SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — Olympic figure-skating medal favorites Michelle Kwan and Irina Slutskaya were supposed to battle for the win here at Skate Canada, their first major head-to-head meeting of the season.
But after flawed performances in the short program competition Friday, both struggled just to stay in the running.
Kwan, the five-time American champion, fell on her triple Lutz and was unable to complete the required combination jump. Though her technical marks were as low as 5.2, her artistic marks kept her in second place behind fellow American Sarah Hughes.
Slutskaya, the two-time world silver medalist from Russia, doubled a planned triple Lutz-double loop combination and placed fourth going into Saturday's free skate.
First and third place came down to a duel of "Ave Maria" programs. Both Hughes and Fumie Suguri of Japan skated to the piece — Hughes to the Charles Gounod arrangement, Suguri to the Franz Schubert.
Hughes said she was pleased with her program, which was nicely skated and included all of the required elements. She landed a double Axel, triple Lutz-double loop combination, and a triple flip.
"It was better than last week," Hughes said. "Last week I was able to work out some of the kinks. I felt more into the music, more together."
Friday marked the first time Hughes has led a major event after the short program.
"I know I'm capable of doing everything as one of the best," Hughes said.
Suguri skated a lush, flowing program beautifully crafted by Kwan's former choreographer, Lori Nichol. She completed a triple Lutz-double toe loop combination, a triple flip and a double Axel. The Axel was tilted in the air, but Suguri held on to complete the landing.
"I feel really good," Suguri said. "But also, I find lots of work I have to do after the competition."
The same might be said for Kwan, who said she was "a little shocked" about her fall.
"I was just a little upset with how I skated, how I did the Lutz," Kwan said. "When you're in the short program, you don't want to make a mistake. Every element is crucial."
For the second week in a row, Kwan also was asked to explain the judges' marks, which critics said seemed inflated. Her technical marks were 5.2-5.4; her artistic marks, however, were as high as 5.9.
Three judges had Kwan tied with Suguri on the technical mark; two had Kwan beating Slutskaya on the first mark, with another giving them both a 5.4.
"When I finished skating, it's done," Kwan said. "They (the judges) give me what they give me."
Slutskaya said she wasn't surprised so much at Kwan's marks but at the mistakes both she and her chief rival made.
"She had a mistake like me," Slutskaya said. "I was surprised she had a mistake because she skated great all week. . . . I didn't fall, but I double-doubled."
Despite an unexpected case of nerves, Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier again showed that they are Olympic gold medal material with an impressive win here in the pairs competition.
"We felt very, very nervous tonight," Sale said. "We knew everyone was skating well. We heard the marks, and we heard the crowd. For some reason, it was more nerve-racking even than Worlds."
Skate Canada will continue Saturday with the completion of the men's and ladies' competition.
E-mail: jnii@desnews.com