Kurt Browning says he still feels the skating buzz

As someone whose life has revolved around figure skating for most of his 35 years, even Kurt Browning was surprised at the hoopla surrounding Jamie Sale and David Pelletier's performance at the recent Winter Olympics.

"I think I saw them on Entertainment Tonight the other night,'' says the four-time world champion, who competed in two Olympics himself and will headline at this year's Stars On Ice show.

"And I thought, 'What was that all about?"'

It wasn't just the controversy over crooked judging that landed them on the popcult radar, he figures. It had to do with the populist nature of the sport itself.

"I think it's just because when you have skating and music the personality of the athletes really shines through,'' he notes.

"You're moving to music and you connect yourself to people's emotions a lot easier than a cross-country skier or a hockey player would, or than in almost any other sport.''

Its popularity peaks every four years during the Olympics, says the personable, fast-talking Toronto resident. And it gives Olympic champions the cache of rock stars -- with occasional egos to match.

"The athletes I think are a little bit younger,'' notes Browning, recently inducted into Canada's walk of fame.

"These guys winning Olympic gold medals -- some of them can't vote. It's hard if you're the Olympic champion nowadays. You're suddenly an instant millionaire and all of the sudden Jay Leno wants to talk to you. How can that not affect your personality a little bit?''

Despite this and a Stars On Ice roster that includes Olympic medalists Alexei Yagudin, Todd Eldredge, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Orser, Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler, world medalists Shae-Lynn Bourne, Victor Kraatz, Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, and Swiss national champion Lucinda Ruh, Browning doesn't foresee an outbreak of backstage hissy fits.

"If you're in Stars On Ice, you each have your chance to have your moment in the sun, so those egos, animosity, jealousy, don't really get a chance to (flourish) like in other sports,'' he says.

"And all of us have known each other our whole lives and really, really care for each other.''

For his part -- and despite a recent knee injury that threatened to end his career -- the Alberta native says he still feels the buzz every time he straps on a pair of skates.

"For me, it's just so much fun to take all that speed and come around a corner and just throw your body up in the air and somehow control it,'' he says, his enthusiasm palpable. "It's exciting, it's hard, not too many people can do it.''

"And at the end of my workday people clap and applaud - it's a pretty addictive feeling and a great job when it goes well. But it really sucks when it doesn't go well.''

Though details hadn't been worked out at the time of our interview, Browning expects the presence of so many seasoned vets will give this year's show a "retro" quality.

"I think for the skaters it'll be an emotional year,'' he predicts. "It's almost like a reunion.''

Encompassing everything from rock to tango, the show will feature music by the Carpenters, Ram Jam and -- as a personal favour to Browning -- an acoustic piece by his pal Ed Robertson of the pop group, Barenaked Ladies.

"He came out to my house and brought his guitar and worked out a four minute program,'' recalls Browning, who ran into the musician in downtown Toronto and struck up a friendship.

"The next day he recorded it.''

After a three day training camp to choreograph their routines and bring the show to life, the skaters will be ready to back flip, jump, spin and do triples for a crowd of thousands.

"When there's a good skater on the ice it inspires you,'' says Browning, speaking as much about himself as the audience.

"It's a lot of fun to be a performer -- to know that for the next few minutes I've got 10,000 people and I can influence them. There's just not that many people who get that opportunity.''