Even an upset win at last week's Skate America event won't tempt the Canadian pairs team of Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison to rush their development.

Dube and Davison are preparing for Friday's Skate Canada International competition, beginning with the short programs in Quebec City on CBC Sports, with plenty of caution.

Canada's Jessica Dube, left, and partner Bryce Davison perform during the free-skate program of the Skate America event last week.
(Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press)

All events will also be streamed live on CBCSports.ca.

Canada's up-and-coming team shocked the figure-skating world by upending the 2006 world champions, Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China, in Reading, Pa.

While the win was sweet, Davison said it won't put more pressure on the team for this season.

"It would be hard to go to the top of the world this year and then stay there the next two years," Davison said in a conference call earlier this week, adding there's no rush to win a medal at the world championships in March.

"We're thinking top five or top four at worlds," he said.

The goal for Davison, of Cambridge, Ont., and Dube, from Dummondville, Que., has always been to aim for a podium finish at the 2009 worlds, followed by a medal push during the Vancouver Olympics a year later.

After a strong summer of training, Davison knew his team had closed the gap on the mighty Chinese, but was still caught off guard by the victory.

"We were surprised that we'd be that ready to compete against the Chinese," Davison said. "After the short program, we didn't realize that it was that close and we could be ahead of them."

But the pair isn't bothered by the increased expectations that are being placed on them by the Canadian media and skating fans.

"Jess and I, we like pressure, from the right perspective," he explained. "If it's a negative pressure then not necessarily, but if it's a pressure to perform better and attain our personal bests [then it's OK]. We feel in the next few years, we can be on top of the world."

Davison and Dube have also recovered from a scary incident in early 2007. During a Four Continents competition in Colorado Springs last February, Davison's skate blade accidentally slashed Dube across the face.

Dube was rushed to hospital, where she underwent surgery to close the gash on her left cheek and nose.

Davison was obviously more affected by the incident, but the guilt subsided once Dube's condition improved.

"For sure it's in our minds but it doesn't affect our skating," he said. "It doesn't bother us."

Undergoing therapy

After the accident, the pair consulted a sports psychologist and continually watched the horrific images on popular YouTube as part of their therapy.

"We watched it over and over again until it didn't bother us to see it," Davison explained.

Dube said it didn't take long for her to get over the mental hurdles that come with such a disturbing experience.

"I was over it even the week after. It didn't bother me that much," she said. "After I found out my face was going to be OK, I was fine with the whole thing.

"I watched it a lot of times, I'd say even more than Bryce did."