55 Ice Skating Facts For All Aspiring Skaters!

In this article, we're going to skate through some sparkling facts about ice skating, and we will also reflect briefly on the history of ice skating.

It's a common belief among historians that Scandanavian people first skated on ice thousands of years ago. Surprisingly, ice skating was seen as a medium of storing energy while traveling during winter.

Actual skating came into existence when a steel blade with sharpened edges was utilized. Instead of gliding on the top of the ice, skates nowadays tend to cut through the ice. With an ultimate purpose to aid movement, these ice skates were made of steel that comprised sharpened edges on the bottom.

Types Of Ice Skating

The means of conserving energy turned into an enjoyable sport in The Fens in England, and skating became popular as recreation for people from all walks of life.

• What is interesting about Ice skating? Ice skating is has proven to improve balance and build muscles in your core and legs, which are also considered fun, intense cardiovascular exercises.
• Most early skaters were agricultural laborers, as racing was common for many workers.
• Who invented ice skating? Research suggests that the very first ice skating incident occurred in southern Finland somewhat 4,000 years ago.
• In the 13th or 14th century, the Dutch added edges to ice skates.
• Since then, the basic foundations of skating have remained the same, with minor changes here and there. The method of binding and the construction of steel blades are the same.
• One can move around the ice rink by simply moving the skates on the ice.
• Ice skating was regarded proper for all classes of people in the Netherlands.
• Ice skating is a broad term for competitive sports that comprises four main types of sports: short track skating, figure skating, ice skating, and speed skating.
• Figure skating is distinguished as a branch of ice skating where individuals, groups, or even duos perform choreographed movements on skates.
• The riveting thing about figure skating is their skates. Termed 'toe picks,' figure skates possess a large set of jagged 'teeth' in front of the blade, unlike the ice hockey skate. These blades come in handy for jumping and not for spins.
• The term 'professional' for skaters to one's competitive status and not the skater's proficiency. Figure skaters that compete in the figure skating competition are not always 'professional' skaters.
• Speed Skating is a concept that is said to have been originated from Scandanavia and the Netherlands in Northern Europe.
• Skating as a necessary movement developed when the natives attached bones to their shoes to travel across frozen water bodies without slipping.
• Speed skating is also recognized as a competition amongst ice skaters during which skaters race each other over within a defined range of skating tracks on skates.
• Speed skating is further divided into three other types: short track speed skating, long track speed skating, and marathon speed skating.
• Short track speed skating is one form of ice skating competition that transpires in a smaller ice rink.
• Distances on short track skating are usually shorter than long track skating.
• Ice dancing is also a type of ice skating that falls within figure skating, and it is a dance presented on ice rinks with high lifts, spins, and turns.

Rules Of Ice Skating

Sports without rules is not at all fun! Even skating possesses some regulations that are mandatory to follow. And if you fail to do so, your team or you would pretty much qualify to disqualify.

• What are the rules of ice skating? Crossing the track to that of another skater while swapping their own lane is the main reason for disqualification.
• Another reason for getting disqualified is two false starts.
• Every short-track skater must wear speed skates, a spandex skin suit made of kevlar, protective eyewear with strap, a protective helmet, specific skating gloves that minimize injuries, hard shin pads, and knee pads within the suit, ankle protection, and neck guard. These protective gears help the skater to avoid injuries.
• Inside of the ice rink, chewing gum is not allowed.
• It is advised that skates and shoes be changed in the designated area.
• When in a rink, people are not allowed to sit on tables or counters and the dashboards.
• Inside the rink, any liquid or food items are not allowed. It also cannot be placed beside the rinks.
• It would be best if you skated within your limits for your safety by knowing your skating ability.
• Avoid any practices that could cause injury to yourself or others.
• Rules also state that any rash behavior showing like pushing, playing tag, fast skating, is not permissible.
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted anywhere inside and around the rink.
• Smoking and other kinds of substance use are not permitted while skating.
• It is always better to deposit the rented skates before leaving.
• Some items, especially hair items like combs, tiaras, and hats, are not allowed while skating as they may pose a danger while skating if not handled carefully.
• Another important thing to follow while near a rink is not to carry a child while on skates. The consequences can be drastic if one loses balance.
• Backward skating cannot be performed casually, and there are pre-defined specialty skates for this.
• Another important rule to follow during skating is that you do not skate when you have heart disease or any other health issues.
• Time also plays an important role while ice skating. Failing to do so can lead to disqualification.

Types Of Skates Used

Buying skates is solely based on what kind of skater you are and the type of ice skates you would need that would be suitable for you. Below are some of the ice skates that you might be inclined to buy according to your level of expertise.

• The purpose of recreational ice skates is to use them for recreational purposes, to have a good time on the rink with our close ones. The main aim is to ensure comfort.
• Figure Skates have been around since the 20th century. During the earlier periods, these skates were thin and quite supple compared to modern figure skates, which are thick and rigid.
• Just as the name defines, hockey ice skates are created for the sole purpose of playing hockey on the ice. While playing hockey, a player needs a skate that can give the player room to move, gain speed and make quick moves. The hockey ice skates are designed keeping that in mind.
• The hockey skates comprise a protective, hard boot attached to a short curved blade underneath that lets a player make swift moves on the rink.
• Speed skates are skates that help one to move at a rapid pace while skating. However, these skates are not meant for everyone as it needs lots of practice to perfect the use of speed skates.
• The different skates provide different leverages while skating. It depends upon the purpose we are using the skates for. The speed skates are not good at providing support, whereas hockey states cannot provide the agility that speed skates can.
• Ice Skates have been defined as a particular type of boot that comprises metal blades at the bottom that are worn to skate on ice.

First Ice Skating Championship

Figure skating, speed skating, and ice dancing are different Olympic competitions. Ice Hockey is also claimed as an Olympic Sport.

• Canal racing with wooden skates attached to iron blades was popular in the Netherlands in the 17th century.
• In 1742, the first skating club was established in Scotland.
• Ice skating was first introduced in England in the 17th century, and the first skating club was established in Edinburgh in the 1740s, named the Edinburgh Skating Club.
• In the 1890s, world figure skating championships had begun only for men for speed skating and figure skating.
• Until 1936, the first World Championship for women's speed skating was formally established.
• Pair skating wasn't introduced until 1908, whereas ice dancing became part of the World Championships until 1952.
• In 1902, Madge Syers of Great Britain was the first woman to participate in the World Championship event in figure skating.
• Although women's world skating in the Olympics wasn't introduced till 1908, her participation led to creating skating events and championships for women.
• She entered the World Championship conducted in London and secured a second rank after Salchow, but he offered her his gold medal because he believed she could win the event.
• In 1879, the first artificially frozen rink was installed in the USA in the old Madison Square Garden in New York City.
• Jackson Haines is hailed as the creator of modern figure skating in the mid-1860s. Although the Americans initially did not admire his skating style, he was adding ballet moves into the skating.
• Ice Hockey was included in the Winter Games on their inauguration in 1924 and had appeared in Summer Olympics in 1920.
• Women's ice hockey had to wait for almost 70 years or so before making its Olympic debut in 1998.