Near-perfect run

HAMILTON -- Ho-hum. Yawn.

Jamie Sale and David Pelletier were 5.8s across the board and 5.9s across the board as they had another near-perfect run with their short program on its final public appearance before Day 2 of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

No 6.0s?

"No,'' said Pelletier. "I don't think it deserved any 6.0s.

"It was good. But it was a different feeling than when we've skated it at the international competitions. There were no Russians and no Chinese,'' said Pelletier the perfectionist.

"We've been doing a very, very good short program all year long but it wasn't a 6.0.''

He said it's good that it wasn't absolutely perfect. The world pairs champions will find little flaws to work on when they get back to Edmonton's Royal Glenora Club.

Sale landed her side-by-side triple toe but had to make an adjustment after landing.

"I don't think it was a deduction,'' said Pelletier.

Sale said it was just a blip and they skated right through it.

"When we skate this we forget the audience, we forget the judges and we're just out there by ourselves,'' said Sale.

"It's the best short program we've ever had since we've been together,'' said Pelletier.

Short programs with a comic touch are rare. And the comic touch (at one point, Sale bounces Pelletier like a ball) were put into the program by Kurt Browning.

Choreographer Lori Nichol asked Browning, who has had all sorts of fun playing a clown as a pro, to help put together the program.

"Kurt's seen it and he's really, really happy for us,'' said Sale.

"Kurt was a big part of it.

"He e-mailed us and told us he was very pleased and to keep going. He's like a big brother. He's proud,'' said Sale who started skating at the Royal Glenora as a kid when Browning was winning four world championships.

The two have been relaxed here all week, almost having a working holiday. But they know it's serious stuff behind them as the other Canadian pairs here compete for a chance to go to the Olympics.

"I have my favourites and friends I'm cheering for,'' said Pelletier.

Canada has three spots at the Worlds.

Anabelle Langois and Patrice Archetto sit second with Jacinthe Lariviere and Lenny Faustino third. Both teams are from Quebec.

Meanwhile, the dance competition began yesterday. And they didn't even bother to force the two compulsories on the paying public this time with the same music played over and over and over. They staged the show at Chedoke Arena.