The History of Figure Skating in the U.S.
Metal blades replaced bones and antlers. Grace and choreography have overtaken what used to be a means of survival. But speed and brute strength are still some of the hallmarks of figure skating. In the United States, Olympians such as Rachael Flatt and Richard "Dick" Button, characterize some of the best of what the sport has to offer. They've wowed crowds with jumps, spins and lifts that appear to defy gravity. The evolution of U.S. figure skating, as seen today, began modestly, across the Atlantic Ocean, but modern elements were developed in America.
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A Necessity
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Before it was a sport in the U.S. and elsewhere, skating was a necessity for northern Europeans. Archaeological evidence suggests those residents first skated across the ice at least 1,700 years ago to travel, hunt and wage war. They carved wood, bone and antlers to fashion crude blades for better gliding. The act turned recreational when skaters began using iron blades in 1952, which gave them greater mobility.
Incorporating Steel
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Figure skating in the U.S. changed drastically with the advent of steel blade use. E.W. Bushnell of Philadelphia introduced the first of such skates in 1850. Steel allowed skaters better range of motion, particularly when it came to turns and twists, which in turn led to compulsory maneuvers in competitive skating.
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Dancing
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Jackson Haines, an American skater, introduced ballet and music to soften a sport that he characterized as too rigid. Snubs by his own countrymen caused him to move to Vienna in 1863 and a year later, he began aggressively choreographing fluid movements set to music, much like stage ballet. Also in keeping with ballet, he added costumes, elements such as pirouettes and spins that the Austrian crowds enjoyed, and created the one-piece boot and blade. Haines' style was the basis for what is now used in modern competition.
Organization
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Informal figure skating clubs and competition in the United States dominated the 19th century. In 1921 the U.S. Figure Skating Association, what is now U.S. Figuring Skating, was organized, which set standards for competition and provided a more organized structure for professional athletes to hone their skills. Prior to World War I, ice shows did not exist. The emergence of figure skating virtuoso Sonja Henie, a three-time Olympic champion and 10-time world champion in the 1920s and 1930s, prompted the advent of exhibition skating that also helped popularize the sport.
Fame
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As with any other sport, eyebrow-raising acts and facts have dominated U.S. figure skating over time. Many skaters who become Olympians learn to skate almost as soon as they learn to walk, and spend as much time on the ice as off it. Brian Boitano was the first American to land a triple axel in 1988, earning him an Olympic gold. Dorothy Hamill started a hairstyle trend. Nancy Kerrigan won silver at the 1994 Olympic games, despite an attack at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships planned by backers of her competitor, Tonya Harding.
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References
- Photo Credit Figure Skates image by Alaskajade from Fotolia.com
