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Rock The Ice 3 dazzles Memorial Centre crowd
| Source: |
Peterborough Examiner |
| Date: |
February 16, 2012 |
| Author: |
Dale Clifford |
It just wasn't a night of great skating. There was a championship feel
to it.
That was the impression figure skating enthusiasts had as 3,356
watched the third Elvis Stojko/Spotlight Productions Rock The Ice III
at the Memorial Centre Wednesday evening.
Many familiar names graced the ice with dynamic performances and among
those with Olympic and world level experience were, along with Stojko
himself, Kurt Browning, the pairs team of Jamie Sale and David
Pelletier and Joannie Rochette – among others.
Stojko is a seven-time Canadian champion, three-time world champ and
two-time Olympic silver medallist while Browning is a four-time
national and world champ, Sale and Pelletier champions at both
Olympics and worlds and Rochette a bronze medalist from the Vancouver
Winter Olympics.
"We love to do shows. It's the same kind of skating as competition but
mentally different. We want people to enjoy an evening with us and
forget about the bills they have to pay. It's more fun and we love to
do it."
David Pelletier
Others included seven-time British ice dance winners siblings Sinead
and John Kerr; Canadian Shawn Sawyer; Roselle Doyle; Fiona Zaldua and
Dimitry Sukhanov; Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam; eight-time Czech
champ Tomas Verner, Sergey Yakemenko and five-time Canadian
synchronized champion Nexxice.
The Peterborough Figure Skating Club played a part as well, performing
a tribute to Glee to open the second half. Most performed at least two
numbers.
It was an especially big night for Sale and Pelletier, who were
performing in it and in Peterborough for the first time. They skated
to Wild Horses and Let's Go Crazy.
"It just worked out in our schedule and the time was available," said
Sale. "We were honoured to be part of it."
The two have been busy touring as professionals since the 2002
Olympics in Salt Lake City when they were named co-recipients of the
gold medal following the infamous judging scandal involving Russian
and French officials, who had them a surprising second despite a
flawless performance. Some of the events they have been part of since
then have included Stars On Ice and Battle of the Blades, a made for
television competition. They were married in 2005, have since
separated, and have a four-year-old son.
"We love to do shows," said Pelletier, dispelling a recent rumour they
were retiring. "It's the same kind of skating as competition but
mentally different. We want people to enjoy an evening with us and
forget about the bills they have to pay. It's more fun and we love to
do it."
Stojko, also with a national Kung Fu title to his credit, was pleased
to have the show in Peterborough and Sale and Pelletier part of the
program. It is his only show, citing travel and commitment as main
reasons.
"We wanted to have it here because Peterborough is a very
knowledgeable audience and has supported everything we have done," he
said. "Having Jamie and David is good because it involves different
generations."
PFSC president Diane Sargent was pleased to be involved. The troupe
comprised 24 skaters eight-to-18.
"It was a great opportunity for us to skate on the same ice surface as
them," she said. "They got to meet them too."
Local skater Carlie Lorentz, 12, agreed and added: "It was an exciting
and a little nervous at the same time. It was a highlight for
me."
Debbie Froggatt brought her nine-year-old daughter Rachael.
"It was phenomenal," said mom. "Amazing talent."
"I liked everything, especially the tricks," said Rachael.
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