Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won the ice dancing competition at the Four Continents figure skating championship Friday in Goyang, South Korea.

The Canadians, who finished third at last season's event, led from the beginning and registered a personal best of 104.08 during the free dance to secure the gold. The pair finished with an aggregate total of 207.32.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir display their gold medals during a victory ceremony Friday at the Four Continents championship in Goyang, South Korea.
(Lee Jin-man/Associated Press)

"I think that was really what we were going for this week, [the] performance aspect of the skating," said Moir.

"We definitely made some errors in the [original dance], it was a little bit sloppy on my part, still some places where we definitely can improve, but performance-wise I'd say it was the best outing of the year."

American rivals Meryl Davis and Charlie White played the role of bridesmaids for the third straight year, placing second with a score of 100.16 to finish at 199.45.

Kimberly Navarro and Brent Bommentre of the U.S. earned the bronze medal with 89.62 on the day for a total of 180.65.

Virtue of London, Ont., and Moir of Ilderton, Ont., used perfect step sequences to separate themselves from their American counterparts and were met by a throng of fans after the competition.

"The Korean fans were amazing and full of enthusiasm," said Virtue, who was the 2006 world junior champion with Moir. "It was exciting for us today.

"Being on the ice every day with Charlie [White] and Meryl [Davis] and training with them is motivating and challenging. I love competing with them."

The Canadian champions chose the 1964 French musical film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg for their free dance.

"It's very young love, first love, then I'm sent off to the military and then she gets pregnant and goes off with a rich guy," said Moir. "That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Pretty cold, but take it as you will."

Fan support

Moir also said the fan support was important to the Canadian skaters.

"We had something similar in Japan and it is great," he said. "We have to make the most of it while we are here because we certainly don't get that at home."

Davis and White were pleased with their second-place finish.

"We learn a lot from watching them every day and in competitions like these. It is great to have such good friends and competitors," White said.

With files from the Canadian Press