Valley now cool in skating circles

For some, skating with the stars is a once in a lifetime experience. For Ashley Wilcox, it's just another day at the office.

"It didn't used to be like that, but with Kurt Browning and Steven Cousins here, it's brought a whole new light to it," Wilcox said. "It's so neat what's starting here."

Wilcox, 18, of Glendale, credits the addition of several Valley ice rinks and the relocation of Doug Ladret, a two-time Olympian who coaches her and other Valley skaters, with the change in the skating climate.

Wilcox travels daily to train with Ladret at the ALLTEL Ice Den in Scottsdale despite living five minutes from Polar Ice Peoria, where she teaches a learn-to-skate program.

Ladret orchestrated last week's Coyotes Figure Skating Academy. Browning, Cousins, Kristi Yamaguchi and Lu Chen were among the former world and Olympic competitors who coached and advised 68 participants, ages 6 and up, in daylong sessions, which included time for question-and-answer, autographs and even some horseplay.

Once the skaters, especially the younger ones, got past the giggling and the gushing, there was plenty of face-to-face instruction. For Wilcox, the level of instruction made the star coaches real rather then intimidating. "They're all at your level now, they're out there with you, instructing you," she said.

Teaching footwork and jumping, Browning urged the skaters to have fun while working hard.

"I love the kids, it's fun to see the little victories," he said. "We're here to give them an experience. I think we have something to teach them, but I think the experience is as important as what they learn on the ice."

Eight-time British champion Cousins also was invigorated by the experience. "My jumping has probably improved over the past five days of just going over what I'm teaching other people," he said.

Browning gave Wilcox advice on her nearly mastered triple-toe loop jumps. He corrected her upper-body position to tighten her rotation.

When Wilcox admired Browning's work ethic, he laughed and recalled that he had a reputation for having a poor work ethic because he was having too much fun on the ice.

"I'll be honest, I worked harder when I didn't have as much ice time," he said. "I find that now I utilize my time much better."

Browning's advice to the group was focus on training while in the rink but cultivate other interests away from skating.

A recent graduate of Glendale Cactus High School, Wilcox juggled skating with track. "I knew it was my last year for track, so I didn't skate as much," she said.

Skating only three days a week, she found the conditioning she gained with sprinting boosted her on-ice endurance.

"I never wanted skating to consume me; you only have 18 years with your family before everyone starts moving away," she said.

Browning stayed home to train until age 16, skating on his own frozen pond or the town's outdoor ice rink.

"It's easier if you have access to a wonderful facility, but you still have to do all the work yourself," he said.

Wilcox, heading into Arizona State as a business student after graduating in the top 4 percent of her class at Cactus, harbors no dreams of Olympic glory but has found that her skating regimen has prepared her for academia.

"Skating teaches time management and self-discipline," she said.

Her immediate skating goal is competing at the National Collegiate Championships in August in Colorado Springs.

Both Browning and Wilcox urge young skaters to enjoy their skating years.