Philippine Team’s Jules Alpe executes a spiral sequence spin during the short program of the ongoing 2017 SEA Skating Challenge 2017.
LITO TECSON
They glided on ice like graceful swans on a frosty river, never showing any indifference to a surface directly alien to a tropical setting.
The region’s best figure skaters strutted their wares in the ongoing 1st Southeast Asian (SEA) Figure Skating Challenge 2017 at the SM Seaside City Cebu Skating Rink.
The Philippine figure skating team fielded 19 competitors, the most among the four competing countries.
Led by national team member Jules Alpe who is groomed as the country’s next Michael Martinez, the Filipinos and their Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) rivals enthralled the packed gallery with their axels, toe loops and spirals during yesterday’s short program competition.
Today, they will compete in the free skate or long program which will take a bigger chunk of the overall score.
The Philippine team is made up of Ariel Pascual, Celine Tansipek, Czerine Ramos, Hayden Balucating, Sophie Fernandez, Cailyn Bangug, Kate Orrock, Sofia Cu, Nicole Dritsas, Shaniah Yu, AJ Ariones, Skye Chua, Sky Patenia, Gabby Panlilio, Steph Angeles, Mariel Mendoza, Misha Fabian and Bianca Vinarao.
The Ice Skating Association of Malaysia sent five skaters while the Speed Skating Association of Thailand has four.
Two skaters represent Ice Skating Indonesia in the international event sanctioned by the Asian Skating Union (ASU).
They will compete in eight individual categories for both male and female including basic senior, elite junior, basic junior, advance novice, basic novice sub group A, basic novice sub group B, pre-novice and juvenile.
Skaters will be judged by the following criteria: skating skills, transitions, performance and interpretation. Winning skaters will earn points in the world rankings. Awarding of winners will be held at 4 p.m. today.