Skate Canada : Canadians Lead Boitano, Thomas After First Day

Even if the Father David Bauer Arena is not their home ice, Canadian champions Brian Orser and Elizabeth Manley skated as if it were Thursday. Both won all three of their compulsory figures on the first day of Skate Canada.

Orser, the world champion, and Manley, fourth in the world, have built their reputations on their freestyle skating rather than their school figures. But they performed well enough to lead two U.S. skaters who generally are stronger in figures, Brian Boitano and Debi Thomas.

It was the first time Boitano or Thomas have been beaten by the Canadians in figures at an international competition.

“Better here than at the Olympics,” said Thomas, second in the world this year.

Skate Canada is an annual event but has added significance this year because it is in Calgary, the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, Feb. 13-28. Skaters from 13 countries are here.

This is the first time most of the competitors, including Orser and Manley, have skated at the Father David Bauer Arena, where the figures segment of the Olympic competition will be held.

As in the Olympics, the skaters will move to the Olympic Saddledome for the final two phases of competition, the short programs tonight and the long programs Saturday. The figures count toward 30% of the final score, the short program 20% and the long program 50%.

Through the figures, Joanne Conway of Great Britain is third in the women’s competition and Victor Petrenko of the Soviet Union is third in the men’s competition. Countries other than Canada are allowed to enter only one skater in each event.

“I haven’t beaten Debi yet,” Manley said, telling those who tried to congratulate her that they were premature. “It’s like a heptathlon (in track and field). You just take each event as it comes.

“But knowing that Brian (Orser) had beaten Brian Boitano in all three figures, I knew I could do it. I had good vibes.”

Thomas was angry about her performance. Even though she is second in the standings, she was third in the final figure behind Manley and Conway.

Asked if she had seen Thomas after the competition, Manley said, “I didn’t see her--but I heard her.”