Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir got off to a great start to the Olympic season, Saturday. The Canadian ice dance duo took the first Grand Prix gold of the fall at the Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris, France.

In spite of a two-point deduction due to extended lifts, Virtue and Moir of Ilderton, Ont., earned a score of 97.39 for their free skate to Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler.

"It was a great skate for us. A couple housekeeping items that we need to kind of clean up, but we're very excited about the way it went today," Moir said on a conference call.

"I think it's probably our favourite program that we've ever done, so it was a great way to start what will hopefully be an amazing season."

The Canadian team's 197.71 total points were more than good enough for first place over Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, French skaters competing in front of a home crowd.

Pechalat and Bourzat finished with a total of 181.64 points while Great Britain's Sinead and John Kerr earned bronze with 177.11 points.

Virtue and Moir missed most of the 2008-09 season as Virtue recovered from surgery to both legs due to Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome.

"It was exciting for us to get back in competition where we were trained and ready to skate," Moir said.

"Last year we had to cross our fingers a little bit and hope for the best, but this year it was a whole different story and it feels so nice nice to get back out on the international ice and have programs that we're really proud of and ready to compete." 

The 22-year-old added there is plenty of time for their programs to grow from now until the 2010 Olympics.

"I think it is a good start. I don't think we're satisfied with where the program is yet...But we are right on track for where we are at in October."

He added he was pleased with the way their programs were being received from fans.

"Everybody seems to be liking them, and that's good," Moir said. "We're invested in the programs and we feel they're the vehicle that is going to take us to Olympic gold.

"But it's nice to hear from other people, and it helps you believe that a little bit too."  

Moir said some of the housekeeping items they need to work on include the long lifts they were penalized for during Saturday's free program.

"I guess I was enjoying the moment a little bit too much," he joked.

"More power, always pushing the program out even more, you know the lifts just getting so clean and so dynamic, and faster, there's always more that can be done," Moir said.

In the pairs competition earlier Saturday, Canadians Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison also began their season in grand style, taking the silver medal behind Russian skaters Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov.

World champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany were third.

Also Saturday, world champion Kim Yu-Na of South Korea dominated the ladies' competition, earning gold with a personal-best 210.03 points.

Japan's Mao Asada and Yukari Nakano finished second and third with 173.99 and 165.70 points, respectively.

In the men's competition, Japan's Nobunari Oda earned gold (242.53) while Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic (229.96) and American Adam Rippon (219.96) were second and third, respectively.

Canadian Vaughn Chipeur finished last of 12 competitors.

The Grand Prix season continues Oct 22-25 in Russia.