Kurt's still got it

[jl22aries]

With all the Kurt kudos in the Favourite Skaters thread, I was reminded just how much and how long I've loved his skating. There isn't another skater towards whom I've felt as long lasting and constantly renewed awe. It was so much fun to be a fan during his amateur career, and then to go onto such a prolific professional career, he's taken us on such cool ride.

I couldn't find a Kurt specific thread though I recall the sharing of favourite programs popping up every now and then. Nevertheless, here's a Kurt thread. It'd be great to hear everyone's favourite programs, moments, encounters, impressions...

I'll start with one of his newest program, I'm Yours from the Artistry On Ice show in Taipei. Kurt rocks it.

5:05 minute mark - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQYjjkb7FGA

[spikydurian]

Thanks jl22aries for starting this thread. I adore Kurt too. He's not only a fabulous skater but I adore his personality - funny and always always make me laugh. Here's one of my favourite Kurt Browning's skate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Izl1CA1uA

[Aussie Willy]

Thanks for posting that latest clip. Kurt is my age and he still does triples and double axels.

[quartz]

there will be a huge void when he hangs up his skates....hopefully he continues as a coach/choreeographer/advocate/ambassador or something in the skating world. I think he will though, his passion for the sport seems limitless.
Absolutely LOVE him!

[skatesindreams]

Here's one of my favourite Kurt Browning's skate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Izl1CA1uA

"Nyah" is a masterpiece.

One of the greatest displays of "movement on ice"
Interpreted by someone who understands that concept.
Bravo, Kurt!

[l'etoile]

Thanks for posting that latest clip. Kurt is my age and he still does triples and double axels.

Just amazing. There's no better personality and maestro on ice than Kurt, really.

[Teenes]

I recently did an interview with Kurt (hopefully Absolute Skating will put it up soon), and in writing the article, I realized that in the last year alone, he skated in 45 shows, choreographed two full skating tours (Celebration on Ice and Stars on Ice) while skating in both, co-hosted Battle of the Blades, commentated basically all of CBC's figure skating coverage, taught some seminars, did some charity events, etc etc. In the last year alone he put together seven full new programs (and a few short ones for BOTB). And he just turned 46 on June 18.

So yeah..I think the title of this thread is quite apt .

Just for the fun of it, here are 5 of those 7 new programs from 2011-2012 (2 of them haven't been aired):

Feeling Good (from Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice in January - he skated it better in SOI but it hasn't been broadcast yet):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyUCqUbkvpA

Heart and Soul (Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kELKL50iqk

Christmas Time Is Here (Holiday Festival on Ice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIWswXA7Rdc

Storm Warning (Kaleidoscope on Ice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaRuSbNslXE

Honey (Kaleidoscope on Ice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZQhBEcjp9k

Of course, most of those are 1-offs for a Disson show and Kaleidoscope (he did Honey in All That Skate as well), except for Feeling Good, which is one of my favorites of his.

And then for the heck of it, 3 of his programs from last season:
Downstream (SOI): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ear0K2kRP_U
Steppin' Out Of My Mind (HFOI 2010 - he changed it a bit for SOI): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq8xtbo2Wiw
River (HFOI 2010): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urfPlJTU7mI

[Garden Kitty]

One of the things I love about Kurt is his creativity and the fact he really seems to have fun skating. The audience can feel his enjoyment on the ice.

[overedge]

Just reading the list of activities in Teenes' post made me tired enough to want to lie on the couch.

[Aussie Willy]

Just reading the list of activities in Teenes' post made me tired enough to want to lie on the couch.

I agree

[Aussie Willy]

Feeling Good (from Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice in January - he skated it better in SOI but it hasn't been broadcast yet):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyUCqUbkvpA

Thanks for posting those clips. This one is fantastic. I am planning on doing a talk to skaters about components soon and it would be really worth showing skaters this to explain about interpretation. He has so much variety in what he presents, there is subtlety as well as really obvious nuances and so much detail.

[jl22aries]

One of the things I love about Kurt is his creativity and the fact he really seems to have fun skating. The audience can feel his enjoyment on the ice.

I agree. And I was lucky to meet him twice and both times it stuck me how enthusiastic he is...for skating, for life? I really appreciate how uncynical he seems in his press, meet n' greets, all that off ice stuff that I'm sure can get tedious.

Thanks for sharing all those amazing links Teenes and can't wait for your interview to be available.

[Wyliefan]

Kurt's awesome. I'm so glad he's still got it!

[ChelleC]

One of my favorite Kurt programs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tcy-...eature=related

I completely agree there will be a huge void when Kurt hangs up his skates. He's so versatile. In fact, I think the only programs I've not liked of his have been the clown programs.

[fsfan22]

Long live Kurt the Clown!

[bbkenn]

Sigh, thanks for all the trips down memory lane. He is still my all time favorite skater, ever.

[Teenes]

Evidently, Kurt's still got the competitive fire, too! He's going to be competing in the Medal Winners Open against Ilia Kulik, Alexei Yagudin, Philippe Candelero, and Jeffrey Buttle in October. The competition is ISU-sanctioned but emphasizes artistry. It'll be his first competition in 6 years.

Here are his programs from his most recent competition - Ice Wars 2006.
Easy by the Barenaked Ladies: http://youtu.be/A14DdvORx9s
Expectation and the Blues by Corb Lund: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTqbbk1fN0I
The latter program wasn't as strong a performance as he had hoped. Consequence of a busy 2006 schedule where he went from commentating Skate America and not skating for a week, to having only 2 days to prepare for Ice Wars.

[ChelleC]

Kurt, Alexei, Ilia, and Jeff all in the same competition, I don't know who to root for.

[Teenes]

You know, with that pool of competitors, there are representatives from the 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006 Olympics. Of course, Kurt is the 1988, 1992, and 1994 representative =). (OK, Philippe is also 1994)

I've been posting mostly new programs, but while I'm here, no Kurt thread is complete without these links.

Singing in the Rain - You Must Remember This 1994
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtd7xq7URM

Casablanca - Worlds 1993
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPYI8l8Fgk8

Brickhouse - World Pros 1995
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXhe8DLDU58

Serenade to Sonia - Canadian Pros 1996
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAngxNlAQAY

That's Entertainment - World Pros 1995
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDNgFGdrxYk

People have already linked to Nyah, Antares, and Rag-GIDON-Time. Of course, Kurt's done well over 100 (125+?) programs in his career. It'd be a bit hard to link them all! =)

[midori]

People say "Kurt's still got it" but to me it is more like "he is still getting better."

This is my favorite program of Kurt so far, Triptico:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPD2I5vD9F4
along with I'm Yours and Feeling Good.

So excited to see Kurt competing for once again!