Skating-a new sport?

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$30.

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THERE WERE some stellar performances at the Labatt Pro Skate this week at the Coliseum. Left, Judie Jeffcot and

Keith Swindlehurst from Toronto in the ice dance competition and right, Candy Jones and Don Fraser tn the pairs.
(lan Smith photos)

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April 11, 1982

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Fel. 985-2131

By CAROLE STAFFORD

A WHOLE new profes-
sional sport could be
opening up if public
reaction matches the
enthusiasm of skaters
and organizers of the
Labatt Pro Skate,
which staged its second
professional figure
skating competition at
Pacific Coliseum last
week.

A host of national, world
and Olympic champions
competed for cash and
prestige in what organizers
hope will develop into an
international circuit of pro-
fessional skating compe-
titons, something akin to
World Cup Skiing or World
Championship Tennis.

The inaugural 1982 series,
which began in Montreal the
end of March, continues in
Edmonton and Toronto this
month and in six US. cities
next fall. (The Toronto
competition will air live on
CBC television, April 18.)
Pro Skate hopes to expand to
20 cities in 1983 and to 30,
including some in Europe, in
1984.

With skating superstars
such as 1980 world and
Olympic champion Robin
Cousins and Olympic bronze
medalist and six-times
Canadian champion Toller
Cranston competing head
on, results are not pre-
dictable. In fact, it was the
dynamic Japanese cham-
pion, Fumo Igarashi, making

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his professional debut, who
took the gold medal and the
$8,000 top cash award in the
men’s category at the
Coliseum. Cranston
collected $4,000 for second
and Cousins took $2,000
with the bronze.

All the competitors earn
$1,000 a night for appearing
— and “losing”  perfor-
mances by American silver
medalist David Santee, 1977
Canadian champion’ Ron
Shaver, 1975 Canadian silver
medalist Bob Rubins and
U.S. 1973-5 champion
Gordie McKellen proved
just as exciting and crowd
pleasing.

Former American
champion Janet Lynn made
a stunning comeback after a
five-year retirement to
capture top prize in the
ladies’ category. Lynn was
runner up to North Van-
couvers Karen Magnussen
in the 1973 World Cham-
pionships and the latter’s
chief rival in amateur
competition for many years.
Lynn now hives with her
busband and three small
sons in Littleton, Colorado.

Only three couples
contested the pairs division
and former Canadian
champions Don Fraser and
Candy Jones handily won the
event. Five couples com-
peted in Ice Dancing, with
Americans Kim Krohn and
Barry Hagen taking the gold
in their professional debut.

Recognizing that not all of
the top professional skaters
wish to compete, Pro Skate

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

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