Competitive Figure Skating FAQ: References

Archive-name: sports/skating/ice/figure/references
Last-modified: 20 Sep 2003


                      COMPETITIVE FIGURE SKATING FAQ:
                      ===============================

                                REFERENCES
                                ==========

This article is part of the FAQ list for (amateur) competitive figure
skating.  This section contains references to other sources of
information about the sport.

This FAQ list is posted monthly to rec.sport.skating.ice.figure.  Send
corrections and suggestions to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

This file is available in both plain-text and HTML/Web versions.  You can
get to the HTML version from SkateWeb Figure Skating Page at URL:

http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/

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Table of Contents

  * [1] Are there any good books about figure skating?
  * [2] What about magazines?
  * [3] Are there any other figure skating resources on the net?
  * [4] Who wrote this FAQ list?
  * [5] Can I redistribute this FAQ list?

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[1] Are there any good books about figure skating?

    A recommended book about the technical aspects of figure skating is
    John Misha Petkevich's "Figure Skating: Championship Techniques"
    (ISBN 0-452-26209-7), published by Sports Illustrated and available
    in many bookstores.  It's a trade-sized paperback, and features
    photos of Brian Boitano.

    "Figure Skating for Dummies", by Kristi Yamaguchi and Christy Ness
    with Jody Meacham (http://www.dummies.com/, ISBN 0-7645-5084-5),
    focuses more on competitive skating than on the details of technique.
    It covers much the same ground as this FAQ.  One caveat:  do not
    confuse the "cheat sheet" for scoring with the actual rules used by
    judges.  For that, you'll need a current copy of the official
    rulebook.

    The USFSA rulebook includes complete competition and eligibility
    rules, diagrams of compulsory figures and dances, and a directory of
    participating clubs.  It comes in a small-sized loose-leaf binder and
    costs about $10.  It's updated yearly, in the fall.

    You can order a copy directly from the USFSA, at:

    20 First Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
    (719)-635-5200
    [EMAIL PROTECTED]
    http://www.usfsa.org/

    You might also be able to buy a copy through your local skating club
    or pro shop.

    Beverly Smith's book "Figure Skating: A Celebration" (McClelland &
    Stewart, ISBN 0-7710-2819-9) is an excellent source of information
    about the history of the sport.  It's a large hardcover book,
    featuring many photographs of famous skaters.  There's now a trade
    paperback edition available.

    The "Skater's Edge Sourcebook" is also a useful reference. It's
    primarily a directory of skating rinks, equipment manufacturers and
    dealers, skating associations, etc. but also contains addresses for
    fan mail/agents, lists of medalists from past competitions, and
    information about books and videos.  Now in an updated (1998)
    edition.  The cost is $39.95 plus $8 shipping; order from:

    Skater's Edge Sourcebook, Box 500, Dept SM, Kensington MD 20895
    http://skatersedgemag.com
    (301)-946-1971

    One book you should definitely avoid is called "The Encyclopedia of
    Figure Skating".  It's full of errors and is not a reliable source of
    information.

    There is an extensive bibliography of books on all forms of skating
    maintained by George Robbins, available at URL

    http://www1.netaxs.com:8080/people/grr/Roller/index.html

[2] What about magazines?

    Here is a list of the more popular periodicals which deal with
    skating.  (Disclaimer: this isn't intended as a commercial
    endorsement of any of these publications.  Also, you might want to
    double-check the subscription rates, since they may have changed
    since this information was collected.)

    A more complete list of skating publications, including
    foreign-language publications and fan newsletters, is available on
    the web at http://www.jbmittan.com/pubs.htm.

    SKATING
    20 First Street
    Colorado Springs, CO 80906-3697
    719-635-5200
    http://www.usfsa.org/news/skate_mag.htm
    10 issues/year
    $25/US, $35/Canada, $45/other countries

    Official magazine of the United States Figure Skating Association.
    Profiles of skaters, competition and tour reports, articles about
    participant skating at all levels.  Focus on US eligible skaters.
    The feature articles are often simplistic and excessively
    "politically correct", but it's useful as a source of USFSA
    information and for archival competition results.  Most photos are
    tiny.

    BLADES ON ICE
    7040 N. Mona Lisa Road
    Tuscson, AZ 85741
    Phone: 602-575-1747
    Fax: 602-575-1484
    http://BladesOnIce.com/mag/
    6 issues/year
    $29/US

    This magazine is available on newsstands as well as by subscription.
    Magazine with news, interviews, competition reports; coverage of both
    professional and eligible skaters.  Many large, glossy color
    photographs.  Recommended.

    INTERNATIONAL FIGURE SKATING
    Subscription Department
    55 Ideal Road
    Worcester, MA 01604
    [EMAIL PROTECTED]
    http://www.ifsmagazine.com/
    6 issues/year US: $19, Canada: $28(USD), international: $39(USD)

    This magazine is available on newsstands as well as by subscription.
    Includes a mix of news and profiles, plus coverage of the business
    aspects of the sport.  More European skating news than other North
    American publications.  Caveat: subscribers have complained about
    poor customer service.

    PATINAGE MAGAZINE
    39 Bld de la Marne
    F-76000 Rouen
    France
    5 issues/year
    $30/US, $38(Canadian)/Canada

    Published in French w/ English translations.  The writing and/or
    translations leave a lot to be desired.  Initially made its
    reputation for having fabulous photography, but reports are that it
    has gone downhill.  Also notorious for pro-French editorial bias.

    SPOTLIGHT ON SKATING
    208 Mohawk Rd.
    Ancaster, ON, L9G 2W9
    Canada
    http://spotlightonskating.com/
    4 issues/year
    $28.75/US, $32.20(Canadian)/Canada

    Canadian/international focus; skater profiles, competition and show
    reports.

    SKATER'S EDGE, AMERICAN SKATING WORLD and TRACINGS are no longer
    being published.

[3] Are there any other figure skating resources on the net?

    The best place to start is the SkateWeb page at
    http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/.  This web site includes an
    archive of skating pictures, the hypertext version of this FAQ list,
    a collection of reviews, articles, cartoons and humor, and an
    extensive collection of links to official skater web sites and fan
    pages, skating webzines, the official web sites of various skating
    federations and clubs, competition and tour web sites,
    skating-related businesses, and archival competition results and
    other reference material.

    The Skatefans mailing list is for spectator-oriented discussion of
    figure skating.  For subscription information, visit
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SkateFans.  Note that this is a fairly
    busy mailing list, and if you can't handle getting a hundred or more
    messages per day in your mailbox you may want to subscribe only in
    digest mode, or read the messages from the web archive instead.

    You can also find links to quite a few specialized mailing lists at
    SkateWeb, such as those devoted to discussion of particular skaters,
    and to participant skating.

[4] Who wrote this FAQ list?

    My name is Sandra Loosemore.  I've followed the sport for many years,
    although I've never been more than a recreational skater myself.  In
    "real life" I have a PhD in computer science, and I work as a a
    software engineer for Intel Corporation.  I also have some
    professional experience as a technical writer.

    Some of the information in the post is taken from the USFSA rulebook.
    I also incorporated suggestions from Helena Robinson, Fred Chapman,
    Ann Schmidt, Mary Kolencik, Stephen Kawalko, Louis Epstein, and many
    others.  Janet Pooley sent me the list of European champions, and
    Fiona McQuarrie supplied the list of Canadian champions.  The list of
    World Junior champions was sent to me by Jay Miller of "Skating"
    magazine.  The information about magazines was provided by Deborah
    Reed-Margetan, with updates from Barry Mittan.   George Robbins,
    Trudi Marrapodi, and others contributed to the netiquette section.
    Ellyn Kestnbaum and Janet Swan Hill provided information about
    judging.

[5] Can I redistribute this FAQ list?

    Yes, provided that you do not charge money for it, and that you
    acknowledge the source and authorship.