Figure skating pair playing off strengths for Olympics

VANCOUVER – Mark Ladwig starts by asking himself a series of questions designed to elicit honest answers. He then asks his pairs partner, Amanda Evora, the same questions.

“How did last year go?” he said. “What were our strengths? What were our weaknesses?”

Maximizing the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses propelled Evora and Ladwig to their sport’s pinnacle, the Vancouver Games that start Friday with the U.S. figure skating spotlight shining brighter on Evan Lysacek and two women making Olympic debuts.

Not getting a lot of attention never has fazed the 8-year couple, which experienced a breakthrough just in time, with top-10 finishes at Skate America and the Cup of China, as well as a runner-up showing at the U.S. Championships. Before this season, Evora, 25, of Sugar Land, Texas, and Ladwig, 29, of Fargo, N.D., never had won a medal at nationals.

Ladwig credits their rise to the fact “Amanda and I complement each other with strengths and weaknesses that are opposite, so I have to raise my weaknesses and come up to her strengths. … I don’t think we were ready. Now, we’re really here, ready to be here.”

“It’s different pressure,” Evora added. “How I see it is less pressure. You’re already here. The only thing you have to prove is to prove to yourself. It’s a celebration performance.”