Huh?

One of the first competitions for French skaters this season takes place at the French Masters in Orléans. If you've seen even one international competition in the past four years (and if you read this blog, I'm guessing that you have =]), you'd expect Brian Joubert to win the competition hands down.

Welllll...then I guess it's time for you to meet his friend and teammate, Alban Préaubert.

Shocking basically the entire skating world, Alban won French Masters over Brian. Although Brian had a significant lead after the short program, a fall on his opening quad, a hand down on a triple axel, and numerous mistakes on other triples in his freeskate led to a score that was easily beaten by Alban's flawless program, which included a gorgeous quad. He won the freeskate and then the entire competition. Brian Joubert has not been beaten on home turf for four years.

Apparently, the 2007 World Champion has been having some blade issues (he told icenetwork that it effected him mentally as well as physically on the ice). Hopefully for him, that's all that it is and everything will be resolved by the time the Grand Prix hits France in November.

On another note...Brian doesn't seem to be having great luck with underdogs. First Jeffrey Buttle at last year's Worlds, and now beaten by his own countryman in a competition that he was supposed to own? Just something to think about...

Here is Alban's short program...I'm on the hunt for a youtube version of his long, so stay tuned!!