Michael Martinez says bid to qualify for 2018 Winter Games right on track

EXPECT an improved Michael Martinez in the next figure skating season.

This was what the Filipino Olympic figure skater said during a press conference on Tuesday where he announced his collaboration with SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. (SMLEI) and SM Skating in holding a 3-day camp on June 15-17 at Mall of Asia and June 30 - July 1 in SM Seaside City Cebu.

“I’m really on track, yes,” said the 18-year old skater from Muntinlupa City.

Martinez assessed himself as '50 percent' better compared to his skill level last year.

“I risked really a lot especially sa bagong program ko right now. Yung kulang na lang po is yung quad jump, which took me last season to complete. The only problem is I need to land the jump. It will make the difference in the coming season,” explained Martinez.

While he's unimpressed with how he started last season, Martinez closed out strong with his performance in the World Championship, and eventually winning two gold medals and improving his scores.

Martinez is in intense training to qualify in the 2018 Winter Olympics and improve on his performance that earned him the world’s attention in Sochi four years ago. His target? To place in the Top 5 of what has traditionally been a tough men’s figure skating field.

He also assured the country that he would win a gold medal in the upcoming SEA Games in Malaysia.

Coming from a country that's unheralded in the winter sports circuit, Martinez has had to participate in twice the number of tournaments as his contemporaries to remain in the radar and recognition of judges and event organizers. But despite the physical toll he's dealing with in the competitions he joins, Martinez remains unfazed.

“I will still compete in the same amount of competitions,”he shared.

“The injuries nandoon na. Hindi maiiwasan iyun. My previous injuries nandoon na talaga," added Martinez, who makes regular therapy sessions to keep his knees, hips, and back in condition. "I'm holding up pretty well."

When SPIN.ph asked what injury bothers him the most, Martinez pointed to his back. To keep his spine strong, Martinez has been receiving electric tens and ultrasound as part of his therapy.

“Nakikita niyo yung back bendings ko and mga splits? Sinuggest nga po ng doctor ko and the coaches na don’t do it anymore because it’s going to be a big stress on your back kasi nga yung L4 and L5 ko are really close na, there’s no more space,” bared Martinez, who has also been told to eat more and bulk up to support his back. 

“My doctor said I should eat 5,000 calories a day!" he added, laughing. "Hindi ko kaya pero kailangan ko talaga because I am burning way too much calories."

For now, Martinez looks forward to the camps where he will share his knowledge and experience to aspiring figure skaters. Starters will be taught how to maintain balance on the ice while the more advanced students will be taught techniques on how to jump and execute spins.

“It’s just really different kasi while I’m training in the US, focus ako sa kailangan kong gawin from the start, 7 a.m. I have to skate and train, train, train hanggang sa matapos, wala focus ka lang. Pero kapag nandito ka, it’s like people here cheer for you. It’s like family here,“ he said.

SMLEI, a constant partner in Martinez's competitions, expressed their full support to the effort by the world-class figure skater to pay back to his fans and young athletes.

“We at SM Skating would like nothing more than to support Michael in his dream to develop budding skaters into Olympic athletes,” noted SMLEI Sports and Development Head CJ Suarez. “We hope to have this camp in place annually during Michael’s off-ice seasons."

"We are also creating full-production, free ice shows starring Michael and the 2015 Philippine national champs. There will be a meet and greet after each show. We hope that this doesn’t only create an interest in the sport, but also create a bigger spark in skaters to give them a push towards training harder for the gold medal,” he added.

Suarez said the camp would be able to accommodate up to 80 participants of all ages. Registration fee for the 3-day camp is P3,500.

After the last leg of the camp and ice shows in July, Martinez will head back to the United States to prepare for the next competition season in August for the Asian Trophy.

Source: Rhoel Fernandez of Spin.ph

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Filipina figure skater wins 4 gold medals in Indonesia

Verniece Enciso also won two silvers and the Best Performance Award at the Skate Bandung 2015 in Indonesia.

MANILA, Philippines – Filipina figure ice skater Verniece Enciso took home 4 gold medals, two silvers, and the Best Performance Award in the Skate Bandung 2015 held at the Gardenice Rink in Bandung, Indonesia this past weekend.

The victory comes just weeks after 6 Filipina figure skaters from the Philippine Figure Skating Team claimed gold medals at the 2015 Asian Junior Figure Skating Challenge in Hong Kong, having bested representatives from China, Indonesia, and Thailand among others.

Meanwhile, 6-year old Ayasofya Vittoria Aguirre, the youngest among figure skaters in-training in the Philippines, earned her first gold medal at the Level Alpha Technical Division during the 2015 Skate Manila held at the SM Ice Skating Rink in Megamall.

Figure skating will be included in the 2017 South East Asian Games (SEA Games) that will be held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Source: Rappler.com

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PH junior figure skaters win 6 golds in Asian tilt

The Philippines continues to excel in the field of figure skating.

The country’s junior figure skating team showed its might with a six-gold haul in the 2015 Asian Junior Figure Skating Challenge (AJFSC) in Hong Kong recently.

Emee Marjorie Dy of Manila Figure Skating Club led the delegation and was triumphant in the basic junior ladies category, her second straight conquest in the division.

The young Filipinos also took home two silvers and six bronze medals in the tilt.

The junior figure skaters showcased their grace inside the ice rink, dazzling the crowd and shining against competitors from Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Aside from Dy, Sophie Hernandez (Basic Juvenile), Cathryn Lagemann and Kate Orrock (Basic Pre Novice), Gabby Panlilio and Charmaine Skye Chua (Basic Novice A) also won gold medals.

Aiko Shibata (Basic Novice A) and Hannah Solomon (Basic Novice B), meanwhile, came away with silver medals and Felicity Eco (Basic Pre Novice), Cacai Eid (Basic Pre Novice), Alexa Gonzaga (Basic Novice A), Johanna Tecson (Basic Novice B), Sofia Nagrampa (Basic Novice B), and Misha Fabian (Basic Junior) bagged the bronze.

The team was mentored by Al Marinas along with Ronan Capili, Pom Domdom, Nonie Nerida, and Clarisse Roman.

Source: Randolph Leongson of Inquirer.net

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Michael Martinez eyeing gold when figure skating makes SEA Games debut in 2017

THE Philippines has a chance to assert its regional dominance in figure skating after Olympian Michael Martinez committed to compete in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur.

“Aside from the international tournaments lined up next year, I will also be competing in the 2016 National Championships. If I make it through, it would be an honor to represent the Philippines in the 2017 SEA Games, in hopes to win the gold medal for our country”, said Martinez, the first skater from Southeast Asia and from a country in the tropical zone to qualify for the Olympics.

Figure skating and ice hockey will make their debut in the SEA Games in Malaysia.

Fresh from his second straight gold medal performance at the international Triglav Trophy in Slovenia, Martinez said he had been honing his skills by practicing six hours, six times a week on the ice and perfecting the technical elements of his jumps, glides, and spins under the supervision of his Russian, British, and American coaches.

He also inserts an hour each day for off-ice strength training, and another hour for choreography and dance.  

The teenaged phenom from Muntinlupa City arrived in the country last Sunday for a 10-day break before returning to the US to continue his overseas training that takes up roughly 10 months in a year.

Michael’s mother Teresa, said competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea is still her son’s ultimate goal, with giant mall chain SM again sponsoring and defraying the considerable amount being spent for Martinez’ training.

When asked whether government has provided assistance to the Michael’s effort,  the elder Martinez said the last time they received financial assistance was the per diem allowance given them during the Sochi Games.

The 18-year old figure skating star gave invited members of the media a glimpse of his current five-minute program performed to the tune of Romeo and Juliet at the SM Skating Rink in Megamall.

Martinez graciously allowed selfies and signed autographs for the crowd at hand after his routine, while members of his fans' club gave his mother a bouquet of flowers in honor of her approaching birthday.  

The next seven months will be challenging ones for the Filipino skater who will compete in seven tournaments in the US, Asia and Europe in order to hike his world ranking which is currently at 33rd after a high of 29th.

Michael's schedule is as follows:

July 10-12, 2015	Los Angeles Open Championship	California, USA
July 23-25, 2015	Skate Detroit	Michigan, USA
August 5-8, 2015	Asian Trophy	Bangkok, Thailand
September 16-29, 2015	USA Classic	Utah, USA
October 8-11, 2015	Filandia Trophy	Espoo, Finland
November 6-8, 2015	Grand Prix Cup of China	Beijing, China
December 9-12, 2015	Golden Spring of Zagreb	Zagreb, Croatia

Coming from a country outside the usual ice circuits, Teresa said her son has to take part double the average number of tournaments, which increases the chances of injuries.

“He’s eyeing the next Olympics. Yung injuries nandyan na iyan e. Every skater suffers repetitive injuries. It’s really difficult. They have to jump high, land on one foot on a very thin blade on very slippery ice. Before we returned, one of his training mates suffered an injury and they had to call 911— ang sama ng bagsak niya and naupuan niya yung ankle niya. Ganun ka-risky,” she said.

Source: Rhoel V. Fernandez of Spin.ph

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