Figure Skating for Dummies [Paperback]

Kristi Yamaguchi (Author), Scott Hamilton (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback) | Publication Date: December 17, 1997

"Kristi Yamaguchi knows skating.... Her experience and passion for the sport come through on each page." ?Dick Button, Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist

"Kristi truly explains it all ... from sit spins to death drops, from the kiss-and-cry area to center ice." ? Mark McDonald, Senior Olympic Correspondent, Dallas Morning News

Covers Everything from Competitions to the Olympics and Beyond!

Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi Takes You for a Spin Through the World of Figure Skating!

• Distinguish a toe loop from a Lutz, an Axel, or a Salchow
• Discover how skaters select their music, choreography, and costumes
• Understand the judging and scoring of the short and long programs
• Select the best boots and skates ? for every budget
• Locate a practice rink and coach to fit your needs
• Get into skating shape with tips from Kristi's Olympic training regimen
• Understand the differences between amateur and professional skaters
• Keep score at home or rinkside with the Figure Skating For Dummies Scoring System

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

After watching a figure-skating performance, do you ever wonder what just happened on the ice? The skater supposedly executed a flawless double Salchow and triple Lutz, among other things, and then the judges posted a bunch of numbers. Maybe you need help from the Dummies. Written by 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi (with a foreword by Scott Hamilton), Figure Skating for Dummies is a primer for spectators and would-be skaters alike. Learn the lingo, understand the judging practice, and--if you're really committed--embark on a practical training schedule in hopes of performing your own double-toe loops and triple axels.

About the Author

Kristi Yamaguchi won the hearts of fans across the globe when she won the Gold Medal at the 1992 Albertville Olympic Winter Games. As an amateur, Kristi won thirteen titles ? including two consecutive World Championships. American Skating World named her 1996 Skater of the Year and ESPN voted her the top female athlete among adult fans. Today, she travels throughout North America as a headliner in the Discover Stars on Ice tour. Kristi is also actively involved with the Always Dream Foundation, the American Lung Association, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 346 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (December 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764550845
• ISBN-13: 978-0764550843
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #607,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Winter Sports > Ice Skating & Figure Skating

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An informative book about figure skating..., August 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Figure Skating for Dummies (Paperback)

Yamaguchi's Figure Skating for Dummies is an excellent book for people wanting to get more information about the sport. Unlike some other dry,technical books, Kristi makes her book informative, but enjoyable and easy to understand. This would be an especially helpful book for beginners, as it clearly explains and demystifies many aspects of skating.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for anybody, skater or not., June 12, 2002

By 

Desiree Hooper (La La Land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Figure Skating for Dummies (Paperback)

"And Desiree Hooper nails the triple axel and guarantees herself the gold at these Olympics!!!!" Okay, maybe not any time soon, but it could happen one day. I could win, I could! And even if your not a competitive skater like me (or atleast I like to think I am competitive) you will still love this book. Kristi and the other writers find a great mix of humor, information, and just plain interesting writing. It's a book about skating that you don't need to have been in the sport for 8 years to understand. So what if you can't land a triple axel...atleast you can read about it. And also if you plan on starting skating any time soon this book is the perfect tool. I wish I had, had this when I started all those years ago. It even tells you what to wear! Trust me I went through plenty of days without gloves or jackets to know it's always nice to have a clue before you start. And then there was that first pair of Reidell skates, trust me when I say this, no support in the ankle. But I didn't know that you needed ankle support, hey I was a beginner could you blame me. But besides that it's always fun to read about everything that makes a champion a champion (unless your the conceited jealous type) and why not learn a little bit of info. along the way. Not to many know alot about skating and who doesn't mind looking smarter than their friends every once in a while?

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dissappointed in Contents, February 29, 2000

By 

M. Oconnor (New York) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Figure Skating for Dummies (Paperback)

The book goes from the very basic stokes to the very difficult jumps. It was a disappointment to me as it did not illustrate or describe the "how to's" This is not an instructional book but rather a book for spectators or parents rather than the student skater.