Champ Facing A Fight

They showed a lovely video earlier today on the Credit Union Centre scoreboard, highlighting and paying tribute to the Jennifer Robinson era in Canadian women's skating.
One thing you had to say (and admire) about Robinson: She knew how to get it done in her own country. From 1999 in Ottawa all the way through 2003 in Saskatoon, Robinson was unbeatable at the Canadian championships. Five straight titles, six in all (her first coming in 1996, also at the Ottawa Civic Centre).
Graceful and classy? You bet. But one helluva competitor, too.
Fast forward to the 2009 BMO Canadian figure skating championships here in Saskatoon. We're smack dab in the middle of the Joannie Rochette era, with the comely lass from Ile Dupas, Que. on a four-title run of her own. No. 5, it appears, is going to take a bit of work.
Rochette finds herself standing second after Friday's short program with a 53.58-point total. That's 1.58 points back of leader Cynthia Phaneuf of Contrecoeur, Que. (55.16) and a hair in front of Amelie Lacoste of Delson, Que. (53.55).
Not exactly where the reigning queen of Canadian skating — who's being touted as a contender for a world championship medal, and rightly so — expected to find herself. Especially in the wake of a fall campaign in which she was golden at both her Grand Prix events (HomeSense Skate Canada and Trophee Eric Bompard) and made the series final.
However, after singling a double Axel and falling on a triple lutz, Rochette has some catching up to do. With seven triples planned in her free program, she surely has the arsenal to get it done on Saturday afternoon. But after today's stumble, Rochette would be the first to say there are no guarantees at all.
"It’s a competition, so (winning) is not for granted," said the 23-year-old Rochette. "I still have to do a good long (program)."
Rochette has already shown she has it in her to rally from behind. She had a similar "disaster" in her short program at the Grand Prix final in Korea just before Christmas that buried her 12 points beyond a podium position. With a strong free skate, she made almost all of it up, missing out on a medal by less than two points.
"I love my long program and I can’t wait to perform it tomorrow," said Rochette, who believes its overall package makes it "competitive with the top three in the world."
And make no mistake about it, there is a bigger picture at play here. Everything Rochette is doing this week and up until the middle of March is being targeted at giving her the best shot at landing on the world podium in Los Angeles.
The memory of the 2008 worlds in Gothenburg, Sweden, tells her that another Canadian title isn't exactly a necessity to make that happen.
"It doesn’t mean anything at all," said Rochette. "Last year, you saw Jessica (Dube) and Bryce (Davison) were second at nationals (in pairs) and ended up third at worlds. Jeff Buttle was second at nationals and still went and won worlds."
But know this much for sure. Rochette loves the idea of being Canadian champion and wants to leave Saskatoon with the crown still sitting firmly on her head.
"It means a lot," she said. "I really want to keep my title. I’m confident for tomorrow but still mad at myself for today."
We'll see soon enough what that does to bring out the competitor inside.