Book about skating

[sk8er1964]

This isn't a new book - my Mom found it at the local library. It was written in 1997.

Anyway, it's called Inside the Real World of Figure Skating - Boitano's Edge . It's a very good read.

Here's a quote by Brian that I just love - it just so describes how I feel about being a skater:

"I love skating. I love the speed, the power, the excitement, the feeling that - even if just for a second - I can defy gravity and fly through the air."

[Phuket]

That's a great quote. Thanks for sharing it.

I've watched Brian's 1988 short program, Les Patineurs, from Nationals many, many times and it always gives me goosebumps. Each time I can't help but think, "What's it like to be able to skate like that?!" I guess that's Brian's answer to my question.

[kisscid]

When you ask for books "about" skating do mean books that talk about "how" to skate, or books writen by skaters , their biographies?
Cid

[loveskating]

Here's a quote by Brian that I just love - it just so describes how I feel about being a skater:

"I love skating. I love the speed, the power, the excitement, the feeling that - even if just for a second - I can defy gravity and fly through the air."

And fly he did, for until Kulik and then Yagudin, he had the biggest, most pure, incredible 3 axel in the business. I cannot believe he is still doing the Tano lutz!

One thing I loved about Bryan was that even if I didn't like his program, I always knew I was going to see him land that 3 axle and lutz!

[icedancer2]

That is a really nice book. I like the part you quoted -- there is another part where he describes how a skater feels about ice -- good ice, bad ice, what the difference is -- perfectly described as far as I could see. I don't have it in front of me right now, but I liked that book, too.

And his triple axel always made me swoon. Almost more than anyone else since. I have watched his programs from 1988 Olympics a LOT -- there was a point where I could even do the whole program in my living room...

LOVE Brian Boitano. :bow:

[Sing_Alto]

Oh joy! A Brian Boitano love thread! :D

I think one of the most fascinating things in his book was the chapter on how his blades are sharpened. There's only one person who sharpens his blades exactly right. The guy can show others how to sharpen Brian's blades in exacting detail, but if they don't apply the same amount of pressure that he does, the blades won't feel right to Brian. It's amazing how Brian can feel the difference down to the most minute detail.

[icedancer2]

Oh yes!! I loved this part, too.

So true, so true.

[sk8er1964]

That is a really nice book. I like the part you quoted -- there is another part where he describes how a skater feels about ice -- good ice, bad ice, what the difference is -- perfectly described as far as I could see. I don't have it in front of me right now, but I liked that book, too.

Yeah, I liked that part too. Non-skaters look at me like I am crazy when I talk about rinks having good or bad ice. And, of course, my hockey-playing son always disagrees with me :lol: .

[Samskate]

I agree that it's always nice to see a positive thread about the great Brian Boitano. Just love the guy! I've had his book for quite some time now and never get tired of going through it again.

[Sing_Alto]

I received the latest issue of Brian's fan club newsletter yesterday, and it had a bit of unhappy news in it. Brian had to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on August 3. :cry: He had the same surgery on his right knee back in the spring of 2002, and it went very well. I hope his knee is feeling better pronto and he'll be ready for his first scheduled show in November (Andrea Bocelli tribute).