Denver Big Air Competition

World's best skiiers and snowboarders go urban!

Imagine walking up 14 flights of stairs in ski boots, carrying your ski or snowboard equipment. Then at the top of your climb, you look straight down a 300-foot-long ramp that ends—not on the side of a snowy mountain—but in front of a state capitol building.

For the first time in the United States, a 106-foot-tall, man-made mountain was built right in the heart of a major city for the country's first Big Air competition. Big Air was previously been held in Moscow, Russia; Barcelona, Spain; Quebec, Canada; Seoul, Korea; and London, England.

In Denver, Colorado, 28 of the world's best male skiers and snowboarders took part in the two-day competition before tens of thousands of fans. On January 25, skiers ruled the air, while the next day, snowboarders took over with the LG FIS World Cup.

Competitors flew down the ramp reaching speeds of 25 miles per hour. The jump sent them high into the air where they performed their best ski stunts.

I was there for the snowboarding competition and I know you are wondering: Who won?

Michael Macho ended up in 3rd place and a total of 48.5 points. Zachary Stone achieved 50.8 points and finished in 2nd place. Rocco Van Straten, from the Netherlands, won with 53 total points and was rocketed 27.9 feet into the air. He had thrilled the judges by completing a backside double cork 1080.

Big Air is certainly the right name for this extreme competion.

—Jenna Winocur

PHOTO: Denver Big Air, a 106-foot high, 600,000 pound ski ramp, was built in the center of downtown Denver, Colorado, for a ski and snowboard competition. This is the view from the top. (CREDIT: PRNewsFoto/VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau/NewsCom)

Meet The Real Kung Fu Panda

Zoo Atlanta names 100-day-old panda after animated movie star!

My latest assignment as a Scholastic News Kid Reporter took me back to Zoo Atlanta and news about pandas. A year ago I visited the zoo to cover the departure of giant panda Mei Lan, who was returning to  to her home country of China. This time, the story was about the naming ceremony for a newborn giant panda—Mei Lan’s little brother.

Zoo Atlanta and the movie company DreamWorks formed a partnership, to name the panda Po in honor of the panda character from the 2008 movie Kung Fu Panda. It didn't hurt publicity for the upcoming sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2 either!

The Kung Fu Panda movies are about a laidback panda named Po who is a good cook, but dreams of Kung Fu fighting. He ends up finding a hidden talent in the martial arts. Actor Jack Black, who voices Po in the animated films was on hand to bestow the 100-day-old giant panda with his new name.

I asked Black about the new movie, which premieres in May.

“Kung Fu Panda 2 has some great scenes about Po's childhood, his origins," Black said. "He starts to have flashbacks of his youth and what happens to his mother and father.” He pauses before continuing. “I can’t really reveal too much though, it’s a secret. You’ll have to see the movie.”

You might be wondering how Black gets into character to play a cooking, Kung Fu kicking panda.

“I have watched a lot of pandas on YouTube,” he said. That is, until this naming ceremony, when he met a real panda for the first time.

It seems like Black has succeeded in creating an alter ego Kung Fu character in many ways. He has quite a few kung fu moves of his own, which he demonstrated several times at the zoo. Black leaped around the stage and captivated the audience with his moves.

Black is also a panda lover. He loves both the new baby panda and the big Kung Fu panda from the movie. So which one does he think is cuter?

“The newborn panda is cuter than Po in the movie, because he’s a little baby cub,” he said. “But I think the full grown panda Po in the movie is cute as well, if I don’t say so myself. They modeled some of his good looks after a certain actor, or so I have been told!”

Meeting Jack Black was an experience of a lifetime. Now after interviewing him, not only is he my favorite actor, but I really want to see Kung Fu Panda 2!

                                                                                                                   —Andrew Liang

PHOTOS: Jack Black and Dr. Hayley Murphy with giant panda cub Po. (Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures)

My volunteering experience

As I rode my bike, I thought about where I was going. I was going to the only veterinarian clinic in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. When it gets a significant amount of donations, they run a free spade and neuter clinic for the overwhelming population of dogs and cats on this small, five-mile-long island. It has only one doctor and four assistants, so they ask for volunteers for these huge clinics. Although I really did want to help out, I was dreading the thought of seeing blood or animals that may be hurting. But I pushed those thoughts to the back of my head and moved forward.

I parked my bike outside of the clinic. The entrance volunteers sat at a table in front. They took in the animals and wrote down the important information. I walked to the back where recovery was. It was only the first hour of the day and there were already five cats lined up in recovery. They were lined up in a row, still under anesthesia, eyes wide open as if in everlasting shock. It was somewhat creepy with their never blinking eyes. But I was assured that when they are first put under anesthesia, their eyes are rubbed with an ointment so they do not dry out during the process. As I was helping in recovery, I got a BIG SURPRISE!

A volunteer, working in the surgery room, asked me to come into the operating room as she needed assistance. I said, “Yes," and followed her into the surgery room. I was given a pair of gloves and a surgical mask. I was a little scared of what I might see, but I stood my ground. The doctor then came in and set a cat on the table which had just been put under anesthesia. He then laid out the medical instruments he was planning to use. I was told to tie down the cat just in case it woke up. Then he started the operation. I felt not uncomfortable but good. I felt like this was a part of life. Doing this helped me view life better. I understood animals more, too, and after an operation on a dog or cat, you feel like you know a whole lot more and are really making a difference.

The clinic successfully operated on 163 animals that week. This will help to control the animal population on this island immensely. I learned that one female cat and her offspring, if not spade, can produce 420,000 cats in only 7 years and one female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in only 6 years! By controlling the animal population we are able to ensure that there are not unwanted animals that become neglected, sick, and hungry. They are currently raising money now hoping to have yet another week long clinic in April.

I am looking forward to giving my time and learning even more.

—Kid Reporter Joey Petrila

Valentine’s Day Treats!

Cupcakes are a great way to treat your Valentines!

Today is Valentine’s Day. What comes into your mind when I say the word, “Valentine?” For me, I think of cards, love, cupids, roses, candy, and CUPCAKES.

I love to bake and design cupcakes and cookies to celebrate special days or holidays. In the past, I have made Easter-themed donuts, birthday cupcakes, sport-themed cupcakes for Father’s day, Christmas cupcakes, heart-shaped cookies on Grandparent’s day, and more.

I also help to raise funds for charity organizations by selling cupcakes. When you put your creativity into designing the cupcakes, the possibilities are endless.

If you want express your love to your friends and family this Valentine’s Day, here is the perfect recipe for making Valentine Cupcakes. You will need: A full package of red velvet cake mix or vanilla cake mix; water, vegetable oil, and eggs called for on cake mix box; 24 baking cups; a cupcake tray.

Baking instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Put the baking cups in the cupcake tray.

3. Mix eggs, water and vegetable oil as directed on box for 24 cupcakes. Whisk for 2 minutes until batter is smooth.

4. Use a spoon to transfer equal amounts of the mixture to the baking cups.

5. Bake for 20 – 22 minutes.

6. Cool completely.

For decorating cupcakes, you will need: strawberry and vanilla frosting; decorating star tip; spatula or knife; icing pens; rolled fondant (sugary, smooth dough); heart-shaped candy; colorful sprinkles.

Now, get busy frosting your mouthwatering cupcakes! Sprinkle red hearts, colorful confections over pink or white frosted cupcakes. You may want to roll pre-colored fondant to make roses or use small cookie cutters to make heart-shaped fondant decorations to impress your family and friends. Best of all, you can decorate these cupcakes any way you like.

Cupcakes always bring joy and satisfaction. Most importantly, have fun decorating them! Happy Valentine’s Day!

—Cassandra Hsiao

PHOTOS: Cassandra's cupcakes. Yum! (Photos Courtesy CAssandra Hsiao

At Justin Bieber's Movie Premiere

Canadian singing phenom takes over Los Angeles. Next stop: The World!

Has anyone ever told you to stop dreaming, it’ll never happen? Well, here’s what Justin Bieber has to say about that: Never Say Never!

My dream certainly came true when my Scholastic editor sent me an email asking if I was interested in covering the red carpet premiere of the Justin Bieber documentary Never Say Never. I immediately screamed out loud and jumped with joy, turning the whole house upside down. I was on top of the world!

Finally, after much anticipation and preparation, the day of the premiere was here. My heart was pounding as I took my place behind the rope line on Tuesday afternoon. In one hour, Justin Bieber, along with other stars coming to see the movie, would be walking down the red carpet, or in this case, the purple carpet! (Purple is Justin’s favorite color.)

Posters were everywhere and fans were screaming at the cameras. The sound was deafening. I knew I was in the middle of Bieber Fever just by the sheer volume of the shreeks.

Teenage girls wore shirts that read, “I LUV JB,” and “Marry me, Justin!” Suddenly, the loud speakers played Justin Bieber’s hit song, “Baby,” and fans began singing along to the lyrics. They cried, screamed, and laughed as they shook with the Fever!

Before I knew it, the stars had arrived. The publicists were very friendly and brought actors and actresses to my spot on the rope line to talk to me. I interviewed the boy band Allstar Weekend, Debby Ryan from Suite Life on Deck, Bradley Steven Perry from Good Luck Charlie, and Madeline Carroll from The Spy Next Door and Flipped.

“Keep reading,” said Zachary Gordon from Diary of a Wimpy Kid when I asked him what he would like to tell Scholastic News readers. “You always learn a life lesson from every book you read.”

I also caught a glimpse of Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus. After each interview, I’d say to myself, “Did I really just interview that person?!” I had a blast hanging out with the stars!

Finally, Justin Bieber was heading my direction. The reporters around me told me I might only get to ask him one question, so I chose my favorite one. Justin gave me his full attention, and I hurriedly asked my question before they moved him away.

Reporters were squeezed all around me, trying to get a good shot of Justin. I tried to take in everything at once. It all happened in a flash, but I got two questions in. I found out we have one thing in common—we both do household chores!

The cast and crew also came my way. Scooter Braun, Justin's manager, was just like Justin described in his book First Step 2 Forever—excited, funny, and super friendly. I asked him what he saw as the greatest growth in Justin.

“He’s becoming a man,” Scooter told me. “It’s not just about how he handles his success, but he also handles his failures very well.”

Dan Cutforth, one of the producers of Never Say Never, described Biebermania.

“If you hold your microphone in the air, and say Justin’s coming, you’ll see it first hand,” he explained. “It’s just some sort of strange power that overtakes crowds of teenage girls. It’s simply a phenomenon.”

It was a fantastic, amazing night that I’ll never forget. Check out my video interview with the stars on the purple carpet! But be careful. You could catch the fever, too!

—Cassandra Hsiao

PHOTO: Justin Bieber, 16, talks to Scholastic News Kid Reporter Cassandra Hsiao at the premiere of his 3D documentary movie Never Say Never. (Photo Courtesy Cassandra Hsiao)

On Steeler Turf

Pepped up at a Super Bowl pep rally

As the Steelers came running out onto the field, I was there, too, as a reporter covering a city-wide pep rally for the Super Bowl-bound Pittsburgh Steelers. It was awesome, being only a few feet away from some of the best football players in the country.

Just standing on the field was fun in itself. As I looked at the players and the fans, I almost felt as if I was a Steeler myself, having just won the AFC championship game on this very turf.

The excitement of the moment, the thought of the Super Bowl, was almost overwhelming. How could anyone not be excited?

The Steelers aren't the only winning team in Pittsburgh, which is known as the City of Champions. It was named so in 1979 because the baseball team, the Pirates, won the World Series and the Steelers won Super Bowl XIII in the same year.

“The Steelers are special because they have a great history and tradition,” Dan Rooney told me. Rooney is the past-owner and chairman of the Steelers. He is now the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. “They come from a great city—Pittsburgh—and they are just a great football team.”

Fan Teecee Furiga (her face painted in Steelers colors) sumed up her vision of the team for me.

“They are a strong and willing team,” she said. “And experience will set them apart.”

So, what are the odds of the Cheeseheads beating the Terrible Towels on Sunday? In the opinion of the 18,000 fans who brazed snow and icy cold winds to cheer on their team: Zero!

Tune in Sunday to watch them go helmet-to-helmet—or should I say Terrible Towel to Cheesehead?

—Kelcey Flowers

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Kelcey Flowers talks to Dan Rooney, former owner and chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers and current US. Ambassador to Ireland, at the Steelers' pep rally on Friday. (Photo Courtesy Kelcey Flowers)

Ice Dancers Take Gold!

Meryl Davis and Charlie White now compete for world domination

The 2011 U.S. Nationals Figure Skating Championship was held this past weekend in Greensboro, NC. Meryl Davis and Charlie White were Ice Dancing favorites to win their event.As I had just interviewed Meryl and Charlie, I anxiously awaited the coming of the U.S. Nationals so I could watch them perform on ice again.

When I started watching, I was staring at the TV thinking, “They are thrilling, athletic, and magnificent to watch! Did I really just interview them?”

They skated in two different programs: a short dance and a free dance. In the short dance, they waltzed to music from “La Boheme” and “La Traviata” that wowed the judges and the audience.

Meryl wore a short peach dress and Charlie wore a black and white tuxedo. They did amazing jumps, lifts, and twirls that scored them a solid 76.04. They were almost six points ahead of the second place team!

In the free dance, they performed a spicy tango with difficult “twizzles” and an amazing over-the-shoulder lift. Meryl wore a beautiful red dress and red flower in her hair while Charlie wore all black.

Meryl and Charlie were perfectly in sync with each other throughout the entire 4-minute production. Once off the ice, they were exhausted from giving it EVERYTHING!

I jumped up and cheered when I saw they had earned a whopping 109.44 to give them a grand total of 185.48. This score earned them their 3rd consecutive Ice Dancing National Championship Gold! Yeah, Meryl! You rock, Charlie!

They will be performing March 21-27, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan, for the World Figure Skating Championships. They really want to win this. It’s No.1 on Charlie’s current “checklist.”

Watching them this weekend, I’m positive they will win. Canadians and Russians: Watch out!!

—Molly Pribble

PHOTO: Meryl Davis and Charlie White show off their gold medals for winning the dance program during the awards ceremony at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. CREDIT: Bob Leverone/AP Images

Super Super Bowl Media Day

From the weird to the whack to the Sunday winners.

Before the big game on Super Bowl Sunday, the NFL holds an event that reporters around the world look forward to all year long: Super Bowl Media Day. Held in the host stadium each Tuesday before the Super Bowl, media day is a chance for reporters to talk to the players and coaches.

My dad and my uncle drove me to Dallas from Houston to cover the event for Scholastic. Getting there was a breeze. It was 75 degrees and sunny. Overnight, though, all that changed. We woke up Tuesday to cold wind, snow, and ice. Only 300 miles from home and I was in a winter wonderland.

The drive from the hotel to the stadium took much longer than we anticipated. We drove veeeery sloooowly past trucks and cars stuck in the ice all on the road. We got caught between three vehicles sliding around on an inclined entrance ramp to the highway and an 18-wheeler. It took about 30 minutes to get out of there!

Once we got inside Cowboys Stadium, you would never know it was snowing outside. The host stadium for Super bowl XLV is only a year old and has the world’s largest retractable roof. It was, of course closed, but could be open on Sunday if the weather clears up.

The stadium could fit six of the world’s largest whales inside—if you wanted to do something that whack. The gigantic jumbotron screen that towers over the entire field begins on one 20 yard line and stretches to the other.

The first player I talked to was shivering and complaining about the cold.

“You play in Green Bay,” my editor said to him. “You think this is cold?”

He quickly defended himself by pointing out that there’s a big difference between sitting still for an hour for interviews (even inside) and running around on a field, no matter what the weather. (What about those guys on the bench?)

The interviews were mostly held in booths set up along the sidelines. First the Green Bay Packers came out for an hour, then the reporters were all served brunch. Then to the Steelers. After that, the Fox broadcast team held roundtable discussions.

The fun was on the field, however. When I interviewed Brett Kiesel, I was one of the few reporters to ask a serious question. Everyone else wanted to know about his beard. It was pretty wild! I had seen pictures, but to actually see it in person was awesome.

Also not serious were some of the crazy reporters I saw. There was a girl in sweats doing pushups for the players before interviewing them. There was also a guy in a bull fighter outfit. TV Azteca was asking players to demonstrate with a giant wooden toy block on a string that you had to swing out and try to catch on a stick. No, I couldn’t do it either!

One reporter was wearing a blue box. Yes, a BOX! It opened up with swinging cardboard doors. He said he brought his own broadcast booth.

Another guy was wearing a wild furry hat and coat, leopard pajamas, and brown pointy shoes. He was a radio reporter so I guess it didn’t matter.

The coolest part of the whole day was talking to all the other reporters (the ones NOT wearing leopard pajamas or tights) and finding out how they prepare. Watching the adult professionals in action was a great experience. I was even interviewed by some of the reporters who turned the tables on me!

One camera man watched me doing my closing and gave me some advice for how to make it better. He told me to look directly into the camera like I was looking someone in the eyes. He said he would look better on camera and help me concentrate, especially with all the craziness going on around me. It worked! Check out the video!

—Kenny Figueroa

PHOTOS: Kid Reporter Kenny Figuero becomes the news at Super Bowl Media Day in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 1, 2001. (Photo by Suzanne Freeman)

Secretariat — Straight from the jockey's mouth

In less than a week, Secretariat was going to be released on DVD. I was really excited! This was my first time interviewing a celebrity. I couldn’t wait to log on to the virtual roundtable to interview Otto Thorwarth, the actor who played Secretariat’s jockey in the Disney movie, and Ronnie Turcotte, Secretariat’s actual jockey. 

This assignment was on a topic I know about: horses. I ride horses every week and have been riding for five months. During my lessons, I’ve learned to saddle up my horse; walk, trot, and lope; I brush and wash my horse to help her cool off after a ride in the hot sun. 

I was amazed by the story of Secretariat! In Secretariat’s first season, 1972, he claimed eight consecutive victories. In 1973, Secretariat won the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The three races are the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Winning all three races is considered the greatest accomplishment for a thoroughbred horse. Secretariat still holds the record for winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths! Secretariat was also the first of only two two-year-olds to win “Horse of the Year.”

During the interview, Mr. Turcotte, Secretariat’s real-life jockey, stated that the portrayal of him by Mr. Thorwarth was “very good. Otto played me very well. It was very close to real life.” He also said that Diane Lane “did a really good job playing Penny,” Secretariat’s owner. Mr. Thorwarth, a real-life jockey, had virtually no time to prepare for the role of Ronnie Turcotte. “I found out on a Monday that I got the role, and then we started filming on Thursday. Luckily I’ve been doing this for 15 years, so it wasn’t too difficult to prepare for this role.”

About Secretariat, Mr. Turcotte said, “He was the greatest horse I rode and the fastest horse I ever saw run. He was just beyond great.” According to Mr. Thorwarth, Secretariat will be remembered “as THE greatest horse of all time. I don’t think we’ll ever see another one like him.”

To learn more about the story of Secretariat, check out Disney’s new release of Secretariat on DVD or Blu Ray.

—Kid Reporter Chloe McWilliams

Photo: Otto Thorwarth from the movie Secretariat. (Photo: John Bramsley, Disney Enterprises, Inc., All Rights Reserved)