Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir were the top American pair team on the junior international scene last season. They hope the success translates when they make their senior debut Oct. 15-18 in Paris at Trophee Eric Bompard, the opening event of the Grand Prix. Before leaving for Pairs, Castelli and Shnapir answered questions from fans.

Making an Olympic team is not something Rachael Flatt just hopes for. Her team has a plan to help her succeed.

Making an Olympic team is not something Rachael Flatt just hopes for. Her team has a plan to help her succeed.

Brittney Rizo was shocked when the ladies short program competition ended at the 2009 U.S. Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. A relative unknown making her senior debut, she placed fourth in the short, ahead of both national champions and World Championship team members. Rizo handed another surprise to the skating community when she announced she would forgo elite level skating in the Olympic season to focus on her studies at Northeastern University.

An Olympic beat columnist and reporter who also contributes to the Los Angeles Times, Phil Hersh has extensively covered the sport of figure skating since the 1980s, and is one of the only journalists still covering the major athletes and events outside of the Olympic season. He sat down with fans to answer questions before the World Championships.

An Olympic beat columnist and reporter who also contributes to the Los Angeles Times, Phil Hersh has extensively covered the sport of figure skating since the 1980s, and is one of the only journalists still covering the major athletes and events outside of the Olympic season. He sat down with fans to answer questions before the World Championships.

Adam Rippon made one of the biggest decisions of his career earlier this season. Only weeks before he was to make his senior national debut at the 2009 U.S. Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, he decided to leave coach Nikolai Morozov in Hackensack, N.J. Before departing for his last competition of the season, which will be his first with Brian Orser at the boards, Rippon sat down with Figure Skaters Online to answer questions from his fans.

Adam Rippon made one of the biggest decisions of his career earlier this season. Only weeks before he was to make his senior national debut at the 2009 U.S. Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, he decided to leave coach Nikolai Morozov in Hackensack, N.J. Before departing for his last competition of the season, which will be his first with Brian Orser at the boards, Rippon sat down with Figure Skaters Online to answer questions from his fans.

Leah Adams has been a regular fixture at skating competitions and shows since photographing the 1996 U.S. Championships in San Jose, Calif. Adams answered questions from skating fans before leaving her home in Grand Junction, Colo., for the 2009 U.S. Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. It is her 14th time photographing nationals.

Alexe Gilles had never competed as anything other than the underdog. Until that is, she won the junior ladies crown in a stunning fashion at the 2008 U.S. Championships in St. Paul, Minn. Gilles, 16, is now a favorite as she prepares for her second consecutive trip to the Junior Grand Prix Final. This year, the event is being held with the Grand Prix Final, Dec. 10-14, in Goyang City, Korea. She finished sixth in 2007 but went on to claim the national crown.