Browning, Stojko bring skating magic to Gananoque arena

It’s not every day that two figure skating legends glide into town, but that’s exactly what happened last week as Kurt Browning and Elvis Stojko took over the Lou Jeffries, Gananoque and TLTI Recreation Centre.

Over three days, the world champions hosted seminars, met with fans, and shared their passion for the sport – leaving an impact as lasting as the marks their blades carved into the ice.

On Wednesday night, the Gananoque Skating Club kicked things off with a free meet-and-greet, drawing a crowd eager to hear stories from two of Canada’s greatest skaters.

“We got a lot of questions about the Olympics,” Browning said. “And it was interesting because as Elvis was talking, telling some of his stories, I caught myself being like, ‘Oh, well, I didn’t know that,’ and we’re friends.”

The two may be longtime friends, but their approaches to skating couldn’t be more different.

“Our energies kind of yin and yang each other,” said Browning. “The difference is that he breaks everything down – every aspect, how to utilize the muscles, how to access the muscles, what exactly the right position is at the right moment. He breaks it down, while I’m more about feeling, more theoretical, more artistic.”

Their partnership extended onto the ice Thursday and Friday, where approximately 135 figure skaters took part in intensive training seminars led by the champions. Skaters rotated through sessions that included both on-ice technique and off-ice training, with Browning and Stojko working hands-on with small groups.

“It’s about as big as we can go here,” said Sharon Nixon, a local figure skating coach and lead organizer of the event. “Kurt and Elvis have about ten between them on the ice at a time, allowing more quality time. They’re on the ice for eight hours straight, which is long – especially here, because it’s a cold arena – but it is complemented with off-ice training.”

Nixon hopes to expand the event next year to involve the broader community.

“We’re looking at maybe doing a public skate,” she said. “Or doing something on the outdoor rink. We’ll see, but either way, involving the community more would be great.”

The three-day event was partially funded by the Municipal Accommodation Tax, approved by the Tourism Advisory Panel, and spearheaded by Nixon.

Browning, a four-time world champion and the first skater to land a quadruple jump in competition, remains one of the sport’s most celebrated innovators.

Stojko, a seven-time Canadian champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, redefined the technical and artistic demands of figure skating. Together, they brought their expertise – and a little bit of magic – to Gananoque.

“Having something like this for this community is special,” said Nixon. “And without the support, this wouldn’t be possible. We’re enjoying it, taking it all in and we’ll see what next year brings.”