Nobunari Oda of Japan wins Trophee Bompard with flawless free skating; Verner, Rippon next

Nobunari Oda of Japan wins Trophee Bompard

PARIS — Nobunari Oda of Japan captured the Trophee Bompard on Saturday, winning the free skate to finish ahead of Tomas Verner of Czech Republic and American teenager Adam Rippon.

Oda was second after the short program but overtook Verner with a flawless performance to a Charlie Chaplin medley.

Skating in a black tuxedo, Oda combined perfect jumps with artistic intensity to seduce the judges and the Parisian crowd.

Oda opened his program with a triple toeloop before landing a triple axel-triple toeloop combination. He won with a total of 242.53 points after receiving 166.33 in the free skate. It was his third Grand Prix win following victories in last year’s NHK Trophy and the 2006 Skate America.

“I did a good performance today. Everything was good. I’m really happy and I really appreciated the people’s support,” said Oda, who didn’t attempt a quadruple but landed eight triples.

With 144.14 points, Rippon approached his personal best of 147.70 in the free skate and finished with 219.96. He moved to Canada last year to train with Brian Orser, the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medallist.

“Working with Brian is a pleasure,” the 19-year-old said. “He is a great coach and a mentor. I’m excited to go home and continue working with him. I still have a lot of things to improve.”

After a bright opening, Rippon missed a landing of his triple axel when he attempted a triple axel-double tooeloop combination on his second item.

“It wasn’t my best, but it was strong, and to be able to medal in such a deep field with so many great and strong skaters is very rewarding,” said Rippon, who hopes to make the cut for the Olympics.

“Going into this Grand Prix, I wanted to show everyone in the U.S. that I can be one of those three men going to Vancouver.”

Former European champion Verner led after the short program but was betrayed by his jumps in the free skate. The Czech skater started strong with a quadruple toeloop-double toeloop combination but missed a triple lutz and botched a combination later in his program.

“My first four elements were clean, and then I made a mistake,” said Verner, who skated to music from “The Godfather.” ”I’m a bit angry but I think I can improve that.”

Verner received 148.96 points for his free skate and finished with 229.96.

Former world champion Brian Joubert of France, sixth after the short program, climbed to fourth place overall despite missing two quadruple jumps.

Oda clinched his third Grand Prix win following victories in last year’s NHK Trophy and the 2006 Skate America.

This is the first time the Trophee Bompard has opened the six-event ISU Grand Prix, which traditionally starts with Skate America.

Skaters collect points toward a place in the Grand Prix final in December at Tokyo.

(This version CORRECTS triple toeloop in 3rd graf.)