1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,320 Welcome to the Rockers Skating Podcast. 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,840 We have another interview for you today because it is the week 3 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,560 of pre world interviews and we have Caroline Green, Michael 4 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:23,720 Parsons here with me, the 2022 Ford Contents Champions and the 5 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,600 2026 Ford Contents Silver medalists. 6 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,800 How are you all doing? We're doing pretty well, just 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,800 finished long day of training. Yeah, a long day of training and 8 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,080 a long season, right? Yeah. 9 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:38,080 But I mean, this is, this is the week, this is the final week of 10 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,520 preparation. So that's crazy. 11 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,880 That was the last Monday of prep before we go. 12 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:43,520 Tomorrow will be the last Tuesday. 13 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,160 When do you when do you head out? 14 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:46,880 On Sunday. Sunday night. 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,080 OK, yeah. So you'll, you'll have a, you'll 16 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,960 have a whole week in Prague, which will be, I'll be. 17 00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:53,840 I'm looking forward to yeah, yeah. 18 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,440 Well, especially there are worse places to be. 19 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,560 I know. Well, I mean, Michael, you and I 20 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,080 were just talking about the weather over there where you are 21 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,760 and driving through blizzards. The weather's been. 22 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:08,960 Nowhere too. Interesting, hasn't it? 23 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,120 It was like 70° yesterday. And snowing today. 24 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:17,880 So that's March in Michigan. Well, it's been kind of like 25 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,360 that in New York City as well, so. 26 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,400 Yeah, you're getting crazier weather than us from from 27 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,040 everything that I've seen that my cousin sent me. 28 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,400 I've got a cousin in in Midtown. Oh, nice. 29 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:28,200 Yeah, I know. It's it's been a little nuts. 30 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,680 All right, well, let's talk about the season. 31 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,720 It's been as we were, as we were just talking about. 32 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,480 It's been a long season. It's you know, it's one of those 33 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:42,960 where you feel like you have to be on from the very beginning. 34 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:48,480 And you know, you all were very prepared early this season, but 35 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:54,360 then had a very unfortunate fluke fall in the in the in cup 36 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,200 of China and the rhythm dance for you, Michael. 37 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:01,880 How was that in hindsight? And and and how, how is your hip 38 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,680 now after after a few months of recovery? 39 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:11,360 Luckily the the hip is fine now and I guess in hindsight, like 40 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:16,200 the good thing is everything is fine, but still like obviously I 41 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,120 wish it didn't happen right, but there's nothing to do about it 42 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,680 now. So luckily we had great care 43 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,640 there. So I got to experience not only 44 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:27,160 the the US Figure skating medical team, but the the 45 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,720 Chinese Federation's medical team, who are also awesome. 46 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,960 And the the week that we had in between that event and NHKI did 47 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,600 enough work that we were able to skate there and and do the best 48 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,880 we could. So I honestly don't feel like we 49 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:41,040 missed that much. Yeah, yeah. 50 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:46,000 I mean, you had a very short recovery period in between Grand 51 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,920 Prixs and a lot of people were like, are they going to be, you 52 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:54,680 know, ready for the second one? And, and you were so and, and 53 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,040 you skated very well there. So kind of. 54 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,920 There are some stiff days on the ice that week in between. 55 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,440 I think that was just like evidence of our preparation 56 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,200 going into the Grand Prix in general. 57 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:11,360 I think we just felt like really solid in our material and our 58 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,760 training and I mean stuff happens I slippery. 59 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:20,200 So I think we're really lucky to have like our support staff with 60 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,320 us in China and kind of giving us guidance for that week in 61 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,440 between. We had the ability to stay in 62 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,760 Japan the week in between. So just like that load off from 63 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,760 the back and forth travel and the time adjustment, I think 64 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,560 really helped us just stay like super laser focused and take a 65 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:43,200 deep breath and reset. So I was really glad that we 66 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,120 just trusted each other and our team to help us get through the 67 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,280 week at NHK and have the skates that we did because we're really 68 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,880 proud of those. And I do think those experiences 69 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,640 to make certain competitions feel so much better and more 70 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,440 impactful, like because of how well we skated and how hard we 71 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,520 we tried to like get back into competition shape in that week. 72 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,280 And that that NHK that we did this year is probably my 73 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,320 favorite competitions we've done over our career just because of 74 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,480 how we pulled together and how we came back and and skated our 75 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,120 best in an amazing arena. And I mean it. 76 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,160 I think it's hard not to have a great experience at an NHK 77 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,680 anyway. Yeah, you're all rock stars over 78 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,720 there. Everybody loves you. 79 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,560 So the, the, the element that you fell on was, was the, was 80 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,400 the twizzles in the, in the rhythm dance. 81 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:37,160 I, I continue to say you are first of all, like one of the 82 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:43,040 few, few, few teams who tried to do that rhythm dance twizzle all 83 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,880 on one foot. And, and there was a whole thing 84 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:51,120 earlier in the season with the levels being called and stuff. 85 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,480 Take me back to that. And, and sort of like, it's been 86 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,360 a weird season of, of calls in general, especially during the 87 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,320 fall. What, what, how did you kind of 88 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,800 think about the, the, the feedback that you're getting 89 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,240 from the panels? I guess that's like a perfect 90 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,520 example of of how you build through the season with feedback 91 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,960 from not only judges and coaches, but also from 92 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,440 competitions like we, we entered our first competition with a 93 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,120 completely different transition, transition between the twizzles 94 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,920 thinking that it would work and very. 95 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,440 Quickly ambitious thinking, how much twizzles can we do on one? 96 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:27,600 Yeah, we're like. Oh, and. 97 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,720 This would be fun. Yeah, so quickly found out that 98 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,120 that does not. That's illegal, yeah. 99 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:36,720 That does not work. So. 100 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,600 Which is really crazy that it doesn't. 101 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,400 Well, I guess it makes sense from a calling standpoint. 102 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,640 It's like, all right, you did one twizzle, now you're doing 103 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,200 another. So I need to call it something. 104 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:49,640 But we thought because it was still going the same direction 105 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,800 that it. Would be, yeah, where it kind of 106 00:05:52,840 --> 00:05:57,720 got a little bit iffy was just there was, I believe the call 107 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,000 was that there was too much of A pause in between. 108 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,720 So it was in an eruption. So it wasn't a continuation of 109 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:06,760 the Twizzle. It was a different set traveling 110 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,360 the same direction, which is not OK. 111 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:15,560 So I think for Peace of Mind for us and to make the judge's job 112 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:19,040 really easy, we made the change and I think still got to keep 113 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,280 that one foot feature, which I think is still impressive in its 114 00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:25,280 own right. So I think, yeah. 115 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,760 We'll see you next week. Kind of love that it's, it's, 116 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:34,200 it's been a thing. As you've gone through the 117 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,320 season, what kinds of adjustments and changes have you 118 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:43,120 made to either or both of your programs that you felt much more 119 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,520 comfortable with? I, I mean for these programs 120 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,720 compared to previous seasons, we haven't changed a lot. 121 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:54,000 And I think that's just a testament to how hard we worked 122 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,800 in sort of the construction and choreography phase and coming up 123 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:02,520 with really interesting elements where it felt like we've, you 124 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,040 know, add some of our best material right out of the gate. 125 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:10,200 It was honestly with the freelance, we had to adopt some 126 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,360 chorea elements to make them a little bit easier just for the 127 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,800 sake of a full program, which is kind of the opposite of what 128 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,280 we've done in years past where we start with a little bit of a 129 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:24,400 easier construction and then develop things and work on them 130 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:31,080 more to increase the difficulty. So it, I, I think at the start 131 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,240 of the season, we really just wanted to challenge ourselves as 132 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:38,760 much as possible because last season being so focused on 133 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:42,840 Michael's recovery and just taking things easy or not easy, 134 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:47,400 just just being mindful of like where our physical capacity was 135 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,040 at. I think we got super excited at 136 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:54,080 the chance to have more time to play around and experiment. 137 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:58,680 And we like to push ourselves very hard, which I think. 138 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,880 The Freeze definitely the hardest program like content 139 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,920 wise I think I've ever had this year's free, which is it's a 140 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,240 good thing, but it's also like you have to train for it so. 141 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,400 Yeah, those, some of those choral elements are, are a 142 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,960 little bit nuts. So and, and and you see you see 143 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,040 the effort that you've put into those programs and it's it, it 144 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:22,480 very much shows second year. I think you all are working with 145 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,960 Sean Luke Baker. How has that influenced your 146 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,680 style? And also the two of you are 147 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:34,919 known to have a lot of say and a lot of input into your programs 148 00:08:34,919 --> 00:08:37,320 and and kind of the the creation of them. 149 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,000 I'd love to hear about a little bit more about that process. 150 00:08:40,039 --> 00:08:42,960 That's, I think working with Jean Luc is so helpful for us 151 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,960 too, because we gel so well in this state where she kind of 152 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,720 like opens us up to create more things. 153 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,000 And so it really is this collaborative process where 154 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:53,960 we're all creating and working together. 155 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,840 And I think every team will find a choreographer that when they 156 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,240 work with them, they really feel like they can like show true 157 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,320 pieces of themselves. And I think for us, that's 158 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,640 definitely Jean Luc. He can really like pull our 159 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,720 feelings into whatever steps, whatever transition, whatever 160 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,120 element we're creating. And we found that out pretty 161 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:12,720 immediately the first year we worked with him. 162 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,440 So obviously at the end of last season we're like, yes, run it 163 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,800 back, let's do it again. Yeah, I, I think it's, it's his 164 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,000 openness like Michael talked about, and just his ability to 165 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:27,040 read people in general I think is very evident in the way that 166 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,040 he works with skaters. And I think it's really 167 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,920 interesting to see his work with other skaters in our camp too, 168 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:37,880 and how he's able to create such different pieces with every 169 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,080 single one of us. It's not like he has his 170 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:44,360 choreographic stamp and he's molding us into the skaters that 171 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,880 he wants to see. Like he really needs us where 172 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,800 we're at. And I think is a team who really 173 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,000 likes to be heavily involved in that creative process and have a 174 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,520 say. And just being a team who gets 175 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,040 so excited about being involved in that. 176 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:01,960 I think it's just been a really good math. 177 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,840 Now he no, the the two of you and Michael especially it were 178 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:10,440 like contemporaries of Jean Luc and Caitlin, you know, when they 179 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:14,200 were competing. How did did it feel A little bit 180 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,720 kind of weird is the word, but a a a little bit different right, 181 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,480 to work with him as a choreographer. 182 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:22,040 And how did that actually come about? 183 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,720 I, I know exactly where you're coming from with that, but 184 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,840 honestly, it just felt good. Like from the very first day 185 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:30,040 that we started working together. 186 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,520 And yeah, I've known Jean Luc since we competed in juvenile 187 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,760 and junior nationals. So it's been, it's been a very 188 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,880 long time that we've competed against each other and known 189 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:42,520 each other with, with different partners, with new partners. 190 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,760 And now just seeing like where he is in life is, is so cool 191 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,800 too. I'm super proud of him, yeah. 192 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:51,280 But yeah, from that very first now. 193 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:56,720 You got him on the rink side talking about you and practice 194 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,960 commentary, Yeah. I think I'm looking like every 195 00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:03,160 possible he hasn't judged us yet, he has to become a judge 196 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:04,280 and like that would be the following. 197 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:07,520 Yeah, he'd be a tough judge, I think. 198 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,040 Hear that. Or he'll just like vibe with you 199 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,160 while he's judging. Yeah, yeah, you, you notice that 200 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,480 sometimes when you're skating by a judge will like, you can tell 201 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,680 when they're a little bit more into the program versus like 202 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:20,760 maybe they're trying to hide it versus they really aren't into 203 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:22,600 the program. And I feel like she might be one 204 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:24,800 of the judges that you see the yeah, they're into it. 205 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,200 Like I'm I'm going to make more contact. 206 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,360 With that, that was one of my favorite parts about him doing 207 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,280 ringside at nationals is like there's so many moments, 208 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:34,960 especially when we were practicing the freelance in 209 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:40,480 particular, where I kind of, we would like lock eyes at this 210 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:44,640 moment, which was really funny. So I was like, OK, I kind of 211 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:45,800 want to go back and look up Jerry. 212 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,960 I feel like, I, I feel like I need to do ringside with him for 213 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,040 ice dance because that's gonna be a different, a whole 214 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,000 different thing because I, I do it with, with the single 215 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,760 skaters. And there tends to be like we, 216 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:03,320 we, we often see the skaters look to us like we're judges. 217 00:12:03,560 --> 00:12:05,480 Yeah. Well, because here's the thing 218 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,520 on practice, you guys are really the only ones who are down at 219 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:13,200 that judges level. So I think it's like. 220 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,680 We're just we're searching for eye contact. 221 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:17,720 Right. Exactly. 222 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:19,040 They're so far away. You. 223 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:21,520 Guys are right there. See. 224 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,880 It's right there. The number of times I've we've 225 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:26,840 been like winked at, It's kind of hilarious. 226 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,800 You. Have to have like a like a wink 227 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:33,480 meter in the corner. Yeah, you could have like a 228 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,200 little wink counter. Oh my God, hilarious. 229 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:41,360 OK, get back to choreography. Your free dance is one of the 230 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,120 more interesting ones of the season. 231 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,520 Choreographically, intellectually, just kind of the 232 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:51,280 the overall package you of many of the different ice dance teams 233 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,840 love to go with a different mood, with a different kind of 234 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,000 Music Choice. But that was something that is 235 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,000 not often seen even if you're like with your rhythm dances 236 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,400 where you know, it's not like you're doing Ricky Martin or 237 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,360 Backstreet Boys, right? Like there's there's there's a 238 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:11,240 lot of that sort of like you want to be outside the box in 239 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,760 some ways. Take me through the choreography 240 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:18,400 of this free dance, which Caroline, as you were telling 241 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,840 me, has been the subject of different theories as to who 242 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,360 what you're actually portraying. So let's set the record 243 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,400 straight. Which I think kind of might be 244 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,720 our fault because at the beginning of the season we we 245 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:33,160 hinted it's very inspired by Greek mythology as because I 246 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:38,120 think a lot of our programs, we do like to thematically leave 247 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:41,840 them open-ended to allow people to come to their own 248 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,000 interpretations and feel what they want to feel while they 249 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,800 watch. This game, it's very art history 250 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,760 major of a you. Know like. 251 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,240 Like a oh, I'm gonna, I'm gonna. I'm gonna. 252 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,080 Put some dissertation around the turtle. 253 00:13:53,440 --> 00:14:02,200 She says this to. Me, yeah, but our coach Tanith 254 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,520 brought this piece of music the escalates RB. 255 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:10,720 She played the I believe it's a recording taken from a live 256 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:15,000 performance where it's supported by these really haunting 257 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:18,080 strings. And like from the first, like 258 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,920 low cello note that she played on the ice beer immediately, 259 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:25,200 like, whoa, what's going on here? 260 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,840 I'm intrigued because at that point in the process, we were 261 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,160 really just really felt like we were throwing different things 262 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,240 at the wall and nothing was quite sticking and we felt a 263 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,720 little bit stuck. So to kind of like there are 264 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,800 very few moments you get where you hear a piece of music in a 265 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,840 rink and feel like, wow, what am I listening to? 266 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:44,560 I'm moved by this for some reason. 267 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:50,800 And I think, yeah, just hearing how it really filled up the rink 268 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,520 was, like made us really intrigued by it. 269 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:59,920 And we started moving to it. And I think from there, like the 270 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,400 choreography started to evolve pretty organically. 271 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,960 But I think since in years past we've kind of gone with this 272 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:13,000 more contemporary lens, a little bit more ambiguous, we kind of 273 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,880 wanted to try pushing ourselves to see if like a narrative 274 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,640 element would help inform the program as a whole. 275 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:25,600 And I think that's where getting inspired by Greek mythology 276 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,600 really came into play. And she brought us the story of 277 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:37,800 Arrows and Psyche, where Psyche is this beautiful mortal who 278 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,680 basically is so beautiful and gorgeous. 279 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,280 Wait, that's Michael. That's Michael. 280 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:52,600 No, that's me. She she earns the jealousy of 281 00:15:55,160 --> 00:16:02,360 deity I believe in. She sends her son, heiress to 282 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,200 basically. Oh. 283 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,720 Because she's like, I can't have anyone be more beautiful than 284 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:12,000 me. This doesn't work. 285 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,040 Aris pricks himself with the arrow and then falls in love 286 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,920 with her. That's what arrows do, Cupid. 287 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,720 Otherwise known as Cupid in Roman mythology. 288 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:29,960 And from there, because that doesn't work, Aphrodite 289 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:34,240 basically gives Psyche all of these trials that surely no 290 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,560 mortal could complete. Impossible tasks, impossible 291 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:44,760 tasks. And Psyche is basically able to 292 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:49,800 conquer these sets of impossible tasks and earns the distinction 293 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:51,320 of Goddess. So wow. 294 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:55,040 So now, so at the end of the program, you're a goddess, of 295 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:56,960 course. Of course, of course. 296 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,840 Not that she doesn't start, but yes. 297 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,960 It's a goddess in training to start and then and then you and 298 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,640 then you end up being a goddess. It's like those K pop training 299 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:12,920 programs but but goddess. I'm going to have to go and 300 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,880 watch this program again because that's that it's, it's a, it's a 301 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,160 different kind of mindset, right, That you bring into it. 302 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:22,280 If you know the story, what about the costumes? 303 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,400 Because you, you started off the season with a different set of 304 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,240 costumes, right? And, and, and then you, you, you 305 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:31,560 as the season progressed, you actually had the the final 306 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,000 costumes if you're well made, so. 307 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:38,800 The, the costumes that we, we ended up with Grand Prix's 308 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,720 Nationals, we made a couple of adjustments more just like for 309 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:48,600 fit and like functionality rather than like design were the 310 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,080 original, like that was the intention. 311 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,200 Obviously early in the season. I think you see it with a lot of 312 00:17:54,200 --> 00:18:02,040 teams just because our costumes can be so ornate and complex. 313 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,560 Just the development time and really figuring out and getting 314 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:11,400 those design components really settled and functional for the 315 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,920 ICE as well just takes a lot of time, so. 316 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:17,640 These were also they're the first costumes, at least to my 317 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,680 knowledge, that I've seen, that have 3D printed elements in 318 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,680 them, which definitely took some time to do. 319 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:29,280 They're very complex, so that involves in person fitting, 320 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:33,040 sending the costumes back and forth, discussing colors, 321 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,680 discussing. Both of your costumes have the 322 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:41,200 3D printed elements. Yeah, the yours is on the golden 323 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,440 right things on the front of her dress and the the one on my 324 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:45,600 back. Right, right, right. 325 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,640 It's actually 3D printed through the mesh, which I think is wow. 326 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:49,840 Yeah. OK. 327 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:53,120 That's interesting. I'm not even, we're not even 328 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:58,120 sure how the sausage gets made. Like, yeah, we get the end 329 00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:00,120 result and get to go, wow, this is so amazing. 330 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:01,760 Thank you, Philippe. Thank you. 331 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,320 Yeah, Philippe Messe is your your costume designer. 332 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,560 Yeah, he's awesome. I mean, there's a reason why 333 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,600 Your costumes is absolutely one of the favourites from the 334 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,240 figure skating fandom, so. That's so nice to hear. 335 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,840 Works out very well. I like, I don't know how long I 336 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:25,400 spent on, like, Photoshop, just like changing the colours of the 337 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:31,200 dress to get it just right. At a certain point, the two had 338 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,080 to sit me down and be like, Caroline, there are only so many 339 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,760 colors of the rainbow. And you don't want a yellow 340 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:37,280 dress. You don't want an orange dress. 341 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:38,800 You don't want, like a brown dress. 342 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,920 Like there are only so many colors that can be. 343 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,960 You need to chill. So I'm glad that the end result 344 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,240 works really well on the ice and looks super effective. 345 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,200 And yeah. And this was this was actually a 346 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,560 subject of conversation, I think at nationals. 347 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:57,880 Is Caroline your love of barrettes in your hair? 348 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,000 OK, so these are actually not beret. 349 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:10,200 They're like, I think they're technically like bezels for like 350 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,440 jewelry making. They're all little individual 351 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:16,120 rings. I weave them one by one into my 352 00:20:16,120 --> 00:20:21,520 hair with a crochet hook. It's ridiculous, but it looks 353 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:22,720 really cool it. Does. 354 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,680 Yeah, it does. I wish it was a breath. 355 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,520 They'll make my life so much. Easier now. 356 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,120 I remember the first time she showed up with them and everyone 357 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:35,240 was like, wow, that is amazing. So that's like the epic high of 358 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,240 how cool it is. And then the epic low is like 359 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,400 every time we're getting ready for for a day of training or 360 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,600 competition where she does that, I feel so bad like. 361 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,400 Five hours. This was a a nationalist when we 362 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:49,640 were in the Airbnb together. I think it was like one of the 363 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:54,840 first times Michael really like saw first hand the like getting 364 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,400 ready process for women in figure skating. 365 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,400 And it was a it was a very. Skated with my sister. 366 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,400 Yeah, I was like, I was like, you should have known it was 367 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:08,360 Rachel, right? But yeah, he he was really there 368 00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:11,880 with me in the trenches of. The IT was a what would you like 369 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,440 for breakfast? I'll make breakfast. 370 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,840 You'd get ready and I'd like leave a little plate like on the 371 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:18,920 on the bedroom floor as she's in the bathroom. 372 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,440 Oh boy. Hey, as long as they don't fall 373 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,920 out, right, That's that's, that's an important. 374 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,600 Part and they don't because they're open into my head. 375 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,360 Oh boy. Well, this this conversation 376 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:34,600 went places that I didn't think it was going to go to. 377 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,640 So this is great. OK, so on to worlds. 378 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,960 You've had now a few weeks since Nationals and four continents 379 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:48,160 and it's been, you know, it's one of those seasons where you 380 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:52,520 really have to like measure yourself throughout this very 381 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:55,360 long season to make sure that you're peeking at the right 382 00:21:55,360 --> 00:21:56,960 times and all that sort of stuff. 383 00:21:57,960 --> 00:21:59,480 What's your preparation been like? 384 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,480 And you know what's the last month or so been like for you? 385 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,920 To we finished four continents and we were able to take a 386 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:11,040 couple days to just fully decompress, relax, and then from 387 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:12,520 then it was right back at the rink. 388 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,040 Of course, we didn't get any official notification until last 389 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:20,280 week, but we've been training since the week after 4 390 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:24,560 continents like we were going just assuming we're going better 391 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:27,160 to play it safe and like say Chuck and Bates decide to do 392 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,520 worlds like, Oh no, we're in really good shape like that. 393 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:31,920 That's the downside, which isn't even a downside. 394 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,120 So we've been training hard. We feel ready, feeling really 395 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:38,080 good and like we started this, this interview. 396 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:40,760 It's the the last week of preparation which is always 397 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,320 exciting. It's just been so great that our 398 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,120 season has extended in the way that. 399 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,960 It. Has just because I think we 400 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:52,040 we've poured so much into these programs and I think I've had 401 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:57,000 really rewarding experiences performing them for audiences. 402 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:02,920 I think they really do work differently in arena, especially 403 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:04,480 in nationals. Like just having the crowd 404 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,240 reaction that we did to the rhythm dance was like one of my 405 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,320 favorite moments ever. Very rarely do you get to have 406 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,520 skates where like Michael turns around and he gives him the blue 407 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,000 steel and then like the entire arena laughs like. 408 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:20,480 That felt good. It's just really, it's just 409 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,960 really fun to like have those interactive moments. 410 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,320 So I think we're looking forward to getting another opportunity 411 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:32,760 to do that at Worlds. Yeah, we're, we're just excited. 412 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,960 I get a lot of people asking like it's such a long season, 413 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,480 but it really doesn't feel that way. 414 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:42,840 Like even even before we knew we were going for Worlds it, it 415 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:44,640 hasn't felt like that long a season. 416 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,240 I think because we've been so focused on the training and as 417 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:49,480 long as you're approaching it the right way, like you just 418 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,840 keep training, as long as you're taking care of your body and 419 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,800 your mind, like it's all good. And we've got the privilege to 420 00:23:55,880 --> 00:24:00,720 to skate more, so I'm happy. Your your third world's coming 421 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,560 up. You're in your 7th I believe 422 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,840 season skating together. Some of the highlights for you 423 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:11,040 over the last seven years. I, I still think one of my 424 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:14,360 favorite competitions of my entire career, not even just the 425 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,040 the seven years that we've been training together, is World's 426 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:21,160 last year in Boston. Just the amount of pressure you 427 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,560 felt going into the rink. Like, it literally felt like 428 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,040 there was this invisible curtain that all the skaters felt as 429 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,400 soon as you get off that big cargo elevator to the the level 430 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:31,840 where you're getting ready to warm up. 431 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,480 I love it. And then to to get out there and 432 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,440 to see a completely full arena and to skate and hear people 433 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:39,240 going. Oh yeah. 434 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:42,120 Like every time you go by the wall and to finish your program 435 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:43,680 it. Was literally every quarter. 436 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:49,520 Yeah, it was, it was so great. But to yeah, to finish a program 437 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:55,240 in that scenario is the reason why we do this, that the whole 438 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,840 competition was like the perfect embodiment of that with the 439 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:02,240 amount of teams that were cut from the the rhythm dance or cut 440 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,600 between rhythm and free. I'd never been to a competition 441 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,480 where so many didn't make the free 2. 442 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:10,440 So just like all of that played into this like crazy like build 443 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:14,640 up of pressure that just explodes into an amazing time 444 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,760 when you finish. Yeah, I, I literally remember 445 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:20,920 sitting, I think was it? It wasn't like a green. 446 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:25,760 It was like some, because we were US athletes, I think we 447 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,280 like snuck into like one of the medical rooms or something. 448 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:30,840 And like just to kind of like there was a lot of space in the 449 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,600 backstage at Worlds last year. So I remember like sitting there 450 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:38,520 with my sweet green salad. And like usually I don't really 451 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,640 key into kind of where they're at in the competition or like 452 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,200 watch people. But it was on. 453 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:48,280 And I think I saw in passing like the cut off mark for where 454 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,440 it was. And I'm like sitting there with 455 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:56,520 my sweet green, like, Oh, OK, that's that's pretty high. 456 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:00,120 But like, I think then you get into the space where there's 457 00:26:00,120 --> 00:26:02,840 just so much energy and it's infectious. 458 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:06,480 You're like, OK, this is such a great opportunity. 459 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:10,400 I get to perform and share my skating with all these people. 460 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:16,480 Like this is what I asked for. So you're able to kind of like 461 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,960 all the scores or where you need to be to qualify for free kind 462 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,480 of goes in the background and you just get to be really 463 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,640 present and share skating with people who want to see skating. 464 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:29,840 Well, you ended up in the top 10, so no, no problems with 465 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,920 that. But I mean almost 69 points to 466 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,320 get into the freelance. It's like, that's crazy. 467 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:39,040 It's pretty nuts. I think it was lower than that 468 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:43,280 at the Olympics this year. So there's your difference. 469 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,480 Well, Caroline, Michael, thank you for joining me today. 470 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,760 I've been I've been wanting to talk to you for a very long 471 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:52,240 time. I'm glad we got a chance to do 472 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:56,360 it And and I will see you next week in Prague. 473 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:58,520 So best of luck with the best training. 474 00:26:58,520 --> 00:26:59,520 Yeah, I'll be there. That's. 475 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:02,520 Cool, that's exciting. Thank you. 476 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:05,240 You got to got to stay ringside and start the wink counter for. 477 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,000 I wish. Yeah. 478 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:13,440 No, no wingside. Ah, wingside, I need to text. 479 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,080 They they get the comically large cane and they pull me out. 480 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:21,080 Literally literally need to text John Luke right now and tell him 481 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:22,240 which. Half door opens up. 482 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,720 Wink side. Wink side, Yeah, No, no, no 483 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:30,440 practice commentary for Worlds. But, you know, we'll make it 484 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:32,440 happen at some point, hopefully so. 485 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:37,040 All right, well, best of luck with training this week and best 486 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:38,400 of luck with Worlds. Bye. 487 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:40,280 Thank you. Thank you and see you soon. 488 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:41,480 Thank you everybody.