Ice skating refers to the gliding of a person across an ice surface on metal-bladed ice skates.
People skate for several reasons, including recreation, enjoyment, exercise, commuting, and competitive sports.
The origins of ice skating reach far back in history. Early human beings in Northern Europe and Scandinavia crafted skates from animal bones to navigate the frozen surfaces of lakes and rivers for travel and hunting. These rudimentary tools eventually evolved into more sophisticated wooden and metal designs. As communities in regions with long, ice-bound winters grew, skating became interwoven with survival, commerce, and social activity.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, ice skating grew beyond its utilitarian roots. In cold winter regions, the joy of gliding over ice emerged as a favored communal activity. Public ice rinks and winter festivals gave people of all ages the opportunity to experience the freedom of movement on ice. Over time, recreational skating evolved into a platform for both athletic and artistic expression, giving rise to a diverse range of sporting disciplines.
These include team sports, such as ice hockey, bandy, rinkball, and ringette, although we will be covering these sports in separate categories.
Several distinctive forms of ice skating have emerged over the years.
Perhaps the most recognized form is figure skating, which blends athleticism with artistry. Skaters perform intricate jumps, spins, and footwork, transforming a competitive sport into an art form. Synchronized skating, a form of figure skating, involves choreographed group routines in which skaters perform intricate footwork, formations, and transitions on ice with synchronization and harmony. While it is a group sport, each individual must master elegant techniques and precise movements in order to create visually striking patterns on the ice.
In contrast, speed skating is about momentum and aerodynamic efficiency. Competitors focus on minimizing friction and maximizing power glide on oval tracks, all in pursuit of what are usually razor-thin margins.
Ice cross downhill is usually an extreme sport that reimagines skating as a high-adrenaline race through a specially designed downhill track littered with obstacles. It is a mixture of racing and the peril of navigating unpredictable terrain.
Barrel jumping embraces stunts and unconventional maneuvers, pushing athletes to leap over obstacles or barrels in a display of acrobatics that challenge balance and nerve.
Tour skating embraces the spirit of exploration, as skaters embark on extended journeys over natural ice surfaces, often navigating unpredictable landscapes and weather conditions.
Fen skating is rooted in the traditions of England's marshy fenlands, demonstrating an adaptive, almost improvisational style for skating on thin or irregular ice.
Each of these disciplines has evolved independently. However, they share a common love for the sensations and challenges of gliding on ice.
Besides the organized skating disciplines, recreational skating remains popular, and artificial ice rinks have extended skating opportunities to parts of the world that do not have natural ice. This pastime invites people of all ages and skill levels to enjoy gliding across the ice. With the right equipment, including comfortable skates, supportive pads, and a helmet for safety, skaters glide smoothly across indoor rinks or scenic outdoor waterways.
In essence, ice skating is an interplay between physics and human movement. The design of a skate blade is meticulously crafted. With a slight curvature known as a rocker, the blade allows smooth transitions between edges and enables controlled gliding, turning, and stopping. Sharpened edges provide the necessary grip to negotiate curves or come to an abrupt halt, while the blade's profile differs according to the intended discipline. For example, figure skaters benefit from blades engineered to support delicate spins and precise jumps, while speed skaters rely on longer, thinner blades that minimize drag and optimize momentum. Forces like friction, weight distribution, and momentum all play into the art of ice skating.
Ice skating is performed on various surfaces. Artificial ice rinks are meticulously maintained and temperature-controlled to ensure smoothness and reliability. These rinks allow skaters to practice and compete in environments free from the unpredictability of nature. In contrast, natural ice surfaces, such as frozen lakes, rivers, and ponds, bring a different flavor to the experience. Natural ice is often uneven and subject to weather-induced imperfections, which add an element of unpredictability and challenge. Many traditional forms of skating, including tour skating and Fen skating, are associated with these more organic surfaces, where skaters must adapt to the sometimes whimsical nature of natural ice.
Categories
Figure Skating |
Recommended Resources
In Ice Cross, skaters hurtle down courses of up to 700 meters in length, filled with obstacles such as bumps, turns, hairpins, and waves. The ice can be natural, as in ski resorts, or artificial, at city center locations. Riders go four at a time, at speeds of up to 80 km/hr. The fastest two riders advance to the next round, until a four-rider final is reached in each category (men, women, and junior). Races and athletes are identified, and registration and ticket options are available.
https://icecross.tv/
Published since 1995, the online magazine has been at its current location since 2000. Dedicated to ice skating, its content includes news updates, interviews, articles on skating techniques, event information, and resources tailored for both beginners and seasoned professionals. In addition to its curated written content, the site is also connected to a YouTube channel that regularly posts press conferences, competition recaps, and interviews with skaters, coaches, and others.
http://www.iceskatingintnl.com/
ISI is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing all facets of the ice sports arena. Originally known as the Ice Skating Institute, it rebranded in 2017 to better reflect its expanded focus, encompassing not only recreational ice skating but also facility management, operations, programming, and overall industry growth. ISI serves as a hub for owners, operators, developers, and educators working in the ice sports field. The ISA Education Foundation is highlighted.
https://skateisi.org/
The ISU is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. Now based in Switzerland, the organization was founded in 1892 to establish standardized international rules and regulations, as well as to organize international competitions. Its governance structure, development projects, sports rules, schedules, and events are posted on the ISU website.
https://www.isu.org/
Created by John Kirker in 1997, Rinktime is an online directory of skating rinks. It is intended to serve as a comprehensive database of American and Canadian venues dedicated to ice hockey, roller hockey, skating, curling, and even broomball. The platform helps skaters find local rinks and allows rink staff, managers, and service providers to connect. Besides listing facilities, the site will enable users to add new rinks or clubs to the directory and to update information.
https://www.rinktime.com/
Utilizing a Simple Machines forum script, Skating Forums first appeared in the Internet Archive in September 2002, indicating that it has been online for over twenty years. Forum content is read-only for non-members. However, membership is free, and a log-in allows members to participate in discussions. Several predefined topics related to skating are available, and there are places for additional on-topic subjects to be introduced. Archives are also available.
https://skatingforums.com/
SSC is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the organization was initially known as the Amateur Skating Association of Canada, then as the Canadian Amateur Speed Skating Association, and took its current name in 2000. SSC is affiliated with the International Skating Union and is split into thirteen branches, each representing a Canadian province or territory. Its teams, events, and contacts are provided.
https://speedskating.ca/
The national non-profit membership organization is dedicated to advancing the ice rink industry in the United States. Founded in 2000 through a joint venture between U.S. Figure Skating and USA Hockey, the association was established to meet the growing needs of ice rink operators, facility owners, professionals, and vendors. Its mission centers on providing world-class education, training, and resources to help its members thrive in the industry. Membership levels are highlighted.
https://www.usicerinks.com/
The organization promotes the sport of Ice Cross Downhill, tasked with raising awareness of the sport among diverse audiences and ensuring that all events are executed professionally and safely for participants of all ages and backgrounds. Founded in 2015, the association is the U.S. representative to the international community of ice cross enthusiasts. Its site includes event schedules, registration information, partner details, results, updates on the sport, and social media channels.
https://www.usicecross.org/
US Speedskating is the primary governing body responsible for overseeing and developing the sport of speed skating in the United States. It plays a significant role in nurturing talent from the grassroots level up to elite international competitions, covering both long track and short track disciplines. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the organization organizes national events and competitions and provides resources for developing athletes and clubs. Schedules and contacts are available.
https://www.usspeedskating.org/
The World Ice Cross League stages events that are equal parts speed, strategy, and daring. Competitors navigate icy tracks laden with steep banked turns, jumps, and unpredictable obstacles. Its website serves as a hub for the sport, allowing fans and athletes to view insider updates, interviews, registration details, and reviews of the latest gear. Event schedules, registration, media resources and news updates, and a photo gallery are featured, along with a shopping area.
https://worldicecross.com/
