| Although ice skating has a long history it is | | | | the 20s there were no standards for skating, |
| pretty much impossible to know exactly when | | | | anyone could put on their ice skates and if |
| and where it was born. It is known that the | | | | they felt that they were good enough to |
| sport began in Europe and then the Americans | | | | qualify then they would. This is dramatically |
| adapted figure skating just before the civil | | | | different from the sport today as candidates |
| war. | | | | now have to undergo a series of tests and |
| | | | challenges in order to compete. |
| At this time a dancing and skating craze was | | | | |
| sweeping America and all anyone wanted to do | | | | Perhaps one of the reasons why figure skating |
| was put their ice skates on and have fun. It | | | | has progressed so much is because ice skates |
| was Jackson Haines who revolutionised figure | | | | themselves have developed and become a lot |
| skating in America because what was once a | | | | easier to use. Ice skates were traditionally |
| stiff and rigid style had now become daring | | | | made from animal bones which would not have |
| and exciting with his combination of skating | | | | been very ideal for figure skaters who need |
| and dancing. | | | | to be able to move around a lot so they can |
| | | | do turns, jumps and acrobatics. Ice skates |
| Local skating clubs had been formed and | | | | became a lot better for figure skaters in |
| competitions had been held since the middle | | | | 1848 when the first all steel clamp was |
| of the 19th Century but it was a long time | | | | invented. This was shortly followed by the |
| before figure skating became a recognised | | | | introduction of the two plate all metal |
| sport. However, more and more people were | | | | blade. The blade was attached directly to the |
| putting their ice skates on and the sport was | | | | boots which made dance moves, jumps and spins |
| becoming so popular that the United States | | | | possible. In the 1870s the first toe picks |
| Figure Skating Association was formed in | | | | were added to ice skates which made toe pick |
| 1921. | | | | jumps possible for the first time. |
| | | | |
| The sport has come a long way since the 1920s | | | | It is undeniable that ice skates and the |
| however. At that time there were only seven | | | | sport they belong to have come a long way |
| charter member clubs of U.S figure skating | | | | over recent years and have become a very |
| whereas there are now more than 600 member | | | | enjoyable activity to watch. |
| clubs across the country. As well as this, in | | | | |