Pinoys vie in Slovenia figure skating

MANILA, Philippines - Olympian Michael Christian Martinez gets the chance to show his wares after a failed stint in the World Juniors as he competes in the Triglav Trophy International Figure Skating Competition with compatriot Samantha Cabiles beginning today in Jesenice, Slovenia.

Martinez, who became an instant superstar when he became the first Filipino and Asian figure skater to vie in the Winter Olympics where he dished out impressive performances, was set to compete in the World Juniors last month but pulled out at the last minute due to knee injury.

The 17-year-old Martinez qualified for the free skate and wound up 19th in the recent Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. In last year’s Junior World Championships, he placed fifth out of the 24 who advanced to the free skate.

But in Slovenia, the top Filipino bet and Cabiles, also 17, are expected to figure prominently in the five-day tournament with the former vying in the senior men’s category and the latter in the junior ladies division.

The Philippine Skating Union is sanctioning the Pinoy bets’ campaign in the annual Triglav Trophy, which gathers over 100 of the best young figure skaters from all over the world. Olympic medalists like Shizuka Arakawa, Stephane Lambiel, Yuna Kim, and Evan Lysacek have competed in the event. 

Martinez took up figure skating when he was eight, inspired by skaters spinning and jumping while shopping with his mother at SM Southmall. He began training in 2010 in the US and has set his sights on winning an Olympic medal. He has so far won over 190 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions. 

The Hawaii-born Cabiles, now based in Michigan, started skating at 11. She has also competed in the national championship back home and recently ranked second in last year’s Philippine Figure Skating Championships at SM Mall of Asia.

Cabiles, nicknamed the Skating Gazelle for her high and powerful jumps, also turned in a 10th place finish in the Junior category of the Dragon Trophy competition in Ljubjana, Slovenia last February. She trains in Toronto, Canada. 

SM has been the primary supporter of the PhSU since the latter was established in 2005. SM also provides a venue for the events of PhSU for the promotion of ice skating in the country. PhSU received accreditation from the ISU in 2006, coinciding with the opening of the SM Mall of Asia skating rink that year. In turn, PhSU, as the sole governing body for Figure and Speed Skating provides SM and its ice skating rinks with marketing tools such as local and international skating events and its network of skating athletes.

Through the years, SM and the PhSU have conducted several figure skating competitions that have given birth to international champions such as Martinez. The PhSU is the governing body in the country for figure skating and speed skating. A member of the ISU, it is the exclusive international sports federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee that administers figure skating and speed skating throughout the world.

The ISU is composed of a number of national associations called ISU members who administer ISU sports at the national level and recognize that all international matters are under the sole jurisdiction and control of the ISU.

The excellence demonstrated by skaters especially during competitions is a mark of quality that the SM Skating Rink can provide with its world-class venue and facilities. Property conglomerate SM Prime Holdings, Inc. operates skating rinks through SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. at the SM Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, and SM Southmall in Las Pinas.