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Browning reflects on Stars on Ice impact ahead of Calgary show
| Source: |
Calgary Herald |
| Date: |
May 10, 2019 |
| Author: |
Daniel Austin |
Years ago, American figure skating legend Scott Hamilton said
something that has stuck with Kurt Browning - a Canadian icon in his
own right - in the decades since they spoke.
The two were discussing Stars on Ice, the annual figure skating tour
that crosses Canada every spring after the world championships are
done, and Hamilton explained that on top of putting on a show for the
adoring audiences, the tour can also be a place for the best in the
world to take their skating to the next level.
"(Hamilton) said 'Stars on Ice is the place where world champions go
to get even better,'" Browning said this week in advance of Saturday
night's Stars on Ice show at the Scotiabank Saddledome (7:30 p.m.). "I
think that's kind of what it is.'
"These are the very best skaters, and yet, Stars on Ice has something
to offer them."
What exactly does the tour have to offer?
Well, imagine being a skater preparing for a world championships or an
Olympic competition. There's basically a checklist of things you have
to do if you're going to have any chance of competing for a
medal.
There's pressure that comes along with that, to be sure, but at least
you know exactly what you have to do.
In an event like Stars on Ice, it's not that simple. The goal is to
entertain the crowd, and it's not necessarily the same skill
set.
"In a weird way, it can be intimidating for young athletes, especially
because (at international competitions) you're busy checking those
boxes and that's your job. You have to get your score and you have to
win," Browning said. "You take that away, and all of a sudden there's
more priority on being entertaining, being the full package. Now,
you're going to have to dance, and can you actually dance? Now, I have
to sell this song.
"In a way, the pressure's off, but a different type of pressure is
back on."
At this point in his career, Browning is just as well-versed in the
pressure of skating at events like Stars on Ice as he ever was
competing - and winning - at the world's biggest figure skating
competitions.
Browning was the first person ever to land a ratified quadruple jump
in competition at the 1988 world championships, and would win four
world titles in his career.
Since retiring from competition in 1993, though, Browning has never
been far from the public eye.
He has been a regular on the Stars on Ice tour, has competed in
several figure skating reality shows and has choreographed programs
for a who's who of elite skaters.
He'll be joined by a number of those skaters on Saturday night at the
Calgary stop of the tour, skating alongside Olympic gold medallists
such as Patrick Chan, Kaetlyn Osmond, Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford,
as well as fellow Canadian icon Elvis Stojko.
But the audience at the Saddledome will also get a glimpse at the
future of Canadian skating, with reigning national champion Nam Nguyen
set to skate as well.
Despite all of that talent, there's no question Browning will be one
of the star attractions.
After taking a year off the tour, Browning had to think long and hard
about what he wanted to do when he took to the ice this year and
ultimately decided it was time to have a little fun.
"I kind of went back to something I haven't done for a long time, and
that's out-and-out trying to be damn funny," Browning said. "One of my
numbers is a skit on ice, it's as much a skit as it is a skating
number, and I'm kind of dressed up like a Cirque du Soleil reject and
just having so much fun out there."
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