SM Ice Skating Supports Top Filipino Figure Skater Michael Martinez

Figure skating is an expensive sport. This is particularly due to the costs of ice time and coaching. Figure skating is a sport and activity in which individuals, duos, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. The four Olympic disciplines are men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Ice skating consisting of one or more planned sequences of required and optional spins, jumps, and dancelike maneuvers, originally consisting of a program in which the skater traced prescribed, usually elaborate figures.

Michael Martinez, Philippines' first representative in the Winter Youth Olympics, as he vies in the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy, a qualifying event for the 2014 Olympiad in Sochi, Russia. 

Michael Martinez, considered as the youngest and most accomplished senior level skater from the Philippines, having collection a total of 194 medals and trophies since 2005.

Martinez, who enjoys a rank of 19th in the International Skating Union (ISU) Season’s Best World Rankings, primes up for rigorous training abroad in his determined effort to nail one of six berths to Sochi to be disputed in the Sept. 25-28 Nelbelhorn tourney in Oberstdorf, Germany.

He began skating in 2005 at a shopping mall ice rink. He trains mainly in Manila, and also spends several months a year in California with coaches Ilia Kulik, John Nicks and Peter Kongkasem.

Martinez debuted on the Junior Grand Prix series in the 2010–2011 season. He won his first senior international title, also a first for the Philippines

"Now that I deserve to represent the Philippines in the 2014 Olympic Games, this meant that I would have to train more and harder. It also entails a lot of sacrifice and hard work on my part, and more expenses for more lessons, not to mention the sacrifice by my family in terms of time and finances," Martinez said.

“Ice skating is really expensive so this will be a big help to pay for coaches, ice time,” said Martinez. He shared to us that he regularly spends about $100 per hour for the services of his coach alone.

This 16-year-old recent high school graduate is looking forward to become the first Filipino Winter Olympian.

“I’ll try my best to make it to the Olympics,” he added.

Seeing the potential of Martinez, a home-grown talent, SM Ice Skating took the lead in supporting his endeavors and will upkeep his tournaments as the young achiever continues to give glory to the country.

SM Ice Skating gave Martinez a checque to help fund Martinez' training in the US to ensure that the young Martinez will eventually bag our country a gold medal during the Olympics.

Me and my children had admire him when we watched him skates on ice at the SM Mall of Asia Skating rinks.

Good luck Michael! 

Watch this video of Michael Christian Martinez , 2012 World Junior Figure Skating Championship.