Day 1 CP Highlights - 2008/9 Trophee Eric Bompard
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SPOILERS
Canada's Chan, Rochette go for gold at Trophee Bompard skating Grand
Prix
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iROR5evITj31AfTkoeo9uM291k_g
1 day ago
PARIS - Canada's Patrick Chan and Joannie Rochette hope to carry their
gold-medal momentum into this weekend's Trophee Bompard, and secure a
berth in the Grand Prix figure skating final.
The 17-year-old Chan, from Toronto, captured the men's title at
HomeSense Skate Canada International two weeks ago in Ottawa, while
the 22-year-old Rochette from Ile-Dupas, Que., won the women's title,
part of a strong Canadian squad that earned four medals in four
disciplines.
The Canadians face stiff competition though.
Former champion Brian Joubert, who missed last year's Trophee Bompard
with a virus, will compete in his first major international event of
the year. World champion Mao Asada is making her 2008 Grand Prix debut
after winning the world championship in March and is hoping for a
strong performance in Friday's short program.
"I feel a bit nervous because this is the first competition for me
this season," Asada said Thursday through a translator. "It's a little
bit late for my first competition. I want to avoid injury and stay in
good health until the world championships next year."
Asada will skate to Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy on Friday.
"There are so many elements to the short program, I want to skate
clean and calmly on each one," she said. "I need to get a good result
for the Grand Prix finals."
While Asada is expected to be pushed by Rochette, bronze is up for
grabs with former world junior champion Caroline Zhang among the
contenders.
"I'm just hoping to skate better than I did at Skate Canada," said the
15-year-old American, who finished fifth at the event in Ottawa and
believes she has room for improvement.
"I'm focusing on just trying to think about technique going into each
of the jumps," Zhang said. "Trying to get all the levels I can get on
my spins and spirals and have a higher program component score."
The 24-year-old Joubert, meanwhile, feels he owes the French fans a
medal.
"I am here to win this competition and really throw myself into the
international season," the Frenchman said. "I'm really eager to try
out my program here, to see how my programs will be received by the
international judges."
Chan and Skate America champion Takahiko Kozuka of Japan are potential
rivals.
"I am not focusing on my rivals, I'm focused on myself and how I
feel," Joubert said. "I had a lot of problems and October was very
tough for me. I've been feeling better for the last few days and have
managed to put some good work in."
The Trophee Bompard is the fourth of six figure skating events in the
ISU Grand Prix calendar, with Moscow and Tokyo to follow. Skaters
collect points toward a place in the Grand Prix final in Seoul, South
Korea, next month, but can only compete at two events each.
Friday's program also features the pairs short and the compulsory and
original dance programs. Saturday's second day of competition features
free skating in dance, ladies, men's and pairs.
World champions Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France
headline the dance field. They won Skate America last month.
Skate America bronze medallists Sinead Kerr and John Kerr of Britain,
who are brother and sister, will challenge, and Skate Canada silver
medallists Vanessa Crone of Aurora, Ont., and Paul Poirier of
Unionville, Ont., are promising newcomers.