The Passion to Skate: An Intimate View of Figure Skating [Paperback]

Sandra Bezic (Author), David Hayes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1998

The Passion to Skate provides an opportunity to explore the dramatic and demanding world of figure skating. Drawing on her experience as a world-renowned choreographer and former champion skater, Sandra Bezic describes the competitive and artistic strategies behind international gold-medal-winning performances. Bezic's essays, co-authored with award-winning writer David Hayes, join a collection of images from top international figure-skating photographers to create a deluxe book unique in content and style.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA. A beautifully photographed, oversized volume. Current stars such as Oksana Baiul, Scott Hamilton, Katarina Witt, and many others give insight into their philosophies and appreciation of the sport, and are pictured in various performance roles. While much has been written lately about the pressures on young athletes, this account emphasizes their depth of commitment both to skating and to the inner circle of fellow professionals. There are moving reflections on the death of Sergei Grinkov and a tribute to his young wife and partner, Katia, by the family of skaters.?Frances Reiher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Bezic, a five-time Canadian pairs champion and competitor in the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, turned her ice-skating talents into a full-scale profession as a choreographer, director, and producer. She has been involved with more than 25 television specials, including the Emmy-winning "Carmen on Ice" and "You Must Remember This," which featured Kurt Browning skating in a downpour to "Singin' in the Rain." She also directs and coproduces the touring show Stars on Ice, which Scott Hamilton founded in 1986. The photographs in this picture book reflect Bezic's career, capturing in mid-spin such superlative individual skaters as Katarina Witt, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, and Brian Orser, and such outstanding couples as Barb Underhill and Paul Martini, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, and Ekaterina Gordeeva and the late Sergi Grinkov. Costumes are integral to a skater's performance, and several are displayed here along with the designer drawings. Photos taken on the road, during rehearsals, and while performing reveal aspects of the professional skater's life impossible to convey through televised coverage. Jennifer Henderson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Andrews Mcmeel Pub (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836264525
• ISBN-13: 978-0836264524
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,001,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most beautiful books that I have read in a while, August 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Passion to Skate: An Intimate View of Figure Skating (Paperback)

I picked this book up at my local bookstore last christmas and have enjoyed it very much there were so many photos in this book that I had never seen before and that are now my favorites the book gives readers a look at what goes on behind the scenes of many of her specials and of course Stars on Ice....I personally think the book is worth getting just for the photos...sandra wherever you are thanks for including all the photos of G&G I adore them

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great pictures, Great insight, November 12, 2002

By 

Heidi Marie (CampHill, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Passion to Skate: An Intimate View of Figure Skating (Paperback)

I received this book as a Christmas present a few years ago, and it is one of my favorites. Sandra Bezic begins the book by telling about her life as a skater and how she became one of the world's most prominent skating choreographers. She continues by describing what she feels the "passion to skate" is. Bezic takes the reader into the lives of many of the most popular skaters on the pro-circuit today including Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Ekaterina Gordeeva and the late Sergei Grinkov, Victor Petrenko, Kurt Browning, and Katarina Witt. She describes some of the competitive highlights these skaters have had as well as some of the projects they were working on at the time of print(Katarina Witt's Carmen on Ice)etc... Toward the end of the book is a small section dedicated to the Celebration of a Life Skating memoir to Sergei Grinkov. This book features many large color photos of all the skaters mentioned above. It is a great book and I highly recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous photos!!, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Passion to Skate: An Intimate View of Figure Skating (Paperback)

This book gives an excellent "back stage" look at figure skating. While somewhat self-aggrandizing on Bezic's part, only her shows and those associated with them are included, this book would be an excellent choice for a variety of ages, skaters, fans, and photo or entertainment buffs.