SOFIA FRANK returns to the rink in the Finlandia Trophy starting on Thursday at the Espoo Metro Areena in Finland.
Also seeing action are the returning two-time Winter Olympian Michael Martinez and Christopher Caluza.
After failing to qualify to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the 18-year-old Frank told BusinessMirror that she would not stop competing to hone her skills.
“I don’t really get the option to choose what competitions I join,” the Colorado Springs-based Frank said. “They are mostly assigned to me by coaches to develop my skills.”
Frank finished 24th among 37 aspirants in the last Olympic qualifying tournament for figure skating at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany, last month.
“I have learned so much watching the skaters, and I think with the more experience I have competing internationally, the easier it will get,” she said. “I was under pressure and I think the nerves got to me a little but it was a great experience and opportunity.”
Martinez, who saw action in Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, and the 31-year-old Caluza will compete on Thursday in the men’s program.
“I’m here to perform and show what I’ve got. I’m here to do my best and serve the Filipino community by representing them here,” Caluza, the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asian Games figure skating silver medalist, said.
Martinez, on the other hand, is coming off knee and back injuries and had to skip the Olympic qualifying tournament in Germany.
A total of 26 male and 29 female skaters are seeing action in the Finland tournament that offer world ranking points.
The men’s short program commences on Thurday at 10:30 p.m. (Manila time), while the free skate is set at 9 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, the short program starts at 9 p.m. for women while the free skate is on Sunday at 9:35 p.m.
The tournament is also a qualifier for the Four Continents set from January 18 to 23 in Estonia and the International Skating Union World Championships from March 21 to 27 in Montpellier, France.