Kurt Browning's Skates

[thumbyskates]

Hey - this isn't really an article, but it's a "newsflash" and I was wondering if maybe anyone had a link to it. I'm going to the World Team Challenge at GM Place tonight, and my dad just called and told me that it's been all over the news this morning that Air Canada lost Kurt Browning's skates and he may not be able to skate tonight, because they're in Poland or something???

Anyone heard anything.

Korts

[Teenes]

Poland??

I've been told that Kurt was on CBC Newsworld this morning and told them that Air Canada had lost his skates (I think the segment was recorded yesterday). I hadn't heard that he said he might not be able to compete though. That would kind of throw off the whole competition, since it's a team format. My guess is that one way or the other, they'll find a way to get him on the ice. I hope.

Poland?? ;)

[jcspkbfan]

I didn't see Kurt's interview on Newsworld, but he's scheduled to appear on tomorrow's Vicki Gabereau show, so hopefully we'll get some kind of update directly from him then. Assuming it's a live interview, of course--I'm not sure how they'll handle the "lost skates" incident if it was taped a couple of days in advance!

Of course, I'm hoping Kurt's skates find their way back to him (although I have no idea how they'd end up in Poland) or he's able to scrounge up a replacement pair somewhere. But if worst comes to worst, Kurt could probably perform his Slippery Side Up program almost as well without skates as with them! :D

[Teenes]

The Gabereau interview was taped yesterday. Well, presuming everything went according to plan (guess no one attended the taping who wants to share =)). But Gabereau is always pre-taped.

I've always been curious to see Kurt dancing off-ice. B/c the speed of the steps and footwork he does *on* the ice seems faster than what most dancers do (except in tap or clog dancing, both of which are all about the footwork). I'm just curious what he can do in shoes vs what he does in skates.

There was an article in today's Globe and Mail about Kurt...don't have the link offhand, it's linked from the front page of my website. But in it, Kurt was talking about how he was planning greater technical difficulty in one of his programs than he's done in years - triple loop, triple toe/triple toe combo (yeah, I know, fairly easy compared to what many other skaters do but it is more than he's done jump-wise in a couple years). I hope this lack of practice time (presuming he *does* get his skates and can compete tonight) doesn't cause him to change his plans!

[Artemis]

I read on another board that Sonia, who was flying in separately, is bringing an old pair for him. Fingers crossed!

[jcspkbfan]

Here's the link to that Globe and Mail Kurt article (as usual, the URL is obscenely long, but it's definitely worth reading if you're a Kurt fan):

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20031203/SKATE03/TPSports/TopStories

Thanks for the info about Kurt's skates! It's good to know he'll not only be skating, but he'll be wearing an old pair of skates he's probably comfortable with instead of having to buy and break in a brand-new pair at such a late date! :)

[Artemis]

He did seem to be not quite as light on his feet as he normally is ... whether that was down to the skates or something else, I don't know.