Elvis Stojko is in the Building

By Susan D. Russell with files from Nick Pilgrim

Two and a half years ago Elvis Stojko abruptly left the building. After performing a routine to Queen's “The Show Must Go On” at the 2006 Mariposa Gala, Stojko, without warning, announced: "And that was my last performance." His words stunned not only the audience but also his long time coach, Doug Leigh.

Many who knew the man believed it would be his final on-ice bow. The three-time World champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist had made a decision. It was time to pursue a different path in life.

And it was so fitting that Stojko chose a beautiful summer evening in small town Ontario, where it all began, to bid farewell to the sport he once loved so much.

Stojko moved to Guadalajara, Mexico where he still resides. “I have been on a pilgrimage the last couple of years. I had to step away from skating completely,” he said.

But during an impromptu interview at the 2009 Four Continents Championships in Vancouver two weeks ago, Stojko announced he is returning to the spotlight. “I am back on the ice again. I have come out of retirement to do some shows and some touring, stuff like that,” he said.

Stojko made his international coaching debut in Vancouver, mentoring the popular young Mexican skater, Humberto Contreras. “I am keeping a low profile, it is all about Humberto,” Stojko said during the competition. “I am just helping out. Coming to Four Continents in my home country is kind of great.”

The 36-year-old Canadian icon said coaching Contreras is definitely rewarding, “especially when Humberto comes off the ice and he is smiling. I told him my job is to make him the best skater that he can be and to feel good about what he is doing and improve all the time. That is my job as a coach.”

When asked if he is planning to teach Contreras the quad at some point, Stojko laughed. “It’s one day at a time. We have only been working together for about two months and so far it has been fantastic,” Stojko said. “We need to work on power and strength and just getting the line on the jumps and the spins. We have not even dabbled into working on that other stuff. He is a great student to work with. I have enjoyed every day; it’s been awesome.”

Conditions at the rink in Guadalajara where Stojko and Contreras train are less than favorable. The ice surface is a mere 50 x 20 meters. “The Zamboni is really old … it is all different pieces. You would not even recognize it (as a Zamboni),” Stojko said. “I even had to stud the tires myself because it is hard to get tires down there – it’s not like they are readily available. We had to fix the conditioner, get the blades sharpened, and fix the water.

“They only do two or three floods a day on ice that is used for public skating and figure skating so you can get an idea of what it is like,” Stojko continued. “The ice is not level, it kind of heaves in the center. So there are a few issues but we got it up and running to a point where Humberto can train and do his stuff. I said to him ‘well, today we have lemons so we make lemonade.’ But he has done great with the ice and you know it’s just a matter of doing the best with what you have. At Four Continents he did the best he has ever done.”

Contreras has to sometimes train on ice that has endured four hours of public skating and no flood. “We have to train and it is really hard so we just say this is what we have, let’s make it happen,” Stojko said. “He only gets to train four hours a week and I am trying to get him a sponsor to cut the costs and make it work for him. It is all coming together and to be able to go to Four Continents with him was really great.”

Stojko and Contreras met a few months ago at the Guadalajara rink. “Elvis came to teach the child of one of his best friends how to skate,” Contreras recalled. “He knew we had a big skating school there so he just came to see if he could get some ice time. Then we had a talk with him and told him we wanted him to see the ice and see the kids and see what he could do for us. I told him I did not have a coach and that if there was a way he could work with me…”

Stojko had no intention of coaching when he first went to the rink.“ I was just going to help out with the ice and get some ice time for myself,” he said. “But Humberto is such a great guy and wanted to work so bad and was so hungry for it, I said to myself ‘you know what, this is the right kind of kid I would like to work with and help him along the way.’ In the beginning I told him ‘you just have to trust me. You are going to be training harder than you have before.’ But there are no complaints and we are always laughing and joking and having a good time. It has been awesome.”

Contreras, 25, a Mexico City native, started skating at age 12 after watching the 1994 Olympics. He also coaches at the rink to earn an income. His training time is limited to four hours per week (one hour a day Monday to Thursday). “We are doing a lot in the time we have,” he said. “We don’t really have much ice time so we are doing the best we can.”

Stojko said he sees similarities between himself and Contreras. “Humberto has this ability to get into focus right away and I am able to hone that with some martial arts skills I used when I was competing and apply them,” Stojko said. “Also, he has a really great understanding of his body and his space so if I am asking him to check a hip or a shoulder he can do it right away without screwing anything else up. He is very body aware which is great for getting the technical stuff done. It is awesome.”

When asked what was the most stressful, competing or coaching Stojko did not hesitate. “I know a lot of people say coaching but competing is more nerve wracking.”

Stojko has come full circle. He has resumed training and said he is getting back in shape. “I have had a change in the way I approach skating, a new style and a new vision,” he said. “I did not know if I was going to come back, but I am back.”

Click HERE to read Stojko’s 2006 retirement speech.