Susan Ng, the 1998 World Junior Team Selections Bronze Medalist and a very accomplished academic student (she is attending UC Irvine a year early) took a break during the holiday season to chat with Unseen Skaters.

Was it difficult to decide not to compete this season?
It was a bit difficult to decide not to compete this season because I had been working on new programs. I was getting excited about this year, so it was disappointing when I made the decision to take the season off. I decided it was better for me to heal up before I started skating again because I didn't want to spend another season on and off the ice every few weeks.

You started collage this year; do you think not training so much allowed you to adjust better to collage life?
Actually, I think not training this year did make a difference. It made it a lot easier to settle down and get to know people. I've made a lot of friends at school, and it's just been great. It also would have been rough if I had been skating because, at least for fall quarter, I had to go to school for conferencing with one of my professors a couple extra times a week. My training schedule would have made that difficult, so although I am disappointed at being unable to compete this year, it may have been a blessing in disguise.

What are you majoring in, in college?
I am majoring in Psychology.

What are some of your non-skating goals?
I would like to graduate from college and go to a good graduate school. I'm not too sure what I want to do yet, but I think I will probably stay with Psychology or go into Law.

What do you love so much about skating that makes you go back to the rink every day?
I love the feeling of the wind across my face when I'm skating fast and the coolness of the air. I dislike exercising in warm weather, so an ice rink really is ideal for me. :) Another thing I really enjoy about skating is performing to music that I enjoy and connect with. It's a bit difficult to describe, but sometimes it feels as if you're lost in your own little world. There is just you, the ice, and the music. I know that might sound a bit goofy, but I can't think of a better way to describe it just yet. That is probably one of the things I like most about skating because I don't think I would mind skating without jumping, but it wouldn't be fun anymore if I couldn't skate to music.