Stars on Ice galaxy is changing

Copyright 2001, Orlando Sentinel

The show must go on -- even without Scott Hamilton.

When the Olympic champion departs from the "Stars on Ice" roster at the end of the 2001 season, the group of award-winning figure skaters will have to regroup and refocus.

"There has been a spark and a great vibe this season," said Kurt Browning, who will perform with Hamilton and the other stars Saturday at TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando. "It's one of the most exhilarating years as far as the skaters being motivated.

"Steven Cousins and I were talking about this the other day," added Browning, who will take over the leadership role when Hamilton leaves. "Being very good friends with Scott off and on the ice has taught us a lot. I've never seen him so focused on his audience as he is this year. He's almost in Olympic form again. He's showing up the young boys. It's so cool to be a part of a little bit of history. It's like playing with Wayne Gretzky in his last year."

Hamilton, along with his manager Robert D. Kain, founded "Stars on Ice" in 1986. The idea was to combine athletic skating with the world of entertainment. To accomplish this, each year Hamilton enlists such notables as Olympic medal winners Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi, Ilia Kulik and Denis Petrov; three-time U.S. national pairs champs Jenni Meno and Todd Sands; and four-time world champion Browning.

Although Hamilton will relinquish his duties as a full-time performer, fans can be assured he will continue to play a role in the show's development as the co-founder and co-producer.

"I don't know exactly what his plans are," said Browning, who resides in Toronto with his wife, Sonia. "He will be involved in the show next year in some capacity, but I don't have a clue if he will guest star. He feels it's time to push the kids out of the nest so to speak, but I'm sure he will still be a factor in the show."

Hamilton agrees in a statement released by "Stars on Ice," saying, "I'm not retiring. I'm not going to stop skating. I'm cutting back. There's so much else I want to accomplish . . . like doing a theater skating show on Broadway. The tour needs to develop more beyond me, with the next generation. And, because we always sign great talent, now is the time for the tour to take on a different identity. This year will give me the opportunity to let people know how grateful I am to them . . . for everything. It's tough to move on, but I have to."

The skaters, who are halfway through the 65-city tour, say the physical demands of the show are high; however, the emotional drain is sometimes even more difficult. Being away from home for long periods of time can take its toll. Ekaterina Gordeeva, who has performed with the group since 1991, decided, for this reason, to take the season off to spend time with her 8-year-old daughter, Daria.

The skaters attempt to make it home as often as possible, but -- as Browning recently discovered -- that can be more dangerous than a triple axle. After going home to surprise his wife, Browning was frantically trying to make it to a show in Milwaukee after being delayed in an airport.

"The audience knew I had been trying to get there, and it was a really cool moment when I finally stepped onto the ice," Browning said. "I was so petrified and scared I couldn't really enjoy it, though. I think Scott was older-brother angry. It was worth it, though. A relationship at home is difficult when you travel so much. We've been married for four years, but our joke is that, in dogs years, it's really only two years because that's how much we've actually seen each other."

Although Browning's new responsibilities mean more work, he embraces the role with open arms.

"I'm still trying to figure out what that exactly means," he said. "I think it means I'm older. I've given myself permission to be crazy and comical on the ice. Some people see some of Scott's ideals in my skating, which is the biggest compliment I can get.

"I believe the best way to lead the program is to put the audience first. Sometimes we [the skaters] have fights, and someone has to step in and be the quarterback -- that will be me. We have to maintain a team atmosphere even though it's an individual sport. Scott leads by example and inspiration, and I hope to do the same. We want to maintain the integrity of the program Scott created.

However, Browning believes he might be taking the role too seriously.