Athlete Quotes

I started skating when I was six years old.

I like to try all kinds of styles so it always challenges me and forces me to try to look different.

I get to see the different sides of skating now which involves not only competing, but entertainment.

I do not have any pets. We travel too much.

Falling down became second nature and it really didn't bother me.

Even now I can't describe why I love skating so much.

But after a few minutes of convincing myself that I really wanted to go - telling myself that I love skating and that my coach is there waiting for me - I would get up and go. And my mother would always get up and eat breakfast with me!

There is no age, height, or weight requirement to skate. It is good exercise no matter what your age is. If you want to be competitive, most start young. But, I practice with many adult competitors.

One of the things I like best about the Halloween show is that I change outfits about six times in the show. It is a lot of fun to play the different characters.

Even now, my husband Jerry, our son Matthew and I live only five minutes away from my parents home, and my brothers live about ten minutes away. It's been great having such a supportive family.

People would ask me why I was doing what I was doing - but I always told them that I just loved to skate. There was no other explanation.

But it seems that the judging maybe they shouldn't at least see the practices all week long. That can taint the way they go into the judging and the outlook of what's going to happen, instead of just watching those four minutes and judging on those minutes alone.

And I love what I do and I love skating.

It's one of those records that will stand forever. I really can't imagine anyone touching it.

It's been an amazing year of individual performances.

I remember Michael dribbling at the top of the key. Everybody knew to just get the hell out of his way.

I learned that people everywhere are basically the same and have similar goals that we do. They want health and happiness and the opportunity to provide for their families.

Despite the amazing diversity we're blessed with in this country, schools are still in large part segregated because of economic disparity. Sports are one of the few areas where kids are really given the opportunity to interact with those of different races and religions.

I think it's imperative to follow your heart and choose a profession you're passionate about, and if you haven't found that 'spark' yet, if you're not sure what you want to do with your lives - be persistent until you do.

I played Baby New Year. When everybody started hollering and throwing confetti, I thought it was for me.

What you do once you're beyond the confines of your local lift service can be as limitless as the mountains themselves.

So I've been pushed farther and farther out into the mountains, but at the same time realizing that that experience is really nice and I'm glad I'm getting pushed out there farther.

Oakley and Burton have been my main sponsors since '87. I've been riding for both of them.

My experience and what I do in snowboarding is really quite independent of the industry and the more independent it is, the more pure and better I feel about snowboarding.

I've always been into powder, that's what I like riding, and now you've got to go farther to get it.

I suffer every moment of every day that I am not with my son. All I want is to be reunited with my son.

For Oakley, I'm basically a media vehicle for them to promote the product. For me, it's both, I get a salary from them, but I also get great products so it just kind of works, continues on.

All of a sudden you have this feeling of clarity. Backcountry snowboarding has really done a lot to boost that feeling in me.

While I will always have the utmost respect for the superhuman out-of-bounds freestyle and extreme stunts that seem to continually progress beyond our imaginable limits, my highest appreciation goes out to the simple rider who's out there just for the experience.

Learn what pitch you can hit good; then wait for that pitch.