Yamaguchi comes to town

Ten years ago, Kristi Yamaguchi was at the summit of the figure-skating world. She'd won the U.S. championship, the 1992 Olympic gold medal and the world championship.

After that banner year, the California native turned pro, collected her first paycheque and has enjoyed a stellar career ever since.

But at the end of this touring season, Yamaguchi is planning on finally hanging up her skates, and putting her tired feet up for a rest.

"Just to slow down a little," says Yamaguchi, who has been rehearsing in Halifax all week. "I'm not saying I'll never tour again, but I want to take a break." Yamaguchi skates Sunday afternoon as part of the Stars On Ice 2002 Tour.

Yamaguchi performs in more than 60 Stars On Ice shows every year in the U.S. Her artistic skating and inventive choreography ensures she's remained one of the sport's top draws.

"The biggest difference between competitive skating and these shows is the creative freedom," explains Yamaguchi, 30. "Getting out from under the rules and knowing you can skate for the 10,000 people out there and not the nine judges. That's liberating, knowing you can give more of yourself to the audience and the performance."

Yamaguchi says the competitive skating circuit has evolved since she competed - huge international television audiences, lucrative appearance fees and an unsavoury scandal around judging.

"Everything's changed. There is no pro and amateur anymore, even the amateurs are receiving appearance fees and contracts, which were never available when I competed. We were truly amateurs.

"The competitive skating was fun, but it was also tough, a lot of pressure. I loved it while I was in it, but I'm happy I moved on."

Yamaguchi says she enjoys touring with her fellow skaters - many are current and former world and Olympic champions. She skates two solo programs.

Gold is a reflective piece about looking back over a life well lived; the other is a charged-up dance routine, skated to Janet Jackson music. (Yamaguchi worked with Janet Jackson's choreographer Tina Landon, in developing this program.)

"A lot of us have grown up in the skating world together. We've been through a lot together - these are best friends we travel with ... doing something we love."

If You Go

WHAT: Stars On Ice, featuring Alexi Yagudin, Kristi Yamaguchi, Kurt Browning, Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, Todd Eldredge, Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler, brian Orser, Jenni Meno and and Todd Sand and Lucinda Ruh.

WHEN: April 28

TIMES: Tuesday to Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

WHERE: Halifax Metro Centre

HOW MUCH: $33 - $55

INFO, TICKETS: 451-1221