Failure cuts no ice for Bradley
Canterbury Express
28th January 2003

HE glides across the ice with acrobatic poise and style. Bradley Santer, 20 is going through one of his many rigorous training sessions at Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink.

It's the life and what's required of a top-level ice skater hours of work, fine tuning, attention to detail and most of all, discipline.

The 178cm tall athlete is preparing for two of the biggest events on the intentional race calendar.

Rated No 2 nationally in the men's open category in Australia, Santer is hoping to one day reach No 1 in Australia and excel overseas.

Santer firmly believes in his endless hours of commitment to be the best he can.

"People ask me what I'm doing this for but it's something I want to do," Santer told The Express.

"I don't think of it as making sacrifices. It's my choice. I just want to be the best I can and do personal bests when I skate."

Santer heads to Beijing next month for the Four Continents Championship from February 10 to 16, against 24 of the best.

Then he is back to Australia for a few weeks before flying to Washington for the World Championships in late March.

He's coached by former Russian junior champion Galena Pachin and trains twice a day, six days a week.

Santer started skating at age 10 and until now has won every national and state juvenile and junior category title there is to be won.

He will soon begin studying law at Macquarie University, combining the figure skating training and competition with demanding studies.

Santer is aware of the elite class of competitor he's up against on the international scene.

"When you skate internationally, it's like competing against Ian Thorpe on ice," he said.

When he meets the best at the Four Continents at Beijing then at World Titles, Santer concedes the competition will be tough.

"My goals at these championships are to do my best," Santer said.

Chasing sponsorship and getting funding is hard for talented figure skaters, especially in this country, according Bradley's dad, Mike.

Many approaches have been made but to no avail, with parents often footing the bill for training, coaching fees and travel expenses.

Santer was a first reserve for the national team at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. He is now eyeing a berth at the 2006 event in Torino, Italy.