U.S. OLYMPIC FESTIVAL LOS ANGELES 1991 : Kuchiki, Sand Give Effort for the Ages : Figure skating: Despite a difference of 13 years, they turn in a sparkling original pairs routine.

Figure skaters Natasha Kuchiki and Todd Sand made all the right moves in the early stages of their original pairs program Saturday at the Forum. Side by side, they flowed with grace from one move to another.

It wasn’t until the pair covered the length of the ice and went airborne with a pair of stunning synchronized double axel jumps that the tone was truly set for an athletic, elegant routine.

The double axels separated Kuchiki, 14, of Canoga Park, and Sand, 27, of Costa Mesa, from the field at the U.S. Olympic Festival.

While others fell or landed at slightly different times or failed to jump in unison, Kuchiki and Sand appeared to be joined by invisible strings.

Their spins were also in unison and Kuchiki’s back-arching glide, known as the death spiral, was performed flawlessly.

Kuchiki (5-foot-2, 107 pounds) also demonstrated athleticism and grace on the throw jumps. With Sand holding her over his head, she spun vertically and horizontally with ease.

As the music picked up speed and the pair responded with a series of quick, well-executed final moves, they gained a roaring approval from the crowd of 3,604.

Even the sixth judge, who downgraded competitors all afternoon, awarded the pair a 5.6 on the required moves and a 5.6 on the presentation.

The pair also received five scores of 5.8 and a 5.7 on the required moves and a pair of 5.9’s and four 5.8’s on the presentation to take the lead in the event, which culminates today with the free program. The free program is worth 66.7% of the total score.

“I’ve never seen them skate better,” Coach John Nicks said. “The program you just saw could beat anybody, even our Russian friends.”

Kuchiki and Sand each agreed that it exceeded their efforts at the World Championships, in which they won the bronze medal, and the 1991 national championships, when they won gold.

“I think the performance at Worlds was very good and this was kind of like the same, only better,” Kuchiki said.

Although it is a midseason competition that does not usually inspire the likes of national or international efforts, Kuchiki said that skating in front of her family and friends made the difference.

“I was thinking of the crowd and trying to do my best and my hardest . . . to perform, to smile, to just do it,” said Kuchiki, noting that her mother and her coach have been pestering her to smile more often.

The success of Kuchiki and Sand caught the experts by surprise over the past two years because of their age difference, but Nicks was certain the pair would succeed.

“I have to admit though that I’ve never seen a pair come together so successfully so quickly,” said Nicks of their move from 11th in the world to third in one year.

Understandably, they were hesitant about teaming up because of their difference in age.

Kuchiki, in particular, was emotionally spent following a long season and the breakup of her partnership with Richard Alexander. After an initial skate with Sand, she missed her first tryout practice with him because she was too upset and teary-eyed to leave her car.

Now they are good friends and medal contenders for the 1992 Olympic Games.

The other top American pair in the Festival, 1991 silver medalists Calla Urbanski and Rocky Marval, are in second place, followed by Laura Murphy and Brian Wells. Alexander, Kuchiki’s former partner, and Tristen Vega of Torrance are fourth and the reigning U.S. national bronze medalists, Jenni Meno and Scott Wendland, are in fifth place after two falls by Meno.

In the ladies’ singles original program, Joanna Ng, 12, of Woodland Hills and Tamara Kuchiki, 16, who is Natasha’s sister, stand fourth and sixth, respectively.

The Festival competition concludes today with the long program.

Ng, the U.S. junior ladies’ silver medalist, is the youngest competitor in the figure skating competition.

Staff writer Jerry Crowe contributed to this story.