PARIS (AP) — Former European champion Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic led after the men’s short program at the Trophee Bompard on Friday, opening with a quadruple jump to beat Nobunari Oda of Japan by almost two points.
Rigning world junior champion Adam Rippon of the United States was third. Former world champion Brian Joubert of France disappointed home fans by finishing sixth.
Skating to music from “Zorba the Greek,” Verner hit nearly perfect landings on a quadruple toeloop-triple toeloop combination, a triple axel and a triple lutz for a score of 81.00 points. Oda was second with 79.20 and Rippon followed with a personal-best 75.82.
“I’m satisfied with my performance,” said Verner, who was inspired by Anthony Quinn’s Zorba from the 1964 movie. “I’m not afraid to start my program with a quadruple jump because Zorba wouldn’t be afraid to.”
Oda, skating to the very dark “Danse Macabre,” landed a triple axel, a triple lutz-triple toeloop combination and a triple flip in quick succession to open his program.
“I kept the focus on myself and I’m really happy with my performance tonight,” said Oda, who won last year’s NHK Trophy.
The 19-year-old Rippon moved to Canada last year to train with coach Brian Orser.
“It was a little bit shaky, but I’m happy with the jumps and the interpretation,” Rippon said.
Joubert botched his quadruple toeloop-triple toeloop combination before missing his landing on a triple lutz to total 72.15 points.
In ice dance, world bronze medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada took an early lead after dominating the ice dance compulsory program.
Virtue and Moir, one of Canada’s top hopes for a figure skating medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, will try to extend their lead in the original category later Friday.
The Canadian pair scored 38.41 points. British siblings Sinead Kerr and John Kerr were second with 36.13 points, ahead of French pair Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat with 35.53.
Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates of the United States finished fourth after their waltz, with 31.11 points.
This is the first time the Trophee Bompard has opened the six-event ISU Grand Prix, which traditionally starts with Skate America. Skaters collect points toward a place in the Grand Prix final in December at Tokyo, Japan.
Friday’s program also features women’s and pairs short.
In the women’s field, world champion Kim Yu-na of South Korea will try to claim her first win this season. Mao Asada of Japan, the 2008 world champ, is also competing.
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