Speaking to...Kurt Browning

Courtesy of Nuria Garcia, editor of MundoHielo, the first Figure Skating Magazine in Spain. If you'd like to view the original Spanish version of this interview in the original magazine layout, go to page 1 and page 2. Below is the original English interview done with Kurt.

Kurt Browning was born in Caroline (Canada), on the 18th of June of 1966. He got an outstanding record in the amateur as well as in the professional ranks, 4 time World Champion, 4 time Canadian Champion, 3 time member of the Canadian Olympic Team, 3 time World Professional Champion...among others.

We know when and how you started to skate, but we would like to know, when you realized that figure skating was not just a pastime for you? That this is what you wanted to dedicate your life to?
Well, I guess I always knew that I liked skating but it was when I had to move away from home and from my parents that I started making more of a dedication to it. Making this commitment changed skating and made it more than just a pastime. As far as dedicating my life to skating, that sounds so funny to me. Maybe it is true but that sort of thing just sneaks up on some people. If you would have told me I would still be skating like I am at the age of 36 when I was only 15 I think I would have laughed at you then.

Was there someone that influenced you in your decision to become a skater?
I know my coach Michael Jiranek certainly influenced me to stay a skater but to become one is different. Back in my little tiny hometown of Caroline there was a skater who I though was fantastic. He was smart, a great long distance runner and kind to everybody. He was probably the reason I did not quit at the same time as all the rest of the boys. If he could do it then so could I. He is still a good friend and his name is Marvin Trimble.

What skaters do you admire most?
I admire so many skaters for so many different things, but the skater I maybe admire the most is Kristi Yamaguchi. Of course she is one of my best friends and we have known each other for years but that is not the reason. I don't know any skater who has grown so much in their career as a person and an athlete. She has also become a true artist as she gets better every year.

It is over a decade since she won the Olympics and I am sure she could have gone into Salt Lake City this year at these Olympics and with enough training time she might have won again.

From your years as amateur, what makes you more proud?
Sometimes we are just lucky to be talented. I had a talent to skate but I had to learn to produce it at the right time and to deal with all the changes along the way. I was never a very consistent skater in practice often having terrible workouts on the ice, but somehow I learned to control that and became 4 time world champion. I had one great chance to win the Olympics but made a mistake that took that chance away , but when you ask what makes me proud how I handled it makes me feel good about myself. You are not just a champion because you win something but a champion because of the person you are. This is something the young Olympic Champs of today could learn.

And what makes you proud as a professional?
The comments people make about enjoying being entertained over many years by my skating. It is a wonderful thing to make people smile or even sometimes to make them laugh.

Every sport has to evolve and push the limits in order to do so. In skating, injuries are affecting the skaters more and more at younger ages. Do you think that jumps are given too much importance? Is there no way to invent new moves instead of putting all the emphasis on the jumps?
It is natural for sport to evolve. Skiers are hurting themselves so badly with their faster and faster speeds. Hockey, with all the padding still has people getting hurt. Skating too is growing with each generation learning from the one before it and improving on it still. I just feel that skaters are trying to do things they are not really ready for. Trying the quads when the triple is not strong enough, when they are not strong enough.

Yes skating does put too much importance on jumping but remember it is called competition,,,, not exhibition. These athletes have to push themselves to keep up with each other. They have to go to their limit which is what it means to compete. It would not be sport if they did not.

You made history with the quad, now the quads are done in combination and for some skaters it looks so easy. Is a jump with 5 revolutions possible. Is that the limit?
I may be wrong but I believe that a 5 revolution jump, ( a quint ) , is possible. I truly doubt that it will ever be consistent by any means but I do believe a special skater might be able to do it. I tried quad axels in my day but never really gave it a chance... to scared I guess. There were days when I thought it could happen for me, 5 revolutions but I never tried it ever. Maybe if the equipment we use advances then we might have someone land one in the future? Place your bets... ???

We have read about the life on the road, on the Stars on Ice tour. It looks like they treat you very well, private plane, best hotels, fun things to do but we also read about how hard it is. So many shows, not able to go home...is it really that hard? You have to perform almost every night, do you also have to practice in between?
Tour is different for everybody. Some people are always fighting injuries while others seem to float along without a problem. I have been lucky with injuries but as I get older it is amazing how much harder it is to be strong every night. This year I have an easier show than I usually do. Usually, my work in the Stars show is so hard that I am always tired and sore. This year I am have a number without any jumps in it at all and I love it because it makes people laugh. Too bad I fall 9 times in the number and this keeps me sore just the same.. Very sore. We practice every show day before we perform.

What qualities are really needed to be a good professional skater?
You mean besides being the kind of skater people want to spend money to see... you have to be able to put the shows needs ahead of your own.

Sometimes, not always, but sometimes you have to be able to work as a team. For some skaters this is hard because we have always been alone, solo, and not having to share the spotlight with other teammates. Also, you need to take care of yourself so you can perform each night to your best. Even though we do 70 cities in a tour, we only get one chance each night with that particular audience.

Do you have a favorite program?
One of my favorite ones is called Serenade To Sonia. This was put together for my wife and because she is from Madrid I included a song with Madrid in it.

Nyah is a very special program. We know about flamenco, and you brought it to life. You did a fantastic job. Did you come up with the idea? Was it hard to choreograph?
Nyah is a special program and I loved performing it. It was choreographed by a dancer who danced with my wife Sonia. His name is Roberto Campanella. He is Italian and loves music and movement. He had the idea and found the music. I was worried at first because there were no jumps in the program but by the time it was finished I believed it strong enough without them and actually it seemed to be stronger almost. As far as it being flamenco, it was never meant to portray actual flamenco, only to be styled like the dance. His idea was to let flamenco and the music inspire the choreography and not worry about actually trying to dance flamenco.

At this time of your skating career, what do you consider yourself. Athlete, artist, entertainer?
I certainly need qualities from each of these to do my job.
Athlete - without my skating skills and athletic abilities I would be very impressive out on the ice
Artist - it is nice to try to move people or inspire them as well as entertain them
Entertainer - well, you can be a great artist but you have to know your audience. Knowing what makes them happy is what makes you a good entertainer.

We know that you had your own shows for American TV. How hard is it to put them together?
Very hard. The trick is to hire talented people to help you. Choreography, staging, lighting and production. I try to hire skaters that I think will fit the show and then come up with ideas to make it fun to watch. It takes lots of work and planning but is worth it.

What do you see in your future?
Well, I hope to keep skating for some time to come. I also like working with other skaters and have had lots of ideas I never got to do on my own that maybe I could give to other skaters someday. I have lots and lots to learn but I might like to try to do some choreography.

Tell us something surprising.
I can't cook. I can ride horses. I type well and like making home movies on my computer. I hate schedules but at the same time I hate messes. I love my garage and lined it with wood for no good reason. I have the best wife in the world and am one of the luckiest people I know. I can't speak Spanish but will have to learn...... ahora.

Insets/sidebars in the article:

"You are not just a champion because you win something but a champion because of the person you are." (1st page)