Rena and John place 5th at Skate America

October 25, 2008

Two-time U.S. national champions Rena Inoue and John Baldwin began their 2008-2009 competitive season at Skate America at Comcast Arena in Everett, Washington with a fifth place finish.

It’s the sixth time Inoue and Baldwin have competed in the Grand Prix Series. They finished first in their last Skate America in 2006.

Inoue and Baldwin finished fifth in the short program, skating to Illumination by Secret Garden and maintained their placement in the free skate with a performance to Overture from Beethoven’s Last Night by the Transsberian Orchestra.

The pair have had a busy off-season touring and building a new home and haven’t had time to finesse their competitive programs.

"We wanted to (compete at Skate America), but we weren't sure if we would be ready. It felt good for the first competition of the season. I thought I'd be panicky, but I was calm."