BEST male skater since 1980?

[Fliple Trip]

Whatever it means, whoever it is ... ;)

Please notice: I've needed all 12 possible options, so there's no "Others" button! If you miss someone, feel free to mention him!

[nahschoir]

I have ran polls on here quite a bit because of a statistics class I am taking. Therefore, I can relate to only being able to list 12 choices. I voted for Ilia Kulik because I am just a huge fan of his creativness & passion on the ice. However, surely out of 12 choices from 1980 Paul Wylie would have come up in the poll. Surely above names such as Robin Cousins.... Not that he wasn't a great champion....but does he really come close to comparing to the magnitude of awesomness that Paul Wylie put(s) on the ice?!?:roll:

[Canadian Chick]

Alexei Yagudin!! No one in history compares to him :)

[Germanice]

Well, to me it's Alexei ... (... Yagudin it is ... ;)) but somehow I sense Kurt'll win this by a countrymile in the end. Not that I couldn't live with that ... ;)

Anke

[Norlite]

I picked Kurt :)

One thing I would like to note though, and I don't mean to be picky...

Although Robin Cousins Olympic win was in Lake Placid, in 1980...it was his last year of competiton, I believe....his remarkable career was all in the '70's.

[WeBeEducated]

Yagudin has had the kind of performances that even nonskating fans can appreciate for power, jumps, and musical presentation. His programs have had a contemporary appeal combined with classic technique.
His connection to his music seems real and strong, not rehearsed and fake.
My other choice would be Paul Wylie.

[icenut84]

Originally posted by nahschoir
However, surely out of 12 choices from 1980 Paul Wylie would have come up in the poll. Surely above names such as Robin Cousins.... Not that he wasn't a great champion....but does he really come close to comparing to the magnitude of awesomness that Paul Wylie put(s) on the ice?!?:roll:

Well I know next to nothing about Paul Wylie (was never drawn in by his skating at all), but maybe you don't know much about Robin Cousins. Heck, I don't know that much, but I do know that he was Olympic champion, 3 time world free skating champion (they used to give a seperate medal for figures, freestyle - sp and lp, and overall), and was also a hugely successful pro. He introduced a whole new style (I believe he used a disco session in his Olympic lp - highly risky and never done before) and was also a very athletic and powerful skater - his axel travelled nineteen feet! And he was known for artistry too. I think he belongs on a list like this, definitely. :)

[Germanice]

Couldn't agree more, Icenut! Frankly, I hardly know Paul Wylie, but it was Robin Cousins who brought me to male figure skating. I remember it like yesterday how I stayed awake at night just to root for him and watch him win Olympic Gold in Lake Placid, even though his main rival was a German, Jan Hoffmann (... yes! THE evil Jan Hoffmann, who has stolen Nancy's Gold ;)).

Robin Cousins, along with John Curry and Toller Cranston, was a pioneer. Male skating wouldn't be like it is today without those three, and Cousins FOR SURE belongs in that list above!!!

Anke

[BigB0882]

I dont want to change the subject, and you most likely were making more of a joke than anything, GermanIce. However, Jan Hoffman is all too incorrectly blamed for giving the gold to Oksana over Nancy. He was only one of the five judges who put Oksana on top, he just happened to be the 9th judge so he was picked as the deciding vote. I blame this totally on CBS for the way they handled the situation, clearly saying that Jan Hoffman had the deciding vote, as if he had seen what the other judges were giving and was able to go this or that way. It really is quite incorrect and unfair on Mr. Hoffman.

[duane]

i chose kurt. his jumps were awesome, he had amazing choreography, no one connected better with the audience, and his footwork is second to none.

elvis would be my second choice, mainly because of his athleticism, his unique masculine style, and for being the skater who forever upped the technical difficulty in mens skating.

i think there are too many similarities in the skating of the Russian men to single one out over the others.

[Lois]

Norlite, I'm sorry that you aren't familiar with Robin Cousins' 20 year pro career, but you couldn't be more wrong about his skating contributions. Paul Wylie is actually my 2nd or 3rd favorite skater of all time, but IMHO both his amateur and pro careers can't compare to Robin's. Incidentally, Robin and Paul skated at a number of the same pro events, during Paul's regrettably far briefer pro career.

Personally, I feel that, despite Robin's Olympic title and 3 World Free skating titles and being undefeated in free skating for the last 3 years of his amateur career, Robin's greatest accomplishments came in his two decades as a pro skater, where he won the Landover World Pros with classic programs like his Gene Kelly tribute, Satan Takes a Holiday, which is actually available on commercial video, and displayed a huge variety of programs using his own choreography, from classical to rock to tap to jazz to his spoken poem number etc., etc., plus doing ice ballet specials like Nutcracker with Dorothy Hamill and Sleeping Beauty with Rosalynn Sumners, choreographing and skating in Symphony of Sports, combining skating with gymnastics and ballet (in his duets with Katherine Healy), and on and on. He also invented many spins, the Cousins Slide Spiral, and jumps, like the Russian Split Axel that he apparently only he has accomplished. And Robin holds a couple Guinness world records, for the longest axel and (layout) back flip.

Robin also had a couple of his own shows, combining all styles of music and skating, and has had a distinguished career as a choreographer, both for himself and for many other skaters and shows. Among many other things, he also came up with Improv-Ice, which some people here remember fondly. He's also had a stage career in musical theater concurrently with his skating career, and only retired from professional skating in 2000. There's far more information on Robin's web page, but he had one of the longest and most diverse pro careers in skating, and I'm sorry that you missed it.

Lois

[Tpangner]

I picked Kurt but Alexei and Brian Orser are 2nd and 3rd.

[proam]

Kurt just because he is Kurt. ;)

He was the first to do the quad, the first to have three triple/triples in a program, the first to have a triple scow/triple loop and I think a few other firsts.
Yes, he had his innovating jumps, the quad, the triple/triple and etc, but what sets Kurt apart is his unparalleled versatility.

He is known for his original, innovating programs, which starting in the latter part of this amateur career and continues today. Kurt’s many signature pieces are legendary.

Now add a wonderful personality, charisma, and his connection with the audience and what you get is a Super Star. :bow: :)

I love this quote from Lori Nichol about Kurt
“In figure skating, Nichol said, there is but one Kurt Browning, who apparently can be whatever, or whoever, he wants to be on the ice. Everyone else is better off sticking to who they are.”

[Norlite]

Originally posted by Lois
Norlite, I'm sorry that you aren't familiar with Robin Cousins' 20 year pro career, but you couldn't be more wrong about his skating contributions. Paul Wylie is actually my 2nd or 3rd favorite skater of all time, but IMHO both his amateur and pro careers can't compare to Robin's. Incidentally, Robin and Paul skated at a number of the same pro events, during Paul's regrettably far briefer pro career.

Personally, I feel that, despite Robin's Olympic title and 3 World Free skating titles and being undefeated in free skating for the last 3 years of his amateur career, Robin's greatest accomplishments came in his two decades as a pro skater, where he won the Landover World Pros with classic programs like his Gene Kelly tribute, Satan Takes a Holiday, which is actually available on commercial video, and displayed a huge variety of programs using his own choreography, from classical to rock to tap to jazz to his spoken poem number etc., etc., plus doing ice ballet specials like Nutcracker with Dorothy Hamill and Sleeping Beauty with Rosalynn Sumners, choreographing and skating in Symphony of Sports, combining skating with gymnastics and ballet (in his duets with Katherine Healy), and on and on. He also invented many spins, the Cousins Slide Spiral, and jumps, like the Russian Split Axel that he apparently only he has accomplished. And Robin holds a couple Guinness world records, for the longest axel and (layout) back flip.

Robin also had a couple of his own shows, combining all styles of music and skating, and has had a distinguished career as a choreographer, both for himself and for many other skaters and shows. Among many other things, he also came up with Improv-Ice, which some people here remember fondly. He's also had a stage career in musical theater concurrently with his skating career, and only retired from professional skating in 2000. There's far more information on Robin's web page, but he had one of the longest and most diverse pro careers in skating, and I'm sorry that you missed it.

Lois

Huh? :?:

Sorry if something was misunderstood here. I assumed the question was refering to amateur skaters.

I picked Kurt Browning
What has that got to go with Paul Wylie ?....whom I never care for much.

And as far a being familiar with Robin's career, where the heck did that come from??..........born and raised in Bristol here..........came to Canada when I was a child in the early sixties. Cousins was a hero in our house.

And, thinking this was refering to amateur status only, since all the other options were amateur after the 80's............all I did was point out that Robin Cousins was a skater of the 70's.

It is actually amazing you could read all you did into my post of three and a half lines....

:roll:

[Lois]

Norlite, my apologies--for the most part I was getting your post confused with nahschoir's above it, although your line about "(Robin's)remarkable career was all in the '70's" was why I made the mistake of using your name instead of nahschoir's. Different mind sets, I guess--to me, any discussion of great skating automatically includes both pro and amateur careers (and I would definitely have included Paul Wylie on the voting list, though he would have been my 2nd choice).

Lois

[Aussie Willy]

I voted for Robin. As much as I think Kurt and Yagudin are fantastic, I have always loved Cousin's skating for the skating itself. His lines were so clean and he had wonderful posture and definately the biggest jumps on any of the men - even today. He did the most beautiful delayed open axel. Just remember he skated before the triple axel and quad were the norm. I would love to know what he would have been like if he was training today.

I also agree about his pro performances were a benchmark for what skaters do today. Incredibly athletic and artistic. My fav programs were Satan takes a holiday and Busy being blue which he skated to at Skates of Gold in 93. A combination of Robin and kd lang - mmmmmm!!!

[Lee]

I chose Kurt because of his incredibility versatility, his amazing feet and the way his jumps just come out of nowhere.

That being said, I think Yags is the next best thing. I see the versatility coming and he's getting better and better with the feet.

I'm glad to see my two favourite male skaters running 1 and 2 in this poll...:)

[lBrokenAnkle]

I would have Elvis first, due to his pioneering in technical and artistic, combined with the longevity, and Brian Boitano second. Yags and Kurt, well, I have them tied for third, I think.

Laura

[leap of faith]

My vote went to Kurt. Yags would be second.

[loveskating]

I chose Kulik over Yagudin, despite the 4/3/2.

Overall, I think Kulik was more musical, more passionate, had more presence, and his jumps are such perfection, he truly makes everyone else look bad by comparison. I've never seen a better 3 axel than numerous ones Kulik has done...huge, explosive, absolute perfection and when it comes to difficult entries, and almost always being on a curve throughout his programs, there is no comparison. ALso the lutz by Kulik is just very high quality and with very difficult entries.

Also, like Abt, Kulik's edgeing is in the "incredible" category, IMHO.

Yags was more consistent, and more focused, thus won the medals, and accomplished more with a consistent quad and the 4/3/2 but overall I don't think the quality was quite as high except that Yags' front catch spin is a bit better. Even on the 3 axel, Yagudin's was HUGE, but not as technically pure and not quite as explosive.

[gracefulswan]

i think it's way too soon to speculate......some of the men have not even retired yet that are on the list!

[chachacha]

I'd have to say best overall, Kurt Browning.

But in terms of who has the best basic skating skills, who
is fascinating to watch just stroking around the rink -
perfect technique, the best acceleration, the deepest
edges:

I'd pick Alexander Abt - hands down.:D

[greatestfanGER]

8-)
Alexei yagudin----
of course i have always been interested in fs, but he, well, he's just special---
even my daddy (is it comes to fs he knows absolutely nothing) says: wow... i've never seen anyone better than him...

and so is my opinion...

[ROBROY43]

I voted Browning- he was always on top of both the technical & artistic side & very versitile + longevity.

Kulik has to be mentione for greatness but his career seemed so short- great 96, off 97, wins 98 Oly- poof gone. I feel like he is the male Lipinski- you rmember them being great but almost forget why.

As far as pros- Hamilton redifined profesional FS tours & Biotano really raised the bar in terms of pro competitions & even specials. Hamilton was a born entertainer but Boitano really brought something to skating.

No one has brought anything new to the non-eligible side of things since them..

[rose27]

The best male skater ever is Alexei Yagudin!!!
Take that

[RoaringSkates]

Kurt Browning. Not only did he have a stellar amateur career, but he's actually gotten better since he's been a pro. No other man, actually, no other skater, has done as much to incorporate interesting, unusual choreo into his skating. He's very creative, and his being on the pro circuit makes watching pro events worth it for me.

[pittypat]

PAUL WYLIE

[Fliple Trip]

Gotta bump this up just to bring it over 200 votes ... :D ;) And what's wrong with Victor Petrenko??? :(

[loveskating]

Nothing wrong with Petrenko, a very great skater IMHO...had a great 3 axel/3 toe loop and very consistent with it...personally, I'd put Yags and Kulik at the top, then down a slight rung would go Petrenko, Browning, Stojko, Plushenko, Wylie, even Eldredge, and others like Takeshi Honda (I know, very inconsistent, but he HAS it all, is very musical, passionate, lots of detail in his skating, lots of style)...just slight differences but they didn't have IT ALL, TOTAL, like Kulik and Yags.

What hangs me up about Browning at the top, although I think he and Kulik are the most musical, innovative skaters I've ever seen (and Browning is ma fave after Kulik), if I'm trying to be objective, then I have to note that Browning's jumps were not particularly huge, although they were pure and he had lots of trouble with that lutz, LOL, and lots more than Kulik with the flip!!! As for now, he has no 3 axle, no lutz, basically just a 3 toe loop and 3 sal.

Abt is in a category by himself, and if he had the jumps, would belong with Kulik and Yags, IMHO. Personally, I like to watch him a wee bit better than I do Yags...Abt is one of those skaters you don't care if they win or not, you love them.