The Apprenticeship of Brian Joubert
by Laurie Nealin, Special to U.S. Figure Skating Online |
| Brian Joubert at the 2004 World Championships Photo by Michelle Wojdyla |
European Champion Begins Season at Campbell's Classic This Friday
(9/27/04) — Perhaps Alexei Yagudin sees something of his younger self in Brian Joubert — the ambitious, technically proficient Frenchman who snatched the European title last winter, then claimed the World silver medal.
He describes Joubert as “physically and mentally tough” — qualities that Yagudin himself parlayed into four World titles and the 2002 Olympic gold medal.
But when it comes to assessing the artistic finesse of the man intent on making his own mark on the Olympic stage, Yagudin, master performer and mentor, doesn't sugarcoat his words.
“He has to learn way more than he did last year artistically — have better spins, better skating skills,” Yagudin said in late summer.
“Because of the new judging system, it's going to be a little bit tough for him. It favors complete skaters — technically and artistically strong," Yagudin said in reference to the new ISU judging system, which rewards performances that showcase masterful spins, footwork and movement between jumps.
To his credit, Joubert has taken Yagudin's message to heart.
“I have to work more on my skating than my jumps,” agreed Joubert, who celebrated his 20th birthday Sept. 20.
“Before when I skated, my shoulders would go up,” Joubert said. “It's not beautiful. I didn't use my arms. Now I know how to do it. I have to learn more, but it's better.”
Given the artistic brilliance that shone in Yagudin's Olympic season programs, it is easy to forget that artistry was not always the young Russian's trademark.
“When I came (to the United States) to work with Tatiana (Tarasova) in 1998, I wasn't really flexible, and I wasn't really artistic on the ice,” Yagudin said. “It came with time and experience.”
With that in mind, Joubert's six-week summer session with Yagudin, Evgeny Platov and Tarasova in Simsbury, Conn., was designed to cultivate the athlete's latent artistic talent.
Joubert's apprenticeship under Yagudin has included learning where to look during the performance; how to inject meaning into arm movements; where to stop; and which turn to make.
“Some of the kids training here (in Simsbury) need to work on jumps, but what Brian is really looking for is how to skate, how to present himself, how to do spins and steps, all the little things,” said Yagudin, who also worked with U.S. champion Johnny Weir, Hungary's European champion Julia Sebestyen, and Japanese World champion Shizuka Arakawa this summer. “[The little things are] not less important.”
On last season's ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating circuit, where competitors were judged using the new judging system, Joubert posted a second and two fourth-place finishes. He met with greater success at the European and World Championships where the traditional 6.0 scoring system was used.
“I don't know which is harder to do — jumps, technical skills or just skating skills,” said Yagudin, 24. “Brian knows how to jump, so what's left to do is make him understand what he's doing on the ice. But it takes time. It doesn't happen right away.”
Still, Joubert noted that he needed to up the ante in his jump combinations. He worked hard this summer to master three-jump combinations worth big points in the new system. Joubert also plans to add a quad Salchow to the mix mid-season.
Yagudin selected the music for Joubert's new programs — a high-energy piece by “The Blue Man Group” for the short and music from the “1492: Conquest of Paradise” soundtrack for the free skate. The latter was previously used by former World champions Elvis Stojko and Todd Eldredge. Program choreography was a collaborative effort with Tarasova and Platov, the 1994 and 1998 Olympic ice dancing champion.
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| Brian Joubert with his 2004 World medal Photo by Michelle Wojdyla |
“I told Brian that you can't really understand the music right away, that you need to do it on the ice more, more and more,” continued Yagudin, whose “Gladiator” and “Man in the Iron Mask” programs epitomized that message.
Joubert, whose French coach Laurent Depouilly was with him in the U.S. throughout July, will return to Simsbury in October for a 10-day, pre-Grand Prix tune-up.
The French champion opens his competitive season this Friday at the Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic in St. Paul, Minn., and at Smart Ones Skate America in Pittsburgh three weeks later.
Ironically, Joubert first made a name for himself with his win at Smart Ones Skate America in 2002, the event from which Yagudin was forced to withdraw due to a hip injury. The injury ultimately ended his eligible career. Joubert, who had ranked 13th at Worlds and 14th at the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City the previous season, rode the momentum of that Skate America win to bronze and silver medal finishes at the 2003 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and European Championships, respectively.
In this pre-Olympic season, Joubert's ultimate goal is to be the World champion. The resident of Poitiers, France, expects current titleholder Evgeny Plushenko of Russia to be the one to beat once again, but names Weir and Canada's Emanuel Sandhu as others who could factor into the equation.
Following his second Grand Prix assignment in Paris, Joubert will contend for his third French national title in December, the week before the Grand Prix Final in Beijing. He will defend his European title in Torino, Italy, site of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, in January 2005.
Meanwhile, Yagudin's third season on the pro circuit will include a return to Stars on Ice in the U.S. and Canada, and at least one pro competition — Ice Wars in Charleston, S.C., in November.
Yagudin, who is studying French and building a new house in Avon, Conn., intends to be in Moscow with Joubert for the 2005 World Championships in March.
