'Brian-Brian' rivalry gives South Korean skater some competitive insight

She could scarcely have been more at home than she was on Friday, traversing the ice at Staples Center with lithe and lovely spirals and deft spins. She did get a warning for taking off on the wrong edge for her triple flip, but she still got a positive grade of execution for that jump, part of the record 76.12 points she earned.

Joannie Rochette of Canada was the only skater who didn't get a single minus and she was a solid second with 67.90 points, sandwiched between Kim and a contrite Asada, who turned a planned triple lutz into a faulty double lutz and lost points there to finish with 66.06.

Rochette was strong and forceful but lacked the luminous quality Kim brought to the ice; Asada floated and flowed to "Clair de Lune" but lost to Kim by nearly a full point on the performance/execution segment of the program components and was beaten on every other segment too.

Orser, stationed at the sideboards, jumped every jump with her and swayed his arms in time with hers. His grades of execution might have been lower, but his emotions were no less heartfelt than hers.

"She was fierce and she was on the attack," he said. "The technical aspects of her program were sensational, but she skated with her heart and soul. I'm very proud of her."

As well he should be. She could crack the 200-point mark today, a level no woman has reached.

"It's important we don't get too hung up on being in the lead and the points," he said. "We have to go out and skate a solid long program.

"I want her to skate with the same spirit she did today."

As he spoke in a hallway not far from the ice, Boitano walked by. He's here coaching U.S. women's title holder Alissa Czisny, whose error-filled performance looked even worse compared with Kim's magic.

"She was great," Boitano said of Kim.

"Wasn't she good?" Orser said.

"Oh, my God," Boitano said, his enthusiasm genuine, able, now as then, to appreciate the merits of a wonderful rivalry that has reached its second generation.

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helene.elliott@latimes.com