KING 5 Interview

What is it like to be interviewed by a television station? Well, it’s fun, but not that fun. Don’t get me wrong. The reporter and cameraman were awesome. Chris Daniels and his cameraman Eric from KING 5 were very professional and made the experience as relaxing as possible. The problem is the subject matter. Why is it when driving to my parents’ house at the site of the interview, I could think of many brilliant things to say. I mean, they were stellar, amazing, well thought out, articulate and highly intelligent, and the minute the camera goes on, my mind goes blank, like one of those white boards in a meeting room. I don't generally have a challenging time talking per se (for those of you who know me well know I'm not exactly quiet and shy), but I seemed to clam up as soon as the I am asked about myself, “Why did you want to become a volunteer for the Olympics?”

“Uhhh….errr….mmmm….well, it all started….uh…”

It should be easier than this. After all, I have written a blog and thought about all of these things….and “click”, the camera starts, and I can’t remember a thing that I have written or talked about since this all started.

This is how the whole television situation started:

This past week, after a series of emails from 2 other volunteers from Seattle, I was contacted by one of the other volunteers, asking if I would mind if KING 5 contacted me regarding volunteering for an interview. So, I provided information to Chris Daniels from KING 5 and the process began.

On Wednesday evening of this week, I agreed to be put in front of cameras (actually it was only one, but it seems like it might be more when confronted with it), and to be interviewed. It was arranged that I would meet Chris and his cameraman at my parent’s place in Shoreline and the interview would begin there. Afterward, the KING team would go and interview the Thompsons, another volunteer pair who are mother and daughter.

So, what happens when the television team comes to your house?

First of all, Eric, the cameraman wanted to take shots of the letter that came from Vancouver 2010, stating that I was indeed, selected to be a member of the volunteer team. They also wanted to take pictures of the volunteer uniform. So, in a series of shots, Eric took pictures of me putting on my jacket, putting my credentials around my neck and of me donning my tuque, (hat). As I was zipping up my coat, my zipper kept catching on itself. The zipper is designed to keep all moisture and air out, and is therefore air tight (and finger foolish).

First it wouldn't get started right, then it would zip a couple of inches. They had to take about 6 or 7 takes because the zipper kept sticking. So, I started feeling “warm” around the collar (I had my long sleeved tee shirt and polar fleece vest underneath). Finally, after several attempts, and never really getting it to zip up to the top, we changed venues.

In my wildest dreams, I didn’t think that coat zipping would be the subject of my Olympic voyage. When I was 20 years old and skiing freestyle moguls, and dreaming of the podium at the Olympics, and getting interviewed on TV afterward, I never thought that my TV interview would consist of me not being able to zip up my Olympic jacket (not that I'm anywhere near an Olympic Athlete at this stage). But....I’ll get back to this in a minute.

So, after I go through my wardrobe, we set up chairs in my parents’ living room, and Chris Daniels started the interview. I could tell that he has the fine art of helping people feel relaxed, as does the cameraman, Eric. Their body language and manner of talking are very laid back and comfortable. I can see why Chris has had awards for reporting. He was so easy to talk to and Eric so comfortable himself. They said, pretend there is not a camera in the room. "okay"....uh, huh.

Then the questions begin, and I start talking. But all of the brilliant things in my head start coming out sounding more like a nervous person with a throat ailment. My parents and kids are in the kitchen, and I know they can hear the conversation. Nate, my son, is secretly video taping the session on his I-Phone. I’m glad they were there so that no matter what I said, they would say “great job”, no matter if I sputtered or spewed all over the place. Thank goodness for people who like you even when you look rather silly….

During the questioning, I start going into all of the curves at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Now, I know that I have this down. I have written about it (there are 16 curves, and they are named Wedge, Lueder’s Loop, Shiver, 50/50 and Thunderbird) and I can rattle this off without thinking twice. But, get in front of a camera….and I can’t get past Lueder’s Loop. The women in my office have heard me talk about this a couple of times now, and I even have down the number of G forces at what turn. But…..can I think of this in the living room? No….

At the end of the interview (it lasted about 10-13 minutes), Eric wants a couple more shots of me picking up my coat, my hat and the credentials. The gentlemen pack up, we all say our thank yous, and nice to meet yous, and Chris and Eric leave to their next destination. They tell us they might be able to get the interview on KONG at 10:00 and KING at 11:00 that night.

I ask my family how it went. They said it sounded really good. I love my family.

As any good TV interviewee might do, I left my parents’ house, picked Rod up and we went to race training up at Stevens.

While on the chair lift, I receive a call from Chris Daniels saying that my part of the interview will be shown the following week, right before the Olympics. I couldn’t resist asking him “how do you think it went?”

Chris replied, “It went really great, especially the part where you were zipping up your coat”.

Wow….What can I say about that? The greater Seattle population, who watch KING and KONG will get to see me zip up my coat for the Olympics….I think this is actually quite comical. Don’t you? I don't want to ramble on any further, so for now, I'm just going to "zip it".