The History of Ice Skates and Figure Skating
It is believed the first ice skates were developed around 3000BC from animal bones.
The first pair of skates were made from the leg bones of animals such as the horse, ox, or deer. These bones were attached to the feet via leather straps. These clunky skates also required a pole with a sharp metal spike so the skater could push themselves forward over the ice.
In the 13th or 14th century, the Dutch began to make ice skate blades out of metal with sharpened edges to aid in movement. The construction of modern ice skates has remained largely the same to this day.
It is believed the first ice skates were developed around 3000BC from animal bones.
The first pair of skates were made from the leg bones of animals such as the horse, ox, or deer. These bones were attached to the feet via leather straps. These clunky skates also required a pole with a sharp metal spike so the skater could push themselves forward over the ice.
In the 13th or 14th century, the Dutch began to make ice skate blades out of metal with sharpened edges to aid in movement. The construction of modern ice skates has remained largely the same to this day.
The social status of ice skating varied per country. In cold countries, such as the Netherlands, ice skating was typical for all classes of people. Likely because ice skating was a great method of transportation when the waterways connecting Dutch towns froze for months on end, hampering the economy. But in other countries, such as France, ice skating was purely recreational and reserved for the upper classes.
The first ice skating association was formed in 1742, the Edinburgh Skating Club. At this time, ice skating was a sport of circles and figure eights, not jumps and spins. And women did not normally ice skate. Around 1858, sex segregation at ponds disappeared and ice skating became one of the only activities single men and women could do together unchaperoned.
The first ice skating association was formed in 1742, the Edinburgh Skating Club. At this time, ice skating was a sport of circles and figure eights, not jumps and spins. And women did not normally ice skate. Around 1858, sex segregation at ponds disappeared and ice skating became one of the only activities single men and women could do together unchaperoned.
Jackson Haines, an American ballet dancer, is considered the father of modern figure skating because he was the first to incorporate ballet and dance movements into his skating. Before Haines, figure skating was the "English style", which was rigid and formal. Haines introduced ballet movements and accompanying music to create graceful programs. He also screwed his skate blades directly onto his boots which added stability and allowed him to do more athletic leaps and jumps. The typical practice of the time was to strap the blades to boots.
International figure skating competitions appeared in the late 19th century and the 1908 Summer Olympics was the first time figure skating became a winter sport included in the Olympics.
Compulsory figures
Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly an aspect of the sport. This is why it is called "figure" skating and not "artistic" skating or something else. Carving specific patterns or figures into the ice was the original focus of the sport. The patterns of compulsory figures all derive from the basic figure eight. They have mostly disappeared from competitions but retain some influence, having evolved into Moves in the Field (MIF).
Until 1947, competitors at figure skating events were required to skate a total of twelve figures, which were worth 60% of the total score. With the increasing number of entrants, figures competitions began to take a very long time, so in 1948 the number of figures was reduced to six. This competition format continued until 1968.
Pressure to reduce the weight of compulsory figures began when the Olympic Games and other skating competitions began to be widely shown on television. Figures were not considered appealing or exciting to television audiences. Completion of the figures and their analysis by the judges could last eight hours at the World Championships. In addition, skaters who excelled at compulsory figures were often not the most talented at free skating, but sometimes accumulated such a large lead from the school figures that they won the competitions overall. Such results would often leave general TV viewers stunned because they had watched only the free skating and had little or no knowledge of the compulsory figures.
After many, many years of arguing back and forth about compulsory figures in competitions, in 1997, U.S. Figure Skating voted to end domestic competitions in figures.
Compulsory figures are no longer a major competitive event and few competitive skaters have the interest to learn how to do them. Some adult recreational skaters, however, still find pleasure in the control and mental stamina required to master figures and the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) still holds competitions and events that require multiple levels of proficiency.
Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly an aspect of the sport. This is why it is called "figure" skating and not "artistic" skating or something else. Carving specific patterns or figures into the ice was the original focus of the sport. The patterns of compulsory figures all derive from the basic figure eight. They have mostly disappeared from competitions but retain some influence, having evolved into Moves in the Field (MIF).
Until 1947, competitors at figure skating events were required to skate a total of twelve figures, which were worth 60% of the total score. With the increasing number of entrants, figures competitions began to take a very long time, so in 1948 the number of figures was reduced to six. This competition format continued until 1968.
Pressure to reduce the weight of compulsory figures began when the Olympic Games and other skating competitions began to be widely shown on television. Figures were not considered appealing or exciting to television audiences. Completion of the figures and their analysis by the judges could last eight hours at the World Championships. In addition, skaters who excelled at compulsory figures were often not the most talented at free skating, but sometimes accumulated such a large lead from the school figures that they won the competitions overall. Such results would often leave general TV viewers stunned because they had watched only the free skating and had little or no knowledge of the compulsory figures.
After many, many years of arguing back and forth about compulsory figures in competitions, in 1997, U.S. Figure Skating voted to end domestic competitions in figures.
Compulsory figures are no longer a major competitive event and few competitive skaters have the interest to learn how to do them. Some adult recreational skaters, however, still find pleasure in the control and mental stamina required to master figures and the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) still holds competitions and events that require multiple levels of proficiency.
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Watch this video for a mini-lesson in the history of Figure Skating and Compulsory figures. Compulsory figures skills were impressive, but dull to watch compared to free skating skills.
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The History of Ice Rinks
The first ice rinks were natural ice in cold places on open bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, canals, and sometimes rivers. These could only be used when the weather was cold enough to freeze the water thickly enough to support human weight. Rinks could also be made by enclosing a level area of ground, filling it with water, and letting the natural weather freeze it. Snow could even be used as a containment material for these rinks.
Early attempts at artificial rinks were made in 1841. These early rinks used a mixture of hog's lard and various salts. But by 1844, these rinks fell out of fashion as customers grew tired of the "smelly" ice substitute. Thirty years later, refrigeration technology had developed to the point that natural ice could finally be used in a rink. The world's first mechanically frozen ice rink was the Glaciarium in London in 1876. The rink was membership-only and attracted a wealthy clientele.