Winnipeg, October 25, 2004 - For a figure skater, nothing can top the thrill of representing your country in a competition against the best in the world, and this December, many of the world's favourite professional skaters will rediscover that thrill in Winnipeg at the World Team Figure Skating Challenge.
The world's top skaters from Canada, Russia, United States and Europe will compete head-to-head in a judged figure skating competition on Friday, December 10 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Winnipeg's new MTS Centre.
Team Canada will feature Kurt Browning, a four-time World Champion, in the men's competition along with former World and Olympic Champions Jamie Salé and David Pelletier in the pairs and Jennifer Robinson, a six-time Canadian Champion, in the ladies.
"Competing against the best in the world brings out the very best in you and that is an element that you miss when you retire from amateur skating," said Kurt Browning. "The World Team Challenge rekindles that competitive fire on the ice and the fans love to see it. I think it brings back some fond memories for skating fans around the world."
Team Canada will compete against the following teams in mens, ladies and pairs competitions at the World Team Challenge:
Team USA
- Todd Eldredge (mens) - World Champion
- Kyoko Ina & John Zimmerman (pairs) - World Bronze Medallists
- Nicole Bobek (ladies) - World Bronze Medallist
Team Russia
- Alexei Yagudin (mens) - World and Olympic Champion
- Elena Berezhnaya & Anton Sikharulidze (pairs) - World and Olympic Champions
- Maria Butyrskaya (ladies) - World Champion
Team Europe
- Jozef Sabovcik (mens) - Olympic Bronze Medallist
- Radke Kovarikova & Rene Novotny (pairs) - World Champions
- Oksana Baiul (ladies) - World and Olympic Champion
The World Team Challenge will be aired in Canada on TSN on December 11 from 1-3 p.m. and later again that day from 7-9 p.m.
The annual World Team Challenge figure skating event will be the first international event ever held at the fabulous new MTS Centre located in the heart of downtown Winnipeg.
>>Ticket Information from Ticketmaster
Tickets and pre-paid parking are now on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, on line at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 780-3333.
