Can Eldredge Join Skating’s Quad Squad? World Figure-Skating Champion Hopes To Claim Another U.S. Title

With or without the quad, it should be Todd.

Todd Eldredge, the defending world champion, goes for his fourth U.S. Figure Skating Championships title this week. He won nationals in 1990, ‘91 and ‘95, and would join such illustrious company as Scott Hamilton and Brian Boitano with four American crowns by taking this event.

Might he need a quadruple jump to get there?

“Who knows? I’m not sure yet,” said Eldredge, 25, who has yet to hit one in competition. “It really depends on how it’s going in the program and in practice when we get there… . Obviously, there’s strategy involved in whether to play it safe and do a nice program or risk throwing something in there I don’t feel comfortable with.

“It’s something that’s there now. It’s not 100 percent, but I would definitely try if I do feel comfortable with it in practices at nationals and in the program day-to-day. Then, definitely we’ll give it a try… . It’s not something I think is going to make that big a difference right now.”

Eldredge probably can win this week without the quad, but to repeat as world champion, he might need it. Elvis Stojko, Alexei Urmanov, Ilya Kulik, Phillipe Candeloro and other top skaters have it in their repertoire.

Of course, if Eldredge skated the way he did in Edmonton, Alberta, last March, when he won his first world title, U.S. opponents will need a dozen quads to stay close. That’s how far Eldredge has separated himself from his countrymen.

“Obviously, it will be a bonus (if he lands a quad in competition). In the technical mark that will definitely be a bonus,” he said. “But I really think it comes down to who has the best skate all around on that day. If they do the quad, that’s great. Obviously, you have to do all the other triples and the judges have to like their program. There are a lot of different factors that come in.”

Such as health. Eldredge injured his right ankle practicing his quad at the NHK Trophy in Japan in early December. He took some time off to rest and take therapy.

Oddly, he won worlds despite not being the U.S. champion; Rudy Galindo’s magical performance in his hometown of San Jose, Calif., was unbeatable.

Now, Galindo is a pro and Eldredge is a heavy favorite to move to the level of Hamilton and Boitano.

“With winning a world championship and three national titles, I think that’s putting myself in pretty good company, as well,” he said. “If I do get that fourth national title, that’ll be even better.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: BEST OF THE U.S. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships run through Saturday at Nashville, Tenn.