| Ice skating has a long history. In fact the | | | | hated by its practitioners. For some the |
| origins of ice skating date back to the early | | | | entire sport is ice skating, for others the |
| ninth century. The purpose then was far more | | | | actual act of skating on ice is simply one |
| practical, however, than recreational. The | | | | aspect of a very complex and multifaceted |
| earliest ice skates are believed to have been | | | | activity. And others are simply content to |
| found in London and made of horse bone. It is | | | | skate. In and of itself ice skating provides |
| believed that these skates served utilitarian | | | | a significant challenge for those just |
| purposes such as movement from place to place | | | | learning and becomes second nature to those |
| in order to search or scavenge for food | | | | who have been doing it for long periods of |
| rather than the largely recreational purpose | | | | time. |
| that most ice skates have in modern society. | | | | |
| | | | The difficulty of ice skating is much like |
| Ice skating over the centuries has become | | | | that of roller skating. Once you learn, you |
| more of a recreational activity and provides | | | | never really forget. You may have a few |
| long hours of entertainment to both skaters | | | | unsteady moments in the beginning after a |
| and spectators alike. From figure skating to | | | | long absence but all in all it comes rushing |
| ice hockey all around the world there is a | | | | back once you get out there and try again. |
| fondness for this particular activity that | | | | Whether you are an avid skater or simply a |
| transcends time and speaks volumes about both | | | | breathless spectator of the sport, I'm sure |
| the complexity of this activity and the | | | | you've found the dichotomy between the beauty |
| simplicity of it. | | | | of figure skating and the brutality of ice |
| | | | hockey fascinating. I know I certainly have. |
| Ice skating is a sport that is both loved and | | | | |