History Of Ice Skating

Do you love ice skating? Do you get goose bumps when you see ice skaters performing amazing stunts on icy floors? Yes, ice skating is a real treat to watch and is a feast for the eyes. Nevertheless, have you ever wondered when, how and where it evolved? Although ice skating originated as a mode of transportation, it has evolved into a professional sport and is one of the most important events in the ‘Winter Olympics’. Ice skating is not only a popular form of sports, but an art form where the skater travels on icy floors wearing parabolic blade like special boots that help them to glide through the ice easily. It is amazing to watch an agile skater gliding over ice rinks effortlessly. Modern day ice skating is divided into two forms, ‘speed skating’ and ‘figure skating’. If you are fascinated by such exciting facts, then here is some interesting information on the history of ice skating for you. Read on to learn more.

• The history of ice skating dates back to about 3000 B.C. Archeologists have found a pair of skates at the bottom of a lake in Switzerland. The skates were made of the leg bones of some large animal with holes at end of the bones. The skates have leather straps that were used to tie the skates onto feet.
• In ancient times, ice skating was a means of transportation when people had to cross large frozen water bodies during winter.
• The first concrete mention of ice skating is found in a book written by William Fitzstephen, a monk in Canterbury.
• King Louis XVI of France brought ice skating to Paris during his reign.
• In 14^th Century, the Dutch started using wooden platform skates with flat iron bottom runners. Poles were used to propel the skaters.
• In 15th Century, the Dutch incorporated a narrow metal double edged blade to replace the poles. The blade was attached to their shoes so that the skater could easily glide with his feet.
• Emperor Rudolf II of the Holy Roman Empire enjoyed ice skating so much that he constructed a large ice carnival in his court in 1610 to popularize the sport.
• In 1742, the first ice skating association was formed and was known as the ‘Edinburgh Skating Club’. To be able to join this club it was necessary to perform a test which comprised of skating in a circle on each foot, and then to jump over a succession of three hats placed on top of each other.
• In 1772, British artillery lieutenant, Robert Jones, wrote the first instructional book on ice skating that was published in London.
• The first steel clamp for skates was invented in 1848, by E.V Bushnell of Philadelphia.
• In 1865, Jackson Haines, a famous American skater, developed the two plate all-metal blade that he attached to his boots. He also introduced the ‘toe pick jumps’ in 1870.
• In 1876, the first artificial ice rink was made at Chelsea in London.
• The first closed toe blade was invented in 1914, by John, E. Strauss, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• In 1967, the largest outdoor ice rink was made in Japan having a total ice area of 165, 750 square feet. This was known as the ‘Fujikyu Highland Promenade Rink’.
• Today, ice skating has gained popularity in lot of countries and is a major event inWinter Olympics.