Ice Skating: Eldredge facing up to quad dilemma

Todd Eldredge is facing a tough challenge as he prepares to defend his title at the World Figure Skating Championships, which begin tomorrow in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Eldredge, a four-times US champion, will try to keep his title without attempting to execute a quad, the four-revolution jump that nearly all his rivals have completed in competition.

Canada's Elvis Stojko and Russians Alexei Urmanov and Ilia Kulik landed quads earlier this month at the Champions' Series final, and are sure to try again, most likely in combination jumps.

Stojko landed the first clean quad-triple combination in competition and won in Canada. He plans to repeat the feat in Lausanne, adding a second triple axel to his long programme and a triple-triple combination to his short.

Eldredge has been practising the quad as a safeguard, but gives every indication he will not try it under the pressure of competition. After hurting his right ankle on a triple axel in practice last week, he is less likely to take chances that might cost him the title.