Hamilton's fond farewell

"We're adjusting from the American tour, bringing new people in," explains the friendly Hamilton. "We had 12 skaters in U.S., eight came up here, and we added six more so we're at 14 instead of 12 so there's a lot more bodies on ice."

Hamilton, who has already eaten at Salty's and plans on trying The Press Gang, says this year's show is the most cohesive.

"It seems like a single work, not a lot of pieces. It connects really well and it feels like a complete evening, more than any other show we've ever done. I really enjoy it."

Hamilton did his final U.S. Stars on Ice show on Saturday in Portland, Me. at the conclusion of which more than two dozen skating stars of the last two decades paid tribute to the man who founded the tour in 1986.

"It was pretty amazing to see them all on the ice at the same time," recalls the four-time world champion, who had no idea what was in store for him at the end of the evening.

"But it was emotional. It was meant to be a celebration, it was meant to be a party, it was a reunion, which isn't a sad thing, it's a good thing, but knowing it was my last U.S. Stars On Ice show, it was kind of hard."

The Canadian tour, on which he says he is more of a guest artist, will be easier.

"Having felt that last year was my last Canadian tour, this year will be more casual and relaxed, not the same level of bittersweet feeling of 'I'm going to miss it' because I already experienced it last year.

"And the U.S. tour demands and expects a lot from me.

"The Canadian tour is really based on Kurt, Brian, Shae and Vic and Josee. For me to come up here, I don't feel the same level of pressure I do in the States. I get to really enjoy it, sit back and savour every moment."

Hamilton, who splits his time between Denver, Colorado and Los Angeles is philosophical about ending his touring career.

"It had to happen sometime. In order to have a full life you've got to make sure you experience everything and respect the seasons of your life.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure of what I want to do, but I'm 100 per cent sure I didn't want to do another full tour.

"There's a lot of things I've done a lot of, like commentary, small productions. I'm going to be open-minded and see where the next thing takes me.

"It's logical that I would stay in skating, but maybe it's time for me to shift gears completely."

One thing Hamilton is certain of is that he will be devoting more time to the Scott Hamilton C.A.R.E.S project.

He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1997 but is now cancer-free and feeling great.

The project's Fourth Angel mentorship program has hired a co-ordinator, Hamilton says.

"I came up with the name because the first person you talk to when you are diagnosed is the oncologist, the second is in charge of experimental therapies, the third person is the oncology nurse who is going to be administering therapies, chemo or radiation. They are three angels looking after you and the fourth is someone who has been through what you're about to go through and they can help you with all personal issues that go with treatments.

"You get a lot of medical advice from people who do this every day but have never experienced it and we thought it was really important that we develop programs that put cancer patients together as support.

"We're doing a patient information Web site, and video and written materials so patients diagnosed with whatever form of cancer will be able to have information available that isn't written completely in clinical, medical language, which can be frightening at times.

"And we're also raising funds for research and a survivorships program."

A figure skating commentator for 17 years, Hamilton, will be on hand at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

After a month off in May to "chill out" and hit some golf balls, Hamilton will return to the ice though he won't say what skating projects are in his future.

"I really feel like I need some balance. Most of the people I grew up in skating with have families of their own. I'm kind of the last one," explains Hamilton, adding he really wants a family.