ICE
SKATING - HISTORY!
The oldest pair of skates known date back to about 3000
B.C., found at the bottom of a lake in Switzerland.
The skates were made from the leg bones of large animals,
holes were bored at each end of the bone and leather
straps were used to tie the skates on. An old Dutch
word for skate is "schenkel" which means "leg
bone".
Around the 14th Century, the Dutch started using wooden
platform skates with flat iron bottom runners. The skates
were attached to the skater's shoes with leather straps.
Poles were used to propel the skater. Around 1500, the
Dutch added a narrow metal double edged blade, making
the poles a thing of the past, as the skater could now
push and glide with his feet (called the "Dutch
Roll")
In 1848, E. V. Bushnell of Philadelphia, PA invented
the first all steel clamp for skates.
In 1865, Jackson Haines, a famous American skater, developed
the two plate all metal blade. The blade was attached
directly to Haines' boots. The skater became famous
for his new dance moves, jumps and spins. Haines added
the first toe pick to skates in the 1870's, making toe
pick jumps possible.
The first artificial ice rink (mechanically-refrigerated)
was built in 1876, at Chelsea, London, England and was
named the Glaciarium. It was built near the King's Road
in London by John Gamgee.
In 1914, John E. Strauss, a blade maker from St. Paul,
Minnesota, invented the first closed toe blade made
from one piece of steel, making skates lighter and stronger.
The largest outdoor ice rink is the Fujikyu Highland
Promenade Rink in Japan, built in 1967 and boasts an
ice area of 165,750 square feet-- equal to 3.8 acres.
By Mary Bellis
ICE
HOCKEY, FIGURE, SPEED!
Figure skates are used in the sport of figure skating.
They have a pick at the toe that allows the skater to
push off of the ice. They also typically come in three
colors: tan, black, and white (for girls/women).
Hockey skates are used for playing the game of ice hockey.
The boot is generally made of molded plastic, leather
(often synthetic), and ballistic nylon. Skates used
in competitive hockey rarely use molded plastic for
the upper boot, as this results in limited mobility.
All hockey skates (excepting goaltender's skates) are
designed such that they will not cause injury to an
opponent, and are fitted with safety blades.
Racing skates have long blades and are used for speed
skating.
Touring skates are long blades that can be attached
to hiking or cross-country ski boots and are used for
tour skating or long distance skating on natural ice.
A clap skate (or clapper skate) is a type of skate where
the shoe is connected to the blade using a hinge.
The steel ice skate was invented in 1867 by John Forbes,
foreman at the Starr Manufacturing Company, Dartmouth,
NS. It was a clip-on design. Their Acme brand became
famous worldwide.
Modern ice skate blades are not shaped like knives.
The bottom of the blade has a crescent-shaped hollow,
creating two parallel sharp edges on each skate (recently,
parabolic blades have been developed as well). The skater
uses these edges in different combinations in order
to maneuver. When ice skates are sharpened the blade
is ground against a template that restores the hollow.
Sometimes, however, there is a back brake, which is
a point that stops you from moving any further.
Figure skates differ from hockey skates most visibly
in having a set of large, jagged teeth called toe picks
(also known as "toe rakes") on the front of
the blade. The toe picks are used primarily in jumping
and should not be used for stroking or spins. Toe pick
designs have become quite elaborate in recent years
and sometimes include additional teeth on the sides
of the blade.
The figure skating blade is curved from front to back
with a radius of about 2 meters. Recently, parabolic
figure skating blades have been designed to increase
skaters' stability on the ice. The blade is also hollow
ground; a groove on the bottom of the blade creates
two distinct edges, inside and outside. In figure skating
it is always desirable to skate on only one edge of
the blade, and never on both at the same time (which
is referred to as a flat). The apparently effortless
power and glide across the ice exhibited by elite figure
skaters fundamentally derives from efficient use of
the edges to generate speed.
Figure skating boots are traditionally made by hand
from many layers of leather. In recent years, boots
made of synthetic materials with heat-moldable linings
have become popular with many skaters because they combine
strength with lighter weight than leather boots, and
are easier to "break in". The latest development
in boot technology is a boot that is hinged at the ankle
to provide lateral support while allowing more flexibility.
Blades are mounted to the sole and heel of the boot
with screws.
Other equipment used by skaters includes pads called
butt pads or crash pads that are inserted into the pants
or stockings and provide relief from the pain of hard
falls, especially when learning new jumps. Another piece
of equipment is the guard, which is put on the blade
when the skater must walk in his or her skates when
not on the ice. The guard protects the blade from dirt
or material on the ground that may dull the blade. Soft
blade covers called soakers are used to absorb condensation
and protect the blades from rust when the skates are
not being worn.
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