Orser, Browning will be busy in December

TORONTO (CP) - Former world champions Brian Orser and Kurt Browning get back together Dec. 10, and are joined by Olympic champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, for figure skating's Holiday Festival On Ice.

It's the third year Orser has choreographed the show, to be held this year in Ricoh Coliseum and to be shown during the Christmas season. Orser has injected variety this year by bringing in the 130-member Toronto Children's Chorus to sing four songs.

Skaters taking part are Orser, Kurt Browning, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, Jennifer Robinson, Jeff Buttle, Fedor Andreev, Jennifer Kirk, Elizabeth Putnam and Sean Wirtz, Shawn Sawyer and Ryan Jahnke.

"When you're working with talent like that, it's a pretty easy job," says Orser, 42, who won the world title in 1987.

Browning, 37, world champion in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993, has entered a team competition in Vancouver next Tuesday. Josee Chouinard and Sale-Pelletier also will represent Canada.

"Every time we step on the ice in a competitive situation, if you take your stuff seriously, you want to win," says Browning.

He'll be up against Alexei Yagudin, Todd Eldredge and Steven Cousins, and he plans a triple-triple jump combo.

"I'm not going to step on the ice and save anything," says Browning. "I'll be pushing myself farther than I would at a Stars On Ice show.

"Todd and Alexei definitely have me technically but I have a strong second program that, hopefully, the judges will fall in love with."

Then it's back to Toronto to work with Orser.

"A lot of laughing," he replies when asked what that'll be like. "Brian has a very logical approach and the skaters seem to agree with what he wants to do."

Browning intends to get into the choreography field himself.

"I have to start watching some competitions to see how the new judging system is working," he says. "If I'm going to start doing some choreography for some of the amateur skaters, I'm going to have to find out what's going on."