Canada's Tessa Virtue, from London, Ont., and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont., gave an outstanding original dance performance at Skate Canada on Saturday. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

A couple of bobbles couldn't keep Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir from putting a stranglehold on the ice dance competition at Skate Canada.

The two Ontario natives and two-time world medallists, put down a 60.57 in total segment score, a mark just below their previous personal best, to hold onto the lead through the original dance section on Saturday at Kitchener.

They skated to Pepe Romero's Farrucas and worked through a difficult beginning to the program as Virtue stumbled a couple of times through a complicated routine.

There was some speculation Virtue's flowing skirt may have had something to do with it, but the skater would not accept that as an excuse.

"You can't blame it on wardrobe," she told CBC Sports. "It was one of those skates that just didn't feel right, one of those you want to start over.

"But we'll come back strong tomorrow."

Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, of France, stayed second with a 56.05 for a two-dance total of 91.60, almost 10 points back of the Virtue and Moir's 101.26.

Fellow Canadians Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, of Waterloo, Ont., were fourth in original dance, but that was good enough to keep them third heading for the free dance portion on Sunday.

"It was a pretty good performance for us, certainly not our best, but we have lots of room to grow," Weaver told CBC Sports. Americans Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates were third in original dance and are fourth overall.