Books on Skating History?

[Rob Dean]

Has anyone got any recommendations for a book or books on history of skating? My local library hasn't got a lot on any aspect, so this looks like an abebooks search...

Along the same lines, is anyone out there making historical reenactment skates? (i.e., if you wanted to experience skating with 19th century equipment, could you?)

Idle thoughts from crossing disparate interests...

Rob

[mikawendy]

Maybe a museum or historical society that has old skates would allow you to take measurements (or give you measurements) and descriptions of the materials used. Are you talking like crafting them out of sharpened bone (or whatever material it was) as in the earliest earliest skates?

If you're looking something more "modern" but still historical, maybe some Civil War reenactment buffs could point you in the right direction? There might even be some who have skates made in the style of that era?

If your local library has interlibrary loan, you might be able to have some books sent from neighboring library systems or elsewhere in the state. Also, if you can get access to a university library, their holdings *might* be more extensive... (methinks the University of Delaware library must have some interesting books on skating history, given that they have a science of figure skating degree program)

[flippet]

Along the same lines, is anyone out there making historical reenactment skates? (i.e., if you wanted to experience skating with 19th century equipment, could you?)





I could swear that someone here, in the past few years, was talking about an antique pair of skates or blades they'd found....like 100 years old or so. Unfortunately, I can't remember who or when.

Check eBay, and other such places--strange stuff turns up all the time. You never know what someone's going to find in great-granny's attic. I don't know of anyone making useable replicas, but as mentioned above, if you can find an antique pair, then find someone who can make blades (or find a way to wing it), and use the antiques as a template.

[dbny]

eBay has antique skates all the time. Not all that listed as antique or vintage really are.

The Jackson (http://www.jacksonskates.com/html/jumphist.html) site has some very interesting historical facts about figure skating, including the fact that Axel Paulson invented his eponymous jump wearing speed skates 8O

[Isk8NYC]

I don't know about the antique/restoration skates, but books I know about!

If you haven't read Sonya Hennie's biography, "Queen of Ice, Queen of Shadows" look for a lending copy. It dealt with a lot of the rules and regulations, political undercurrents, and showmanship that Sonya brought to the sport.

The other book I liked that was historical was "On Thin Ice." It's out of print now, but it tells the story of the Jelinek skating team. This book again deals with political issues, the 1961 World's catastrophe, and skating success in spite of poor odds.

You can also look into the World Figure Skating Museum in Colorado Springs, CO. They have archives available for study, but you need to make arrangements in advance. They could help you find some resources and lending libraries. http://www.worldskatingmuseum.org/Museum_archives.htm