Corner Brook -
Members of the Silver Blades Skating Club will have the chance to learn a little from a master of the sport.
Kurt Browning is returning to Corner Brook for the 41st annual Silver Blades Skating Club ice show. He performed in the city in September 2003 as part of an Ice Galaxie tour with elite figure skaters.
The four-time world champion, four-time Canadian champion, three-time Canadian Olympic team member and the first man to land a quadruple jump in competition will share the Pepsi Centre ice with the Corner Brook skaters May 23. Tickets go on sale today.
Matthew Young, 17, has shared the ice with Browning before. He skated with him at the ice show in St. John's last year.
Young said Browning gave him a great example to follow, signing autographs for hours and doing what he could for the fans, while being a great show skater.
"It was amazing because not only were we skating with him, we were backstage with him," Young said.
"Actually I got to spend a lot of time with Kurt because we were in the same dressing room. He was really down to earth and he was a great guy."
Angie Davis, 11, will be skating with Browning for the second time at the end of May.
Davis said Browning has inspired her to continue skating, and to reach for her goals. She vividly remembers skating in the St. John's show.
"On the finale everyone lined up around the rink and Kurt Browning and all the other stars skated in the middle," Davis said.
"We watched him practise. We had to be there when he practised so we could sit in the stands and watch," said Davis.
"He was really nice. He made sure everybody got something from him. There were so many who didn't leave. He's really funny, too."
The show will also raise money for Daffodil Place, a St. John's facility for cancer patients and their families.
Lisa Young, the club's head coach, said Browning is an inspiration because what you see on the ice is what you get from the skating champion.
She said at the St. John's show, members of provincial teams were on the ice. Here, she said, everyone in the club will get to skate with the legend.
"He's there for his fans," Young said. "He comes to do a show and he's there because he wants to entertain.
"He's here to skate and he's here for the kids."
