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

[SkateGuard]

It's been a long time in the works... but the most ambitious Skate Guard project to date is finally online. All The Best, Belita: The Definitive Biography Of Belita Jepson-Turner is an in-depth, book-length biography of British figure skater, dancer and film noir actress Belita Jepson-Turner, known to many simply as Belita. She was a contemporary of Sonja Henie, an Olympian and an absolutely fascinating woman. Don't miss her story:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/all-best-belita-definitive-biography-of.html

 

[skatesindreams]

She was extraordinary; as is your account of her life.
It's a shame that the very breadth of her gifts and interests, prevented Belita from receiving the level of recognition she deserved for any of them!

 

[SkateGuard]

She was extraordinary; as is your account of her life.
It's a shame that the very breadth of her gifts and interests, prevented Belita from receiving the level of recognition she deserved for any of them!

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed reading. I've always been captivated by Belita and I hope that sharing her story in detail will perhaps help others gain a new appreciation for what made her so truly special!

 

[SkateGuard]

A little light reading for those speed readers among you who are already finished the Belita biography... a quick look at The 1993 Challenge Of Champions:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/the-1993-challenge-of-champions.html

 

[SkateGuard]

Meet Bobby and Ruby Maxson, a marvellous (and recently posthumously honoured) pairs team from Minnesota in the latest Skate Guard blog:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/the-marvellous-maxsons.html

Also of interest to skating history buffs:

PJ Kwong's interview with Finnish Champion Oula Jääskeläinen: http://www.openkwongdore.com/2017/06/05/episode-35-oula-jaaskalainen/

A piece on the upcoming Kelowna, B.C. exhibition of Toller Cranston's paintings:
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/entertainment/article_1603ae10-4adb-11e7-ad9e-834de72e0565.html

Hobart Arena in Troy, OH connects with its skating history: http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/ne...showcases-its-history/DVwbkSO3eRruWPubFYPlOJ/

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog looks back at The 1954 World Figure Skating Championships in Oslo, Norway:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/the-1954-world-figure-skating.html

 

[alj5]

Thanks - I look forward to your posts!

 

[SkateGuard]

Thanks - I look forward to your posts!

You're most welcome -- I'm so glad that you're enjoying reading the blog!

Just posted... Formations In The Fens: Four Footnotes About Skating Soldiers:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/formations-in-fens-four-footnotes-about.html

Also of interest to skating history buffs...

Humboldt Journal piece on Saskatchewan judge Wendy Toye: http://www.humboldtjournal.ca/sport...judging-toye-lands-in-hall-of-fame-1.20581663

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog, Guidance From The Greats: Advice From Madge And Edgar Syers, highlights some of the original British power couple's tips from their 1908 "Book Of Winter Sports":

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/guidance-from-greats-advice-from-edgar.html

 

[SkateGuard]

Without immigration, American figure skating most certainly wouldn't have developed in the way it did. The latest Skate Guard blog, A Twenties Threesome: The Julius Nelson, Karl Engel and Chris Christenson Stories, explores the stories of three men who immigrated to the U.S., won National medals in the roaring twenties and contributed greatly to the sport's development:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/a-twenties-threesome-julius-nelson-karl.html

 

[skatesindreams]

Fantastic stuff, Ryan.
We certainly don't know as much as we should about these pioneering men.

 

[SkateGuard]

Fantastic stuff, Ryan.
We certainly don't know as much as we should about these pioneering men.

Glad you enjoyed reading! The 20's-40's is probably my favourite era in figure skating history and I really enjoyed researching the stories of these three men immensely. Coaching Roy Shipstad AND Bobby Specht is quite the claim to fame, I think.

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog looks back at some of the skaters and stories from The 1932 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid. Not a lot new here for those of you who are quite familiar with this event but this provides background and reference for many future blogs that are coming on competitions and skaters from that time period:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/the-1932-winter-olympic-games.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog explores the story of 1898 World Champion Henning Grenander of Sweden:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/a-sensation-from-skovde-henning.html

 

[aftershocks]

We certainly don't know as much as we should about these pioneering men.

It's absolutely amazing the vast depth and breadth of figure skating... so many intricate and fascinating connections historically and culturally. Seriously, neither fans/skaters nor the people running the sport know enough about it. And there lies the root of the problem, eh.

Thanks as always to Ryan! You are a godsend.

 

[SkateGuard]

It's absolutely amazing the vast depth and breadth of figure skating... so many intricate and fascinating connections historically and culturally. Seriously, neither fans/skaters nor the people running the sport know enough about it. And there lies the root of the problem, eh.

Thanks as always to Ryan! You are a godsend.

Thank you - it is never ending and there is definitely always something new to explore!

The latest Skate Guard blog looks at the story of Raymonde du Bief, World Champion Jacqueline du Bief's older sister:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/sister-knows-best-raymonde-du-bief-story.html

The final blog of June will be this month's edition of #Unearthed... an early account of ice skating in the back country of New Zealand. Then, for the month of July I'll be featuring a month of stories from Canadian figure skating history in honour of #Canada150. Hope you enjoy!

 

[skatesindreams]

The latest Skate Guard blog looks at the story of Raymonde du Bief.

Thanks so much, Ryan.
It's a shame that skaters who achieved their primary recognition as professionals were often treated as "personae non gratae" by the ISU; and treated as though they didn't exist in the annals of the sport.
Therefore, we know less about them than we should.

 

[SkateGuard]

Thanks so much, Ryan.
It's a shame that skaters who achieved their primary recognition as professionals were often treated as "personae non gratae" by the ISU; and treated as though they didn't exist in the annals of the sport.
Therefore, we know less about them than we should.

You're most welcome! I think you hit the nail on the head right there... I think it's so important to try to have a balanced view of both the amateur and professional worlds when you look at how skating has developed over time. All stories matter!

 

[skatesindreams]

When I think of how David Jenkins was treated by TPTB after he turned Pro; I fume!
Listen to his interview in the "Manleywoman Skatecast" for details.

 

[SkateGuard]

When I think of how David Jenkins was treated by TPTB after he turned Pro; I fume!
Listen to his interview in the "Manleywoman Skatecast" for details.

I remember it well - there's not a Manleywoman SkateCast I haven't listened to! It's his birthday today BTW!

This month's #Unearthed is up on Skate Guard... it's a 19th century account of skating in New Zealand's back country. The writer, Mary Anne Barker, has a pretty interesting life story as well!

http:/www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/06/unearthed-skating-in-back-country.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog, A Tiny Trove Of Titillating Tollerisms, shares a delightful collection of Toller Cranston quotables just in time for Canada 150:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/07/a-tiny-trove-of-titillating-tollerisms.html

Also of interest to skating history buffs...

The Toronto Star's piece on Canadian sports legends, which includes Kurt Browning, Louis Rubenstein and Joannie Rochette:

https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/06/30/capturing-a-country-through-sport-making-us-proud.html

 

[Scrufflet]

The latest Skate Guard blog, A Tiny Trove Of Titillating Tollerisms, shares a delightful collection of Toller Cranston quotables just in time for Canada 150:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/07/a-tiny-trove-of-titillating-tollerisms.html

Also of interest to skating history buffs...

The Toronto Star's piece on Canadian sports legends, which includes Kurt Browning, Louis Rubenstein and Joannie Rochette:

https://www.thestar.com/sports/2017/06/30/capturing-a-country-through-sport-making-us-proud.html

Toller remains one of the most quotable skaters EVER! Have you ever done a blog on Rubenstein? Just curious as to how he was able to win in spite of such odds. More than just superb skating, I think. I'm just wondering what the environment was like then.

 

[skatesindreams]

Toller was an even better/greater skater; and more influential, as a professional than he was earlier, IMO.
He was lionized, admired and consulted by his younger colleagues; even after he pretended "disinterest" in the sport!

Toller may have found ballet "boring".
However. he exemplified the "freedom of movement" which dancers aspire to, and envy in figure skating.

 

[VGThuy]

Whatever one thinks of school figures, we've had so many legends lament the loss of them that it's simply refreshing to hear the opposite opinion from another legend, even if one really disagrees with it.

 

[el henry]

Thank you; there is never too much Toller! Oh, I would love to hear what he thinks of some of the quad-packed programs out there today (and even I think he was just a teensy weensy bit mean to poor Elvis)....

I still hate school figures, because of what they did to Toller, even if skaters I now uber might benefit.

 

[SkateGuard]

Toller remains one of the most quotable skaters EVER! Have you ever done a blog on Rubenstein? Just curious as to how he was able to win in spite of such odds. More than just superb skating, I think. I'm just wondering what the environment was like then.

When Allison Manley and I did our six-part Axels In The Attic podcast series, one of the episodes was on Louis Rubenstein. The accompanying blog is up at http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2015/02/axels-in-attic-ep06-louis-rubenstein.html. After the episode and blog were published, I actually acquired a TON more information about his story. Similarly to when I 'redid' my original Jackson Haines blog in great depth, Rubenstein's story is one that I might 'redo' in the same depth again in the future!

Toller was an even better/greater skater; and more influential, as a professional than he was earlier, IMO.
He was lionized, admired and consulted by his younger colleagues; even after he pretended "disinterest" in the sport!

Toller may have found ballet "boring".
However. he exemplified the "freedom of movement" which dancers aspire to, and envy in figure skating.

Agree with you 100%. I 'get' where he came from though... both figures and barre exercises are the opposite of that "freedom of movement"... he wanted to express himself and it was through free skating he was able to do it. If Curry was Bolshoi, Cranston was Jacob's Pillow.

Whatever one thinks of school figures, we've had so many legends lament the loss of them that it's simply refreshing to hear the opposite opinion from another legend, even if one really disagrees with it.

Well said! The same thing can be said for the IJS system. I've interviewed past champions who have embraced it and also those who still despise it as much as they did when it started. It's interesting how it's NOW become both unpopular to talk badly of figures and to talk glowingly about the 6.0 system.

Thank you; there is never too much Toller! Oh, I would love to hear what he thinks of some of the quad-packed programs out there today (and even I think he was just a teensy weensy bit mean to poor Elvis)....

I still hate school figures, because of what they did to Toller, even if skaters I now uber might benefit.

I think you answered your own question there to some degree... I don't think it would be complimentary.

 

[Scrufflet]

When Allison Manley and I did our six-part Axels In The Attic podcast series, one of the episodes was on Louis Rubenstein. The accompanying blog is up at http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2015/02/axels-in-attic-ep06-louis-rubenstein.html. After the episode and blog were published, I actually acquired a TON more information about his story. Similarly to when I 'redid' my original Jackson Haines blog in great depth, Rubenstein's story is one that I might 'redo' in the same depth again in the future!



Agree with you 100%. I 'get' where he came from though... both figures and barre exercises are the opposite of that "freedom of movement"... he wanted to express himself and it was through free skating he was able to do it. If Curry was Bolshoi, Cranston was Jacob's Pillow.



Well said! The same thing can be said for the IJS system. I've interviewed past champions who have embraced it and also those who still despise it as much as they did when it started. It's interesting how it's NOW become both unpopular to talk badly of figures and to talk glowingly about the 6.0 system.



I think you answered your own question there to some degree... I don't think it would be complimentary.

I just read the piece on Rubenstein! Well done! I'm looking forward to more! And I enjoyed the Belita piece as well!

 

[skatesindreams]

Without figures; or if figures had been less a percentage of the total score, Toller would have been World Champion many times over.
It would have further advanced skating, IMO.
As it was, he was World Free Skating Champion three times; (SP+LP) which isn't mentioned enough, now.

 

[SkateGuard]

I just read the piece on Rubenstein! Well done! I'm looking forward to more! And I enjoyed the Belita piece as well!

Glad you enjoyed reading both! The Belita piece was an absolute labour of love... probably my favourite to work on!

Without figures; or if figures had been less a percentage of the total score, Toller would have been World Champion many times over.
It would have further advanced skating, IMO.
As it was, he was World Free Skating Champion three times; (SP+LP) which isn't mentioned enough, now.

Toller was delightful and honestly, one of the most historically important skaters of the twentieth century IMO.

He's mentioned briefly in the latest Skate Guard blog on The 1963 Canadian Figure Skating Championships:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/07/the-1963-canadian-figure-skating.html

 

[skatesindreams]

He's mentioned briefly in the latest Skate Guard blog on The 1963 Canadian Figure Skating Championships:

It's fascinating to imagine Toller at 13!