2002 U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS NOTEBOOK: L.A. COULD BID FOR WORLDS NEXT.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

Staples Center is playing host to the United States' top figure skaters this week, and the world's best might not be far behind.

Los Angeles Sports Council president David Simon said Thursday his group wants to submit a bid to bring the World Figure Skating Championships to the arena based on the success of the U.S. Championships.

``I think the next logical step from here is a bid for the World Championships,'' said Simon, whose group is responsible for bringing many national and international events to the Los Angeles area. ``It's something that we will be considering in the near future.''

Los Angeles had not held the U.S. Championships since 1954 (although Long Beach held the event in 1963 and 1972), largely because of a lack of adequate facilities. But the opening of Staples Center gives the city some clout, as evidenced by the fact the council was awarded this year's nationals in 1998, before the arena had opened.

``In the past, all we really had was the Forum,'' Simon said. ``That was a problem because the Senate Seats (season tickets to all arena events) belonged to people already, and the (United States Figure Skating Association) could not sell those tickets.''

One possible drawback could be the small attendance numbers this week for anything not involving Michelle Kwan. Staples Center was approximately one-third full for Tuesday's and Wednesday's sessions and was less than half full for the women's short program Thursday afternoon, but Simon said the overall attendance figures will be comparable to previous nationals.

Almost 6,000 season passes to all events were sold, so the small crowds have been caused in part by people not attending the events for which they already have tickets.

``Everybody is very pleased from an organizational standpoint,'' Simon said. ``We haven't heard any major complaints. There is a really large figure skating community in Southern California. People don't think Southern California is a big area for skating, but it really is.''

The World Championships are awarded to countries on a rotating basis. Washington, D.C., holds the event in 2003, which means Los Angeles would not likely be awarded the championships until 2008 or 2009. The World Championships never have been held in Los Angeles, but Oakland held them in 1992.

--Drive for five: With a victory today in the championship pairs competition, Kyoko Ina (with partner John Zimmerman) would become the fifth woman to win five U.S. pairs championships.

Ina and Zimmerman are two time-defending champions, and Ina teamed with Jason Dungjen to win national titles in 1997 and 1998. Theresa Weld Blanchard holds the record with nine championships, winning the event from 1918 to 1927 (there was no competition in 1919) with Nathaniel Niles.

Tai Babilonia (with Randy Gardner from 1976-80), Karol Kennedy (with Peter Kennedy from 1948-52) and Maribel Vinson (with Thornton Coolidge in 1928 and 1929 and with George Hill in 1933 and 1935-37) are the only other women to win five national pairs championships.

Ina and Zimmerman received first-place marks from all nine judges in Wednesday's short program, even though Zimmerman fell on their side-by-side triple toe loops.

``I didn't have the confidence, I didn't believe in myself,'' Zimmerman said. ``I felt pretty good in the middle of the jump, and when I fell the way I did, it kind of caught me by surprise. I thought I had it.

``But the thing you have to do is just keep on going. It's one of eight elements and you just have to make the whole package come to life, even more after (a fall).''

--Donovan's day? The junior division will crown champions today with the ladies' and pairs' long programs. Louann Donovan of Boston leads the ladies' competition over Felicia Beck and Jennifer Don, who train in Los Angeles.

Amy Howerton and Steven Pottenger of Dallas lead the pairs competition over Colette Appel and Lee Harris of Detroit.

Granada Hills resident Beatrisa Liang finished seventh in the women's short program. Her marks ranged from 5.0 to 5.5 in both required elements and presentation.

--Dance drama: Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev won the championship original dance and remain in first place in the overall competition.

Lang and Tchernyshev earned marks ranging from 5.7 to 5.9 in composition and 5.8 to 6.0 in presentation. Tanith Delbin and Benjamin Agosto remain in second place going into Saturday's free dance.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

At Staples Center

--2:20-4:10 p.m.: Junior pairs free skate.

--4:40-6:30 p.m.: Junior ladies long program.

--7:30-10:10 p.m.: Championship pairs long program.

TICKETS

Junior pairs and ladies $30 lower bowl; Championship pairs $85/$75 lower bowl, $35/$25 upper bowl.

ON THE ICE

Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman go for their third consecutive national title as the championship pairs compete in the long program. Ina and Zimmerman of Hackensack, N.J., will try to hold off Stephanie Kalesavich and Aaron Parchem of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn of Newark, Del., who split the second-place votes. In the junior ladies' division, Louann Donovan of Boston was ranked first in the short program by seven of the nine judges and leads Felicia Beck and Jennifer Don.

TV SCHEDULE

TODAY

--7 p.m.-8 p.m., ESPN2, original dance

--9 p.m.-11 p.m., ESPN, ladies and pairs short programs

SATURDAY

--8 p.m.-11 p.m., ABC Family Channel, ladies short program, pairs long program, ladies long program

SUNDAY

--3 p.m.-6 p.m., ladies short program, pairs long program, ladies long program

--4 p.m.-6 p.m., Ch. 7, Skating Spectacular exhibition

JAN. 20

--2 p.m.-3 p.m., Ch. 7, dance long program (tape)

CAPTION(S):

4 boxes

Box:

(1) TODAY'S SCHEDULE (see text)

(2) TICKETS (see text)

(3) ON THE ICE (see text)

(4) TV SCHEDULE (see text)