| | Associated Press
Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada gave a near flawless performance to a Wagner opera to win the pairs title at the Skate America
figure skating competition on Friday.
Each gravity-defying lift was woven intricately into
pleasing choreography set to the music of Tristan and Isolde as
Sale and Pelletier successfully defended their title.
Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China, second in the world
championships the past two years, were technically excellent
but failed to match the passion and emotion of the winners.
Three-time world champion Alexei Yagudin of Russia gave a
masterful performance to run away with first place in the
opening round of the men's competition.
The 20-year old sensation sailed through all eight
elements, including the sport's most difficult move -- a
combination of quad and triple toe loop jumps, which has been
allowed in the short programme for the first time this season.
"I'm really glad that the ISU changed the rules. It was
really important for me to do it," Yagudin said. "Every year
the standard goes up and I have to work to stay ahead."
Yagudin's only worry was the high altitude conditions which
left him needing oxygen after his short programme here last
year.
"It's very hard to skate in the mountains," he said. "I am
a little bit afraid for the free because this is four minutes
thirty (seconds) and today it felt hard and it was only two
minutes forty."
American Tim Goebel was in second place.
Goebel became the only person ever to bring off three quad
jumps in competition last year in Skate America, but the
performance was marred by errors and he finished second.
To prevent a repeat, Goebel changed coaches and now trains
alongside Michelle Kwan. "She has a great work ethic and it's
very exciting to be on the ice with her," he said.
Five time former U.S. champion and 1996 world champion Todd
Eldredge, a last minute replacement for injured current U.S.
champion Michael Weiss, had a disastrous showing, falling twice
to sit in fifth place.
"We have to examine what went wrong and make changes before
Skate Canada," said Eldredge's coach, Richard Callaghan.
Ice dancers Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio of
Italy showcased a dazzling array of flashy footwork in a
Quickstep and Foxtrot in the Original Dance section to enhance
their lead going into Saturday's final.
Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas of Lithuania
presented a snappy Charleston to advance from fourth to second
place despite a near fall by Drobiazko. | |
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Italian pair grabs ice dancing title at Skate America
Russia's Yagudin wins men's short program
Eldredge begins run for Olympic redemption
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