Roller Skating for Gold [Hardcover]

David H. Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Series: American Sports History Series | Publication Date: January 9, 1997

Given the popularity of all types of skating--on the ice, on the boards, and on the streets--why isn't roller skating an Olympic event? Author David H. Lewis sought out people involved in every aspect of the sport in an attempt to answer this question. He talked to competition judges and coaches, rink operators and rink organists, and scores of skaters from around the world.

The answers he found--and there are many--are likely to anger and astound readers in turn. Those answers, along with a wealth of information on the world of roller skating past, present and future, are detailed

Whether you skate for the love of it, or have higher aspirations in the world on wheels,
Roller Skating for Gold is fascinating and illuminating reading.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Why do the Olympics exclude roller skating?" asks Lewis (Behind the Big Top) in his history of the sport, including speed skating, hockey and dancing on skates. Skates were developed in England in 1760, and ball-bearing wheels were introduced in the U.S. in the 1880s. Roller hockey began soon thereafter in the Midwest, speed skating started just before WWI and roller dancing arrived on the scene in the 1930s. Originally a pastime for the rich, roller skating fell into disfavor as roller rinks proliferated in seedy areas. The most damaging blow to its prestige, however, was the so-called Roller Derby, begun in Chicago in 1935, which turned violent after WWII and was put on TV. Lewis almost answers his own question about Olympic exclusion when he shows how inept the governing body of the U.S. Amateur Confederation of Roller Skating is. Given the book's narrow focus, it is unlikely to hold much interest for a general audience. Photos not seen by PW.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

...plenty of thought-provoking information ... offer[s]... insight...for...those wanting to find out more about the sport. (Roller Skating Business )

...Has got to be one of the highlights in the literature on roller skating. (M.M. Red Shattuck )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (January 9, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810830485
• ISBN-13: 978-0810830486
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,981,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Confirming what skaters already know., June 22, 2001

By 

Wendi Dunlap "That was pretty good. Now how '... (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roller Skating for Gold (Hardcover)

"Why isn't roller skating in the Olympics?" This question has bothered skaters and skating fans for decades. Occasionally it seems that the sport will finally get its day in the sun, but inevitably it retreats to the status quo. Skaters toil on wheels, unknown, while their counterparts on ice score millions of dollars in commercial contracts.

David Lewis recounts the story of roller skating's years of attempting to join the Olympic games, and points out some rather scathing reasons why it hasn't happened yet. Substantial amounts of blame can be placed with the IOC, but even more blame is laid at the feet of the USA Roller Skating organization, portrayed here as inept and out of touch with what needs to be done to push skating forward.

In some cases Lewis' ideas are a bit out of touch themselves -- does he really think that fans would swarm to watch roller skaters compete in school figures or American Dance? Only skaters enjoy watching those events, and not even many of them! But his heart is in the right place, and he clearly has affection for the sport.

Roller Skating for Gold is a good read, but be aware that there are tons of typos and a few factual errors, and the price is extremely high for such a slim book. The high price is the major reason I could only give the book three stars. Were it half the price, it would be a 5 (or at least 4 1/2) star book.