THE OLYMPICS: WINTER GAMES AT ALBERTVILLE : County Figure Skating Pairs Compete Today at Olympics

Orange County’s figure skaters begin their quest for the Olympic gold this morning (10:30 a.m. PST) in Albertville, France, when the pairs teams of Todd Sand-Natasha Kuchiki and Scott Wendland-Jenni Meno compete in the pairs original program. The competition will be televised at 8 tonight on Channel 2.

Sand, 28, of Costa Mesa and Kuchiki, 15, of Canoga Park finished third in the world championships last year. Wendland, 25, and Meno, 21, both of Costa Mesa, earned an Olympic berth by finishing second last month in the U.S. championships. Scores today will be added to Tuesday’s freestyle program to determine the final standings.

Christopher Bowman, who trains with both pairs teams at the Ice Capades Chalet in Costa Mesa, doesn’t skate until 10:30 a.m. Thursday, when the men’s original program will be held. The medal standings will be determined Saturday after the freestyle program.