Jam on ice

When you skate on a tour named Smucker's, you've got to be good.

And the producers of the Smucker's Stars on Ice spectacular can justly claim that they feature athletes who are among the world's best. They really are stars on ice.

"Part of the fun of performing in this show is just being on the ice with the best skaters there are," said Kyoko Ina, who skates with pairs partner John Zimmerman on their debut tour with Stars on Ice. "I have always loved skating anyway, but being in ensemble numbers with champions like these pushes it up to a whole new level."

Ina and Zimmerman are three-time U.S. pairs champions and world bronze medalists.

The Stars on Ice show also features the debuts of 2002 Olympic pairs champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada, and Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia. All four emerged with gold medals from last winter's Olympic controversy.

Also new to the show is 2002 Olympic men's champion Alexei Yagudin, who won a gold medal in Salt Lake City after receiving the highest marks ever given to a single skater in Olympic history. In March, Yagudin won his fourth world title, making history anew by earning six out of six perfect scores for his competitive short program.

Returning to the tour are two-time Olympic champion Katarina Witt, world champion and six-time U.S. champion Todd Eldredge and four-time world champion Kurt Browning.

Three-time U.S. pairs champions Jenni Meno and Todd Sand are back, as well as two-time U.S. dance champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur.

Ina and Zimmerman have been partners for 41/2 years and usually practice together three hours a day, five days a week. Zimmerman is engaged to Italian figure skater Silvia Fontana, with whom he has skated in a few shows, but mostly just for fun.

Both Ina and Zimmerman started skating at age 4 and are aware that their audiences include a lot of young skaters.

"If you love it, you really have to dedicate yourself to it," Ina said. "I love it and want to do it as long as I can. But you shouldn't do it unless you do love it. I see some skaters -- not in this show -- who look miserable on the ice.

"You give up a lot to become good and stay good -- other fun activities, even friends to a certain degree. You shouldn't devote yourself to something you don't want, especially if you're shutting out things you might actually love to do," Ina said.

Zimmerman and Fontana lead skating clinics and practice sessions for kids.

"It's a lot of fun working with kids," Zimmerman said. "In exhibition shows like this, I am aware that they are out there just the way I used to be out there."

Ina added, "A show like this is just pure fun. When you're competing, you are very aware of the audience, but you're really skating for nine judges, and you can never forget that. But in a show like this you can give yourself entirely to the audience. And, believe me, you can feel them giving back."

Ina and Zimmerman will do the 41/2-minute routine they have done all year, and they will also skate in ensemble numbers. Championship skaters devote themselves to solo or pairs routines, but for the Stars on Ice show, they also give audiences the bigger numbers they want to see.

"It is a lot of fun skating with people you have admired over the years," Ina said. "Some of us have even competed against one another. But we're all part of a pretty exclusive club. I think everyone is as happy to be part of it as I am."

"There is a very deep-rooted camaraderie in this show," Zimmerman said. "You feel a real sense of both privilege and responsibility in being part of it."

Zimmerman probably spoke for many skaters when he said, "I love it for the feeling of freedom. I've never experienced anything like it in any other sport -- to glide across the ice and be a little theatrical. It's great."