Figure Skating: A History

By James R. Hines

Book Overview

The only comprehensive history of figure skating in over forty years

Figure skating, unique in its sublimely beautiful combination of technical precision, musicality, and interpretive elements, has undergone many dramatic developments since the only previous history of the sport was published in 1959. This exciting and information-packed new history by James R. Hines explains skating's many technical and artistic advances, its important figures, its intrigues and scandals, and the historical high points during its long evolution.

Hines divides his history into three periods separated by the World Wars. In the first section, he follows functional and recreational ice skating through its evolution into national schools, culminating in the establishment of the International Skating Union and the ascendancy of an international style of skating. The second section explains the changes that occurred as the sport expanded into the form we recognize and enjoy today, and the final section shows how skating became increasingly athletic, imaginative, and intense following World War II, as the main focus turns to skaters themselves. The profiles include some 148 World and Olympic Champions as well as others who, in Dick Button's words, "left the sport better because they were in it."

Beginning with mythological tales from twelfth- and thirteenth-century Scandinavians, Hines describes hundreds who have contributed to the sport. They include figure skating's patron saint Lydwina of Schiedam, whose late-fourteenth-century skating tumble has been documented in a woodcut; Ulrich Salchow and Axel Paulsen, who gave their names to distinctive jumps; Madge Syers, who entered and medaled at the previously all-male World Championships in 1902; and Sonja Henie, who took skating to the silver screen. The history ends with the 2002 skating season, when Maria Butyrskaya and Michelle Kwan commanded the most attention and an unfortunate judging decision rocked the pairs' competition, resulting in the adoption of a new judging system.

Beyond the contributions of individual skaters, Figure Skating also traces the growth of competitions and show skating (professional and amateur), and discussions of relevant social, political, and ethical concerns that have affected the sport. Along with over seventy magnificent historical pictures spread throughout the book, a very special gallery features the picture of every world and Olympic champion. Figure Skating is an informative and inspiring resource, sure to be enjoyed by anyone who has ever skated recreationally or in competition as well as by the many fans who have this beautiful sport as spectators.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0252072863
• ISBN13: 9780252072864
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Length: 472 Pages
• Weight: 2.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.1" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years

Customer Reviews

Nice book in good condition.

This book has all the information you could ever want about the history of figure skating. Very nice book.

Well-written history without being sappy

This book will go over the heads of most skating fans and the author admits it. He even says that most books about figure skating fall into the category of "juvenile literature" because that's who's interested in them. That said, it's a wonderful history of the sport - back to caveman days! - and goes into the story of things many people don't know about now, like school figures, or bat an eye at, like non-white skaters. The photos at the back are fascinating to look at because of the changes in clothing styles and the sport's transition from winter-only to year-round in the 1960s. There is also a chapter on skating teams, including foursomes, a phenomenon almost unique to Canadian skaters, with a bizarre picture of two men and two women doing a simultaneous death spiral. It looked, um, kinda kinky. The section on adult skating - competitive or not - was fun to read as well. Its participants range from late teens to seniors. Little is said about scandals other than the infamous Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan thing, but the AIDS epidemic's impact on male skaters, a huge percentage of whom are gay, is hinted at simply because of the large number of men who died too young in the 1980s and 1990s. There is also a section on the plane crash that killed the entire 1961 U.S. skating team, their coaches, and some of their relatives, and led to the cancellation of that year's world championships and destroyed America's lead in this sport for many years afterwards. I found it was not a book that I could just sit down and read, other than the chapters in the front, but rather looked things up in the index and went from there. Enjoy!

Long overdue...a perfect 6.0

This is a brilliant book -- and sorely needed one for afficionados of the sport. At last -- a serious, scholarly, up-to-date history of figure skating! The book traces the history of sport (the development of skates, positions, moves, etc.) from its earliest days in the Middle Ages when skating was a practical way of getting around in Nordic countries, through the first skating clubs in Elizabethan England and its rise in popularity in the 19th century, and, especially, 19th century America. The book is well documented, with footnotes and photos of all the important figures (there's even a picture of St. Lydwina -- the Roman Catholic patroness of skaters!) It gives a descriptive accounts of figure skating moves (jumps, spins, spirals, school figures, etc.) and how they developed along with their inventors; it also focuses on innovators of the sport who may not have won any championships and the development of the scoring system. It is all-embracing in its approach describing the sport as found in Europe, the Americas and the sport's recent surge in Asia. It also includes an appendix with tables of all winners (up to the year 2005) for World, European, Olympic and various oher championships. There are photographs of every world and Olympic champion -- a nice added extra, as it helps reveal how much the sport has changed through the past century. This book is for those who are serious about the sport, follow it closely and are interested in detailed accounts of figure skating as a competitive sport with a noble history, and as entertainment -- qualities unique to skating. It's a terrific book -- and it's about time!