Skaters watch Lipinski up close

David Guralnick / The Detroit News
Award-winning skaters Tara Lipinski and Kurt
Browning answer questions from about 300 fans
Sunday at the Troy Sports Center. Lipinski
also led a session on jumps.

TROY -- When Larry Deam went ice skating with his grandchildren three years ago, he liked it so much he took lessons.

The 59-year-old Portland, Maine, resident has become such a big fan that he flew in for Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski's skating clinic Sunday in the Troy Sports Center.

"It's wonderful to glide on the ice," he said. "It gives you self-confidence."

Deam was one of 300 skaters to attend the Snapple Skate with the Stars figure skating clinic. Snapple Beverage Corp. and Lipinski offer the clinics in 10 cities.

"Skating with Tara Lipinski and Kurt Browning was the best," said Jacqueline Stoner, 7, of Troy. "She put her coat around me because I was cold."

Browning is a four-time world champion skater from Canada.

Skaters attended sessions on jumping, spinning, conditioning, dancing and sports psychology.

Lipinski conducted a session on jumps with her coach, Craig Maurizi.

"They're tons of kids (here)," said Lipinski, who turns 17 on June 10. "Without them, I wouldn't be able to do what I love. For them to be able to meet me makes me feel happy that they're happy about it."

Since winning the gold in 1998, in Nagano, Japan, Lipinski has performed in the Champions on Ice Skating Tour and is taking up acting.