Kurt Browning

Born in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta and raised in Caroline, Alberta, Browning was a four-time Canadian figure skating champion and four-time World Champion.  He represented Canada in three Winter Olympics, 1988 (finishing 8th overall), 1992 (6th), and 1994 (5th), and was given the privilege of carrying the Canadian flag during the opening ceremonies of the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Norway.  Browning’s other achievements are numerous, including three Canadian Professional Championships, three World Professional Championships, a Lou Marsh Trophy for top Canadian Athlete (in 1990), Lionel Conacher Award winner (1990 and 1991), Order of Canada recipient (in 1990), an American Skating World Professional Skater of the year Award (in 1998), and a Gustav Lussi Award from the Professional Figure Skaters’ Association (in 2001).  The only trophy that he never won was an Olympic medal.  He is also known as Wayne Gretzky of figure skating due to his achievements contributions to the sport and popularity in Canada.

His energy and talent are welcomed by his fans, and embraced by his fellow skaters.  An absolute craftsman on skates, Kurt’s natural humor and rapport with the audience will always be an obvious highlight of his performance.

Kurt appeared in the 2006 FOX television program Skating with Celebrities, and was most recently found in many Canadian homes as the co-host of CBC’s Battle of the Blades.

He is now living in Toronto with his wife Sonia Rodriguez, who is a principal dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, and their two sons Gabriel and Dillon.

Kurt has been a part of Canadian Stars on Ice since it began in 1991!

Kurt Browning - Accomplishments

• Guinness World Record holder for landing the first ever quadruple jump at the 1986 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary – March 25, 1986
• Three-time Olympian: 1988 (placed 8th), 1992 (placed 6th), 1994 (placed 5th)
• Received the Lou Marsh Trophy – 1990
• Inducted into the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame – 1994
• Inducted into the Canada's Figure Skating Hall of Fame – 2000
• Honored with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame - 2001
• Four-time Canadian champion
• Four-time world champion

Kurt Browning  - Competitive Results

Q & A with Kurt Browning

After a long time of being on the road with Stars on Ice, what is the first thing you like to do when you get home?

After hugs, the first thing is to get into some clothes you have not worn in the past few weeks. When you live out of a suitcase, you get a tad tired of the same clothes over and over again. The next thing is some home cooking! 

 What is the best advice you have ever received?

My father was my coach at a professional event many years ago. I asked him to coach me so we could have that experience together. He even brought along a long black coat because he always saw the coaches wear them. He was very cute about the whole thing. When it came time to send me out to my starting position for my short program he just stared at me and said nothing. I started laughing and skated out to my position. After the short program I asked him why he said nothing and he actually did not really realize I expected him to say anything. The next day, when that same moment came for the long program, I stood on the ice and looked at my father once again with a little grin on my face. He told me that he had put quite a bit of thought into what he was going to say and then he hit me with this quote, "Be careful out there, they froze it slippery side up." Once again I took my position laughing. Later on I had a new solo where I actually fell, on purpose each night, 8 or 9 times per show and I was inspired by his advice and titled that particular solo 'Slippery Side Up'.

 If you had to pick one food to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

It would have to be something that would have half a chance of sustaining your health so I would choose … ice cream.  In other words I would have everything that I always have now but a la mode. If I am cheating the question, then Chilli Con Carne with lots of vegetables in it.

What is your favourite outfit you wore for a performance? What about least favourite?

I am thinking about the outfit I wore for a group number and my character was called 'Dusty.' I loved the western theme but the best part was starting the whole group number off by dusting off my arms each night as dust would fly everywhere. I loved that!! But, my most memorable outfit might have to be 'Brickhouse' because of the fuss that those flashy shiny outrageously tight blue pants caused.  I really only had to wear them and that might have been enough. I also loved my pants, from a duet with Tara Lipinski, that turned into a jacket right at centre ice. That was a Jef Billings masterpiece. My least favorite outfit… I am not falling for that question. No way ;) 

What is the best prank you have pulled on your fellow Stars on Ice cast mates?

I remember the time we had a huge piano on wheels out on the ice.  It was during the 'Red Hat' number that Christopher Dean created with Jayne Torvill. I wish that this gag was played by me, but it was played on all of us. The crew had put a walkie talkie into the piano and all the time during the performance this piano took on quite the personality. It was honestly hard to stay professional and not laugh out loud too much as the piano made comments on our skating, costumes and music. This piano also had a crude sense of humour, I must admit!