Skate Canada International: Day One

(Ottawa, Ont.) - Skate Canada International opened Friday with the Compulsory Dance, the Pairs, Ladies and Mens' Short Programs. Skate Canada is the second of six events in the 2008/2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The skaters compete for global prize money of US $ 180, 000 per individual event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and receive points according to their placements. This is the 35th edition of Skate Canada International.

Pairs, Short Program

Today's competition kicked off with the Pairs Short Program. Yuko Kawaguchi/Alexander Smirnov of Russia captured the Short Program ahead of Keauna McLaughlin/Rockne Brubaker (USA) and Canada's Jessica Dubé/Bryce Davison.

Kawaguchi/Smirnov delivered a very balletic program to "The Swan" by Camille Saint-Saens, producing a solid side by side triple toeloop, a triple twist, throw triple loop as well as a forward inside death spiral, flying side by side combination spin, spiral sequence, hand-to-hip lift and a pair combination spin that all were graded a level four by the Technical Panel. The reigning European bronze medalists earned 65.02 points (37.10 element score/27.92 program component score) to take the lead. "We are almost satisfied with our elements", Smirnov smiled. "We've skated this program much better in practice, in terms of speed and choreography. This is our second competition this year, we did all the elements, maybe not with positive grade of executions, but at least with the base value." Kawaguchi agreed. "There are still so many things to work on, but for today it was good."

McLaughlin/Brubaker's dynamic performance to "Malaguena" included a triple twist, throw triple loop and a side by side triple Salchow with a shaky landing on his side. They were a little off in their side by side spin, but were awarded a level four for the spiral sequence, the pair combination spin and the lift. The 2007 World Junior Champions scored a new personal best of 60.66 points (35.22/25.44). Dubé/Davison opened their routine set to "Fix You" by Coldplay with an excellent side by side triple Salchow, but the catch of the triple twist was flawed and she landed on two feet on the throw triple loop. The current World bronze medalists received a level four for their two spins and a level three for the death spiral, but the spiral sequence was graded only a level one. The Canadians received 60.14 points (32.78/27.36) to place just behind the Americans.

Ladies, Short Program

Joannie Rochette of Canada won the Ladies Short Program with Japan's Fumie Suguri and Caroline Zhang (USA) following in second and third.

Skating to "Summertime", Rochette hit a triple Lutz, a double Axel and a triple flip-double toeloop combination, although she did a three-turn out of the flip. The four-time Canadian Champion was awarded a level four for the flying sit spin and the combination spin as well as a level three for the layback spin and the footwork. The current Four Continents silver medalist set a new personal best for herself with 64.74 points (36.70 element score/28.04 program component score). "I felt really relaxed. I smiled more in the warm up. I trust my training which has been better than ever. My main goal for this season was to improve my component score, to be more calm on the ice, and I think we achieved that", Rochette told the post-event press conference. "I made a little mistake on my flip, but I'm happy that the performance was still good."

Suguri opened her program to "Fanfan" with a triple Lutz-double toe and landed a solid double Axel. The Japanese showed two-level four spins, but two-footed the triple flip and got only a level one for her wobbly layback spin. The 2006 World silver medalist scored 57.92 points (33.52/24.40). Zhang missed her first jump, a triple flip, that was planned to be in combination, but rallied back to add a double toe to her triple loop and made no further mistake, hitting a double Axel and excellent spins. Her layback spin drew extra applause from the crowd at Scotiabank Place as the 15-year-old showed off difficult positions.

Ice Dancing, Compulsory Dance

The Compulsory Dance for Skate Canada International is the Paso Doble. The Paso Doble is a dramatic and powerful Spanish dance requiring good body control and precise footwork. It can be expressed in terms of it's origins from the music of bull fighting or in Flamenco style. The Paso Doble was created by Reginald B. Wilkie and Daphne B. Wallis. It was first performed in London in 1938.

Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) danced to the lead, edging out Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat of France by less than one point. Kimberly Navarro/Brent Bommentre came in third.

Dressed in a red dress and a classical Torero costume, Davis/White put out a precise Paso Doble with excellent timing. They earned 34.29 points (17.18 element score/17.11 program component score). "It was pretty solid. It wasn't the best that we‘ve ever skated Paso, but we are pretty pleased with it and obviously very pleased to be in first place", Weiss commented. "It's not one of our favorites (dances) and not one of the hardest ones, but there are a lot of little things about it that you have to think about. We did it consistently but not with quite as much attack as we would have liked", he continued. "We could have had more speed, power, more attack. I think there are a few things to improve upon in our compulsory dance, just really go for it", Davis added.

Pechalat/Bourzat opted for the Flamenco style in their interpretation of the Paso Doble and gave a strong performance as well to score 33.90 points (16.96/16.94). Navarro/Bommentre turned in a solid Paso Doble with character and picked up 31.67 points.

Men, Short Program

Yannick Ponsero of France grabbed the lead in the Men's Short Program. Patrick Chan of Canada finished second ahead of Ryan Bradley (USA).

Performing to a modern arrangement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 named "Ice 5", Ponsero nailed a strong quadruple toeloop-double toeloop combination, a triple Axel and a triple Lutz. The Frenchman got a level four for his three spins and a level three for the straight line step sequence. Ponsero was awarded 78.05 points (44.70 element score/33.35 program component score), improving significantly his previous personal best of 69.05 points, established two years ago at Skate Canada. "I'm pretty happy with my short program, with my jumps. I've worked a lot on my choreography and it wasn't easy for me to dance like a Hip Hop man, because I was more a classical skater", the Frenchman explained. "I chose this program, because I wanted to change my style. I asked a friend to rearrange Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. I really like this program, it's a different style for me and people are looking at me differently."

Chan's routine to "Tango de los Exilados" featured a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, a triple Lutz, a level four flying sit spin and level three footwork sequences, but he put his hand down on the triple Axel. The Canadian Champion scored 77.47 points (44.70/36.05), which was a new personal best for him by 4.66 points.

Bradley put out an entertaining performance to an Elvis Presley Medley. He stumbled on his opening quadruple-triple toeloop combination, but recovered to land a triple Axel and a triple Lutz. His flying camel and combination spin were both graded a level four, but the 24-year-old touched down with his hand on the combination spin. Bradley, too, set a new personal best for himself with 72.50 points (42.70/29.80). His previous personal best was 68.83 points.

Skate Canada International continues Saturday with the Original Dance, the Ladies, Men's and Pairs Free Skating. For full results, please refer to www.isu.org. An extended version of this report will be available soon on the website.

For further information please contact:

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating & Final
Devra Pitt-Getaz, ISU Media Coordinator
+41 21 612 66 66
email: pitt@isu.ch

Skate Canada International
Barb MacDonald, Press Officer
 +1 613 595 1430 (press room)
 email: bmacdonald@skatecanada.ca