ll have prolonged skating career now. I think it would have been over if I didn’t have the surgery, so I feel totally grateful. I think it gives more meaning now to my skating. When I get on the ice, I’m much more grateful to be healthy and to be able to skate.

ISM: What would you say to the current group of eligible skaters trying the triple-triple combinations?

Tara: I’d say go for it. I’m all for young skaters trying to achieve their dreams. Age has no difference. I always tried everything and you do what you can. I had problems with my hip, because of how my hip is formed at the joint, but you have to be careful. You have to listen to your body.

ISM: So many young girls we’ve interviewed over the years have cited you as their hero. Yet a lot of older male skaters i.e. Peter Tchernyshev and Steve Hartsell, listed you as a role model, because the admired your strong work ethic.

Tara: Wow. I’d have to say that’s flattering for me to know that skaters look up to me. It’s so strange because I still look up to so many people. To hear that people really find me as their hero is incredible to me, but it’s very flattering. I think my work ethic comes from within. I know what I want and once it’s finished than I’m content; I can move on.

ISM: Who were some of your heroes in sports?

Tara: Anyone who went to the Olympics. I was totally obsessed with the Olympics. I looked up to the Kurt Brownings of the world. I loved Tuffi and Doug (Christine Hough and Doug Ladret). I loved Tuffi’s spirit and spunk. I loved Chris Bowman. I loved anyone who really showed his or her emotions. I think being genuine on the ice is really special.

ISM: For the first time in your career Lori Nichol choreographed your programs. What was that like?

Tara: I would have to say it was one of the most incredible experiences ever. I never realized what I was missing out on. I can’t say enough about her. She can just pull anything out of you. She cares so much about her work and makes it so important and it makes you feel like, ‘Gosh, I really am in my skating now.’ I actually feel like working with her I found my own little niche. I know what the ice feels like and she helped me do that.

ISM: How rewarding is it to be praised for your artistry this season?

Tara: It feels great. It feels like I’ve come full circle form being the jumper to the artistic. I like it.

ISM: We asked your fans to pick their favorite Tara programs and hoped you could comment on their choices?

Tara: Oh, good! I like this!

ISM: Dreamcatcher

Tara: That program was kind of a turning point because I think it showed artistically the first time I really did something different. It fit well on my body. It was that haunting feeling where I could portray a little bit of the acting I always loved. The music was so serene to me. I loved that program.

ISM: Second Element

Tara: Oh I like that one too. Every year I like to come out with something different. I’m not one of those skaters that does the same thing. I thought Second Element had more contrast between the abstract movements, and it really showed something a little different there.

ISM: Color of Roses

Tara: That is my favorite program. I think it always will be. I was contemplating keeping it forever, but I think that would disappoint everyone. Artistically, working with Lori, I felt so at home with it. I felt that finally every movement made a difference. The meaning of it, to St. Theresa who I pray to, was so meaningful. Every word had something to do with her. Every time I went out there, I felt her watching over me.

ISM: Little Women

Tara: Little Women! I love that one too! Green velvet dress! That reminds me because I’d always done real classical music at that time. I was always into movie themes, and everyone was trying to push me away from that sort of thing, but I felt the music. When I felt it, I knew I could skate to it.

ISM: The Rainbow

Tara: The Rainbow. That was a story. I remember each part, and I would think about it while I was skating to take my mind off the nerves. The first part was the race to get to the point. Then there was the little dance and the skip. Then the rain came and you saw the rainbow. Obviously the rainbow was my dream to win the Olympics. Then at the end it was to catch the rainbow so I had my little story.

ISM: How long does it take you to choose an Olympic program versus a standard competition program?

Tara: It took forever. For me though, it was kind of easy. I hate everything and then something comes on and I know it’s the right piece, but finding that can take a long time. I think they thought I’d never find it.

ISM: American Tribute

Tara: That one was so much fun. I loved that because I always like to come out and do what I feel. And to me it was so important to do that this past year with everything that went on. I felt proud out there. A lot of emotions came out. I felt like there were so many emotions coming out of paying respect to the people that had died in the September 11th tragedy and almost being a little spiteful up there and standing up for tour country and saying, ‘This is how I feel and I’m proud to feel it.’

ISM: You had a great footwork sequence in that program. Were you looking for a piece to highlight your footwork?

Tara: I didn’t but the minute I head the drums it felt powerful. I said, ‘OK, I’m going to do something, I don’t care how hard it is.’ My legs burned for days just finding how to do that footwork, but we figured it out and I love it. I had a great opportunity to do the footwork that not many women do. That program gave me a chance to show that off.

ISM: There were shades of Kurt Browning in that program.

Tara: Yes! He helped out. He’s incredible out there, and I wanted to show that I could do that to. Females can go out there and do that to.

ISM: Did you watch the ladies event at the Salt Lake City Olympics?

Tara: I did. I was not in Salt Lake City but I watched it.

ISM: Your thoughts on the event?

Tara: It was interesting. I never thought it would go that way. It was disappointing to see so many people make mistakes, because I know what it feels like to have that dream. I can’t imagine hard it must have been to go through that. But every person has his or her own trials and they get through it. Everything means something different to everybody, so hopefully they all enjoyed the experience. And then to see Sarah win was pretty cool.

ISM: Did you have any predictions on the podium?

Tara: I didn’t because I was in that position. I know that it’s a split second that can change everything. It’s not like a Worlds where you predict, ‘Oh, she will probably win.’ It’s very different when you step on that Olympic ice. It’s a different sheet of ice.

ISM: How are you a different skater today than in your Olympic days?

Tara: I think artistically I have come a long way from within; I want to do something different every year. I really feel my music. I want to do my own thing. I think artisitically that has helped. I think just learning about performing and entertaining is a big difference than in 98.

ISM: We were going to ask you to name your favorite program now, but we think you’ve already answered it.

Tara: Yes. Color of Roses is definitely my favorite, because for me, it was a dedication to St. Theresa who has always been my inspiration. And the words, every word meant something to me. It was soothing just to be on the ice. I felt she was there with me every night, and it was just beautiful to me.

ISM: What’s your favorite program by someone else?

Tara: Someone else? Hmmm. Let’s see. I have a lot. Oh, I loved Kurt’s Spanish one. I felt that was something really different for him. I loved the footwork. Obviously he’s incredible at footwork. He always comes up with some great programs.

ISM: what’s the biggest misconception about you?

Tara: Biggest misconception. I don’t know. There have always been things, like turning pro. People didn’t understand that.

ISM: How do you want to be remembered in figure skating history?

Tara: I would like to be that genuinely had fun and showed it. I think that’s so important in a sport. It’s not always about winning, being first, being known or being famous. It’s about what you can do for your fans. Hopefully I went out here and had fun and it showed. (Pauses) I would like to be remembered as a great skater who made someone smile.

ISM: Thanks for your time, Tara.

Tara: Can I say something to my fans?

ISM: Of course.

Tara: My fans really are the most important people to me out there and skating would be nothing without them. You go out and you perform every night and it’s for them. Because if it were and empty stadium it would not be as fun, so I just want to say thank you to all my fans because you truly inspire me and support me. When I’m having one of those bad days, I truly know who I am skating for.

ISM: Thanks again, Tara.

Tara: No problem.

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