How Figure Skating Works: The Science Behind the Art
First off, hello! The figure skating season is about to begin which means it’s time to start blogging here on Boot and Blade. Thanks for joining me again this season.
Want to brush up on the sport before the first Grand Prix event? Check out How Figure Skating Works by Keltie Thomas, a delightful book sent to me by Owlkids Books Inc. to review. Aimed at young fans, How Figure Skating Works takes a look at the science behind figure skating. Despite being packaged for kids, the book is full of fascinating scientific and historical facts that any adult can enjoy. Alongside short descriptions of how ice is made, how today’s skate blade evolved and why school figures lost out to free skating are historical photographs and whimsical illustrations that help to give this 61-page book lots of life.
I especially enjoyed the scientific lessons on how jumping and spinning work, and colourful anecdotes about famous skaters. Did you know Katarina Witt always tied her skated three times for luck?
The book mostly presents a mix of science, history and trivia. But, it also offers a solid foundation for understanding the judging system (complete with an annotated score sheet), as well as a lesson on how to tell the jumps apart.
How Figure Skating Works would be a great gift for any young (or young at heart) skating fan.