What's Old Is New Again: New Articles Re: Figure Skating History

[SkateGuard]

wow, she was 122 when we won gold?!

I didn't realize before the close association with Switzerland.

It's interesting that the period between Sonja and Peggy was full of women who left the sport. Although a bit unclear if it was really a choice as they state at the time or just the overt sexism of the time: post war to sexual revolution.

Got the error re: the birth date fixed up a couple days back - thank you for catching it as well! There were certainly plenty of choice as far as professional figure skating opportunities for women at the time. Jeannette could have taken advantage of that had she wanted to. The early 50's was really the boom of the British ice pantomime. You do raise an interesting point though!

The latest Skate Guard blog is up... it takes a look at the story of the 1952 Olympic bronze medallist in men's figure skating, Hellmut Seibt:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/02/an-unusual-talent-hellmut-seibt-story.html

 

[nimi]

I came across this delightful (well, some would say crude but whatever) twitter exchange https://twitter.com/DougMattis/status/967651801901215744

...which made me think, "Hmmm, wasn't there an entry about 'special figures' in the Skate Guard blog some time ago" -- and of course there was! Thank you @N_Halifax, as always!

 

[SkateGuard]

I came across this delightful (well, some would say crude but whatever) twitter exchange https://twitter.com/DougMattis/status/967651801901215744

...which made me think, "Hmmm, wasn't there an entry about 'special figures' in the Skate Guard blog some time ago" -- and of course there was! Thank you @N_Halifax, as always!

You're welcome... and who doesn't love Doug Mattis? He's hilarious!

The latest Skate Guard blog looks at the story of Alain Calmat, the first skater from France to win an Olympic medal in men's figure skating:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/02/i-came-i-saw-i-cured-alain-calmat-story.html

 

[SkateGuard]

This month's edition of #Unearthed, An Inside Look At An Olympic Journey, is an account of Barbara Ann Scott's journey towards gold at the 1948 Winter Olympic Games penned by her coach Sheldon Galbraith:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/02/unearthed-inside-look-at-olympic-journey.html

Stay tuned to Skate Guard next month for all kinds of fascinating features... including a little Italian figure skating history to go along with this year's World Championships in Milan.

 

[Maximillian]

This month's edition of #Unearthed, An Inside Look At An Olympic Journey, is an account of Barbara Ann Scott's journey towards gold at the 1948 Winter Olympic Games penned by her coach Sheldon Galbraith:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/02/unearthed-inside-look-at-olympic-journey.html

Stay tuned to Skate Guard next month for all kinds of fascinating features... including a little Italian figure skating history to go along with this year's World Championships in Milan.

Thanks for this, it's fascinating to read how important figures were (12 performed!) and the intricacies of technique involved, particulary when he was discussing Scott's control of edge and glide.

 

[SkateGuard]

Thanks for this, it's fascinating to read how important figures were (12 performed!) and the intricacies of technique involved, particulary when he was discussing Scott's control of edge and glide.

If you haven't already seen it, the National Film Board has a wonderful video with footage of Barbara Ann performing figures... it really highlights how good she was!:

http://www.nfb.ca/film/introduction_art_of_figure_skating/

The latest Skate Guard blog is up... Demorest The Drunk Skater tells the tale of a 'publicity stunt' at a nineteenth century figure skating competition in America:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/demorest-drunk-skater.html

 

[Bellanca]

If you haven't already seen it, the National Film Board has a wonderful video with footage of Barbara Ann performing figures... it really highlights how good she was!:

http://www.nfb.ca/film/introduction_art_of_figure_skating/

The latest Skate Guard blog is up... Demorest The Drunk Skater tells the tale of a 'publicity stunt' at a nineteenth century figure skating competition in America:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/demorest-drunk-skater.html

I think the sport could use a Demorest or two in this day and age. Help it out a little bit!

Thank you, @N_Halifax

 

[SkateGuard]

I think the sport could use a Demorest or two in this day and age. Help it out a little bit!

Thank you, @N_Halifax

I agree, Weve3! (that totally rhymed)

This week, the 2018 World Junior Figure Skating Championships are being held in Sofia, Bulgaria. The latest Skate Guard blog looks at how competitors fared thirty five years ago when the competition was held in Sarajevo:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/the-1983-world-junior-figure-skating.html

 

[SkateGuard]

Just in time for the 2018 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Skate Guard blog takes a brief look at The History Of Figure Skating In Bulgaria:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/figurno-purzalyane-exploring-bulgarias.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog profiles Thornton Coolidge, a 2X U.S. pairs champion with Maribel Vinson Owen:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/acting-and-axels-thornton-coolidge-story.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog looks back at The 1967 Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Toronto:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/the-1967-canadian-figure-skating.html

 

[SkateGuard]

Don't miss the two most recent Skate Guard blogs:

Australia's Pioneering Pair: The Jacqueline Mason And Mervyn Bower Story: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/australias-pioneering-pair-jackie-mason.html

Four Unlikely Ice Queens Of The Sixties:
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/four-unlikely-ice-queens-of-sixties.html

Those of you in Holland can also check out this month's edition of De Sportwereld for an article about Belgian figure skating history: https://www.desportwereld.nl/

 

[SkateGuard]

This week, many of the world's top figure skaters will compete at the 2018 Worlds in Milan. The latest Skate Guard blog looks back at the first (and only other) time the Italian city played host to Worlds. Read about The 1951 World Figure Skating Championships:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/the-1951-world-figure-skating.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest two Skate Guard blogs continue with the theme of Italian figure skating history!

The Circolo Pattinatori Valentino Torino: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/the-circolo-pattinatori-valentino-torino.html

The 1963 World Figure Skating Championships: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/the-1963-world-figure-skating.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog, Quenched In Queen City: The Netherland Plaza Ice Shows, recalls a series of ice shows during World War I in one of Cincinnati, Ohio's historic hotels:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/quenched-in-queen-city-netherland-plaza.html

 

[SkateGuard]

Wednesday's Skate Guard blog explores the stories of three Estonian figure skating pioneers:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/uisutamine-uisutamine-uisutamine-three.html

Today's (the monthly edition of #Unearthed) offers a Victorian era perspective on joys of skating:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/03/unearthed-pleasures-of-skating.html

Stay tuned... a lot of really unique stuff coming on the blog during the off-season!

 

[skatesindreams]

Many thanks, as always!

 

[Bellanca]

Stay tuned... a lot of really unique stuff coming on the blog during the off-season!

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog, Brackets With The Baron: The Nils Posse Story, shares the story of a Swedish baron who made important historical contributions to both figure skating and gymnastics:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/brackets-with-baron-nils-posse-story.html

 

[Bellanca]

^ Great story about someone who had accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. Talk about multitasking.

Enjoyed! Thank you, @N_Halifax.

 

[SkateGuard]

^ Great story about someone who had accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. Talk about multitasking.

Enjoyed! Thank you, @N_Halifax.

I know, right?! Passion and drive can take you a long way quickly - and I'm guessing that in this case, Nils Posse's nobility didn't hurt his cause either.

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog looks back at The 1983 Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Montreal:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/the-1983-canadian-figure-skating.html

https://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard/#

 

[berthesghost]

I’m living for rob McCall’s zingy stardust realness costume!

 

[SkateGuard]

I’m living for rob McCall’s zingy stardust realness costume!

Who isn't?

The latest few Skate Guard blogs are linked below!

Unravelling The Russian Judge Stereotype: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/unravelling-russian-judge-stereotype.html
The Estanque Del Retiro: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/the-estanque-del-retiro.html
The Epic Thaells: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/the-epic-thaells.html

 

[skatesindreams]

The Epic Thaells: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/the-epic-thaells.html

They prove that it's possible to have a wonderful career/life in skating without a great competitive history!

 

[SkateGuard]

They prove that it's possible to have a wonderful career/life in skating without a great competitive history!

They're certainly one of many examples of this!

The latest Skate Guard blog looks back at The 1923 North American Figure Skating Championships in Ottawa:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/the-1923-north-american-figure-skating.html

 

[skatesindreams]

All I can say about that eyewitness account is "Wow"!

 

[Shyjosie]

The Epic Thaells: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/the-epic-thaells.html

How inspriring their lives were! Thank you for bringing another awesome brother-sister-team to our attention, Ryan!

 

[caseyedwards]

All competitions must be renamed back to “fancy skating championships”

 

[SkateGuard]

All I can say about that eyewitness account is "Wow"!

Wrapping yourself in a carpet and sitting on a radiator to keep warm... it certainly makes today's complaints about bad rink food seem petty!

How inspriring their lives were! Thank you for bringing another awesome brother-sister-team to our attention, Ryan!

So glad that you enjoyed reading! I'm sure there will be more sibling teams covered in the future!

All competitions must be renamed back to “fancy skating championships”

I'd love that! There was actually quite a push to replace the term 'fancy skating' with 'figure skating' at one time though... it was considered very old fashioned.

The latest Skate Guard blog is up! It looks back at the story of Roger Wickson, the first man from British Columbia to win a Canadian men's title:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2018/04/a-western-wonder-roger-wickson-story.html