Hot Russian skater ready to melt the ice

RUSSIAN figure-skating sensation Alexei Yagudin is more than happy to tell anyone who wants to listen: He loves Canadian fans and he loves to skate in Canada -- anywhere in Canada -- at any time.

That explains why the recently crowned Olympic champion, fresh off one of the hottest season's in skating history, hit the Canadian road within days of winning his fourth world title in Japan in March. By mid-April, the Skate the Nation tour had taken Yagudin to 14 small Ontario cities like Sudbury, Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie.

Now, halfway through a two-month series of stops across Canada, Yagudin headlines the Stars on Ice gala tomorrow night at Winnipeg Arena. But first, there are appearances on Much Music and YTV, and a day-long photo shoot for an international skating magazine to attend to in Toronto. "Skate the Nation and Stars on Ice are the most enjoyable tours because they are in Canada," says Yagudin, who lives and trains in Connecticut and will tour the U.S. extensively beginning in June.

"In some countries, the fans are really quiet, but in Canada, it's so loud. I really like what I receive in Canada. Even in Vancouver when I lost the Worlds (in 2001), I still felt like in their hearts I am their champion," offers Yagudin, who skated his first Stars on Ice tour last spring.

Unbeatable

Surrendering his world crown to arch rival Evgeni Plushenko a year ago was a tough pill for Yagudin to swallow. But that loss lit a fire within that made Yagudin unbeatable in the Olympic season, propelling him to the top of every major competition podium: Grand Prix Final, Europeans, Olympics and Worlds.

"I'm really proud of myself. I was not that great last season (2000-2001), so I lost Europeans and the Worlds, but then I just went home and fought it," says the 22-year-old, self-described artist on ice.

While three other Olympic figure skating titles were decided on 5-4 splits of the judging panel (and another by a scandal of epic proportions), Yagudin was the unanimous first-place choice of all nine judges from start to finish in Salt Lake City.

Charming

On the competition and tour circuit, the charming yet feisty Russian has left a trail of standing ovations in his wake. When Stars kicked off its run in Halifax late last month, the crowd was on its feet before he even began to skate his program to Overcome by Enigma.

In the show's second half, Yagudin treats audiences to his acclaimed Winter short program, a choreographic masterpiece that garnered a record six perfect 6.0s at the Worlds. It is destined to become his signature piece.

Although Yagudin is a natural showman, he still relishes any opportunity to learn from the sport's veteran performers. "I have the possibility to skate on tour and learn something from Kristi Yamaguchi (who is on the Canadian tour for the first time since 1992), Kurt Browning and Brian Orser. I can learn things that can help me the next year," says Yagudin, adding he's not done with top-flight competition just yet.

"I am still young and I feel a lot of power in myself, so I know I can do more," he adds.