Book 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.

Customer Reviews (3)

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.

Must have books for competitive skaters in differnt levels
This is a wonderful book that provides both in-depth analysis of why off ice training is critical to a successful skater and step by step off ice strength and conditioning manual.It totally changed my view of ice skating.It helps my daughter to train smarter.Highly recommend. ... Read more

Book Description
Hockey is played faster every year. Players are bigger, stronger, faster, and more skilled than ever. Those who can't maintain the pace have little chance of making it at the higher levels.

Laura Stamm's Power Skating, Third Edition will help you develop explosive speed with Stamm's proven techniques that have helped thousands of skaters at all levels of the game become great skaters. It also provides you with practice drills that will help you hone and transfer that speed to game situations.

Laura Stamm has taught the Los Angeles Kings, the New York Rangers, the New York Islanders, the New Jersey Devils, and other teams around the world have employed her Power Skating System as well. Thousands of amateur and pro players—including many NHL stars—learned directly from Stamm how to increase their speed, ability, and efficiency on the ice.

In this updated edition of her popular power skating book, Stamm introduces additional coverage of the topics most important to today's hockey coaches and players. She explains everything from how to select proper skates and equipment for superior skating to all the critical components of explosive skating:

• Balance for stability and speed
• Explosiveness through greater force application
• Starts for a step advantage on the opposition
• Forward stride for a more aggressive attack
• Backward stride for mobility on defense
• Crossovers for split-second change of direction
• Stops for being able to halt on a dime
• Turns and transitions for multi-directional moves
• Agility for maximum coverage of the ice
• Training for faster and more powerful skating

Nearly 300 drawings and photographs illustrate skating skills from the basic to the complex. And for each maneuver you'll also find a detailed explanation of how to perform the skill, plus proven drills and exercises to help you practice that maneuver. The exercises progress from the simplest to the most difficult and include special pointers for coaches.

Every great hockey player skates powerfully and is able to get in position to make the key play. Laura Stamm's Power Skating will give you that explosive edge on the competition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book for the beginner hockey skater!
This book has helped me out tremendously! I have an instructor, when he shows me something, and i still don't understand it, i flip this book open, it gives you step by step what you should do and it usually works..

Even on things my instructor does not go over because it's for more advanced than i am currently, this book helps you understand how to at least attempt to do it, and usually it works if you do what the book says..

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is just start to play ice hockey.. it has helped me out a lot!

great book
great book but more for beginners.great drills to help build edge control

Just what I was looking for!
I was searching for a book or video that would teach me all I needed to know about skating so I could get into inline hockey. This book delivered beyond my expectations! Not only has it allowed me to get all of the basics quickly, it taught me the all important lesson of what to focus on when I'm practicing these skills. I will be using this book for many years to help me continually refine my technique. Although there are some differences between ice and inline skating, all of the techniques covered in this book relate directly.

This book is priceless!!!!!

Power Skating
This is an excellent book.I am a recreational skater, who plays the occasional pick-up/old folkshockey.I learned skating skills and techniques from some of the chapters, that I could not learn from myfriends.My skating has improved since I read Laura Stamm's Power Skating.The author really knows how to express herself and teach.Techiques aredescribed with clarity and appropriate drills are detailed.This should bebeneficial to all skaters, from novice to expert.If you are only buyingone hockey skating book, it should be this one.

An excellent book on skating!
Although I play roller hockey instead of ice hockey, this book is still an excellent resource. Very thorough explanations, illustrated with many clear photographs.

I think it is most appropriate for beginning tointermediate skaters. However, if you are an advanced skater and want tocheck that your mechanics or sound, or want to squeeze the last bit ofperformance from your technique, you should consider this book.

I can'trecomend this book highly enough. In the first week after getting it, I wasable to skate faster than many of the other people in my hockey class whohad blown me away the previous week. ... Read more

Amazon.com
After watching a figure-skating performance, do you ever wonder what just happened on the ice? The skater supposedly executed a flawless double Salchow and triple Lutz, among other things, and then the judges posted a bunch of numbers. Maybe you need help from the Dummies. Written by 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi (with a foreword by Scott Hamilton), Figure Skating for Dummies is a primer for spectators and would-be skaters alike. Learn the lingo, understand the judging practice, and--if you're really committed--embark on a practical training schedule in hopes of performing your own double-toe loops and triple axels.Book 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, including Finding the right equipment (from boots to skates) that fits your budget Selecting a practice rink and choosing a choreographer to compose movements to enhance your performances Picking a great coach and getting the most from your lessons Discovering the lowdown on the secret world of figure skating judges; what they look for in a performance and how they themselves qualify to be judges Deciphering what those scores mean and how a 5.5 score can beat a 5.8 scoreFinding 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! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

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.

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.

Figure Skating For Dummies
I am a skater my self and This book has helped me to lear how to do my jumps and spins better.If you like skating and want to lear how to skate, or if you are just starting I would recommed theis book.It tells you how to chose the righ skate for you and It tells you how to do jump and spins.Its a verry good book all aobut skating from some one who has been skating their hole life. ... Read more

Book 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 (5)

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.

Great Book for Skaters
This is a great book for any figure skater! It gives you tips on moves and tells you step by step how to do them. It gives instruction on the basics, freestyle moves, spins, jumps, footwork, and pairs skating. It also gives you tips for just starting out. It highlights popular figure skaters for their specific moves (example: Lucinda Rue for her spins, Scott Hamilton for his footwork, ect.). It is a great book for any skater of any level or age.

You Need this Book!
This is one of the best books about figure skating available. It is an excellent guide for figure skaters who want to improve their skills and a good coaching reference. Many photos and step-by-step instructions provide information for learning turns and footwork, spins, jumps, freestyle moves, basic moves, and pairs. Also included in this book are information on choosing skates, warming up, types of figure skating, fitness and strength, and more. Plus, there is helpful information on choosing music and costumes for programs. This book is a wonderful, helpful reference for all figure skaters and coaches. ... Read more

Book 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 (7)

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.

Great introduction for beginners and intermediate skaters
Co-authored by a master teacher and her adult student (a med school prof), this first-rate book concentrates on beginning and intermediate skills. Among the things to recommend it are:

- Extremely clear writing, including clear and readable explanations of body mechanics

- Good organization: a series of lessons, each concluding with a checklist and a troubleshooting table

- Good illustrations: line drawings, made from photographs of co-author Kunzle-Watson, that clearly illustrate body and skate position for each skill

In conclusion: highly recommended!

GOOD FOR BEGINNERS...
I found this book to be very helpful as a beginner skater my first year. I appreciated the usefull checklist to test the basic moves. The diagrams could have been a little clearer. Other than that I would recommend thisbook for beginner figure skaters.

Easy reading, thorough, and all in all a great book!
The pictures and illustrations are fantastic. Shows step by step on how to execute beginning moves from crossovers to three turns, and mohawks. Only thing I wish it covered were some basic jumps and spins.

Truly like having your own coach!!
Even though this was published in 1995-I hope they keep this on the printing press hotlist. This book is one of the most worthwhile books of it's genre. It's not just informative,explaining techniques(though it doesthat,too)It offers a highly structure program that can adjust according toyour ability and proficiancy.It focus's on the basics that many skaterssorely need but lack nowdays. Amust have! ... Read more

Book 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 (8)

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.

This was one of the better skating books...
This book has wonderful descriptions about just about everything in skating, except for take off technique. I dont understand why the author goes into extreme detail explaining how to do a three turn before a flip, but barley mentions how to take off into the actual jump.(This has been the case with just about every skating book I have read) Also the pictures are in black and white. The book has some very helpful tips and I think it is worth reading I just wish he would explain take off in a lot more detail.

"Excellent Instruction"
This book is excellent for both beginners learning basic figure skating techniques and more advanced skaters who want to improve their overall ability on the ice. It includes helpful advice on improving your technical ability and provides possible mistakes that may slow your progress, so you can treat this book as a sort of "coach". It also includes pictoral descriptions for executing many of the moves, which I found very helpful. However, one downside is that this book was written in 1988 so it is a little old fashioned (there's mention of compulsory figures, which have since been eliminated from competition). However, it still contains all you need to know to improve your skating and I would highly recommend this book as one of the best I have read for skating instruction for both beginners and advanced skaters alike.

If you're a skater this is for you!
This book is THE BEST!it's got everything you need to know about the jumps spins and techniques of this sport!READ IT AND YOU'LL WANT TO KEEP IT WITHIN REACH FOREVER (if you're a skater)hahano really, it's great!BUY IT!

A life-long manualfreestyle skate
This book by Misha gives the very comprehensive description to the basic spins and back spins, jumps from single rotation to multi rotational, and of course the fundamentals of skating, ie edges and stroking. The wonderful thing about this book is that Misha provided the possible faults to the failure of execution of a particular move. So one may treat this book as a 'coach'. I personally liked the illustration of the sketches of the tracing on ice and the precision that is shown by Brian Boitano featured for the jumps and spins. You get to watch a few frames of a quadruple toe loop tooA must buy for any freestyle skater in advance technique. Truly a treasure of a life-time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

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

Book 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 (25)

A pleasing and enlightening read
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become an Olympic champion? What is the toll this feat exacts from a person? And after the big gold medal win, then what? Sports memoirs are usually interesting because the subjects possess a skill or talent that most of us don't, and we are fascinated to read what it was like to hit that winning home run or participate in that agonizing marathon. When picking up a memoir by Dorothy Hamill, who launched the careers of thousands of would-be skaters as well as creating a hairstyle craze, readers want to know what it was like to win the gold medal in figure skating in 1976, as well as all the hard work that led up to and followed it.

Hamill candidly talks about the sacrifices her family made to enable her to skate at the highest level. She also details openly the ups and downs and the often icy relationship she shared with both parents, especially her mother, who wasn't in the arena in Innsbruck, Austria, that day in February 1976. Her mother remained back at the hotel, an absence that Dorothy never could understand but took as rejection. After the performance, when she told her mother she had won, Hamill was stunned when her mother responded with a laconic, "That's nice, Dorothy."

We're accustomed to seeing an athlete's meteoric rise. But what happens after the competitions and medal ceremonies? Without their rigorous and regimented training schedules, how can these seasoned athletes acclimate to real life again? One of the most interesting aspects of this memoir is Hamill's assessment of just that: "I should have been on top of the world, but I was ill-equipped to handle these new pressures. All I knew how to do was to get up every morning at 4 a.m. to go to the rink and practice. My day had always been planned around structured activity toward a specific goal I cared about. Suddenly, that was gone, and my present life was so hectic and without meaning."

Apart from her skating career, Hamill also talks about her two difficult marriages. The first was to actor/aviator Dean Paul Martin, son of singer Dean Martin, who would die in a plane crash a few years after their divorce. Her second marriage produced a child, her daughter Alex, but was fraught with deceit, placing her in dire financial straits that ultimately had her declaring bankruptcy. She also talks frankly about her lifelong struggle with depression (a family affliction) and, more recently, osteoarthritis --- the bane of every aging athlete's existence. The love of her child and the desire to make a better home for her enabled Hamill to weather the hard times. Apart from her young daughter, her one abiding love was skating. Whenever she felt down or out, she could always count on a little ice time to relieve whatever pain she was feeling.

Despite all the ups and downs and the years that go by, Hamill still remains the little girl in the red skating dress, with that signature haircut that captured the world's attention and hearts. The book also serves as a good primer for the life of a young skater, the physical and emotional involvement, and what the family of an ambitious skater can expect. Both the athletic and the personal sides add up to a pleasing and enlightening read.

--- Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller

Slightly dull look at an amazing life
At age 50, Dorothy Hamill looks back at her life in this autobiography.Let me get my biases on the table at the start.
Bias#1: I've had a crush on Dorothy Hamill for more than 30 years. I'm also a big fan of women's figure skating and have met a couple of them in person.
Bias#2: I get my nose out of joint when someone writes an autobiography and leaves out intimate details that are important in everyone's life. Yes, I'm talking about sex.
With those biases in mind, I give this book 4 stars. It was a very easy read. My wife, knowing bias#1, gave it to me for Christmas and I finished all 240 pages in a week (fast for me). It was nice to recall her Olympic and World championships and to pick up a few details along the way that I didn't know. But she really doesn't spend much time on these events. Most of the details we get from this part of her life revolve around family situations and hopping from one coach to another.I guess she covered these in more detail in her 1983 book which I don't recall reading.
The next part of this book deals with her marriages and business dealings including how the two were so intertwined. Here we find out that her two husbands had sex but we never find out if she did - with the implied exception resulting in her daughter Alex. This is bias #2 - sex is important in most people's lives. Is it so unimportant in hers that it doesn't warrant a mention?This is a complaint I have with some other autobiographies. As a result, I hold Cybill Shepherd's "Cybill Disobedience" in higher regard than Ann-Margret's autobiography, "My Story". And it is why I only give 4 stars to this book. Another critical review of this book gives it 3 stars for many of the same reasons only that reviewer is not as crude about it as I am.
This book includes several pages of photos but most are old. For example, we don't get to see what Alex looks like in 2007 (the book's copyright date). For a first printing of a first edition I found few typos - I counted 5 in all. And maybe it doesn't fit into her autobiography but it would have been interesting to add a paragraph or two about what happened to Ice Capades after it was sold to televangelist Pat Robertson (see Wikipedia if you are as curious as I).

Average read
The book was interesting, but I had hoped she would have gone into more detail about fighting depression than she did.

ATrue Lady
What I like about this book is Dorothy's honesty.Perhaps a lesser person would have written angry, judgmental and mean-spirited words about the people in their lives who hurt them, but Dorothy remains a class-A lady here. Dorothy has brought so much joy into people's lives and I've never heard a negative word about her ever.The men in her life took advantage of her sweet-nature.She is no Sonja Henie (read her biography!).Reading this book reminds me of when I was a kid in the '70's, at a time when kids could take trains by themselves and skate on ponds.This is a charming story from a charming lady and the sadness behind it is the sadness of a cruel world that wants to destroy all that is delicate and beautiful -- like Dorothy herself.

Dorothy Hammill A Skating Life
This book really drew me in.Dorothy shares her story candidly,providing the reader with the unvarnished truth about her family's dynamics and the struggles she faced after she became an Olympic champion.She is at times critical of her parents, coaches, spouses, and mentors, but at the same time is fair in her assessments of each of them.

I really appreciate the fact that she was willing reveal her life as
she experienced it, rather than to try to paper over her troubles for the sake of keeping up appearances.In this regard, she reminds me of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who seemed to have it all, yet still felt disappointed and unfulfilled.This, I think, is a reminder to us all that life is not easy for anyone, even those who live at the top. ... Read more

Book Description
What is a noun? It's easier to show than explain--and this book is brimming with examples. Author Brian Cleary and illustrator Jenya Promitsky creatively clarify the concept of nouns for young readers. Nouns are printed in color for easy identification, and the playful rhymes and illustrations combine to highlight key words. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Can't recommend highly enough
This book taught my 4 year old what nouns were. I read it for her older brother, but they both picked up on the concept.The rhymes are silly, so it keeps their attention, and they really get it by the end of the book.

I also recommend the others in the series - To Root, To Toot, To Parachute:What is a Verb?;Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What is an Adjective?We don't have the latest ones, but I'm sure they're just as good.

After reading the other reviews, I want to check out other series that this author has done.

Great
This book was great.It was too young for my 8yr old but just right for the 6yr old.

A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink: What Is a Noun?
My five year old daughter loves this book! Prosmitsky's colorful illustrations make it so much more fun learning the parts of speech. My daughter adores the illustrator's goofy pillow-like cats!

All Primary Teachers Could Use This!
As a teacher of third graders, I've used this book and "Hairy, Scary, Ordinary: What is an Adjective" to teach and delight my students, and to take some of the tedium out of parts of speech. Within a day or so of introducing these books, all 27 of my group knew the difference between the major parts of speech. We found out that Mr. Cleary has a website, and I printed out some word-building worksheets off it for free, and a took away a couple of suggestions on how integrate teaching nouns with a fun art project, called the noun quilt, in which each letter of the alphabet has a noun, as in B, BOOT, C, CAT and the students draw the item and eventually it becomes this big old paper quilt full of nouns. His publisher assures me that TO ROOT, TO TOOT, TO PARACHUTE: WHAT IS A VERB? will be in soon, and it's a no-brainer that I'll get that as well.

A Mink, A Fink, A Skating Rink: What is a Noun?
Funny, silly, but slyly (if that's a word) educational, A Mink A Fink A Skating Rink: What is a Noun? will do for grammar what "ColumbusSailed the Ocean Blue in Fourteen-hundred ninety-two" did for socialstudies. Kids can't help but remember which part of speech a word isbecause of the clever rhymes. My second graders find the illustrationswonderful as well. Cleary's first series includes great teaching tools like"Jamaica Sandwich?", which is really a 4th-5th grade combinationGeography/English lesson. ... Read more

Book Description
Get Rolling is your guide to the safest, easiest way to start (and stop!) rolling on in-line skates. Author Liz Miller is a nationally-known certified instructor who wrote Get Rolling for nervous novices seeking a comprehensive in-line how-to guide.

With an easy, encouraging format and tons of empathy for your fears, Liz will turn you into a confident, competent skater with dozens of step-by-step lessons, plenty of photos, and her own lively drawings. Then you, too, can benefit from the most fun form of low-impact exercise around!

You will learn:

How to avoid injury and conquer the debilitating fear of falling
Beginning to advanced techniques for stopping, turning and striding
Where to find the true bargains for skates and protective gear
Building blocks for in-line hockey, racing, ski cross training, and more
Where to skate, what to wear, and how to stay fit with "roll-aerobics"
Acclaimed worldwide, Get Rolling is the only in-line skating book you'll need to go safely stride-by-stride from beginner to expert skating! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The BEST Beginner's & Intermediate Guide to In-Line Skating
The most complete guide on, comprehensive step-by-step, In-Line skating lessons.It takes you from beginner to advanced intermediate in the safest way.The fear of falling is gone; you learn how to fall and get up properly. The Yoga poses are very helpful for balance, strength and increased range of motion.Chapter 7 teaches you how to stay fit with "roll-aerobics".Key terms, skate maintenance, safety, etc. are all covered. If a DVD on the skating techniques accompanied the guide on "GET ROLLING" it would obliterate every in-line skating manual.

For the absolute beginner
Just an intro about me, I'm a 40yr old male and having lost weight and seeking a more active lifestyle decided that all the times I'd seen rollerbladers on the beach walk, it was for me.

This book will take you from a never skated numbty to a skater with confidence in about 15hour sessions, I'm now over 20-25hours skating and have progressed through the book. It is quite straight forward and although you will find the need to have the book on hand during practice, it will guide you through what corrections you may need to take to finally master the skills. (Some skills took me more time than others to pick up, when I finally realised I wasn't quite carrying out the practice/tuition right.)

While I still manage to have the odd moment (almost falling) it is nice to be able to skate the local beach walk (3km's) knowing that I can stop turn and steer to avoid 'moments'.

Without this book, I believe I'd still be stumbling along in the carpark, frustrated that I wasted so much money. In my area there is limited tuition and this book was just what I needed.

I encourage beginners to heed the safety advice and also purchase 'crash pants' - I spent 2 weeks waiting for skin and bruising to heal from being over enthusiastic in attempting a hill trail too soon.

Get the book, get some good skates and find a vacant flat lot for your first 10hours - try some trails and go back to the lot to build your skills.

I'm enjoying the sport and hope that I can do so for many more of my 'aging' years.


Good Luck.

A good book for Beginners
This book is very systematic and teaches basic and intermediate technique in an easy to follow format.The strength of this book is the descriptions and the pictures that match many of the descriptions.The focus on safety and confidence-building drills "before you roll" make this a good book for us beginners.This book would augment any class.But here in rural Utah where there are no inline skating classes, the drills allow one to practice in stages using the book alone.The author DOES recommend professional instruction and says early on not to depend on the book alone... ... Read more

Book Description

A fan's book on international skating stars -- today's best and tomorrow's brightest

Figure skating has burst back onto the international sports scene, following a series of unfortunate judging controversies. There is a fresh crop of skaters who are jumping higher, skating faster and pushing artistic and technical boundaries like never before. The figure skating revolution includes new rules plus new countries in competition, and sees women once again landing the triple axel. The budding rivalries in both the men's and women's competitions have rejuvenated this riveting sport that commands prime time television for months.

Figure Skating Today showcases the skaters during the events of the 2006-07 season, including the Grand Prix Finals, the Europeans and the Four Continents, and the 2007 World Championships in Tokyo.

An exciting look at the current crop of today's top international champs and those on the road to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Figure Skating Today covers such international stars as:

• Kimmie Meissner
• Mao Asada
• Jeffrey Buttle
• Stéphane Lambiel
• Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison.

With its action photos, behind-the-scenes stories and fascinating statistics, Figure Skating Today is a book for every skating fan.

Book Description
"You're a strong skater, Piet, and you have a quick mind. This is why I know you'll succeed in this important task. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't know it could be done."

In 1941 Piet, a young Dutch boy from Sluis, gets the assignment of a lifetime: He must skate along the frozen canals of the Netherlands and across the Belgian border, in order to guide two neighborhood children to their aunt's house in Brugge, where the children will remain for the duration of World War II. Their father has been taken by German soldiers, andthe children are no longer safe in Sluis -- but the journey with Piet, past soldiers and enemies, is fraught with danger.

Along the treacherous path to Belgium the three children skate using every bit of speed, courage, and strength they can muster. All the time they try to appear like innocent schoolchildren simply out for a skate, for if the German soldiers discover their escape plan, the children will be in grave trouble. During the journey Piet thinks about his hero, Pim Mulier -- the first person to ever skate the Elfstedentocht, the famous and prestigious Eleven Towns Race that takes place in his country. For years Piet has dreamed of proving that he is a skater as brave and strong as Pim Mulier -- but he had never imagined that his test would fall under such dangerous circumstances.

Louise Borden's moving text captures all the tension, excitement, and fear that comes with Piet's mission, while Niki Daly's evocative illustrations bring the children and their perilous journey into vivid focus.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

What a fantastic, informative book!!!
My 4-year-old son picked this book out at the library (I think he was attracted by the cover picture of children ice skating, a hobby he too enjoys).When I read it to him at home, I was surprised at how engaging it was for me, being that it is a book written for a younger audience.The author certainly researched her subject matter.My son and I both learned a great deal about the Netherlands in the early 1940s, and the history of ice skating.The Elfstedentocht, the speed skating race in the northern province of Friesland, I had never heard of before reading this book.Maybe one day my son will travel to the land of his ancestors and compete in this race!This excellent book could certainly inspire an interest in a venture of that nature.I certainly would recommend this book, both for its content, and the captivating artwork.

Excellent read!
I purchased this for my 2nd grade granddaughter to read from her list of summer reading books.Turned out to be a 4th grade level, but she was definitely up to it!Wonderful book!Excellent adventure from WWII.She was enthralled and I was, too!Recommend this one highly!

Skating just as fast as we can
Parents often find themselves amazed at the sheer number of WWII picture books available to kids today.Why the year 2004 alone was privy to such fabulous tomes as, "The Cats of Krasinski Square", by Karen Hesse and "The Greatest Skating Race", by Louise Borden.Usually such picture books are examinations of the Holocaust and/or Jewish oppression.Borden's book, however, takes an entirely different route.Concentrating on the German occupation in the Netherlands, the book shows how resistance and bravery can flower in children when the need is great enough.Though this book is far too lengthy and involved to seriously interest any child under the age of eight, I'd still recommend it to those tykes that can maintain their interest through a riveting race against time.

Piet (pronounced "pete") has a single burning obsession that has yet to be thoroughly quenched.He loves to skate.This is not particularly peculiar in the Netherlands, of course.After all, he comes from a long line of skate artisans and often he traverses the many canals that run through his town.But Piet's real hope is to someday compete in the difficult Elfstedentocht race held in Friesland when the winters are cold enough.Piet's hero, Pim Mulier, once completed the 200 kilometer (roughly 125 mile) course in just 12 hours and 55 minutes and Piet's raring to do the same.But it's the second winter into WWII and the Netherlands are under German occupation.What's worse, a father of two kids in Piet's school was recently arrested by the Germans for passing on information to the British.This places the man's children in dire peril and their only hope is to somehow escape over the border to Belgium and then into the town of Brugge to safety.But how could two such children be able to find their way?That's where Piet comes in.With his trusty red notebook in hand, Piet and the kids must escape and elude the Germans and make it to their safehouse in the course of a single day over 12 kilometers.If they're strong enough.

Though looking like a picture book, this is an in-depth read more appropriate for kids reading early chapter titles.In the course of the narrative, author Louise Borden spots the text with factual information in the form of maps, pronunciation guides (very useful when you have words like, "Elfstedentocht" to contend with), and info on the great Friesland race as well as a history of skating itself.It's enough to make your head spin.And then, to top it all off, there's the story.Borden cleverly sucks you into the action.It did strike me as a little odd that in this book the adults would place Piet in such danger when a grown-up probably could've have helped the two children instead.Then again, maybe they figured that kids would attract less attention.Whatever the reason, Piet's journey is realistic.He comes up with an ingenious way to keep the seven-year-old from tiring too much and also for keeping the children's spirits up.After reading the book, you may never want to skate yourself but you're happy watching others do it here.

The illustrations by Niki Daly are nicely detailed as watercolors go but the real hero here is the text.Kids who like that classic piece of children's literature, "Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates" by Patricia Lauber will find a similar tale in "The Greatest Skating Race".Purchase only for those advanced readers that won't be turned off by a little historical fiction.A great WWII picture book for a select audience.

A World War II treasure
Louise Borden has added another little known story to her collection of historical fiction. In the year 1941, Holland has been under Nazi control for a year. Ten year old Piet dreams of following in the footsteps of his hero, Piiim Mulier the skater who first achieved Elfstedentocht, the Eleven Towns Race.

When a family friend is taken into German custody Piet's grandfather asks the boy to take the threatened family's children, down the frozen canals, to safety across the border to Brugge, Belguim. They are hoping three children skating down the canals will not attact the attention of the German troops. The journey becomes Piet's Elfstedentocht. The cold, the exhaustion, the fear and the natural exuberance of the children are beautifully shared in this story.

Niki Daly's illustrations have an old fashioned feel. Daly has caught the feeling of the Dutch winter sky and the era with muted colors.

Interesting notes on the Elfstedentocht are included along with pronounciations of the Dutch words. Another wonderful book about Holland during WWII is "Forging Freedom" by Hudson Talbott.These two titles would work well together. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Excellent
An excellent publication. Diagrams are well thought out, giving all the steps required to complete a move along a timeline. The writing style and use of humour in the text and illustrations makes reading and learning fun, and the author really captures the inner thoughts of a beginning skater as he prepares to execute a move, making the reader feel comfortable with trying them. I keep the book with me and review a page or two now before I skate to hone my skills. Thanks for an excellent publication!

William Nealy's cartoon style makes In-Line skating fun.
This hilarious, way of teaching rollerblading makes skating fun.The cartoons are very explicit and cover every conceivable way of skating, safety, skate maintenance and techniques.Even though the language may be a little vulgar it is by all means a comprehensive and detailed way on learning and improving your In-line skating.

A good investmentfora beginner
This book can't be read and understood at one sitting. If you do try to read at one sitting as beginner or low intermediate skater you will certainly miss many subtle points.

I have read this book about 4 times, nearly cover-to-cover as I needed to be reminded of different points or I didn't fully read the points indicated. Of course if I were a good skater I wouldn't be doing this. There are moves I still don't understand but that's ok as I am a long way from that level at the moment
The lack of photos instead of diagrams was disappointing, but now I think diagrams are better as, there are so many and the labeling is extensive.
This book wont makes you a great skater. You need an instructor for that, but as a guide it is excellent.
I would have preferred a more-structured layout in terms of points to remember and perhaps a greater depth of explanation of subtle points.Having said that I doubt you will go wrong buying this bookgiven the audience it targets.

A Graphic Novel and Inline Primer
Sorry earlier reviewers, but I totally and unequivocally disagree that the handwriting makes this book hard to read.In my opinion, the handwriting makes it more fun and more flexible to read when the author wants to stress something textually.The whole book reads like a graphic novel and Nealy does a decent job drawing and explaining the basics of edges and glides, which I think are often illustrated poorly in other books.He also thoroughly explains and illustrates more advanced stops, turning, spins, backwards skating, and cooler, potentially-aggressive moves.There's also a cute, informative skate maintenance section at the back.Honestly, people, most skate books only cover the basics or do some overview of the skating world in general.I think this one's a winner - it goes over a great selection of topics. Based on the opening humor in the cartoons on pages roman numeral five and eleven, it is apparent that the book is not meant for innocent young minds to ponder.But give the author a break - plenty of books go over the basics in an easy-for-kids format.This one is for teens/adults who want to really know a lot of information about technique and don't just want to roll.

Contains Unnecessarily Vulgar Language
The book uses plenty of detailed sketches to provide all of the techniques you'll need to know, and then some.The content of the book is more than sufficient to enable someone to become a proficient inline skater, and is easily understandable.Unfortunately, the book is equally thorough in its use of profanity, making it unsuitable for my kids to see.A book about skating that is too profane for kids to see? Give me a break . . . ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com
The cover photo of a swanlike Michelle Kwan sets the tone for the sweeping, beautifully illustrated volume behind it. It is as attractive as it is skillful, as balanced as it is smart, as seemingly effortless as it is hard-working. There's a helluva lot happening beneath its cool, glittery surface.

The Official Book does duty on several fronts. It offers an authoritative illustrated history of the sport; short biographies of the most influential and important skaters; lists of U.S., Olympic, and world champions in all categories; and an extensive directory of figure-skating clubs around the country. Chapters glide easily from the evolution of the skate itself to a primer--with helpful line drawings--on how to use those skates, from simple forward "stoking" to the complex jumps and spins that enthrall audiences everywhere. There's a hilarious tour of skating's changing and fickle fashions and sections that explain how skaters create routines and exactly what they are required to put into them, the rigors of actual competition (and how best to watch it), and even one on how the often mysterious judges arrive at their often mysterious scores.

As a reference book, it's useful and conclusive. As a history, it's enjoyably informative. And--most alluringly--as a celebration, it is every bit as exquisite as the sport it celebrates. --Jeff SilvermanBook 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. ... 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

Customer Reviews (1)

As the title says, "complete."
The Complete Book of Roller Skating was published in 1979, before the fallof disco skating and the rise of inline skating. Still, this book is anexcellent resource for anyone interested in quad roller skating. It coversskating's history in detail, with lots of great photographs, and devoteschapters to artistic, hockey, speed, disco, and outdoor skating.

Unlikemost other skating reference books, this one talks about the competitiveskating world (at least, as it was in 1979), not just about recreationalskating. We see (in words and photos) skaters training for competition atNationals and Worlds, performing such difficult moves as "theimpossible sit spin," a pairs spin that requires amazing strength fromboth skaters.

The book also includes two chapters of skating lessons,from basic forward skating through spins and the salchow jump.

Whilerecent skating developments can't be found here, and the book is long outof print, it is well worth purchasing if you can find a copy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

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