Michael unveils new team

Two-time Winter Olympics figure skater Michael Martinez is back training in Moscow with head coach Nikolai Morozov and a brand new staff, preparing to unveil a fresh routine at the Cup of Austria in Graz on Nov. 11-14 in pursuit of qualifying points for the World Championships next year.

Martinez, 24, came back from a three-year hiatus to compete at the Finlandia Trophy in Espoo last Oct. 7-10 and finished 24th of 26, scoring 156.78 points – way below the 220.36 he registered in the Cup of China six years ago. Another Filipino entry Christopher Caluza ended 25th. Martinez wasn’t chosen to represent the Philippines at the Olympic qualifying Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany, last September and the slot went to Edrian Paul Celestino instead. Celestino wound up 18th in the competition where the top seven placers booked Olympic tickets.

“I have a new training program which includes conditioning class, dance class and boxing as well as off and on ice training,” said Martinez. “Coach Nikolai signed me up with an amazing group of coaches, Irina Smirnova for running my programs and jumps, Nikita Trushkov for my spins, presentation and skating skills, Larisa Viacheslavovna for jazz and off ice dance and Dimitry for off ice workout boxing. They’re revamping my spins, step sequence and more. It’s a bit pricier especially since it’s in a different rink so we have to take a taxi everyday but I already see good results.”

Martinez said he resumed training right after the Finlandia Trophy. “It took a while to settle down,” he said. “I think overall, the competition was good. It was not my best but being there in front of the judges and audience, the feeling, the tension, the experience, those are the things I had to relearn all over again. It’s been more than three years since the last time I competed so it felt like it was my very first competition. Nervousness practically took over specially during my short program, I was so tense but I was able to adjust a bit during my freeskate. Still, I was super nervous. I’ll be fine in the Cup of Austria. I’m very excited.”

Martinez said he treated the Finland appearance as part of his comeback training. “Doing the programs during practice and competition is totally different,” he said. “Since I haven’t competed in a long time, we weren’t really expecting much. But it was a good experience. I had to know the feeling again. Now that I had my first competition, I’m sure I’ll be able to deal with the nervousness and tension next time.”

Morozov said in one or two more competitions, Martinez should be ready to amaze the world as he did in winning the Asian Trophy in Bangkok in 2015, Crystal Skate in Romania in 2013, Skate Helena in Serbia in 2014 and Triglav Trophy in Slovenia in 2014 and 2015. “We are now doing a more complex choreography specially my freeskate because the last time, it was more of just to experience being in the competition and trying to land all the jumps so in Austria, people will see a whole different routine and different element distribution,” he said. In Finland, Martinez met up with Caluza and Fil-Am Sofia Frank. “It was an amazing reunion specially with Christopher,” he said. “They’re doing great. I hope to see them again soon. I think I’ll be with Sofia for a competition in December.” Frank competed in the Nebelhorn Trophy but failed to qualify for the Olympics. She was 18th of 26 in Finland.