COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - Shaking off a poor morning practice session, world champion Patrick Chan nailed his men's free skate program on Friday to win the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

The Canadian, also the 2009 winner, had a season-best 185.99 points to take the title with 273.94 points.

"This whole week was a big test for me," Chan said. "It wasn't easy, and it wasn't like I just walked in and thought I was going to have it in the bag. Coming into the long (program), I was very unsure and very nervous - more nervous than I've been in this past year and a half.

"But with the program, I just went with the flow. I knew that, if I just let things go, it would happen the way I wanted it to."

Two-time world champion Mao Asada of Japan won the women's short program.

Chan easily outpointed Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, the Vancouver Olympics bronze medalist and defending Four Continents champion. Takahashi earned 161.74 points in the free skate and 244.33 overall.

Takahashi was unable to stick to his program, turning a triple axel into a double early in his routine, but was still pleased with his showing.

"I missed two jumps, and my performance was not so good, but I am still happy," Takahashi said. "Overall, my performance (for the competition) was not bad, but I have many points to improve. I just need to continue to practice and work hard."

Chan spent the afternoon trying to settle his nerves by walking around downtown Colorado Springs - the city where he trains - and trying to regroup after a shaky morning practice.

"This week, I learned a lot about not getting hung up on little things from practice or on feelings from off the ice," Chan said. "This morning's practice was great for me, actually. I needed the mistakes to kind of wake me up, get me back on my feet and remind myself that this is not a walk in the park."

American Ross Miner, the 2012 U.S. bronze medalist, survived a fall in the free skate to post a season-best 146.34-point score and earn the bronze with 223.23 points. He narrowly edged compatriot Adam Rippon, the 2012 US silver medalist and 2010 Four Continents champion, for a spot on the medal stand.

Associated Press

(China Daily 02/12/2012 page7)