Korea Move
Canterbury Bankstown Express
8th February 2005

ICE-COOL figure skater Bradley Santer intends to thaw his opponents at the approaching Four Continents Championships in Asia.

The 22-year-old is one of the leading men's skaters in the nation and is a member of the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink.

Next Monday, the talented skater who glides across the ice like poetry in motion, leaves for one of the sport's biggest events, the Four Continents Championships in Korea, between February 14 and 20.

"The Four Continents is the equivalent of the European Championships without competitors from European nations competing," Santer told the Express.

"Nations competing will be Australia, America, Japan, Canada, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, and Korea.

"The competition will feature the very best from these nations."

Santer, of Alfords Point, is a multiple Australian and State title-winning skater and is coached by the renowned Galina Pachin. Santer speaks highly of his mentor who he says has taken him to another level at international competition. Santer said Pachin, a former top-flight Russian skater and now esteemed coach, has been a positive and crucial influence on his career.

"Galina has been my coach for six or seven years and we have very good rapport from coach to skater and skater to coach," Santer said. "Galina is an amazing coach."

Santer was previously coached by Pachin's husband, Andre, who is currently coaching figure skaters overseas.

Santer said he would contest the freeskating section of the figure skating event.

"The freeskate division is a four-and-a-half minute technical routine," Santer said.

The international class skater is also busy studying politics at Macquarie University, and next year plans to study law.

Santer spends six days a week training, morning and afternoon, cramming in study and uni in his hectic lifestyle.