The OFFICIAL BOOK OF FIGURE SKATING (Hardcover)

by US Figure Skating Association (Editor), Peggy Fleming (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The cover photo of a swanlike Michelle Kwan sets the tone for the sweeping, beautifully illustrated volume behind it. It is as attractive as it is skillful, as balanced as it is smart, as seemingly effortless as it is hard-working. There's a helluva lot happening beneath its cool, glittery surface.

The Official Book does duty on several fronts. It offers an authoritative illustrated history of the sport; short biographies of the most influential and important skaters; lists of U.S., Olympic, and world champions in all categories; and an extensive directory of figure-skating clubs around the country. Chapters glide easily from the evolution of the skate itself to a primer--with helpful line drawings--on how to use those skates, from simple forward "stoking" to the complex jumps and spins that enthrall audiences everywhere. There's a hilarious tour of skating's changing and fickle fashions and sections that explain how skaters create routines and exactly what they are required to put into them, the rigors of actual competition (and how best to watch it), and even one on how the often mysterious judges arrive at their often mysterious scores.

As a reference book, it's useful and conclusive. As a history, it's enjoyably informative. And--most alluringly--as a celebration, it is every bit as exquisite as the sport it celebrates. --Jeff Silverman

Product Description
For little girls and boys with a dream and a new pair of skates, for millions who can't be pried away from the television when Brian Boitano performs, for anyone who wonders just how it's done, the United States Figure Skating Association presents the first full-color, official guide to figure skating -- the second most popular sport in America after pro football. Prepared with the full cooperation of the sport's national governing body -- the USFSA -- along with its experts, coaches, and archives, The Official Book of Figure Skating is the one publication every skating fan must have.

This authoritative volume celebrates all aspects of figure skating -- the speed and power, the grace and glamour, how it's done as well as who does it -- so that everyone from casual fan to beginner to budding champion can appreciate its range and beauty. Sections on history, personalities, and costumes tell the fascinating story of how skating, originating with the simple need to cross frozen water, has been transformed into a unique blend of sport, art, and entertainment. The book also reveals the experts' secrets behind choreography and conditioning, and presents dozens of skating moves described by USFSA coaches and illustrated in revealing detail. Chapters on judging and competition explain the intricacies of skating success, and some of the sport's finest athletes share memories of their greatest moments on ice. Finally, a glossary and full lists of skating champions and USFSA affiliated clubs make this book an invaluable reference for both skaters and fans.

With its authoritative and comprehensive treatment, The Official Book of Figure Skating is the final word for followers of this dazzling sport. But it is also an exceptionally beautiful volume, one with an unsurpassed visual archive. Nearly 250 photographs and images, many never before seen, have been drawn from the collection of the World Figure Skating Museum and ABC Sports. Including the most recent stars in full-color action, rare photos of the men and women who built the sport, and original commissioned drawings of figure skating's most important moves -- from the Salchow to the double Lutz -- this beautiful and definitive book is as full of artistry and excitement as figure skating itself.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 266 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st edition (November 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068484673X
• ISBN-13: 978-0684846736
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #886,357 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #46 in

  Books > Sports > Winter Sports > Ice Skating & Figure Skating

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars great photography, but little else of merit, January 26, 1999

By A Customer

The problem with this book is its lack of focus. It is apparently intended to be a coffee table book judging by its size and format and some of the contents like the brief outlines of skaters and their "Great Moments" Yet the chapters on "How to Skate" and "Fitness for Skating" are aimed at participants in the sport who are not likely to drag this book to the rink learn how to do an Axel. If this aimed at the casual fan, a section on how to identify jumps and other moves would have been more useful and appropriate.

Another problem involves the authorship of the book. The editor, if there was one, chose only to note authors of some of the chapters and only noted them at the Table of Contents. It was jarring to be reading the chapter on choreography and suddenly find it switch from 3rd person to 1st person and then have to turn back to the Table of Contents to see who is talking.

Finally, the book would have benefited by a good proof read. In the one page section on Elvis Stojko, for example, there are 3 errors.

The photography and layout, which are excellent, and the fact that it covers the 1998 season make this book adequate. For better information on skating try Kristi Yamaguchi's Figure Skating for Dummies, or Beverly Smith's Figure Skating, A Celebration.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book About Figure Skating Available Today!, April 26, 2003

By	StarGymnast (California, USA) - See all my reviews

I'm a figure skating fan and I thoroughly love this book. Written by the U.S. Figure Skating Association, this book includes a history of figure skating, biographical sketches of famous figure skaters, how to skate, fitness, information about competition and judging, and much, much more. This book also has many beautiful, full-color photographs of figure skaters and also has instructions and clear pictures on how to perform various skating moves. This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to all figure skaters, fans, coaches, and anyone who just wants to learn more about this wonderful sport.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED.........a must read for skating fans, January 2, 1999

By A Customer

Of all the figure skating books i've read, this is definitely the most elaborate and enjoyable one so far. It is a book for all skating fans, skaters, or anyone who is mesmerized by the sport. I believe that this book gives you all the info. you need about the history, evolution, stars, results, judging, personalities and much more of figure skating. (Those are only a few of the chapters included in this book.) It also includes wonderful photographs(black/white + color) of today and yesterday's skaters. It even has an illustrated section which describes all of the freestyle and cumpulsory moves of figure skating. If you are looking for a book that involves anything that has to do with figure skating, then you should reach for this first off the shelf. It is DEFINITELY the best ice dancing book ever! **I would say that the reading level would be from about RL 4, up** A MUST READ for all who love the sport of Figure Skating. *Written by the members of the USFSA( United States Figure Skating Association) itself.