Weir wins
Trophee Bompard

Johnny Weir

November 21 , 2004

U.S. champion Johnny Weir won the Trophee Bompard on Saturday, skating elegantly to "Otonal", a classical piece.

The win was his second Grand Prix event of the season. He also won in the NHK Trophy in Japan two weeks ago.

The Trophee Bompard, formerly the Trophee Lalique, is the fifth event of the Grand Prix series. The top scorers of the season head to the Grand Prix final in Beijing on Dec. 16-19.

Weir held a big lead over Brian Joubert in the short program Friday, when the Frenchman was fourth. Joubert ended with 199.04, although outscoring Weir 135.00-132.20 Saturday.

Weir was credited with just six triples, after scaling down three planned triples to doubles and that hurt him in the technical score.

"The beginning of the program was good but the ending dropped off, especially with the three double jumps," Weir said.

Weir was helped by the new scoring system, which rewards smooth skating and interpretation. The ISU format, adopted after the judging scandal in the Salt Lake City Olympics, adds the marks for technical skills and gives points for artistry. In that area, he beat Joubert and partially offset the technical weaknesses.

"The new system is very important because it gives credit for the way we go into jumps and the way we move," Weir said.

But Weir knows he has to get the quad in his program.

"It is going to take more repetitions in practice, putting it in the program every day and working hard at it," Weir said. "That is what is going to work for me."

In the ladies competition, Amber Corwin finished fourth and Fumie Suguri, fifth.