Olympian Michael Christian Martinez and 17-year old Samantha Cabiles are set to compete in the Triglav Trophy International Figure Skating Competition in Jesenice, Slovenia from April 2 to 6, 2014. The Philippine Skating Union (PhSU), which is a member of the International Skating Union (ISU) is sending Martinez to the Senior Men’s category and Cabiles to the Junior Ladies’ category.
Every year since 1992, the Triglav Trophy gathers over 100 of the best young figure skaters from all over the world. The competition is hosted in Jesenice ice hall Podmežakla and has its roots in 1992. Olympic medalists like Shizuka Arakawa, Stephane Lambiel, Yuna Kim, and Evan Lysacek have competed at the Jesenice ice ring.
Martinez took up figure skating when he was eight, inspired by skaters spinning and jumping while shopping with his mother at SM Southmall. He began training in 2010 in the United States and since then his lifelong dream has been to win an Olympic medal. Martinez has garnered over 190 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions.
Cabiles, who was born in Hawaii and is now based in Michigan started skating since she was 11. Of Filipino decent, Cabiles also competes in the Philippine Nationals and recently ranked second in the 2013 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships held at SM Mall of Asia every year.
Cabiles also placed 10th in the Junior category of the recent Dragon Trophy competition in Ljubjana, Slovenia in February 2014. She trains in Toronto, Canada. Due to her high and powerful jumps, she earned the moniker, “The Skating Gazelle”.
SM has been the primary supporter of the PhSU since the latter was established in 2005. SM also provides a venue for the events of PhSU for the promotion of ice skating in the Philippines. PhSU received accreditation from the ISU in 2006, coinciding with the opening of the SM Mall of Asia skating rink that year. In turn, PhSU, as the sole governing body for Figure and Speed Skating provides SM and its ice skating rinks with marketing tools such as local and international skating events and its network of skating athletes.
Through the years, SM and the PhSU have conducted several figure skating competitions that have given birth to international champions such as Martinez. The PhSU is the governing body in the country for figure skating and speed skating. A member of the ISU, it is the exclusive international sports federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee that administers figure skating and speed skating throughout the world. The ISU is composed of a number of national associations called ISU members who administer ISU sports at the national level and recognize that all international matters are under the sole jurisdiction and control of the ISU.
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 the SM Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, and SM Southmall in Las Pinas.