PITTSBURGH -- France's Brian Joubert was ready for a win after a second-place finish earlier this year at the World Championships.
Despite trouble landing several jumps, Joubert got his victory in the men's free skate Friday at Skate America, finishing with an overall score of 193.46.
Joubert, who won this competition in 2002, said his first goal of the season was to win it again.
"I had a good short program, but the free program was difficult. I know what I have to work on. For the beginning of the season, it was very good," Joubert said.
American Ryan Jahnke, a surprise bronze medalist at last year's nationals, scored 186.71 for second -- another unexpected finish.
Jahnke had finished fourth in the short program and fell twice during the free skate, but he still edged countryman Michael Weiss, who was third with 179.56 points.
"I was sort of determined to do everything to a level 10 that I could," said Jahnke, who believes he was helped by skating's new scoring system. "I felt super strong."
Under the new system, every technical element in a program -- jumps, spins, footwork -- has a point value. In the end, the skater with the most points wins, removing most of the subjectivity.
Weiss was hurt by a sloppy landing on a quadruple toeloop.
"I was a little hesitant, obviously," said Weiss, who was skating on one relatively new skate after one broke earlier in the week. "To be hesitant on those jumps was a little disappointing."
Meanwhile, one Skate America title isn't enough for Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto.
After becoming the first American duo to win a Grand Prix title in six years in 2003, Belbin and Agosto held the lead in the ice dancing competition through two rounds with a rousing original dance to "New York, New York" that brought the crowd to its feet Friday.
