Ice- Skating- One of the most enjoyed and Daunting sports


Heading Back to The Invention

The first ice skateswere invented some 5000 years ago from animal bones by the Finns. The invention of ice-skateswas really helpful for the Finnish populations as it allowed them to save their energy during harsh weather conditions while hunting in the Finnish Lakeland. The earliest known ice skates date back to 200 A.D. and were made up of metal blades and were found in Scandinavia. The skate was fitted with a thin strip of copper folded and was attached to the underside of a leather shoe.



Rolling to the types-

There are 5 main types of skates which are-

  • Figure skates- Mainly used in Figure skating, this unlike hockey skates have toe picks on the front of the blade and are generally made out of stainless steel or aluminium with a steel runner.
  • The Hockey Skate- Basically used while playing ice hockey and ringette. The boots are made up of moulded plastic, leather, and ballistic nylon. The skates which are used during competitive hockey rarely used moulded plastic. The skates used by the goaltenders are cut lower in the ankle unlike the normal ones and the boot sits closer to the ice for a lower centre of gravity.
  • The Bandy Skate- Mainly used for playing Bandy, the boots are generally made up of leather and is lower than the hockey skates and thus it doesn’t actually cover the ankles.These skates are designed keeping in mind that it won’t hurt the opponents.
  • The racing skate- These skates have long blades and are used for speed skating. For example, the clap skate is a type of skate in which the shoe is connected to the blade using a hinge.
  • The touring skate- Also known as Nordic Skates, these are long blades that can be attached with the help of bindings and are meant for long distance tour skating on natural ice.

The legends and their famous achievements-

  • Katarina Witt- A retired German figure skater,she had won a series of Olympic achievements that includes gold medals for East Germany during the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, a four-time World Champion, two times World Silver Medalist, one of the most famous skaters in history.

 

  • TanithBelbin- Took birth in Kingston, she is a Canadian-American Ice Dancer who competed for the US along with Benjamin Agosto. She and Benjamin won the very recent 2006 Olympics Silver Medal, a four-time World Medalist, three times four continents champion, five times US champion too.

 

  • Dorothy Hamill- The 1976 Olympic champion in the Ladies Single Category, the 1976 World Champion.

 

  • Ashley Wagner- An American figure skater, the 2012 four continent champion, three-time Grand Prix final medallist, winner of the three grand Prix events, a three-time US National champion

The legends have their own way of inspiring more skaters like them, it is the spirit which makes the game more lively and filled with the unputdownable spark which increases with each day.