skating champion will team up with former ice

TORONTO - For Elvis Stojko, its the perfect marriage of two of his passions — the stage and the ice.Performing is performing, Stojko said. Whatever skill it is, there is still a certain aspect of being able to connect with the live audience.The three-time world figure skating champion will team up with former ice dancer Shae-Lynn Bourne and other skating stars for Blades on Stage, a skating show with the intimacy of a stage production that opens Christmas Eve at the Princess of Wales Theatre.Stojko is no stranger to the stage. He played slick defence lawyer Billy Flynn in the hit musical Chicago earlier this year. Its neat because doing Chicago, and feeling the stage, I saw the similarities between performing on the ice and that, Stojko said. At first I felt like a fish out of water, performing without my skates and using my voice and that type of thing.Now with this, being on stage with skates, its really cool to be up close and personal with the people.The show is being held on real ice — there is such a thing as synthetic ice — on a surface measuring 40 by 56 feet. Skaters are accustomed to competing on NHL rinks that measure 85 by 200 feet.So the 42-year-old Stojko and his castmates, including Bourne, Violetta Afanasieva and Pete Dack, among others, have been laying down pylons to practise, marking out the smaller size of ice surface they have to work with.Its intimate, (audience members) are close, Bourne said. Were so used to having to present to all four sides. But now, you just have the audience, and thats very new when youre designing your program to fit the stage.Its that intimate setting, because were used to having to project to way up there, to 15,000 people. But everyone has a good seat in this, and we can really look into the audience, and theyll really see much more than theyd ever see in any competition or big show that youd see in an ice rink.Stojko and Bourne, who won gold with partner Victor Kraatz at the 2003 world championships with a memorable Riverdance program, said it wasnt difficult to train for the show.Both still skate on the professional circuit.We never stopped training so it just bleeds into the next show, Stojko said. The two numbers Im using here are numbers that Ive had before, one I just did in Brazil. The other one is a Christmas number I did a few years ago. Were skating almost all year round. . . Were always trying to stay in shape, and when we get here, we have a couple of days to put together the group numbers, strategically laid out.Bourne is a skating coach and choreographer. He clients include ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., who recently won the Grand Prix Final.Shes choreographed dozens of programs for skaters this season, from all around the world.Constantly being on the ice has kept the 38-year-old lean and strong.With choreography, youre on the ice with the skater, it helps them to see, and I think you exaggerate as a choreographer or as a coach, to really make somebody understand. . . . I think that keeps me in shape, she said. As a choreographer, Im not training all the time but Im moving all the time, and dancing all the time.Bourne and Stojko said their professional skating careers take them around the world, but rarely to cities in Canada. Theyre thrilled for the opportunity to skate at home in the Mirvish Productions show. I havent performed much in Canada. A lot of my work has been in Asia. Ive been doing a lot of shows in the States, Japan, Korea, China, Bourne said. This is kind of great for Canada too.Canada has been known to be one of the best countries producing wonderful skaters but there hasnt been a lot out there as far as shows go, in Canada. So its kind of nice to be able to actually perform here where family is. Its a nice change. Cheap Ivan Rodriguez Jersey . The Calgary skip fell 10-8 to Swedens Oskar Eriksson in semifinal action Saturday and will face Switzerlands Peter de Cruz for the bronze medal (Saturday at 10pm et/7pm pt on TSN2). Wholesale Rangers Jerseys . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. http://www.cheaptexasrangersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-ferguson-jenkins-jersey . Braden Calverts Winnipeg rink rallied to defeat Italy 8-7. After giving up three points in the second end, Calvert came back with a single, then stole two more points in the next two ends to tie it up at the fifth-end break. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic .C., has been named Canadas top female official, winning the 2014 SOC Award of Excellence. Cranes career as a figure skating judge has spanned over 40 years. Cheap Nolan Ryan Jersey . -- Josh MacDonalds second goal of the game kept his team alive as the Peterborough Petes edged the host Kingston Frontencas 6-5 in overtime on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Its been 10 years since a driver last attempted running both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, a feat so grueling that only Tony Stewart has successfully completed all 1,100 miles. Now Kurt Busch wants to give "the double" a try and he will have cars capable of winning both races. He said Tuesday he will attempt to make the Indianapolis 500 in a fifth entry for Andretti Autosport. Should he make the May 25 race, Busch would then fly to Charlotte Motor Speedway to fulfil his full-time job with Stewart-Haas Racing -- a team co-owned by Stewart -- in NASCARs longest event of the year. "Im a fan of motorsports, a student of motorsports, and I view this as a challenge for myself," Busch said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Memorial Day weekend, the central focus of all motorsports is Monaco, Indianapolis and Charlotte and this is a tremendous opportunity to be right in the middle of it." Only John Andretti, Stewart and Robby Gordon have attempted the "double," and no driver has tried since Gordon in 2004. "Welcome to the club!" Gordon posted on his Twitter account. Stewart, Buschs new co-owner at Stewart-Haas, is the only driver to complete the double. He did it in his second and final attempt, in 2001, when he finished sixth at Indy and third at Charlotte. An Indiana native who grew up dreaming of winning the Indianapolis 500, Stewart long ago abandoned that goal and passed on an offer last year from Roger Penske to drive one of his cars in the 2013 Indianapolis 500. But Stewart has given Busch his blessing. "Its a great opportunity for Kurt and I fully support him," Stewart said Tuesday. "Hell have a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but he has an overwhelming amount of driving talent on his side. He has a great car owner with Michael Andretti, whos not only an owner, but hes been a driver too. "Michael has so much to offer Kurt in terms of knowledge and firsthand experience. It really seems like a natural pairing." Buschs attempt comes at a much different time than when Gordon and Stewart last tried to run both races. Social media didnt exist a decade ago, and Busch plans to utilize every avenue possible to let fans follow along with his attempt. On Tuesday, he even launched a website -- www.kurtbuschdouble.com -- that is expected to chronicle his efforts. "I think this is something that is good for NASCAR, good for IndyCar, good for the fans to get behind and really feel like they are part of," Busch said. "There was no social media, or the means for fans to get an in-depth look at what goes into the double when the others tried it. We think weve got an opportunity to make people feel like they are part of the experience with me." Busch first flirted with the idea last May when he completed the Indy 500 rookie orientation program with Andretti. He didnt put a program together to run the 500, and said hes second-guessed that decision at times. "I took the conservative route and sometimes I kick myself because Carlos Munoz finished second as a rookie in that car last year," Busch said. "So now Im challenging myself to do something great in motorsports." Andretti will unveil the car and primary sponsor for Busch at a later date. "Im really excited to have Kurt come onboard for the Indy 500. He did a great job for us when he tested last year," Andretti said. "Hes obviously a natural talent and we feel he is going to take to the Indy car quickly and have a competitive month with us." Busch, an advocate for The Armed Forces Foundation who is dedicating his effort to the men and women in the U.S. military, will bring at least two personal ssponsors.dddddddddddd Cessna has signed on to help with his transportation between IndyCar and NASCAR, and Busch estimates it will require at least 20 hours of flight time shuttling him back and forth between both series. Hes also teamed with Basis, a wrist-based health tracker Busch is using to help with his training leading up to the double. Busch has also taken up martial arts and joked hes entered "a boot camp phase" of his personal training. "You can get your body ready, and do all the cardio needed and follow the nutritional guidelines," he said. "But the mental aspect of running 1,100 miles is like nothing you can prepare for. I think the martial arts can help with that." He said hes spoken to Stewart, as well as former Penske teammates Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr., and Juan Pablo Montoya, who left NASCAR to drive for Penske in IndyCar this season, about his venture. Castroneves, Hornish and Montoya are all former Indy 500 winners. "All of them have given me great support and told me, You can do this," Busch said. Indeed, three-time winner Castroneves welcomed Busch to the field: "Congrats on the #indy500, see u there!!" he tweeted. Busch will not participate in an IndyCar race before the Indy 500, but president of competition Derrick Walker said last month the series would try to accommodate him with track time much the same way it has Montoya, who has received additional testing time in his preparation for the season. "To add a driver with the resume of Kurt Busch to the Indianapolis 500 field is a huge gain for IndyCar," Walker said. "We want to see the best 33 drivers put their skills to the test on the biggest stage in motorsports, regardless of which series they come from. To attempt the double is a tremendous challenge, and were looking forward to watching Kurt accomplish the feat." Buschs path to the Indy 500 will begin in earnest after the May 10 Sprint Cup race at Kansas. Hes expected to spend a week testing Andrettis Honda, and make at least 10 trips between Indy and Charlotte as he participates in NASCARs All-Star race and attempts to qualify for the 500, race in the 500 and the 600. He said hes worked out several scheduling issues with NASCAR and has permission from Charlotte Motor Speedway to helicopter onto the frontstretch of the track to speed up his arrival for the second race. Busch won the Coca-Cola 600 -- which is a full 100 miles longer than any other race on the NACAR schedule -- in 2010. "As a past Coca-Cola 600 champion, Kurt Busch knows what a test of endurance 600 miles can be. To race 1,100 is nearly impossible," said Charlotte Motor Speedway president Marcus Smith. "To even attempt this takes a lot of guts. Fans will appreciate this effort, and I know theyll be as excited as I will, watching the clock to see if he can make it to Charlotte in time for our green flag." Charlotte officials said theyll track Buschs journey from Indianapolis on their massive big screen video board in the infield of the speedway so fans can follow and anticipate his arrival. But if he wins the 500, Busch knows hell be late to Charlotte -- if he makes it all. However, NASCARs new Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format means all Busch has to do this year is win a race to earn a spot in the 16-driver Chase, and he can afford to miss the start of the 600 and not jeopardize his regular job. "As long as we attempt to qualify for every race, we are eligible for the Chase under the new rules," Busch said. "Its like you are in New York City, on Broadway, and you look up at all the bright lights -- they are clearly pointing to this being the right time to do this. The green light is on." 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