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Ice skating is defined as traveling on ice by using skates. These skates are blade-like devices which is formed and attached into special boots or footwear. These skates are usually used on frozen rivers and lakes, or in artificial ice environments like skating rinks. Its use has evolved from practical application to that of recreation and sport. It is also used in musicals which are performed on ice. Ice skating as a sport have developed worldwide acceptance, not only limited to the countries who have winter season; in the advent of technology, even tropical countries are able to experience Ice skating.
The discovery of ice skating dates back thousands of years ago, despite the difficulty to pinpoint the exact time and process which people were able to learn to ice skate.
What researchers discovered was that ice skating originated in European countries, with archeological evidence saying that the bones of primitive animals were used as ice skates. These bones were ground to form a flat gliding surface, and then were tied to the feet.
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They were used by early human beings as a mode of travel, a faster way to walk in frozen lakes rather than on foot (Formenti and Minetti, p.3).
There were several changes done on the design of ice skates, until it was fully developed for the use of any person. Because of these, more and more people were interested in ice skating, and as a result, competitions were being held to know who the best ice skater there is is.
But before being recognized as a competitive sport, ice skating itself saw through changes made about it (Francey).
For some countries, ice skating have been a symbol of social status, wherein it was only limited to the members of the upper classes. With the elites loving ice skating, they were eager to spread it in places that they govern or went to. The knowledge about this has been spread all over Europe through these elites and higher social classes (Shute). Because of this, people were into a new kind of sport; something which does not necessarily require physical contact, but talent from the person skating.
It requires balance and control, as well as the application of the person’s creativity to do some splendid routines (Kohlbeck, p.1). Ice skating became famous, but still, not all are able to freely skate the ice or even try to do so. This is because worldwide, there are only a few countries that really experience winter and have temperatures that could freeze rivers and lakes. If one country wishes to teach its people to ice skate, they would resort into ways that could duplicate the areas that people could skate into.
Not everyone knows about ice skating, but for starters, it works by letting the blade glide over the ice with very little friction. People are able to move in the ice at faster speeds, and learning more about this, skaters were able to gain control of their movements allowing them to do tricks while moving on the ice. It promoted the competitive spirit among skaters, and became the basis of various competitions on ice. Some these contests were based on speed, gracefulness, as well as team competitions. Events like figure skating, ice skating races, and ice hockey were just some of the contests that branched from competitive ice skating.
One sporting event which originated from ice skating is speed skating. It is a sport where the players are timed on how fast they’ll be able to cross a given distance. It has earned worldwide recognition and is considered as an Olympic sport ever since. Though known worldwide, only a few countries are able to participate in events such as this, because the presence of ice to skate over is limited to countries farther away from the equator. For major competitions such as the Olympics, speed skating is held on large indoor rinks with artificial ice (Nolt, p.1). This is to control the playing environment for the players, as the natural ice large enough to accommodate this even is hard to find.
Another sport which originated from ice skating is the Figure skating. This is a competitive sport between individuals, pairs or even groups to test their graceful skating abilities. They are to perform various spins, jumps, footwork, and other choreography on ice. There are various competitions for figure skating, starting from the beginner levels up to the Olympic levels and other professional competitions. Figure skating is also referred to as artistic skating in other languages, since it tests the talent and skill of the skaters as they perform for a large audience and be judged accordingly.
In the context of worldwide recognition, figure skating is not limited to countries which have winters or those away from the equator. This is because more and more people see figure skating as a highly competitive event, which is why they train the skaters in special facilities such as indoor skating rinks. Aside from competition, it is treated more as training for grace and elegance, just like ballet for young girls.
Ice hockey is another sport that emerged from ice skating. It is simply referred to as hockey in the United States and Canada, and is played as a team sport on ice. This is very much a team cooperative game where ice skaters compete against another team by scoring more goals (Farlinger, Kruisselbrink and Fowles, p.3). As a collaborative sport, ice hockey is very speedy and physical, and players have to coordinate with their teammates to win. Originating from ice skating, ice hockey requires great control in skating, as well as the players’ versatility and agility in order to score goals.
Ice hockey is a very well-known sport in the United States area, wherein teams and franchises compete with each other all year long, usually on indoor skating rinks in front of a large number of viewing audiences. In terms of international popularity, ice hockey is known worldwide; however, not everyone is given the chance to play the sport. This is because ice hockey needs special facilities to train and actually play the game, which is not available in other countries, especially those in warm regions of the world.
As a team sport, it is difficult to organize teams to compete with each other in countries where it is not common to see ice skaters. Because of this, there is not much reason to hold competitions and ice hockey games, so fondness of the game would just be limited to watching the game be played by professional players. It is not the lack of willingness to play, but the lack of the facilities to make playing the sport possible.
Aside from sports, ice skating is being promoted as a good form of recreation for everyone, especially for the children. It is said that it is great way to spend quality time with the family during the winter, aside from being a healthy activity in nature. Ice skating is seen as a healthy way for children of all ages to enjoy the winter (Reuters). Instead of staying indoors, children are encouraged to go out and skate, which is a good form of exercise especially in the winter season where there is nothing much you can do in the outdoors.
Instead of staying inside the house, children are able to play, stretch their muscles through ice skating, and socialize with other people. This is also a great opportunity for families to bond, instead of spending time indoors and sitting in front of the television all day long, which is the usual scene during the winter season. It is not only a physical activity, but also promotes social well-being to improve a person’s character, especially for children who are just starting to discover themselves.
Ice skating may have originated in the European regions where temperatures could get below freezing temperatures in some time during the year, but this is not something that would limit it from spread all throughout the world. In the advent of technology, ice skating have been introduced to countries where it is virtually impossible to have temperatures below freezing point. People were able to improvise by building indoor facilities that can be filled with ice, thus creating an area where people are given the chance to experience ice skating. Even though it is costly, some people would still engage in this kind of activity because for them, it was well worth it.
Countries that don’t have winter would set up skating facilities inside malls or other buildings which are accessible to the public. The people’s support of this is overwhelming, since many of them are curious and would surely want to experience walking on ice. There are also some athletes who venture into the world of sports which involve ice skating, and many parents would want their child to train in figure skating as an early age, expecting to hone their talents for them to capitalize on it when they grow up. Before, it was limited geographically, but as people began top use technology for entertainment and recreation, other people is able to enjoy ice skating as well.
Equipped with the basic knowledge about ice skating, it is like venturing into the unknown for many people. But as they learn from their experiences, those who really choose to ice skate continue. Because of technological advancements, people are able to enjoy things which they’re not supposed to be experiencing in their own countries. Ice skating is different from other sports because it is driven by one person’s desire, especially when it is difficult to fulfill that desire.
Works Cited:
Farlinger, Chris M., L. Darren Kruisselbrink, and Jonathon R. Fowles. "Relationships to Skating Performance in Competitive Hockey Players." Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research Vol. 21.Issue 3 (2007): 8p.
Formenti, Federico, and Alberto E. Minetti. "The First Humans Travelling on Ice: An Energy-Saving Strategy?" Biological Journal of the Linnean Society Vol. 93.Issue 1 (2008): 7p.
Francey, Patrick. "Ice Skating... Getting the Competitive Advantage". 2007. March 31 2008. <http://www.articlecrack.com/Article/Ice-Skating----Getting-The-Competitive-Advantage/26771>.
Kohlbeck, Kate. "A Is for Axel: An Ice Skating Alphabet." School Library Journal Vol. 52.Issue 8 (2006): 1/9p.
Nolt, Lorna Simmons. "Olympic Skaters: Taking Turns for the Better." Saturday Evening Post Vo. 256.Issue 2 (1984): 3p.
Reuters. " Ice Skating Is the Healthy Way for Kids to Enjoy Winter!" 2008. March 31 2008. <http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS208062+03-Jan-2008+MW20080103>.
Shute, Nancy. "Pleasure on Ice: The Coolest Places to Skate." Health Vol. 9.Issue 7 (1995): 2p.
The Sport of Ice skating and its knowledge in the world. (2017, Mar 21). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-sport-of-ice-skating-and-its-knowledge-in-the-world-essay
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