Megan Oster, 14, was born on July 14, 1989, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is her hometown to this day.  She is the 2004 Upper Great Lakes Regional and Midwestern Sectional Novice Ladies' champion.  She represents the Wagon Wheel FSC in Barrington, Illinois, and is coached by Denise Myers and Alex Ouriashev.

When and how did you begin skating?
I was 4 years old when I started skating.  I was trying different sports and activities and I was shy, so my mom enrolled me in a learn to skate class.  I caught on quickly and was very aggressive on the ice.

What has been the most memorable moment in your skating career so far?
My most memorable moment was at the Liberty competition [July 2003 in Newark, Delaware] when I landed my triple lutz for the first time in competition.

Do you have an embarrassing moment in skating you can share?
When I was preliminary [second USFSA level], we forgot my skates at home so I had to borrow another girl's skates.

How have you improved as a skater since last year, when you qualified for Junior Nationals at the Intermediate level and placed 9th in your qualifying group?
I have improved in every aspect of my skating since last year, but there is still a lot to work on.  Getting my triples was my biggest accomplishment.

How would you describe the feeling of qualifying for "big" Nationals for the first time?
I'm really excited and I think it will be a lot of fun.

Who are your coaches and where do you train? Who are the people involved in your off-ice training?
Denise Myers has been my coach [in Kenosha, Wisconsin] for 6 years now, and Alex Ouriashev has been my secondary coach [in the Chicago area] for a year.  I travel to Vernon Hills and Northbrook [in Illinois] twice a week.  My off-ice trainer's name is Jay Labonne, and he has helped my physical strength and endurance also this year.  I also work with Diane Karum for goal setting and motivational instruction.  I've worked with Alice Brinkman in ballet.

What music are you using this season?
This season my music for my short is from the musical Chicago.  My long is selections from Yanni (Sand Dance, Standing in Motion, and Adagio in C minor).

What technical elements did you attempt in your Novice short program and free skate at Midwestern Sectionals (November 2003)?
Short - I did a triple lutz-double toe combination, double axel, double flip, combo spin, layback, and spirals.  Long - Triple lutz-double toe, triple flip, flying camel, double axel, double loop, triple salchow-double toe, layback, triple toe, combo spin, and double axel-double toe.  I skated well, but could have done better in the long.  I had a wobble on my triple lutz combo and I fell on my triple flip.  Everything else was landed.  I did a clean short program.  I was having trouble with my triple lutz earlier in the week, so I was really excited when I completed it in competition.  It was also the first time in competition [short program] I had tried it.

What should we watch for in your Novice programs at Nationals?
In my Novice short at Nationals, I will be attempting a triple lutz-double toe for my jump combination.  In my Novice long at Nationals, I will be attempting 5 different triples and two double axels.

What are your goals for Nationals in Atlanta?
My goal for Nationals is to place in the top 3 and/or skate clean.

What are your long-term goals, both on and off the ice?
My long-term goals are to make the Olympic and World teams and do well.  Off-ice, my goal is to go to college.

What do you consider to be the strongest and weakest aspects of your skating?
I think my strong points in skating are my jumps and my weakest aspect is speed.

What is your current favorite jump and spin?
My favorite jump is the triple loop.  Spin - layback.

What is your current schooling arrangement, grade, favorite subject(s)?
I go to Tremper High School [in Kenosha, Wisconsin] as a freshman (9th grade), and my favorite subject is French.

What do you like to do for fun away from the ice?
I like to hang out with my friends and go shopping.

Do you have similarly athletic siblings? (names, ages, sports)
Matt (18) - he was the number 1 golfer on his high school team and also played on the varsity soccer division 1 team;
Andrew (16) golf, soccer - MVP of his travel team and midfielder of the year award and grade all-conference team;
Nathan (12) involved in two basketball teams, he was offensive player of the year for his traveling soccer team and he likes to golf;
Melanie (8) figure skating - has done well this past year in competitions.

What do you like the most about skating that motivates you to keep going day in and day out?
I like competing and doing the Zion Ice Show in the Spring.  Working toward my goals is a daily incentive to keep practicing and doing what I love to do.