Customer Reviews

Figure Skating for Dummies

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

"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?

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.

Yamaguchi's book contains crystal-clear explanations of various figure skating maneuvers for both amateur skaters and fans. Containing both basics on how to buy figure skates and dymystification of judging procedures, her book is easily readable and free from complex jargon. Her own observations about both skating and other skaters are interspersed throughout. If you're a beginning skater who wants clear instruction off the ice, Figure Skating for Dummies will meet your expectations.

Kristi's book, written along with the help of her coach and a sports writer, is a must-have for the person who loves to watch figure skating. In easy to understand terms, along with photos and diagrams, Kristi explains jumps, the different disciplines (men's, women's dance and pairs), judging, basic skating, conditioning, coaches, great web sites...it's all here! I've had my copy for a year now, and have referred to it again and again for clarification on many issues (was that a lutz or a salchow?).

I've been watching figure skating since Peggy Fleming won the Gold Medal at the 1968 Winter Olympic Games in Grenoble, France, and I thought I knew a lot. I was wrong!

For the armchair fan, this is the only book you'll ever need!

I am a skater my self and This book has helped me to lear how to do my jumps and spins better.If you like skating and want to lear how to skate, or if you are just starting I would recommed theis book.It tells you how to chose the righ skate for you and It tells you how to do jump and spins.Its a verry good book all aobut skating from some one who has been skating their hole life.

I totally agree that one would be hard pressed to find anyone more qualified to write an instructional book about skating than Kristi, who's not only an Olympic gold medalist in ladies singles but is also a 2 time senior national champion in pairs. The book is well structured and easy to follow. Some may argue that the technical jump/spin section doesn't go into super-minute mathematical detail, but it really shouldn't have to, as a book really can't teach anyone figure skating from scratch and anyone who wants to learn to skate absolutely needs specific, on ice training to learn the basics. Kristi's book is a great supplement to on ice training however, and like another reviewer noted, it's helped me look at some of my technique problems and fix them as well, especially on the dreaded camel spin.

Good for fans of skating and skating participants, but if you want to learn how to skate, you will first need lessons on the ice, although you may find that this book will help you a lot as a supplement as you advance.

This is a great book for fans of the sport, but especially those armchair fans who know nothing about the elements but want to appreciate the finer points of this lovely sport. An explanation of the jumps and spins, plus how a program is put together and an overview of the rules, make this an entertaining and useful tool.

Before reading this book, I had no clue what a flying camel was, other than an animal that lives in the desert with wings. Kristi Yamaguci explains absoluely everything one could every want to know about the sport and art of figure skating. From how to recognize, and even do jumps and spins, and the different pair lifts, to conditioning. In addition, the artistic side of skating, which movements represent which emotions, to the judging persepctive, to the explanation of the Grand Prix Series and other competitons, and amateur versus pro. She covers everything in a very easy to understand manner, while adding her own incites from past experiences in the sport. This book should be read by anyone who desires to acquire more knowledge about skating, or just loves to read about the beautiful sport.

This is an interesting book for every figure skating fan. I'm a skater and it has helped me a lot with my technique and also to enjoy completely every performance on ice and all the details that are required in a routine. And it is written in a very easy way to understand it.