Kurt Browning to appear at Sears store in Kitchener

-- Four-time World Figure Skating Champion In Town Promoting Sears Figure Skating Open --

KITCHENER, ON, Nov. 6 /CNW/ - Fans will be able meet their hero, four-time World Champion Kurt Browning face to face, during an autograph session hosted by Sears, Fairview Park Mall from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 14. Browning is in Kitchener to promote the first Canadian event open to both amateur and professional skaters, the Sears Figure Skating Open. ``I always believed eligible and pro would meet someday,'' says Browning. ``It's going to be an exciting competition.''

The event, to be hosted on Saturday, December 5, will be divided into two sessions, with the short programs in the afternoon at 1:00 p.m., and concluding with the artistic programs in the evening at 7:00 p.m. Both sessions will feature competitions in Mens, Ladies, Pairs and for the first time ever, Dance.

The Sears Figure Skating Open will feature skating competitors such as nine-time British Champion, Steven Cousins and two-time Olympic Silver Medalist Brian Orser, World Bronze Medalists Nicole Bobek and Caryn Kadavy, three-time Canadian Champion Josee Chouinard, Olympic Silver Medalist Elizabeth Manley, Maria Butyrskaya, five-time Russian Champion, Mandy Wotzel and Ingo Steuer, World Champions and Olympic Bronze Medalists and Kristy Sargeant and Kris Wirtz, 1998 Canadian Champions.

For its initial debut at an open event, three-time World Bronze Medalists and six-time Canadian Champions, Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz will be competing in the Dance event, along with Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow, five-time U.S. Dance Champions.

Formerly the Canadian Professional Figure Skating Championship, this will be the fifth year of the event, and 1998 marks the first time an ``open'' figure skating competition will be held in Canada. Until now there have been separate amateur and professional competitions. New International Skating Union (ISU) rules permit open competitions where pros (ineligible) and amateurs (eligible) compete head-to-head. A skater is ineligible if they have become professional and are ineligible for events such as the Olympics. An eligible skater is an athlete who has not yet turned professional.

Additional participants in the competition will be announced at a later date.

Sears is the title sponsor of the Sears Figure Skating Open. Associate sponsors include Panasonic and AOL Canada. Information about this competition is available on AOL Canada at keyword: Sears Skating.

Tickets are available at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex or charge by phone: 519-745-0303 or 1-800-265-6368. For the first time ever, special ticket prices will be available for both seniors and children.