Martinez opens Grand Prix bid vs top skaters

MANILA, Philippines - Olympian Michael Martinez kicks off his grueling Grand Prix campaign, confident of his chances against the best and brightest skaters in the world in the Hilton Honors Skate America beginning today.

Martinez, the only Filipino and Southeast Asian figure skater to compete in the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating (Grand Prix), has trained under first-rate coaches like Ilia Kulik, John Nicks and Scott Wendland in his buildup for the prestigious GP events.

But he will be facing an uphill battle against an elite field in the three-day event, headed by members of this year’s US Olympic Figure Skating team, including Gracie Gold, Jeremy Abbott and Jason Brown.

The Grand Prix is a series of senior international figure skating competitions in 2014-15 season. Events on tap are the men’s and ladies singles, pair skating and ice dancing. Skaters will earn points based on their placement at each event with the top six in each discipline qualifying for the GP Final slated Dec. 11-14 in Barcelona, Spain.

From the US, the GP series will move to Canada for the Skate Canada on Oct. 31-Nov. 2, then to China for the Lexus Cup on Nov. 7-9, to Russia for the Rostelecom Cup on Nov. 14-16, to France for the Trophee Eric Bompard on Nov. 21-23 before winding up in Japan for the NHK Trophy on Nov. 28-30.

Organized by ISU, the Grand Prix series sets the stage for the 2015 European, Four Continents and World Championships.

Martinez, ranked No. 27 in the world, clinched his first senior international victory in the 2012 Crystal Skate in Brazov, Romania. The following season, Martinez campaigned in the ISU Junior GP in Latvia where he finished fourth. He later placed third in the Junior Grand Prix in Estonia in October last year then vied in the Nebelhorn Trophy senior level in Germany which served as the final qualifying event for the 2014 Winter Olympics where the Filipino ace finished 19th overall.

Meanwhile, SM and the Philippine Skating Union have conducted several figure skating competitions that paved the way for champions like Martinez.

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 SM Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay and SM Southmall in Las Piñas.