Figure Heads

Copyright 1991 Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd.

Kurt Browning hibernated after the holidays, and more than the very cold weather in northern Alberta drove him into his "cave" at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton.

The world figure skating champion in 1989 and '90 decorated the walls with athlete-of-the-year and Lou Marsh Trophy awards, the first Canadian male skater to collect such honors, and embarked on an intensive training program for his two key '91 competitions - the Canadian championships in Saskatoon Feb. 4-10 and the world championship in Munich in March.

Much in demand for appearances, endorsements and interviews, Browning, 24, from Caroline, Alta., claims he learned last year to arrange his priorities.

"I never had been world champ before and it was a big learning experience for me, a tough lesson, by the way," he says. "I simply tied up a few too many days with commitments, forgetting that travel takes time. It reduced my training time and my energy.

"This year, I've been much more careful in my schedule and I cut off the interviews, endorsements and travel at the end of the year. It's time to concentrate on what makes it all happen."

Last season, Browning's performance was merely ordinary in the tuneups for his defence in Halifax of the world title he won for the first time in Paris in '89. He came very close to losing his Canadian championship in Sudbury to excellent youngster, Elvis Stojko of Richmond Hill. However, Browning produced another brilliant performance in Halifax to repeat as world champ.

This season, he has swept three invitational competitions, the Goodwill Games in Seattle, Skate Canada in Lethbridge and the Nations' Cup in Germany.

In the latter event, Browning, the only skater to execute a quadruple jump in competition, unveiled a dazzling new manouevre, a triple Salchow/triple loop combination - very strenuous because he launched both jumps from the same foot.

CTV sport's new network sports host Rod Black will quarterback the coverage while two former skaters, Debi Wilkes and Tracy Wilson, supply expert commentary. They'll be joined in commentary by retired CTV sports head John Esau.

The Canadian championship supplies excellent competition in all four categories, with changes in ice dancing teams and the maturing of young skaters adding interest.

Browning gained experience in the pressure-easing shadow cast by '87 world champ and Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, and was ready to take command after the Calgary Games. Stojko, a fine young athlete coached by Doug Leigh, who guided Orser's career, is likewise maturing in the Browning shadow.

Canada can send three men to the world championship and Browning, of course, is automatic. Stojko should earn the second spot, but Michael Slipchuk of Edmonton, Norm Proft of Langley., B.C., and Mathew Hall of Kanata, Ont., are in the hunt for the third.

Defending Canadian women's champ Lisa Sargeant of Edmonton, 19 - coached by Michael Jiranek, who guides Browning's career - finished sixth in her first world championship at Halifax. She combines elegance and athleticism.

But the challenge is strong for the two Canadian women's spots in Munich. Dynamic Josee Chouinard of Quebec finished in front of Sargeant at Skate Canada, and '89 Canadian champ Karen Preston of Mississauga, who had last season ruined by a severe ankle injury, is in top form again. Margot Bion of Calgary and Diane Takeuchi of Toronto are contenders.

The retirement of Canadian pairs champs Cindy Landry and Lyndon Johnston and world kings Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov has lifted Isabelle Brasseur of Boucherville, Que., and Lloyd Eisler of Seaforth, Ont., who were world silver medallists, to the top of the rating. But they'll be pushed hard for the Canadian crown by Christine Hough of Waterloo and Doug Ladret of Vancouver, Michelle Menzies of Preston and Kevin Wheeler of Brussels, Ont., Stacy Ball and Jean-Michele Bombardier of Quebec.

The top two Canadian ice dancing duos last year were Joanne Borlase of Toronto and Martin Smith of Woodstock, and Michelle McDonald of B.C. and Nova Scotian Mark Mitchell. Borlase retired, McDonald joined Smith and Mitchell now is teamed with Laurie Palmer.