Product Description
Twirl andspin your way into the artistic and high-precision world of figure skating with none other than Kristi Yamaguchi, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist and former amateur winner of thirteen titles, including two consecutive World Championships. Whether you love skating around the rink or you're a fan of the sport and never miss a live or televised skating event, Kristi Yamaguchi's Figure Skating For Dummies covers all the important topics, includingFinding the right equipment (from boots to skates) that fits your budgetSelecting a practice rink and choosing a choreographer to compose movements to enhance your performancesPicking a great coach and getting the most from your lessonsDiscovering the lowdown on the secret world of figure skating judges; what they look for in a performance and how they themselves qualify to be judgesDeciphering what those scores mean and how a 5.5 score can beat a 5.8 score Finding out the requirements for passing each test offered by the U.S. Figure Skating AssociationBest of all, Figure Skating For Dummies gives you the inside scoop about ways to improve and enhance your performance, and even lets you in on Kristi's personal conditioning program -- the one she used to win the Gold Medal in the 1992 Winter Olympics!Amazon.com Review
After watching a figure-skating performance, do you everwonder what just happened on the ice? The skater supposedly executeda flawless double Salchow and triple Lutz, among other things, andthen the judges posted a bunch of numbers. Maybe you need help fromthe Dummies. Written by 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi (with a foreword by Scott Hamilton), Figure Skating for Dummiesis a primer for spectators and would-be skaters alike. Learn thelingo, understand the judging practice, and--if you're reallycommitted--embark on a practical training schedule in hopes of performingyour own double-toe loops and triple axels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

NIce book!
this is a nice book for beginners to have a general idea.however this book can not substitute a coach. Some instructions must be explained in details.

The best FS book I've read
I wasted a lot of money on figure skating books prior to buying this one.This book includes everything you need to know if you are a skating parent or are new to figure skating.A lot of books either speak to you as though you are an idiot or they are too advanced.This book is just right and packs EVERYTHING you could ever want to know about FS into an easy-to-read and enjoyable format.Buy this one first, you won't need to waste your money on other books.

***2010: a little outdated now, but still great overview for beginner.***

Awesome book!Very well written by a champ!
This book was not only extremely informative but it was written with a fun, light tone that made reading enjoyable.Everything was very user friendly and never, at any given time, was I slightly confused or bored.Great book for skaters (because secrets are revealed) and non-skaters (who always wondered about the names of things, how certain moves are done, etc.).

Dummies?
The title might just as well be "Ice skating for aspiring professionals."In any case, a wonderful book about skating, well written and clear.I saw the chart on the Axel and thought, "Oh!It's just a waltz jump with a full turn at the end.Wow!I can do that!"Fortunately, I haven't attempted that yet. I'd have to be a dummy to try.Knees are nice. (BTW I'm well over 13 y.o.)

Good reading, although the judging system has changed
This is a great book for fans of the sport, but especially those armchair fans who know nothing about the elements but want to appreciate the finer points of this lovely sport. An explanation of the jumps and spins, plus how a program is put together and an overview of the rules, make this an entertaining and useful tool. ... Read more

Product Description
"The Figure Skating Book" explains the commonly performed jumps, spins and pairs moves. With detailed instructions for each maneuver, and useful line drawings for all the steps involved. The lively text also outlines some of the history of each move, explaining who made it famous and how. For instance, the Axel is named after Axel Paulsen, the Norwegian skater who invented the jump, and Kurt Browning was the first skater to successfully land a quadruple jump in competition.

The first chapter, Getting Started, includes information about buying the proper equipment and clothing. The Basics explains gliding, stopping, backward stroking and cross-cuts. Turns discusses a variety of turns for the beginner skater, while Jumps offers moves such as the waltz jump, Salchow, toe loop, Lutz and Axel. Spins and Field Moves, details pivots and footwork steps, and Dance introduces the reader to pairs moves. The final chapter gives helpful tips on choosing a skating club and coach, as well as fitness preparation and injury prevention.

As Wilkes points out in her introduction, there's just something totally intoxicating about skating. It's magical and lovely, physical yet artistic, fresh and wholesome and with enough speed and power in the mix to make it dangerous. When a skater finally gets control, the sense of accomplishment is enormous. Skaters and fans at all skill and ages will increase their knowledge and understanding by following lessons in this book.

Debbi Wilkes is a broadcaster and teacher who has been immersed in figure skating since childhood. Together with her skating partner, Guy Revell, Wilkes is a past North American champion and received a silver medal at the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck. She has a masters degree in communications from Michigan State University, and appears regularly on television as a color commentator, covering the Olympic Games. She is also the host of television's very popular program on figure skating, "Ice Time." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An awesome instruction book!
This book is fantastic! I am teaching myself moves and I dont even have skates! It is easy to read, and very helpful! It even arrived the 3 days before schedule!

The Figure Skating Book
A wonderful guide to figure skating.It's written in a clear, easy-to-read manner and comes with great illustrations and photographs.An excellent book to read and to teach.I taught myself some moves while standing in my skate guards, and my instructor already noticed an improvement in my skating!It's wonderful.I loved it! ... Read more

Product Description
The finest figure skaters in the world make their sport look so graceful and simple. Those who have tried to learn and coach figure skating know that it is not easy. In The Complete Book of Figure Skating, author Carole Shulman combines her vast experience as a former competitive skater, a Master PSA instructor, a professional figure skating judge, and the current Director of the Professional Skaters Association to cover every aspect of the sport with clarity and expertise.

Shulman describes the proper techniques for more than 100 skills, from stops, stroking skills, and freestyle moves to turns and footwork—including ice-dancing techniques, spins, jumps, and pairs skating techniques. Also included are advice and guidelines on choosing equipment, conditioning your body, and creating competition programs that will score high marks with the judges.

This book is an essential guide to participating and excelling in the sport. Whether you’re a skater looking to develop your technique or an instructor seeking for innovative coaching methods, you’ll find it in The Complete Book of Figure Skating. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Figure Skating
When they say complete they mean it. Having searched the internet for several technical terms I was often frustrated with the limited information. This book not only provides great on ice information but great 360-degree review for the avid skater.

great book of figure skating
It has information to all of the essential movements in figure skating, spins, jumps, footworks. It also has a lot of interesting and related stories to the movements such as Paul Wylie's spread eagle.

A great book for a figure skater.

Figure Skating -
I was disappointed in the book because I wanted it for a new young figure sakter, and I was anticipating more pictures -- this book is very technical and for older skaters.

Not enough detail, some crucial typos
This is a much more visual book than Petkevich's, which has detailed verbal explanations that take a bit of effort to visualize.Unfortunately, some of the pictures in Shulman's book leave large gaps between frames, and it's hard to tell how to get from one position to the next.

There are some editorial or proofing mistakes that really hurt the book.Figure skating spins and jumps are done in one direction (counterclockwise for most, clockwise for some) that the skater chooses early-on in their training.Shulman explains this, and the fact that her directions are for counterclockwise spinners and need to be reversed by clockwise spinners.Unfortunately the picture and directions for the one-footed spin are backwards, and describe a *clockwise* entry and spin when all the other spins are written for counter-clockwise skaters.This will be very confusing for a begining skater who has no coach of their own!

In one or two other places a picture is reversed (mirror image), which again can be very confusing if you're trying to learn on your own and don't know that there's a mistake in the book.

There is a good section on modern off-ice strength training, including periodization.

Overall I'd recommend this book *in conjunction* with Petkevich's book: both have gaps that the other complements.And of course there's no substitute for a real coach!

Excellent book for both parents & skaters
I agree with previous reviews.This is an excellent book for both skaters and their parents.It not only provides detail information and graphics about each move and jump on ice, but also give a good advice on how important it is for off ice training and passion of the sport. ... Read more

Product Description

A beautifully illustrated celebration of the best athletes from this wildly popular sport.

Figure Skating's Greatest Stars profiles 60 great skaters, including champions in men's, women's, pairs and ice dancing. Informative essays describe their careers and championship moments, as well as the definitive events that have made figure skating one of the leading spectator sports in North America.

Fans of all ages will delight in reading the stories of these stars who have jumped higher, spun tighter and skated more gracefully as they pushed skating's artistic and technical boundaries.

Some of the 60 athletes featured are:

• Dick Button (late 1940s and early 1950s), United States
• Liudmila and Oleg Protopopov (1960s), Soviet Union
• Brian Boitano (1980s), United States
• Elvis Stojko (1990s), Canada
• Oksana Grishuk and Evgeny Platov (1990s), Russia
• Jamie Sale and David Pelletier (late 1990s and 2000s), Canada
• Brian Joubert (2000s), France
• Qing Pang and Jian Tong (2000s), China
• Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto (2000s), United States
• Michelle Kwan (2000s), United States.

Figure Skating's Greatest Stars is the perfect fanbook for the millions who love this sport.

Customer Reviews (2)

Basic but interesting
This book is broken into the four skating disciplines (Men's, Pairs, Ladies, Ice Dance) and has side sections with some history about the development of figure skating.Many known personalities are covered here (Michelle Kwan, Peggy Fleming, Brian Boitano, to name a few) but there are quite a few skaters that I had not heard of but made a significant mark on the sport.The book is easy to read and never boring and has some historical photographs of interest.It even tries to explain the new scoring system (which I don't think anyone in the ISU or even Dick Button can do adequately).If you are a fan of figure skating or just curious about the sport this book will entertain and enlighten you.

Interesting reading, some biased choices
If you're interested in figure skating, this is a nice book to put on the shelves, to pick up once in a while whenever you feel like knowing more about certain athletes in the sport. Although the author acknowledges that he provides a personal view, he also states that choices were made on the basis of the impact of skaters on the sport in general. So, he can sometimes present skaters who have won no World or Olympic championship at any time but still influenced the direction of the sports in a substantial way. And for the most part, this is correct. However, especially concerning the more recent years he does show a somewhat North American Favouritism which is a pity because the rest of the book (the early years and the intermediate ones) is highly balanced on that score. This can be illustrated with ice-dancing. Olympic and World Champions Marina Anessina and Gwendal Pezzerat do not get a chapter of their own, even though they showed remarkable innovations like the gender changes in the lifts. Others have since than followed on with this practice. That means they did execute a major influence on the direction the discipline has taken. Similar omissions are present (or to be be exact: they are not present as such in the book!) with regard to other disciplines. Having said that, this still is a wonderful book, with beautiful photo's, and interesting descriptions of the (skating) histories and lives of many skaters. Despite the small bias noted and remarked upon, I would still highly recommend it to fans all over the World. ... Read more

Product Description
To be the best on the rink, skaters must spend endless hours strengthening and conditioning their bodies off the ice to build strength for the rigors of their performances. Illustrative and technical, yet user-friendly, Conditioning for Figure Skating provides detailed coverage of the physical preparation necessary for Preliminary through Senior-Elite skaters while concentrating on all disciplines of figure skating, including singles, pairs, and ice dance. More than 300 photos illustrate proper warm-up drills, flexibility stretches, cooldown routines, strength training exercises, jump and plyometric training programs, and endurance conditioning exercises for on-ice injury prevention. A periodization plan also helps skaters maximize their training potential. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Conditioning for Figure Skating
My daughter has trained with Carl Poe and it is great to have his techniques available whenever she needs them.

Conditioning for Figure Skating
This book was so good from the library I wanted my own copy so that I could dog ear the pages and make sure I stay on track to get my skating to the level it can be to be great!

Great for serious figure skaters
This is a well writen book that explains different exercises that will be of benefit to figure skaters and athletes alike. It is more of an adult/young adult read. Overall, very informational.

Great Information
A wealth of information that is hard to find elsewhere.After reading from cover to cover, I handed it over to my daughters coach and together we developed an off ice training regimen that suits her skill level and reflects her goals. Definite improvement in sucessful jumps completed noticed right away.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is serious about ice skating.

Great book for skaters of all levels and age
I highly recommend this book. It details off-ice conditioning programs for singles, pairs, or dance and skaters of all ages and skill levels. Strength training, effective warm-up and cool down, plyometric, and other off-ice conditioning programs are detailed, as well as effectively improving your muscular and cardiovascular conditioning on ice. The only negative to this book is the photos and text explaining some of the moves - they could be a bit more descriptive.
A great book from a very qualified author. These programs will yield great results on the ice if you put the time and effort in to conditioning. ... Read more

Product Description
The dazzling smile, the signature haircut, the staple spin. "America's Sweetheart" Dorothy Hamill grew up on the ice, working toward the dream she was to accomplish by age nineteen: winning Olympic gold in figure skating. But life was not the picture of perfection it appeared to be. Dorothy faced a painful inner struggle from the time she was a young girl that followed her into adulthood -- though she would not know about the depression that ran in her family until much later in life. Weeks and months away from home to train and compete took a difficult toll, yet little reprieve could be found in the tumultuous and fragile relationship she had with her parents.

Dorothy went on to marry the man of her dreams, only to have the partnership end in heartache and a tragedy that almost pushed her to her breaking point. Then, just when a light at the end of the tunnel finally began to appear, a second failed marriage tried and tested Dorothy's trust and strength yet again -- a travesty that could have led her to give up. But, she found a remarkable strength in what she did have -- her greatest love, her daughter Alexandra.

"Thank goodness, I had my skating. There was certainly a pattern to my life. When times were tough, I went skating. It was only while I was out on the ice, enjoying the freedom of movement and my love of music, that I was able to escape from my bottomless heartache."

In her deeply moving and honest memoir, Dorothy opens up for the first time about love, family, courage, and what it means to truly win both on and off the ice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Enjoyable reading
Dorothy has written her life story in a pleasing manner and I found it most enjoyable reading. I took it one or two chapters a day and think that made it easier to realize what skaters endure. The parents should be
commended for all they contribute to their children in the years of skating efforts. Sorry Dorothy had so many roadblocks in her marriages but happy she has a lovely daughter to treasure. Thank you Dorothy for
writing this book. May you have many happy years ahead.

Susan

Great Story but Emotionless Delivery
Hamill has an interesting life and story but you'd never know it from reading this book.Everything from her fairly meteoric rise in the skating world to her marriages, bankruptcy, physical and emotional issues . . . it's a tale that should be fascinating.However, as described in this book, it isn't and that's due to the way the story is told.

First, Hamill uses short, choppy sentences that make the book read like something intended for a second-grader -- I finished second at x event.I worked harder.To my surprise, I won the next event. Few complex sentences and even less dialogue.Second, the book reads like a narrative -- I did this and then this happened and then I did this and then that happened.Events that should pack a tremendous emotional punch (the sudden death of her first husband, the financial betrayal and infidelity of her second, etc.) just don't.Rather than letting the reader see how she feels through exposition, she simply tells us -- e.g., "I was depressed."

The best part of the book is probably the first chapter -- when she discusses her mother not being present for her Olympic victory.In that chapter, she takes a brief moment in time and expounds on it.In my view, the book would have been better and more enjoyable if she'd done that with other moments.Rather than simply running through her life, if she'd taken specific moments of importance and really focused on them.For example, she talks about the time when someone stole her skates.However, other than telling us the culprit was never found, we don't really understand what if any anguish this caused.Did she suspect someone?Did it throw off her performance?Was she devastated or did she shake it off?Did things like this happen to her at other times?Did it cause her to lose confidence in the "system?"This one moment could have been interesting but just became another way station on her life's journey and the reader is largely left to guess whether this was a major or minor event in her life.

Finally, I had the impression that she didn't want to "hurt" anyone by saying anything negative about them.In a sense, I applaud that.But great people can have bad moments or moments of weakness and, sometimes, relaying one of them and yet still emphasizing all the good, makes the person more human.She did that with her mother but not with the many others who passed along her way, such as coaches, competitors, etc.

Hamill should have so many unique insights into the skating world -- all the good and bad -- about rising to the top, judging, ice shows, etc.In my view, it all gets glossed over, leaving the reader feeling a bit empty and wishing for what the book could have been.

That said, if you like Hamill and want an update on her life, this is it.It's inspirational and a quick, interesting read.It simply could have been much better.

An Ordinary Person with Extroidinary Results!
I read this book because my sister is friends with her.I also read this book because my sister was a National Figure Skater as well and is currently in this business of manageing Figure Skaters.

I was pleasently suprised to learn so much about Dorothy Hammill and how ordinary she really was in regards to other skaters who trained just like her.I thought this would be too much of a chick book but was very impressed too learn how drive and dedication are applied to the skating world.Although my sister was competitive I never truly understood what she was going through day in day out.Dorothy was able to put into words what every young child experiences who is a competitive skater into a book.

A Worthy Read
Dorothy Hamill reaches beyond the ice and shares with us the hard truths as well as the uplifting joys of her life.Ice skating is woven throughout her story as an integral part of who she is, and I came away with a new respect for the character strength Hamill practiced throughout as well as for the openness with which she addresses her readers.Were I to become a parent, I would like for my children to one day slip this book off our familyroom bookshelf and benefit from the tasteful frankness with which Ms. Hamill tells her story.Well done, Ms. Hamill.

NOT EVEN AMERICA'S SWEETHEART COULD ESCAPE HEARTBREAK
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT A LITTLE MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, THAT SKATING CUTEY DOROTHY HAMILL WOULD ENDURE ALL THIS PAIN IN HER LIFE? DOROTHY WAS AT THE PINACLE OF HER CAREER AS WON THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE 1976 OLYMPICS. FROM THERE HER LIFE WOULD TAKE A STEADY SPIRAL DOWN. FIRST SHE MARRIED HER FIRST HUSBAND DEAN PAUL MARTIN AND THAT ENDED IN DIVORCE. THEN ON THE REBOUND SHE MARRIED AGAIN TO A TOTAL LEECH NAMED KEN FORSYTHE WHO WOULD NOT WORK, SPEND HER MONEY AND CHEAT ON DOROTHY DURING HER PREGNANCY. ALL THIS DRAMA PLUS HER STRANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH HER PARENTS WHO BOTH STRUGGLED WITH DEPRESSION AND DRINKING. DOROTHY ALSO HAS THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH A BIT OF ARTHRITIS AND A DECOMPRESSED VERTABRAE IN HER NECK. THAT ISN'T ALL EITHER, HER MOTHER SURVIVES BREAST CANCER AND HER FATHER DIES FROM CANCER. DOROTHY ALSO IS AFFLICTED WITH BREAST CANCER BUT THAT OCCURED AFTER THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN. I DID LIKE THIS BOOK AS DOROTHY DOES A NICE JOB DESCRIBING HER FEELINGS AND I REALLY FELT FOR HER. SOME OF THE BOOK IS BLAND AND BORING AT TIMES BUT ALL IN ALL I LIKED IT AND FIND THAT DOROTHY IS VERY HUMAN. I PRAISE HER RESILIENCE, HONESTY AND INNER STRENGTH TO GO ON AND LEAD A HAPPY LIFE. I RECOMMEND THIS AND HOPE DOROTHY THE BEST. ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

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

Less interesting than it could have been
This was ... pretty good ... but kinda like the little girl with the little curl. Where it's good it's really interesting. Where it's bad it just ... dull.Some sections the author goes into a lot of detail about skaters and events.Other sections read rather like a biblical geneology. "Jane Jones won in 1936 and Sue Smith won in 1937 and Mary Martin won in 1938 and 1939." Tell us MORE about Jane and Sue and Mary. What were their performances like? Who was the competition?

Skaters who were neither world nor olympic champions, even if their stories are interesting and they've made a major impact (i.e., Paul Wylie) barely rate a mention.

Many of the photos are posed shots rather than action photos, making it hard to picture what the events might have been like.

I did find it very interesting to read about synchronized skating and adult skating. (Having a friend who is involved in both, but knowing little about it, it was very enlightening.)

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! ... Read more

Product Description
As a sport, an art, and a fitness activity, nothing quite beats figure skating for excitement, grace, beauty, or fun.Now former U.S. Champion figure skater John Misha Petkevich shows how you can find your full potential as a figure skater. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Excellent for beginners too
I started taking figure skating classes about a year ago. As an older student compared to the 9 year olds in my class, I found it very difficult to follow the class now that I'm on freestyle level. The kids in my class seems to be able to perform the moves without putting too much thought into it, but I found myself standing in the class and just watching them moving, and before I knew it, the class was over and I had spend the entire class just standing, freezing trying to understand the moves.

This book was so helpfull as it describes the moves in great detail. There are several diagrams so you know where your foot goes. Should I use the left, should I use the right foot? When you read the description of the moves you might not understand at first, but as you read and you practice the moves, it becomes an excellent tool. You can use the book together with some of the u-tube videos. You can watch the moves in the u-tube to have an idea, then you go to the book and break it down the moves. Then you are able to get it after practicing a lot! I recommend this book to anybody starting to learn a little bit more difficult moves and need some help.

Great for roller skaters too!
I'm ordering another copy, as somehow mine got lost in a move. Some of the names of things may differ between figure (ice) and artistic (roller) skating but the descriptions and photographs were very, very useful to me and waaaaaaaaaaah I'm very lost without my copy as there are very few artistic skating coaches in existence! So, yes! My toe stops are in a knot! This was a very useful book to me!

THE figure skating book
I have owned copies of this book for years and it has been my standby reference manual during training and recovery from injury. Inspirational and great step by step.

The travel of a book from USA to Spain
I received my book in the correct period of time, even before! And I live in Spain! The book is in perfect conditions.

mixed feelings
As a newbie skater, this book offers some good general info and advice as most instructional books do.
My main complaint is that the pictures are not descriptive enough to follow a sequence and, let's face it, it's tough to show movement in book form anyway.However, the other issue is that the text is hard to follow as well, if you are trying to learn about a new move.Naturally the text and the pictures make more sense when you already know the move and want to improve on it.
So, depending on your ice-skating skill level, your ability to decifer instructions and your imagination, you might say this book is skating on thin ice.
... Read more

Product Description
Describes figure skating, the skills needed for it, and ways to compete. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great for pre teen girls
This book is part of a great sports series for pre teen girls. The writer Heather is very cute! ... Read more

Product Description

In all of her roles -- athlete, wife, mother, role model, and cancer survivor -- Olympic gold medalist Peggy Fleming has relied upon the discipline she cultivated as a young skater. Now in this intimate memoir, she eloquently reveals her fascinating life story and shares her secrets to serenity and success.

The long Program

In the 1968 Olympic Winter Games Peggy Fleming not only captured the United States? only gold medal, but a country?s collective heart as well. A young woman who embodied both stunning athleticism and magnificent grace, Peggy Fleming reluctantly became an instant celebrity. In the decades that followed, she also triumphed off the ice -- commentating for ABC Sports and nurturing a long-standing marriage while raising two delightful sons.

But Peggy?s toughest challenge came in 1998 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Here, Peggy candidly details her courageous physical and emotional battle. She also explains how she ultimately prevailed, and why she became an outspoken, highly visible promoter of breast cancer awareness. Most important, she relates how every person?s life has its own version of the long program, those precious years that take little girls and turn them into wives, mothers, grandmas, and survivors. A compelling memoir that deserves the highest marks, The Long Program is both a portrait of a remarkable woman and a collection of inspiring lessons on how each of us can be our best. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Peggy Fleming "The Long Program"
Too bland.While Peggy Fleming's skating style will always be my favorite, reading this book felt like an entertainer who never really connected with the audience.

The book attempts to cover a smattering of events in the author's life but it was too superficial to hold my interest.Here's two examples:

-- Peggy alludes to her mother's domineering personality and provides the example of taking control her wedding, but doesn't get into any of the details or how this made her feel.
-- Peggy also mentions a favorite marinated pork recipe that she enjoys making for her family, and it would've seemed fitting that the recipe be included but it wasn't.

I'm not sure what the focus or the purpose of this book was/is.Is it Peggy's philosphy?An instruction book?Her life story?I think if the author just focused on one of these things, it would've been more successful in both quality and sales.

what a lady
Well this book reflects what we see about Ms. Fleming in her television commentary - she is a lady in the true sense of the word.But if you're looking for an inside look at the politics of figure skating, keep looking.This is Peggy's personal story - there no juicy gossip (which says a lot about her as a person but would have made the book more interesting) - what I love the most is that she includes a copy of her choreography diagram for her 1968 figure skating program - It's interesting to see how they "write" out a figure skating program

A bit impersonal
I love Peggy Fleming -- she was talented, unspoiled, and professional as an athlete.But folks who want to get to know Peggy in depth willl need more than this autobiography.Fleming writes in a very impersonal tone, as if she is telling the story of another skater.While it is chockful of details about skating programs and locations, it lacks any real insight into what it FELT LIKE to be a 1960s Olympic athlete and her views on the skating world today.Fleming barely mentions the pressures that skating must surely have placed on her formative years, family life, social and personal development, and self esteem.The impact of the family's Peggy-focus on her sibilings is only lightly mentioned in brief paragraph.Indeed, the most interesting struggle Fleming appears to have had was finding skating outfits that were both pretty and modest.There is also little indepth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the skating world today.Her commentary about the Harding/Kerrigan incident could have easily been made by a nonprofessional spectator.Fleming comes across as a nice person who speaks well of others and the sport, but lacks (or chooses to surpress) any kind of a critical eye to the controversies that have surfaced in the skating world (e.g., excessive pressure to excel, anorexia/bulimia, inside politics, etc.).It is a "nice" book, but Ms. Fleming remains a very private person which is not what one expects when the personal account of someone's life story!

Fleming's lack of depth is disappointing
Fleming's autobiography, The Long Program, does a poor and inadequate job of telling a potentially profound story. Fleming's words and descriptions do not give justice to the depth of many of the stories told throughout the novel. Tragedies such as the unexpected death of her coach in a plane crash, and the deaths of her parents are stated in a sentence or two, never getting into the emotions that surely surrounded the experiences. Readers looking for a first-hand recount of Fleming's experience with competitive skating should also beware. She just barely skims the surface of the pressures and glory of being an Olympic medal winner and World Championship title holder. Humorous and detailed stories that often liven up autobiographies are also few and far between. Due to the shallowness and straightforwardness of this book, I would not recommend it for anything higher than purely recreational reading when a few hours can be spared.

Insightful But Not Fascinating
When I first started reading this novel. I wasn't keen about reading it because The book seemed to be like A How to Skate book. Who is her favorite skaters and me this and me that. Until I read the chapter about Being Mom and the chapter about her fighting breast cancer. Those chapters were truly inspirational. Then I felt I knew the Real Peggy Fleming. So I'm giving it three stars. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (28)

Good Look at an Important Subject
Frozen in Time: The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team by Nikki Nicholas -- Sports non-fiction
This book tells the story of the members of the U.S. Figure Skating World Team, friends and family who died in a plane crash en route to the Worlds in 1961. Nichols relates the struggles of the top athletes to get to the top spots that would earn them the right to be at the World Championships in Prague. A skater never skates alone and this book is also about the coaches who helped the skaters on their paths to glory and their family members who supported them. Nichols imagines what the skaters were thinking and feeling at crucial moments in their lives. She also interrupts the narrative to discuss other competitors, past, current and future. Nicholas attempts to explain how the legacy of the 1961 team affected all the skaters to come after them, from Peggy Fleming's glorious gold medal in 1968 to skaters in 2001 receiving scholarships from money left in memory of the 1961 team. This book is written from extensive research by a dedicated skater and skating fan and it shows. The stories of the 1961 team members are compelling but the writing isn't stellar. Nicholas interrupts her story to discuss skaters from the past (pre-1961) and present day (post-1961), which was a little jarring in the middle of the story of the 1961 U.S. Team. The imagined scenarios are also a little odd. I also feel that Nicholas rushed the legacy part though her book is subtitled The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team. I enjoyed learning about the lesser known people involved in the crash and learning more about what happened during the flight. The 1961 U.S. World Team is a subject that is infrequently discussed but should be known to all those who are interested in the sport. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars.

A story that needed to be told, history that needed to be remembered.
The U.S. Figure Skating team was at the pinnacle of the sport in 1961 as 18 skaters, their family members and coaches boarded the plane for Prague and the World Championships. They never reached their destination. The plane crashed, and all on board were killed.

This book is a reverential look back by competitive figure skater and journalist Nikki Nichols. The focus is on the top two women skaters, Laurence Owen and her rival, Stephanie Westerfeld. Both faced a tremendous amount of pressure. Owen's mother, Olympic skater Maribel Owen was the most famous woman skater of her day. Maribel worked both her daughters (Laurence's sister Mara was a pairs skater) endlessly in order for them to achieve glory. Far from the Owens' turf in New England, Myra Westerfeld was doing the same thing with her daughters, Sherri and Stephanie, at the Broadmoor in Colorado. Laurence and Stephanie finished first and second in the U.S. Championships and were expected to do great things in the World Championships. Laurence graced the cover of Sports Illustrated on the day she died.

Nichols also goes into the history of the sport. Maribel's nemesis was Sonja Henie, the most famous figure skater in the world, who won many championships and starred in Hollywood movies. My mother fell in love with figure skating watching those movies, and she passed her love of the sport on to me. Nichols' overview of the sport's history was an important part of the book, and I needed the refresher course, not only on the history, but on those dreaded school figures and the partisan judging that seems to have always been a part of who wins and who loses.

Anyone who reads this book looking for juicy scandals will find none. What they will find is history, rivalry, and a national sport that was brought to its knees by a terrible tragedy. That the USFSA was back on top in 1968 when Peggy Fleming won the Olympic gold is an amazing feat.

Any fan who loves the sport of figure skating should enjoy this book.

A must-have for figure skating fans!
This is one of the most poignant books written about figure skating history.I knew the story of the 1961 tragedy, but this book focuses on each skater in ways I've never seen done before.MUCH more here than just a focus on the famous Owen family.Good reading, well worth the price.ORDER IT!

Highly recommend
If you are a fan of figure skating, this book is a definate must read. It opened my eyes to things about skating and competition that I did not know as a former figure skater. It is a wonderful tribute to the skaters of the 1961 U.S. Team.

Still enduring....
In 1961, the greatest tragedy in U.S. figure skating history - and possibly world figure skating history - took place when a Sabena-Belgian Airlines Boeing 707 developed problems trying to land at Brussels airport. The plane nosedived into a farmer's field, killing everyone aboard. Among those on board were 18 members of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating team, who were heading to the World Championships in Prague. This is the story of those skaters.
This book focuses largely on Laurence & Maribel Vinson Owen, as well as Stephanie Westerfield, who were the most well-known members, but also mentions skaters such as Laurie Jean Hickox and Doug Ramsay. It talks in-depth about the training & competitions they went through to become U.S. Figure Skating team members, as well as the terrible accident itself & how it affected U.S. Figure Skating at large - especially the rush to produce new skaters to replace those so tragically lost.
Journalist (and adult competitive figure skater) Nikki Nichols has done an excellent job in telling the very real stories of these people who were the Americans' best hopes for 1964, and never got to perform. Most of today's figure skaters have never heard the sad story of the 1961 US team, and this book is an excellent telling of their story. Highly recommended.

... Read more

Product Description
For little girls and boys with a dream and a new pair of skates, for millions who can't be pried away from the television when Brian Boitano performs, for anyone who wonders just how it's done, the United States Figure Skating Association presents the first full-color, official guide to figure skating -- the second most popular sport in America after pro football. Prepared with the full cooperation of the sport's national governing body -- the USFSA -- along with its experts, coaches, and archives, The Official Book of Figure Skating is the one publication every skating fan must have.

This authoritative volume celebrates all aspects of figure skating -- the speed and power, the grace and glamour, how it's done as well as who does it -- so that everyone from casual fan to beginner to budding champion can appreciate its range and beauty. Sections on history, personalities, and costumes tell the fascinating story of how skating, originating with the simple need to cross frozen water, has been transformed into a unique blend of sport, art, and entertainment. The book also reveals the experts' secrets behind choreography and conditioning, and presents dozens of skating moves described by USFSA coaches and illustrated in revealing detail. Chapters on judging and competition explain the intricacies of skating success, and some of the sport's finest athletes share memories of their greatest moments on ice. Finally, a glossary and full lists of skating champions and USFSA affiliated clubs make this book an invaluable reference for both skaters and fans.

With its authoritative and comprehensive treatment, The Official Book of Figure Skating is the final word for followers of this dazzling sport. But it is also an exceptionally beautiful volume, one with an unsurpassed visual archive. Nearly 250 photographs and images, many never before seen, have been drawn from the collection of the World Figure Skating Museum and ABC Sports. Including the most recent stars in full-color action, rare photos of the men and women who built the sport, and original commissioned drawings of figure skating's most important moves -- from the Salchow to the double Lutz -- this beautiful and definitive book is as full of artistry and excitement as figure skating itself.Amazon.com Review
The cover photo of a swanlike Michelle Kwan sets the tone forthe sweeping, beautifully illustrated volume behind it. It is asattractive as it is skillful, as balanced as it is smart, as seeminglyeffortless as it is hard-working. There's a helluva lot happeningbeneath its cool, glittery surface.

The Official Book doesduty on several fronts. It offers an authoritative illustrated historyof the sport; short biographies of the most influential and importantskaters; lists of U.S., Olympic, and world champions in allcategories; and an extensive directory of figure-skating clubs aroundthe country. Chapters glide easily from the evolution of the skateitself to a primer--with helpful line drawings--on how to use thoseskates, from simple forward "stoking" to the complex jumps and spinsthat enthrall audiences everywhere. There's a hilarious tour ofskating's changing and fickle fashions and sections that explain howskaters create routines and exactly what they are required to put intothem, the rigors of actual competition (and how best to watch it), andeven one on how the often mysterious judges arrive at their oftenmysterious scores.

As a reference book, it's useful andconclusive. As a history, it's enjoyably informative. And--mostalluringly--as a celebration, it is every bit as exquisite as thesport it celebrates. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A Comprehensive, Solid Guide To One Of The Most Popular Sports In The World Today
Some people complain that a certain book they purchased on figure skating is not "official." Well, this is about as official as you can get. Written by the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA), this book is jam-packed with everything any die-hard skating fan or any amateur skating fan could ever want to know. The Official Book Of Figure Skating scores major points with a cooler-than-ice intro by Peggy Fleming herself, then escalades into covering every topic including the very evoulution/history of figure skating into the costumes that the top figure skaters wear today. This book is for three specific people: 1. A die-hard skating fan who loves looking at glossy pictures of her favorite stars and also loves to gush and dream about meeting them 2. The serious athlete who buys the book for help and instruction with his/her's jumps and spins, physical fitness/training advice, and help with what moves he/she needs to perform in their short and long programs 3.The average person on the block who just buys the book partly because he/she is bored and partly because he/she views it as another book on the shelf to brag about and feels that he/she could benefit with SOME knowledge of figure skating. Chapter 1 is basically a comprehensive and thorough description of the history of figure skating and how it began, while Chapter 2 describes the individual personalities that made figure skating so popular and who were so instrumental in building the foundation of what it is today.
Also, weaven throughout the book are one-page profiles of some of the most prolific skaters old and new, such as Tara Lipinski and Scott Hamilton. Chapter 3 gives an outline of the skate boot itself and differentiates between "good" skates and "bad" skates. Chapter 4 tells the reader how to skate and gives slow motion sketches and instructions on every figure skating move from jumps to spins and tells you how to perfrom them. Chapter 5 is dedicated to the proper fitness and training regimen for skaters, while Chapter 6 is probably the tween skating fan's most studied chapter: Fashion in Skating. It describes in chronological order the changes in fashion from the 1900's, World War-eras, 50's,60's, 70's, and so on.
It shows the progression and the different style and changes in costumes in the decade-eras by description and pictures. Chapters 7 and 8 are basically a guide to creating the perfect routine and what moves you are required to perform in that routine while also detailing what forms of competition you can expect to see in each field. It describes the programs that are commonly seen in each category, such as ice dancing, mens, womens, and pairs, while flashing back to some legendary programs in the past, such as Kristi Yamaguchi's and Brian Orser's. Chapter 9 gives a decription of every skater's personal enemy and the system that can either make them or break them: judging.However, since this book was published in 1998, before the 2002 judging scandal, the 6.0 system has been abolished and I would recommend not reading through this chapter if you are a real skater but only reading it through for reminiscing's sake.
The last items to note are the record book and the list of USFSA figure skating clubs in the U.S. The record book is just the final statement to the reader that this book covers everything figure skating from A to Z and leaves absolutely NOTHING out by giving records of all the U.S., World, and Olympic Champions in all four categories of skating from the very beginning of each category while the list of skating clubs can be helpful if you or someone you know wants to find a USFSA club in your area to join. In conclusion, if you want to know anything about figure skating, look no further than right here. Sure, the other books with glossy photos of all the major skaters are nice and easy-on-the-eyes, but this book has the cold, hard facts on figure skating. Just as schools teach ancient to modern history in class, this book teaches the same ancient to modern history about figure skating; and I can assure you, if there was ever a "school" of figure skating, this would be the textbook.
Yup, this is truly the "Official" Book Of Figure Skating!

Great Book...but i little disapointing
I love this book...but even the important skaters only got a one page biography written about them. I think that is quite a shame, all else is great though...

Amazing Book
This is quite an amazing book! Anybody can read it! I found it in the adult section at a library but it also is a great book for young figure skaters. The best part about it is that it shows you how to do all the jumps and unique stretches. I guarantee you'll love this book within a week of reading it!

Amazing Book
This is quite an amazing book! Anybody can read it! I found it in the adult section at a library but it also is a great book for young figure skaters. The best part about it is that it shows you how to do all the jumps and unique stretches. I guarantee you'll love this book within a week of reading it!

Best Book About Figure Skating Available Today!
I'm a figure skating fan and I thoroughly love this book. Written by the U.S. Figure Skating Association, this book includes a history of figure skating, biographical sketches of famous figure skaters, how to skate, fitness, information about competition and judging, and much, much more. This book also has many beautiful, full-color photographs of figure skaters and also has instructions and clear pictures on how to perform various skating moves. This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to all figure skaters, fans, coaches, and anyone who just wants to learn more about this wonderful sport. ... Read more

Product Description
In Ice Skating: Steps to Success, Karin Künzle-Watson—nine-time Swiss National Champion, former Professional World Champion, and one of skating’s best instructors—shares the learning sequence that she and many of her students used to become elite skaters. Karin’s unique insights along with over 300 detailed illustrations make this guide your best source for learning proper form and technique.

The 50 drills in the book come with performance goals and a list of key points to remember when performing each of them, and many of them include instructions for increasing or decreasing their level of difficulty.

Part of the highly popular Steps to Success Activity Series, this book will help improve your skating knowledge and performance on your way to becoming a confident and capable skater. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

excellent beginner's manual
I will echo what other reviewers have said: this is an excellent book for beginning skaters. It will help you understand and develop basic skills so you can progress in whatever direction you choose, even if it's just to have more fun and be a more confident recreational skater.

I like that she explains the value in each drill; what it does specifically (i.e. "swizzles" teach you to keep your weight on a certain part of the blade), and how it will improve your skills as a skater. I'm currently taking group classes, but it was due to the written information in this book, plus the illustrations, that I am finally able to properly do the one foot glide (and am getting better at it every day).

The actual instructions are generally detailed enough that the reader can usually grasp what she means just by reading, but the illustrations take it to a whole new level. The only possible improvement would be a companion DVD, but as well done as the illustrations and written descriptions are, it probably isn't necessary.

My only complaint with the book is that every once in awhile, she uses descriptions/terminology that are non-intuitive and would not be familiar to a new skater. It's infrequent, but a brand-spanking-new beginner will have to head to google from time to time to look up some of the terminology. In a book written specifically for beginners, that shouldn't be happening. She does specify in the beginning that the book isn't meant to be a substitute for a good coach, but realistically, she should have known that many of her readers would be people who do not have access to professional coaching of any kind.

Overall, for any beginner looking to learn some basics on their own, or supplement what they're learning in classes or lessons, this book is worth checking out.

Helpful, if daunting.
This book is daunting for a true beginner.However, I found myself reading sections over and over again, and each time I got more out of it.I didn't skate as a child, and started at age 55.It hasn't come easily to me.I'm glad I didn't get this book at the very beginning, but now I find it is particularly useful for pointing out common mistakes, and tips for correcting them.There are drills and diagrams, and detailed explanations of what each part of your body should be doing on a turn, for example.It's definitely a technical manual more than a coffee table book with pretty photographs, so if that's what you need, I recommend it.

Good Book for Beginner
This book is good for the beginner. A lot of basic and experienced informations are included. A new edition is expected.

excellent resource
If you're looking for a companion read to your lessons or solo forays onto the ice, this is a great start. The illustrations are easy to follow and the tips on how to troubleshoot and how to increase your proficiency are helpful. Ice skating is a difficult thing to learn through a book, but this is a great one to consult as you get your bearings.

So easy to understand
This book is excellent for the beginner!I just recently started skating and take weekly group lessons.This book has helped me greatly by providing specific excercises to put into my practice sessions which in turn have made me feel like I am finally "getting" the whole concept of edges and especially the crossover maneuver.I highly recommend this book for the beginning skater. ... Read more

Product Description
In this playful introduction to the world's most rapidly growing sport, very young children learn about figure skating. From boot, lace, and skate to figure eights and serpentines, preschoolers will experience the thrill of the ice as two skaters spend a fun-filled (and sometimes bumpy) day at the rink.

Margaret Blackstone's pithy, declarative sentences, and John O'Brien's bright, happy illustrations will score a winning "Six" with aspiring young figure skaters.
... Read more

Product Description
Mind-Body Conditioning for Competitive Figure Skaters is about mind-body conditioning as it applies to the artistic sport of figure skating. But as you read, you ll soon discover that mind-body conditioning skills can be applied successfully to any area of your life. Each chapter of this book begins with a description of the chapter topic, and ends with application exercises you can learn and apply to your skating and other areas of your life. Instead of trying to learn everything at once, choose the activities that make the most sense to you, and practice them until they are second nature, just like you would a skating skill. Chapters include: Introduction to Mind-Body Conditioning, The Inner Circle, Pre-Season Assessment, Seasonal Goal Setting, Productive Practice, Positive Thinking and the Competitive Mindset, Social Physique Anxiety and Other Body-Image Issues, Relaxation and Arousal Deactivation Techniques, Energy and Arousal Activation Techniques, Techniques to Enhance Attention, Focus, and Concentration, Techniques to Improve Confidence, and Effective Competition Preparation. Includes bonus 58-minute DVD. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Mind-Body Conditioning For Competitive Figure Skating
I decided to enter an adult competition, after many years away from the sport.After some excellent coaching and training I was physically ready, but as the competition date drew nearer, I was in a mental state of doubt and anxiety.I wondered what the heck I was thinking by entering this competition, and was strongly considering backing out.I ran all the "what if" scenarios in my head; i.e. what if I fall, what if I can't do my jumps, what if I forget my program.
Luckily, I came across this book and ordered it in time to focus on the chapter entitled,"Positive Thinking and the Competitive Mindset".I WAS AMAZED at how my attitude changed and how I was able to put things in perspective.I was able to focus on all the great things that I had accomplished with my skating.I looked forward to the competition as a celebration.What I like most about this book is although it's specifically geared for figure skating, the goal setting, productive practice, and techniques to improve confidence has helped in other areas of my life.This book is a treasure!!!

Excellent place to start
This is a great introductory book for sports conditioning for figure skaters.Each chapter includes easy to follow exercises.It is packed with tons of information so much so you have to pick one chapter at a time to concentrate on.I have already incorporated many of the suggestions into my own skating practice.

The DVD was a pleasant surprise.Rather than reiterating what is in the book it is actually a yoga program for skaters and some stretches geared to skating specific elements such as the Beilmen spin. ... Read more

Product Description
Figure skating has fast become one of the world's most-watched sports. Color photos of budding amateur skaters and international competitors show everything from the basics to combination jumps and pair-skating lifts. ... Read more

Product Description
Have you ever dreamed of elegantly gliding across the ice in front of thousands of breathless fans? Here is the book to get you started. Learn all the important aspects of figure skating from the top coaching professionals. Figure Skating: Sharpen Your Skills helps the beginning skater with acquiring the right equipment, choosing a coach, and learning the basic movements on the ice. For the more advanced skaters, there are chapters on free skating, jumps, spins, figures, and ice dancing. With Sharpen Your Skills you can realize your dreams of participating in one of the world's most beautiful and demanding sports--figure skating. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Best Instructional Book I've Found
As a teenage skater, I've read many books on technique.This one is the best.It starts with basic skills and includes jumps and spins (up to the axel and forward camel) and introduces ice dance and figures.A good reference for any skater.

This is the best Skating book i ever read!!
I don't think there are any other books out there for beginner skaters which are so easy to understand and well-written.I give this book as gifts to my friend's children who are just starting out their skatingcareers.It really helps explain the basic moves and equipment needs. Igive it a 5-star rating and thank the author for realizing their was a needout there for this

Yes!
This book is awesome with everything...i recently went to a camp in Indiana with Mr.Pieter Kollen and nice skating up there ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Skating is the most comprehensive and up-to-date skating-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of over 80 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round skating-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results whether you are a figure skater or a speed skater.

No other skating book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book provides you with the exercises needed to improve your footwork, speed, and power. By following this program you will increase your overall lower body strength making you faster, quicker, and more agile on the ice.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

As an added bonus, this book also contains links to free record keeping charts which normally sell separately for $20. ... Read more