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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Juvenile Fiction / General; Juvenile Fiction / Sports ... Read more

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Gain the inside edge on winning competitive events! In Artistry on Ice: Figure Skating Skills and Style, former Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan shares the knowledge she has gained from years of performing at the highest levels of the sport.

Artistry on Ice: Figure Skating Skills and Style gives you an in-depth look at advanced techniques for jumps, spins, and freestyle moves in addition to body alignment and refining footwork, music, and expression. It shows you what it takes to excel from the perspective of one of figure skating’s champions.

Four chapters are devoted solely to competition, covering the music, choreography, costumes, and other elements to create the ultimate performance. Also included are renowned trainer Igor Burdenko’s insights on physical preparation for powerful and fluid skating.

From triumphs over personal tragedy to her superb performance under pressure in the 2000 Goodwill Games, Kerrigan prevailed against many challenges during her 20-year career. Now she teams with former competitive figure skater and professional instructor Mary Spencer to share the insight that will take your skating to the top. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Resource for Skaters!
Nancy Kerrigan, two-time Olympic medalist, has written a book for skaters full of tips and advice that she has learned and used during her years as a Senior skater. Nancy states in the introduction, "Artistry on Ice is not focused on the early fundamentals...[it] is intended for intermediate to advanced skaters...and includes tips for sharpening their competitive skills". However, even beginners will benefit from the many tips and land and water excercises featured in the book to develop strength for skating. This book features clear instructions and full-color photographs covering nearly every aspect of intermediate and advanced skating, including all kinds of jumps, spins, essential skills like spread eagles and spirals, competition, partner skating, off-ice training, and more. Also, you will find thousands of hints and tips for performing various skating movements that have worked for Kerrigan herself. Plus, a whole section of the book is devoted to competition, covering cosutmes, music, choreography, and bringing it all together. This book is full of practical advice and will help all skaters reach for that shining star!

Insightful Guide for Figure Skaters
This book is full of useful tips for beginner and intermediate skaters. I found it to be clear and concise. The photographs illustrated specific moves well. I have been figure skating since I was a tot and am now an adult -- this book helped to clarify specific techniques which had previously been elusive. I found the chapters on other forms of skating very interesting as well. ... Read more

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An introduction to the history, equipment, and techniques of indoor and outdoor roller skating. ... Read more

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An introduction to roller skating, its history, equipment, basic techniques, various types of skating, skating games, and skating competitions. ... Read more

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Step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and photographs illustrate techniques for learning to skate and for more advanced figure and dance skating. ... Read more

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In this easy-to-read story, Rosie the elephant and her friend Joe enjoy ice skating until Joe falls into the ice. ... Read more

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In the spotlight: the all-new figure skating mystery series.From the author of Sarah Hughes: Skating to the Stars.

Figure skating is a cutthroat world. Just ask Rebecca "Bex" Levy, figure skating researcher for the 24/7 skating network-and Prime Crime's newest sleuth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great start to the series
This is the first in the series of figure skating mysteries about TV researcher and sleuth Bex Levy. I'd already read the 3rd and 4th books.

It's the World Figure Skating Championship, and surprisingly, the Russian skater wins over the American favorite, with the Italian judge casting the deciding vote. Amid a huge controversy over bloc voting and accusations of bribery or coercion, the Italian judge is found dead. The police seem inclined to view it as an accident, but it seems too coincidental to ignore.

Bex has just gotten her job as figure skating researcher. Not only does she have to keep the on-air talent from screwing up (they're a former pairs skating team, who delight in goading each other), she's under the constant threat of losing her job (her boss's idea of motivation). So in desperation, Bex promises to deliver the real story in two days.

The Good:
The very realistic-feeling look inside the world of figure skating competitions, and our introduction to the slightly larger-than-life ongoing characters of Bex's boss Gil and the on-air commentators, the Howarths.

The Bad:
The slow accumulation of clues and following false leads was mildly frustrating, but it was also refreshingly realistic. I'd much rather read about a sleuth, particularly an amateur one, who makes mistakes than one who gets it all right from the beginning. And the reader's frustration evokes Bex's, which is good, too.

The Verdict:
Murder on Ice had been in my TBR pile for about a year. I'm hoping to unearth the 2nd book in the series before the 5th comes out.

Isn't a good skating book or a good mystery
I have a question for Alina Adams - why in the world would you set a series of books in a world for which you so clearly have zero respect?Alina Adams doesn't know figure skating any better than her heroine does.Which would be not at all.She may have worked as a researcher, but she clearly didn't learn much.The book is a string of cliche's about the world of skating, looking for a reality check.Certainly the cliche's exist, but according to Ms. Adams, the world of figure skating is no more complex than every cliche you have ever heard - every male figure skater is gay, every skating marriage is a lie and every skater is shallow and self-absorbed and every skating parent is a nightmare.How about some depth?

The book is not well written, nor does it seem to know who it's audience actually is.It is trite to the point that only a 12 year old could find it enjoyable, yet uses several vocabularly words that most adults wouldn't know.Bex isn't charming, she's annoying - and slow-witted, at best.And Ms. Adams for all her supposed knowledge about the world of skating -a world filled to the brim with Russians, makes a big point of explaining patronymics and then proceeds to get it wrong.The patronymic for Peter (or Pyotr) is Petrovich or Petrovna, NOT Petrov or Petrova (which happen to be surnames of two well known pairs skaters - Denis Petrov and Maria Petrova).If you are going to make a point of showing off how much you know, at least get it right.

As for the story - it's rather obvious, but I've read worse and more obvious plots, which is why it gets two stars, not one.Unless you are the kind of skating fan who thinks the entire sport is the cliche (and I have yet to meet a skating fan who does), don't bother.And unless you are a mystery fan who finds Nancy Drew much too complex and challenging, don't bother from that angle, either.

It's too bad, because skating fans are eager for well written books about their sport.Kudos to the publisher for taking a chance on a "skating novel" - it's too bad this one was so poorly executed.

The author may know skating, but not much else
I am a former figure skater and mystery lover, so when I discovered this series I was elated to bring my two interests together.I am very disappointed.To begin with this book is not well written.Books like this should be a fast, entertaining, easy read.I had to literally plow through the author's text.Then, the heroine - a TV researcher - found what she thought was a clue: a shorter than normal fax.Her conclusion was that it was European paper...when any good researcher, traveler or businessperson knows that A4 paper is longer than US paper, but slightly narrower.It is definitely not shorter.This was not a mention, which I could excuse, but for much of a book it was the only clue the character had.I lost faith.It is too bad the idea of the series is a great one with all the politics and drama that goes into skating, but this entry is definitely not a gold medal winner.

A great read
This book should please every fan of figure skating. Bex Levy, skating reasercher for TV broadcaster 24/7 uncovers a tricky murder mystery using her powers of conversational crime fighting and meeting everyone from skating mothers to perky teenagers to eccentric coaches and skating-struck middle aged men along the way. I definitely recommend this hilarious book.

Murder mystery with a figure skating twist
Murder on Ice by Alina Adams is a fabnlous book!It offers an accurate and humorous account of the figure skating world, with a storyline being a twist of the 2002 Olympics.
Bex Levy is a figure skating researcher.She works 20 hour days, and knows all the ins and outs of the figure skating world.When the Russian beats the American at the world championships, the blame is pinned on the Italian judge for not voting with the western block.When the Italian judge is found dead the next day, Bex is ordered by her boss the find the killer.
Murder on ice is a humerous, unique book that is recommended for figure skating fans of all ages, or for someone who just wants to read a great mystery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not What I Expected
This book was not quite what I expected.My daughter is still a beginning skater (Freestyle 1), yet after paging through it, I found 3/4 of the book to be irrelevant to her level.The small portion of the book that would be helpful to her begins on page 161.I would only recommend this book for parents/children who are thinking about beginning skating, or have just begun to take group lessons.

Excellent Book
I got this book for my daughter and myself.We are both beginner skaters, my daughter has just turned 7.I found this book to be extremely helpful for the beginner.I found some very good advise on warm up exercises as well as what to look for in skates and correct body positions on skates.It is very easy to read and understand, although I have done the reading.I am sure we will both benefit from the information.There is also information for the intermediate level and advance level skater which I am sure we will benefit from once we get to that level.I highly reccommend this book.

Great book for kids
This book is fantastic for KIDS,but as a skating PARENT, I preferred FS for Dummies.

A classic; a fountain of practical and interesting info
Every skating parent should buy this book - even before you buy skates. You will refer to it again and again, as will the developing skater of any age. Rikki Samuels is a fountain of useful information, and she has written it down to make a book we have needed for a long time. There is helpful advice for every sapect of skating, from how to lace your boots to how to choose a coach and beyond. I have seen my skating friends young and old devouring it like a rich (organic!) chocolate cake. :) ... Read more

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A former world champion provides advice on becoming a successful competitive figure and freestyle roller skater. ... Read more

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Turns and spirals, jumps and spins -- no other sport can match Figure Skating's combination of strength and elegance, power and grace. Whether it is your first time at the ice rink or you have graduated to the axel, salshow, and lutz, you will enjoy this fascinating look at one of the world's favourite Olympic events. Special features include: Profiles and action photographs of the top American skaters; Proficiency test requirements; Guide to competitive Figure Skating; Comprehensive list of US Figure Skating champions; Fitness, health and nutrition tips. ... Read more

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Sketches the history of ice skating from its beginning as a means of travel to its current status as a sport; discusses the contributions of Sonja Henie and other Olympic stars. ... Read more

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"Liz Miller has really done something special. Advanced In-Line Skating gives the reader a taste of all the wonderful possibilities a pair of in-line skates can provide. It will be a great resource."--Kris Simeone, Inline Certification Program Director, International Inline Skating Association

"Liz Miller's passion for the sport of in-line skating comes across clearly in Advanced In-Line Skating. This is the most complete resource for skaters of all abilities and includes all they need to reach their next level. Liz leaves no gray areas in explaining even the smallest details of every in-line discipline with factual, up-to-date information and resources. I recommend this book to everyone, even beginners, for a comprehensive overview of in-line skating."--Suzanne Nottingham, Examiner, IISA Instructor Certification Program, coauthor of Fitness In-Line Skating

"This book cracks open the world of in-line skating for those looking for more than straight-line skating on their local bike path. As people look for innovative ways to reduce stress, have fun, and get and stay fit, Advanced In-Line Skating delivers a timely guide to getting the most from a pair of skates."--Adam Steer, Director, In-Line Certification Program, Canada

"This book is the next logical step after Get Rolling. It's brimming with well-written, advanced skating techniques and key exercises to help transform you into the skater you want to be. It covers everything from speedskating, roller hockey, agressive, downhill, hybrid sports to essential safety tips, shopping advice, definitions of skate terminology and just improving and sharpening your rolling-around skills. Pack this book (with your helmet) in your skate bag and take it with you to the trail, road, or rink. It rocks and so will you!"--Jim Fink, Seattle Skate Patrol ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Advanced?
I was looking for a book on advanced techniques -this is NOT the book.She covers roller hockey, speed skating and other topics very briefly.The book is misnamed...........should read "In Line skating Activities".....

Don't bother
Advanced? Are you kidding? This book spends a lot of time about covering a broad range of topics - but none in depth.I was looking for a good book on techniques -- well this is NOT the one.It is very superfiscial and not worth buying.I found some "beginners" books with more info!

Interesting reading, but broad rather than deep.
This book covers fairly diverse inline areas- speed, hockey, fitness, etc and as a result does not delve too deeply into any one area.If you wish to pursue any one aspect of skating, I'd recommend finding something more specialised.For example, the two areas that I specifically wish to pursue, double push and stair riding, are not covered at all.I find it especially puzzling that stair riding could be missing from a book with this title.

Still, as broad skating book, it's quite interesting and does have some good stuff on stroke technique.

verey good book
good book it tells you the basics and more. i loved it cause i love to in-line skate if you dont now after you read it you will...

hope you like this book! infact i know you willby daniel pruitt ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Love it!
My daughter loves this. We have used it for many years for activities for younger skaters at club events. We leave one for the runners to color in at competitions during their "downtime." Fun for any figure skater!

Great introduction for budding figure skater
I originally purchased this coloring book to find a simple design for the front of a skating sweater. Gave the book along with the sweater, and the four-year-old recipient is enjoying them both.

Review of coloring book
This is a very good coloring book for a young girl of 10 years old.

Wonderful Coloring Book
I think just about any age child would enjoy and find it easy to color these well drawn, large illustrations of skaters.

Lots of action poses and pretty costumes add to the interest.

Each page features a large line drawing of a skater, or sometimes a skating pair, performing on the ice.No backgrounds, and a brief sentence about what is going on in the picture.

Good coloring book for skating kids
This book is filled with wonderful black and white lined pages of different types of skaters. The pictures take up the page and have a small infomation paragraph at the bottom of each page, explaining the drawing. Good coloring space and thick paper. ... Read more

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Figure skating is the most beautiful and mysterious of all sports.When the skaters are on the ice, every twitch of a muscle and every slip of a skate blade is visible for the world to see.In Inside Edge, Christine Brennan chronicles--for the first time--a season on the skating circuit,
intimately portraying the lives, on and off the ice, of the sport's current and upcoming stars.Woven into the narrative are stories of figure skating luminaries past, present, and future--including Peggy Fleming, Katarina Witt, Brian Boitano, Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, Oksana Baiul, Michelle Kwan, Rudy Galindo, and Tara Lipinski.Revealing the backstage conflicts high-profile figure skaters face, and the ambition that drives them, Brennan also tells the stories of their families, of improbable rises to the top, and of wasted talents.

If skaters are perfect, they can become international heroes.But if they fall, if they miss a three-revolution jump on a quarter-inch blade of steel, the despair is theirs alone.This is their life on the edge, where decades of training culminate in little more than four crucial minutes on the ice.There is no other sport like it.There is no other story like theirs.

The figure skaters gathered slowly in the mahogany-paneled lobby of the majestic Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, New York, flashing no smiles, barely saying a word. The collection of gregarious entertainers had been reduced to silent, wide-eyed stares. The crackling wood in the fireplace made the room's only noise.

They had met in hotel lobbies in fancy street clothes hundreds of times in the past, but never for an event as devastating as this. On a cold night in late November 1995, they were to travel through snowswept Adirondack mountain roads to a nearby funeral home for a private wake for Sergei Grinkov, their colleague and friend who died of a massive heart attack during a skating practice the day before.Amazon.com Review
Figure skating is emerging as a major force in worldwideprofessional sports. Get the inside edge on the events andpersonalities of the professional figure-skating circuit. Profiles onstars such as Nancy Kerrigan, Peggy Fleming, Scott Hamilton, andOksana Baiul are interspersed with the author's impressions andresearch from a year on the tour, including analysis of the majorcompetitions, the judging process, and the emotional and physical tollthe sport takes on young athletes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Fascinating!
Lots of inside information about figure skating that most of us might never have guessed!A goodand fast read!

An Entertaining Read
This book is now dated, figure skating is scored quite differently now, then it was when this book was written. The skaters in the book have long since been replaced by a current crop. Not being an "insider", I don't know how the "politics" of figure skating have changed, but I'd suspect that the "politics" is also at least a bit different from when the book was written.

Still, the book is an entertaining read into the world of figured skating in the '90's. The book introduces us to personalities and gives us some background on the famous personalities of that time period. It's interesting to contemplate that today's prominent figure skaters were just starting out when this book was written. In that regard, this book provides an interesting look at how today's prominent skaters were raised in the world of figure skating.

fascinating
I thought Christine Brennan brought the lives of the skaters she followed in this book to life in such an interesting way that the book was hard to put down.I found myself totally involved, even knowing the outcome of some of the events she covered, I still was fascinated!Great job.Great book for anyone who loves this sport!

Wonderful book!
My daughter, a figure skating coach, and I are on our 3rd copy: people keep borrowing this book and keeping it!

Brennan does a fine job debunking the "pretty girls in pink" myth about skaters, while still showing respect for the amount of effort and athleticism necessary to succeed in this sport.It's been said that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did - only backwards and in high heels.Well, figure skaters do everything other elite athletes do, backwards/forwards and in the air while maintaining an illusion of fragility.Brennan recognizes that dichotomy, which is why this is such a good book.

If you know skating from the inside, elite or simply local, you will recognize much of what she talks of.If you enjoy politics, read this for incredibly sharp double dealing and backstabbing.But always, read it for the beauty she evokes.

The Beauty on Ice doesn't exist off the ice!
I have to say I was surprised by Christine Brennan's take on Tonya Harding. Tonya Harding is now a pariah in the world of American figure skating even though she helped many of today's figure skating athletes to become household names and wealthy as well. Tonya doesn't see any of it. It's ironic that Tonya Harding can't skate professionally while convicted rapist Mike Tyson is allowed to box but that's figure skating. Between the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Winter Games, the infamous incident by Nancy's clubbing by one of Tonya's hired goons caught everybody off guard. Poor Tonya, she was the girl from blue collar upbringing, divorced parents, and quite a dysfunctional childhood. I think if this was played out in Hollywood. Nancy and Tonya would have made up before the 1994 Winter Olympics and let it go down in history. No, the FBI was brought in. In the 1992 games, too much attention was paid on Nancy Kerrigan and the plight of her legally blind mother who later claimed that her daughter deserved the gold medal. In 1992, everybody including myself who watched the Olympic games knew about Nancy's poor mother. Nancy got more attention than Tonya and Kristi Yamaguchi who went to win the First Olympic Gold Medal for Ladies' Figure Skating since Dorothy Hamill. Still, she was shadowed by Nancy's blind mother. Since 1994, I became disillusioned when I saw figure skaters past judgment on Tonya Harding. I haven't lost respect for Jayne Torvill because she was actually quite ladylike in all retrospect. Sadly, Tonya was never the graceful skater but an excellent jumper who was the first American woman to land a triple axel. Tonya's happiness was short-lived by an abusive marriage and a US Figure Skating Association that cared more about maintaining a facade of a happy family. I didn't know that Nancy was not well-liked. YOu could have sure fooled me. Even now, Nancy is still the victim of a dumb plot. Had she had any sense, she would have forgiven Tonya and let it go but no it became a nightmare and a dream for the tabloids of the time. My respect for figure skating is gone. I am not surprised by the homosexuality in figure skating because it's so obvious but I wish they would just admit it rather than cover it up now. Even now, you just wonder why some aren't married or dating anybody. Anyway, the sport has changed for the worse in my opinion. It's become corrupted by greed, jealousy, and envy. ... Read more

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Dora and Boots catch a ride with Pegasus over the Snowy Forest to a magical snowy skating party! ... Read more