If you’re looking for a place to cool off this weekend, don’t be fooled by the 17,000 square feet of ice that will take over Hilton Coliseum on Friday night.

When the brightest stars on ice display their artistry in the Campbell’s Soups 1996 Tour of World Figure Skating Champions, things heat up.

Among the popular performers scheduled to appear are Brian Boitano, Nancy Kerrigan, Rudy Galindo and Nicole Bobek of the United States, Elvis Stojko of Canada and Oksana Baiul and Viktor Petrenko from Ukraine.

The cast also includes U.S. Champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur and pairs-champions Jenni Meno and Todd Sand.

American favorites and newly awarded World Champions, Michelle Kwan and Todd Eldredge, put in their time on the performance circuit as does the controversial Surya Bonaly of France.

“Figure skating in this country has reached an all-time high in popularity,” said the show’s producer, Tom Collins, in a press release. “There is extensive television coverage of competitions and exhibitions which receive extremely high ratings. Now more than ever, people are anxious to see these Olympic, World and National champions in person.”

Having been rocked by scandal and unsportsmanlike conduct in the past, the world of figure skating is enjoying a rebirth as a class-act event. Adding to that classiness is the recent uniting of the skating community after the sudden death of pair-skater Sergei Grinkov.

America’s own pair-champions, Meno and Sand, share a story book relationship close to that shared by Grinkov and his wife/skating partner.

The reigning U.S. pair-champions have only been skating together since 1992, but have seen themselves rise to the top of the heap of competitors.

Each had skated with former partners and were members of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team before teaming up under the tutelage of former World Champion, John Nicks. Partners both on and off the ice, Meno and Sands were married in July of 1995 following the close of last year’s tour.

This year’s 74 city tour chills at Hilton on Friday, June 14. Tickets of varying prices are still available through the Iowa State Center Box Office (294-3347) or charge by phone at 233-1888.