Who will be the next Yagudin?

**Taan** · 11-03-2003, 08:46 PM

Now with Yagudin going pro i am :( sad sad sad but who can take his place in the eligible ranks?? What male skater has that rare combination of atheltics, artistry, star power and sex appeal to be "the next Yagudin"?

i am thinking mabey jeff buttle his choreography and jumps are getting to that level mabey within a few months?

**shine** · 11-03-2003, 09:32 PM

Why do we even want anyone to become the "next Yagudin"?

And I certainly hope Jeff Buttle doesn't become a Yagudin. He's fine the way he is.

**thisthingcalledlove** · 11-03-2003, 11:10 PM

Nah...let's keep the males the way they are. Jeffrey Buttle has this sweetness that you just want to bottle up. Kevin Van Der Perren, and Fedor Andreev could make any girl swoon. (Sadly, I find none of the current crop of US males attractive). With their style of skating, I would say Jeffrey is more reminiscent of Rudy Galindo, or even John Curry. I haven't seen Kevin or Fedor, so I don't know how they skate. I think the only skater trying to be the next Yagudin is Joubert of France.

**Ladskater** · 11-03-2003, 11:45 PM

thisthingcalledlove:

I don't think Jeff B. is anything reminiscent of Rudy Galindo, perhaps Kurt Browning...

**Germanice** · 11-04-2003, 02:24 AM

Yags is unique. This world's simply too small for another one. :D

Anke

**Mathman** · 11-04-2003, 08:40 AM

Plushenko is already the next Yagudin.

MM

**dmr65** · 11-04-2003, 09:08 AM

Plush is not the next Yags and shouldn't be seen as the next Yags.. . These two came along at the sametime with the same coach at one time, but have different styles... Plush and Yags pushed the bar higher and higher.. Now it's just Plush left from that group..

Plushenko personally complimented Jeff B the other day... I have not watched the young man, but Plush has good insight, so I assume he seen something in this man as a great competitor for the future.. Not rival, but competitor..

We don't need clones.. We want skaters who are individuals, who show us something different to look forward to..

Denise...

**Mathman** · 11-04-2003, 09:12 AM

Plushenko is not the next Yagudin. What was I thinking of?

Mathman

**Jaana** · 11-04-2003, 09:56 AM

Originally posted by Mathman
Plushenko is not the next Yagudin. What was I thinking of?

Mathman

Maybe you just meant that counting the medals Plushenko has already won and very probably will be winning in future, he will be seen as the next big champion? Plushenko will be 21 this month, so if he understands to take care of his health, there is still a lot of competitions for him left.

Marjaana

**Bynx** · 11-04-2003, 11:15 AM

IMO, Sandhu has the ability to surpass both!
Can he put it all together?

**tharrtell** · 11-04-2003, 12:00 PM

I don't want another skater to be Yags, but I do want another engaging, charasmatic male skater. I find Plushy, Honda, Goebel, Weiss, etc. pretty uninteresting. Joubert has potential if he can develope his own style. Lambiel if he can develop more consistency. I like Janke, but I don't really have any hope for him. I hear Dennis Phan is interesting, but I've never seen him skate. Hopefully, someone will fill the void.

**skyward** · 11-04-2003, 02:23 PM

The sport does need a couple of male skaters who can combine jumping ability, artistry, consistency and " grit" mind. Of course, Plushenko is a tremendous skater, but the rest of the field is pathetic. Are there any junior skaters ready for meteoric rise in the rankings a-la Kulik 96-98?

**Lanie** · 11-04-2003, 02:35 PM

There will never be "another Yagudin," same as there will never be "another Plushenko". I agree with skyward...compared to those two, the men's skating field is rather boring.

**curious** · 11-04-2003, 05:06 PM

plushy and alexei are in a league of their own. honda and joubert unfortunately have become yag clones.:D

**carol45** · 11-04-2003, 05:27 PM

He won't be the next Yagudin but Stephane Lambiel potentially has the whole package. He needs to be careful and get healthy but where Yagudin had his flashy footwork, Stephane has spins that make people jump out of their seats. Anybody who saw his long program in the prelims in Washington knows that.

Beyond that he has a great choreographer in Salome Brunner who was responsible for the fabulous "Chocolat" program last year. I hear she has done two more long programs - one specific to the fact that 2004 Europeans will be in Budapest.

He connects so well with his music and does a lot more than navigate between the jumps. His edges are beautiful and his extensions are just as good.

It also does not hurt that he is "drop dead gorgeous."

Finally, in terms of the jump consistency, he has been working a lot with Mishin - both in LA and Moscow.....so, I think Plushenko might be hearing footsteps.

All of figure skating desperately needs new faces - we have seen far too much of the same thing for far too long. Did anybody else notice all of the empty seats at Skate America?