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Links for Amateur Years:
Early Years |
1986/87 | 1987/88 | 1988/89 | 1989/90 |
1990/91 | 1991/92 | 1992/93 | 1993/94 |
Back to Memory Lane
Kurt: The Early Years:
Young Kurt in Caroline:
Kurt was born on June 18, 1966, and raised in the small town of Caroline, Alberta, nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. His father, Dewey, was an outfitter and hunting guide. His mother, Neva, stayed home at the ranch and raised Kurt along with his brother, Wade, and his sister, Dena. Kurt's siblings were 9 and 11 years older than him, so that allowed Kurt's parents the extra time and money needed to raise a future World Champion figure skater.
Kurt was only 3 when his father made him a small outdoor skating rink in front of their home. A few years later, his father was among the townspeople of Caroline who built the Caroline Ice Skating Arena. This is where Kurt, age 7, made his figure skating debut at the local Ice Carnival ... dressed as a skunk :-). The arena is still there in Caroline ... although it's since been renamed the Kurt Browning Arena.
As with many young Canadian boys, Kurt's first love was hockey. His parents decided to enroll him in figure skating classes to give him more ice time. The better the skater .. the better the hockey player, right? But it wasn't long before Kurt's skating instructor saw a talent in Kurt ... and that Kurt began to enjoy figure skating as much as hockey.
At age 11, Kurt's coach, Karen McLean, suggested to his parents that he take additional skating lessons at the rink in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. That same year he placed 3rd at the pre-juvenile level ... despite the fact that he forgot his program and made it up as he went along!!
At age 12, Kurt teamed up with his one and only skating partner, Michelle Pollitt. Together they won the pre-juvenile dance championships in Alberta. Their big number was "The Mickey Mouse Club".
At age 13, Kurt met coach Michael Jiranek at a skating seminar. Little did they know at their first meeting, that over the course of the next 11 years, together they would win countless medals, including 3 World Championship gold medals. Kurt was most impressed by Jiranek because he taught jumping ... and that's what Kurt like most about figure skating!
At age 14, Kurt landed his first double axel at summer school in Calgary.
A Decision to Make:
At age 15, the time had come for Kurt to choose between hockey and figure skating. In order to further his figure skating "career", it was essential for him to move to Edmonton, Alberta, where the training facilities were better and where he would have more ice time. Being that Kurt was only 5'7 and 140 pounds ... the choice seemed fairly obvious. And so it was to be ... soon after turning 16, he made the "big leap". He packed his bags and moved to Edmonton to train full-time with Michael Jiranek at the Royal Glenora Club.
At age 16, Kurt became the 1983 Canadian Novice Men's Champion.
At age 17, he met Tracy Wainman at a regional meet in Vancouver. In one short week, she helped him alot with his figures.
At age 18, Kurt became the 1985 Canadian Junior Men's Champion. His long was to the music from the Broadway Hit "Cats". In this program, Kurt landed a double toe/triple toe combination ... a first for him in competition. A few weeks prior to this, Kurt cut his foot on the triple lutz which required 5 stitches. This incident began a long streak of bad luck with the lutz ... which to this day is his nemesis.
An Invitation from the CFSA:
At age 19, Kurt received an invitation from the CFSA to skate on the International Circuit.
- 1985 Coup d'Excellence - 5th (landed his triple lutz for first time in competition)
- 1985 St. Gervais - 2nd (won the freeskate portion of the competition)
- 1985 Skate America -8th (hurt his back)*
- 1985 Oberstdorf - 9th
- 1986 Canadians - 5th place (first year at Senior Level)
*At Skate America, Kurt injured his back during the freeskate. It wasn't until after Canadians that he had xrays which revealed a hairline fracture in the 4th lumbar ... requiring Kurt to stay off the ice for 2 months.
Quotes about Kurt:
1985 Canadians by Debbi Wilkes: "I get the feeling that he's quite relaxed with the execution of the program. Standing at the gate waiting to go back on the ice after the warm up, he was like a race horse. He was jumping ... hopping around ... yet he didn't look worried. Very tough ... very controlled."
1985 Canadians by Johnny Esaw (after Kurt's 2 toe/3 toe combination): "His combinations are EXCELLENT!" (and then at the end of the long program) "It took awhile to build up ... but he had an awful lot packed in there."
1985 Canadians by Debbi Wilkes: "Well, somebody really liked it. He picked up Gumby there on the Ice! .... Johnny Esaw to Debbi: "They don't just throw flowers on the ice anymore."
Did you know?
- Kurt comes from a small town of about 400 people. His closest neighbor lived 1 1/2 miles away!
- All 4 of Kurt's grandparents are from the United States. His grandfather, Jasper Browning, was a sheriff in Oklahoma Territory!
- Kurt's always been and overachiever. One year Kurt and his cousin Miles walked all the way to the bus driver's house early in the morning just so they'd be the first ones on the bus. Little did they know that 2 of their friends had the same idea ... and when the bus driver walked out the door in the morning ... there they all sat!!
- When Kurt was 13 or 14, he delivered a calf using a rope and a hockey stick!
- When Kurt was 18 years old, he worked as a waitor for about 6 months!
- On graduation night from high school, Kurt held a classmate by his heels from the top of a water tower so he could spray paint the words, "Class of '85"!
Go to 1986/87
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