Todd Sand and Jenni Meno have a bond that goes beyond the rink

There is a quote from Paul L. Ford's 1894 book, "The Honorable Peter Stirling," which reads: "They say she's never been able to find a man good enough for her, and she's keeping herself on ice."

For 32-year-old professional figure skater Jenni Meno, keeping herself on ice was the way she found her man. Married to pairs partner Todd Sand, 39, since 1995, the couple bring their real-life romance to the Resch Center Friday as part of Smucker's Stars on Ice.

"We feel very fortunate because we are doing what we love to do," Meno said. "We love to skate and have had so many wonderful experiences together. We feel we are each other's best friend."

Now in its 17th year touring the United States, the ice extravaganza features returning stars - Katarina Witt, Todd Eldredge, Kurt Browning and Meno and Sand - as well as new Olympic stars, including 2002 Olympic men's champion Alexei Yagudin; Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada and Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia, who emerged from an Olympic controversy with gold medals and the hearts of their fans; three-time U.S. National pair champs and World bronze medallists, Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman; and two-time U.S. Dance champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur. The talent lineup forms one of the most versatile and exceptional casts of figure skaters in the world.

Falling in love may have been a stroke of good luck for Meno and Sands, who are the most decorated American skating pair in recent history. The three-time U.S. National Champions, 1998 World Silver medalists and two-time World bronze medalists initially met in 1990 while training at the same rink with different skating partners.

"We became really good friends," Meno said. "When we went to the 1992 Olympics (skating with different partners), we were finished with our events the first week and spent the next two weeks hanging out a lot together and going to the different events. It was there our relationship kind of changed and became more of a romantic relationship instead of just friends."

They joined professional forces in 1992, Meno said. "We realized we had the same goals for our skating and felt we had really good communication with each other, had the same ideas and respected each other. These are very important things for a successful pairs skating team."

During their first year skating together, the duo captured the silver medal at the U.S. National Championships and placed fifth at the World Championships. The following year they became the U.S. Champions, earning them a spot at the 1994 Olympics. It is a competition they both remember quite fondly.

"At the 1994 Olympics, Todd proposed to me a few hours before we competed," Meno said. "We skated the very best we could so skate, so I think it worked."

Meno and Sand joined Stars on Ice during the1998-1999 tour and quickly became a crowd favorite. They tour about five months a year, splitting their remaining time between homes in Summerlin, Nev., and their new home in Alisa Viejo in southern California, where they also train.

The current tour of Stars on Ice began shortly after Christmas and continues through mid-April. Skating to "I'm Your Man" has allowed the couple to release their inhibitions on ice, which is quite different than competing.

"It is definitely more fun and something where you can bring out your personality," Sand said. "In a show like Stars on Ice you can experiment and that's exciting for us."

Said Meno: "Todd and I, we are skating a number that is really different for us this year. It's kind of a comedic piece. It still has a romantic feel, but in a comedic way. It has been so much fun because the audience gets involved. As the tour has progressed we've kind of learned how to really bring our characters out. It's really a number that has been growing throughout the tour."

Sand calls Stars on Ice a rock 'n' roll Broadway show on ice. "There's something for everyone," he said. "We've got comedy and beautiful skating, too."

"We are skating in the best figure skating tour out there and with some of our very best friends and the best skaters in the world," Meno said.