PSU, SM hold figure skating

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Skating Union, in cooperation with SM Ice Skating International Rinks, yesterday held the first of a two-day training camp for aspiring figure skaters at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of Asia.

Open to amateur skaters and mere ice skating enthusiasts, the camp is being done to help skaters hone their skills and hopefully become champions like World Youth Olympics veteran Michael Martinez.

The 15-year-old Martinez, who finished seventh in the World Junior Figure Skating Championship in Minsk, Belarus last February, graced the event, inspiring over a hundred participants who registered for the weekend event sponsored by 100 Plus, Summit, Cherifer, Storyland, and SM’s Bowling and Science Discovery Centers.

“I’m here to maybe to learn some more and also to serve as inspiration to young figure skaters who want to succeed someday,” said Martinez, whose ambition is to qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

SM senior vice president Emmanuel Atakador and another SM top official Jed Arboleda also graced the opening of the camp organized by the group headed by former Phl karatedo chief Pocholo Veguillas.

“SM encourages everyone to go into sports and eventually succeed on it and this is one of the many ways to do it,” said Atakador.

The first day included lectures on sports nutrition and psychology as well as different sports exercises like gymnastics, strength and conditioning, pilates, choreography, plyometrics and performance enhancement.

Today’s Day Two features a fun run in the morning, a free skating marathon for one hour and then some parlor games with prizes in the afternoon to cap the festivities.