All eyes are on 17-year-old ice skater Michael Christian Martinez as he competes at the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi on Thursday night (Feb 13, 11pm MNL time).
You’ve read about him, and you’ve probably watched the video of him performing at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany, just days after qualifying for the Sochi Winter Olympics.
In it, he dances to “Nocturne into Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen and executes some of his signature moves: the Charlotte Spiral which shows off his flexibility as he bends forward and glides on one leg while the other one is in the air in a straight vertical angle; the Beillman Spin where he is standing upright while holding one leg over his head, in the shape of a teardrop; and the Donut Spin, a variation of the Camel Spin where one leg is extended backwards with the knee held above hip level.
Mind you, we didn’t learn these ice skating terms by ourselves.
For that, we talked to 17-year-old Nica Chiang, who used to train with Martinez. “He was always on the rink even before the mall opened and you can always tell when he’s in the ‘zone’. He had that look on his face when he was about to do a difficult jump or about to start his program,” the British School Manila student recalls. “From what I remember, he was very dedicated.”
Chiang took up skating when she was 11 years old. Like Martinez, she started at an SM ice skating rink. “For the next two years, I ended up training in Washington (USA). However, before I was able to move on to double jumps I had to move back to the Philippines and finish my schooling here. Unlike Michael, my passion failed to turn into dedication as I decided focus more on my studies,” she confessed.
She has since become an avid disciple of the sport, watching every competition rigorously. Impressed by her fascination with ice skating, we ask for her two cents worth on Martinez.
The story continues after the jump.
10 MOVES TO WATCH OUT FOR
So, what moves should we keep an eye out for when Martinez competes tomorrow? Here are 10 moves (the videos have been programmed to play certain segments only to illustrate the moves):
1. INA BAUER
Observe how Martinez bends almost completely backward to show off his flexibility.
2. TRIPLE LOOP JUMP
3. CHARLOTTE SPIRAL
This is a form not a lot of men can successfully do, and shows Martinez’s flexibility, one of his key qualities as an ice skater.
4. TRIPLE TOE LOOP
Observe Martinez’s strong landing and good height.
5. CAMEL VARIATIONS
This move is a combination of the flying camel spin and the Arabian camel, a difficult entrance, that progresses to a sit spin (combination), using a variation called the pancake spin which increases difficulty, thus gaining points.
6. SPREAD EAGLE
Observe how he does it leaning back, which requires a lot of strength from the core and balance.
7. TRIPLE SALCHOW JUMP
Observe Martinez’s landing.
8. VARIOUS SPINS
In 2:03, he does a backward layover spin, a variation on the camel spin, which again requires good balance as it is extremely dizzying when you are staring at the ceiling as opposed to staring forward, which is what happens during a normal camel spin.
In 2:08, he does a variation on the camel spin called a donut spin, because it looks like a donut. Martinez’s is special because of how close the boot is to his head, requiring a lot of flexibility, usually rare in men’s figure skating.
9. RUSSIAN SPLIT JUMPS
Russian split jumps, rare in competition, are usually done in performances and ice shows.
10. INVERTED SPIRAL AND SPIN
From 2:40-2:42, inverted spiral spin that uses a lot of balance and flexibility.
In 2:45, the illusion spin.
From 02:55 to 3:10, observe how he progresses from a camel spin to a sit spin into an I spin (very, very, very rare for men, extremely difficult because it demands a lot of flexibility), into another variation called the Biellmann spin (where your leg is in a complete split position, requiring a strong back).
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVE? OURS IS #8. TELL US BELOW.
Michael’s strengths are in his flexibility. “You can see this in his his spins, like the Biellmann, which is rare for men to do. He also excels in his moves in the field. His spirals and spread eagles will set him apart from his competition ,” says Chiang.
His weakness, however, is in his jumps, says another sports enthusiast.
He can’t do a consistent quad jump (four rotations in the air) which is what you need to score a medal. In addition, he is also required to do combination jumps, so two triple jumps in a row or more or a triple jump followed by a double jump. He has solid footwork, but often lacks in musicality and can be off-beat at times, which might get him deductions.
But is that going to win him a medal?
Ever since a judging scandal in 2002, the figure skating scoring system changed from the 6.0 system to the current system which is so confusing, most figure skaters competing still probably don’t understand it.
Currently, how it works is that every single technical element has a value, and is added up by a judge that specialises in the technical aspect of figure skating.
For example, a triple axel is worth more than a double axel and depending on the execution you can gain or lose points.
Each mistake, falling down or landing with two feet, can gain you deductions.
In addition to the technical score, you also get an artistic score which they add up to get your total score.
There isn’t a “perfect score” in figure skating unlike the 6.0 system before or the 10 point system in gymnastics, which is why it’s so difficult to determine how well someone has done unless you compare it to another person’s score.
In both men’s and women’s figure skating, the skater is required to perform two programs: a short program (02:50) with specific required elements and a free skating program (04:30) which does not have specific required elements, giving the skater a chance to express themselves artistically.
When watching the Olympics, it is important to note that these programs are extremely tiring, requiring a lot of endurance. Any jump that is successfully landed after the halfway mark is worth a lot more points.
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