Browning motivated
Crowd response drives figure skating star
Source: |
Winnipeg Sun |
Date: |
May 7, 2002 |
Author: |
John K. White |
You'd think the man who has won four men's world figure skating
championships and the Order of Canada would be content to rest on his
accomplishments.
But it appears Kurt Browning is just as much of a perfectionist
now as he was as an eligible skater.
NOTHING WORSE
"There's nothing worse than changing to go back out after I did a
mediocre skate when it could have been something great," Browning said
between Stars on Ice tour stops, which stops here tomorrow night at
the Winnipeg Arena. "I hate that feeling. When I'm standing and bowing
at the end, and the fans are not standing, it's like I let them down,
and I let myself down."
Browning -- who is in his 12th year with the Stars tour -- says
his ability to come up with chill-inducing programs season after
season is what keeps him juiced to keep skating.
"It's the little things that make you feel the person on the
ice. Those balance moves that I do on my toe -- if I can go up on it,
and hold it, and stop time just for a second -- that's what it's all
about," Browning said.
Outside of the Stars tour, Browning hopes to expand his artistic
expression by getting more into other projects.
"I hope to be doing something with my wife (ballerina Sonia
Rodriguez) in a TV special again next year, and I'd like to do other
projects in the future that blend art forms -- no talking, no rock 'n'
roll, not your typical Kurt Browning thing."
Browning said he'll continue to perform in some capacity as long
as there's a tour.
"The thing about Canada is the tour is never very long, so having
said that, I'd like to skate across Canada for as long as I can."
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