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Figure Skating History
Although there is very little information about the start of figure skating, it is believed to have started as early as 10,000 B.C. in The Netherlands. The blades during this time were skeletal bone. Scandinavia is considered the motherland of figure skating because the sport was popularized there around A.D. 1000 (2). Below is a break down of important discoveries, inventions and happenings dealing with figure skating's existence.
9th Century | Middle Ages | 1500's - 1600's | 1700's | 1800's
9th Century
Europeans used skating as a means of travel. They took flat pieces of wood or elk ribs, drilled holes in the bone to lace animal skin through it, and put the wood or ribs on the bottom of their boots. Poles were used to move the skater from place to place (1, p.17).
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Middle Ages
Iron blades were created in Iceland during this time. A pole wasn't needed anymore, because the iron blades gave a person more speed (1, p.17).
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1500's – 1600's
The Dutch made iron schaats in the late 1500's. It is believed the English word “skates” derived from the word “schaats.” The Dutch skated on their canals, rivers and inlets in the winter months (1, p.17).
Many countries in the late 1500's and 1600's did not allow women to skate. Charles II of England visited Holland and learned about canal skating. When Charles came back, Great Britain had its worst winter ever. Skating became popular there in 1662 and has continued to be a huge influence in other countries' skating (1,p.18). In the middle of the 1600's, North America (particularly Halifax , Nova Scotia) bit the skating bug. Stationed British officers exhibited ice skating allowing it to spread quickly throughout the entire continent (1, p.19).
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1700's
By 1742, the first skating club was formed in Scotland. By this time, the British took pride in tracing figures on the ice with different skates. Skates in the late 1700's were now blades attached to wooden soles on boots. Designed by the British, these skates were curved runners that extended beyond the heel, which enabled a skater to carve figures (1, p.18). “Club skates” were formed a long extended blade with round front blades and a round heel. Turning became more elegant with “club skates.” In the times of Queen Victoria, skaters were very stiff in posture, and arms were at their sides. Skaters performed precise figures on the ice which became known as compulsory moves (1, p.18).
Holland curled ice skate,
2nd quarter 19th century.
Courtesy of Ice-Skates Museum
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1800's
Figure skate, 1st quarter
20th century
Traditional model
Courtesy of Ice-Skates Museum
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North America saw the rise of its first figure skating club, the Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, in 1849. The group skated on river ice. As a club rule, members were required to skate with rope in the event they needed to rescue another member if he/she fell through the ice (1, p.19).
In the 1860's, Quebec City, Montreal, New York, and Toronto saw the rise of rinks. They weren't your typical rinks you step out on today. They were sheds over natural ice, which protected the skaters from severe elements (1, p.19).
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The International Skating Union (ISU) was formed in 1892. The ISU “defines the rules and sets performance standards [in] speed skating, figure skating, and ice dancing competitions” (2). The National Amateur Skating Association of the U.S. and International Skating Union of America were also formed in the late 1890's. In 1921, the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) formed to govern figure skating in the United States. The USFSA took place of the National Amateur Skating Association of the U.S. and the International Skating Union of America (2). |
Figure skate, 4th quarter
20th century.
Traditional model as we see them today
Courtesy of Ice-Skates Museum |
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Credits:
1. Milton, Steve. “Skating History.” Skate: 100 Years in Figure Skating . North Ponfret: Trafalgar Square Publishing, 1996. 17-19.
2. "Ice Skating," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2004
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.<http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761561185_2/Ice_Skating.html#s14>.
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