Ice skating

Ice skating is the act of self-propulsion and gliding across a flat ice surface. To perform this, a person wears ice skates equipped with metal blades.

People engage in skating for many different reasons. Some do it for recreation and fun, while others use it for exercise. It is also a competitive sport and a way for some to commute. Skaters can use naturally frozen bodies of water like ponds, lakes, canals, and rivers. They can also use man-made surfaces such as ice rinks, hockey rinks, bandy fields, and arenas.

The physics of skating relies on a specific interaction between the blade and the ice. A skate can glide because of a layer of ice molecules on the surface. These surface molecules are not as tightly bound as the molecules in the mass beneath. This creates a semiliquid state that provides lubrication. This layer is often called a "quasi-fluid" or "water-like" layer. It is only about one molecule thick. As the temperature increases, this slippery layer becomes thicker.

Ice skating has evolved through several distinct stages and types. One major split occurred between speed skating and figure skating. Speed skating focuses on velocity, while figure skating emphasizes artistic movement. There are also various team sports played on ice. Ice hockey uses a flat sliding puck. Bandy is played with a ball. Ringette is played with a rubber ring. Other disciplines include ice cross downhill and synchronized skating. Synchronized skating is a unique artistic team sport derived from figure skating.

The history of skating begins thousands of years ago. Research suggests the earliest skating happened in southern Finland over 4,000 years ago. These early skaters used animal bones to save energy during winter journeys.

In China, bone skates were used during the Bronze Age. Archaeologists found these at the Gaotai Ruins in northwest China. These finds are estimated to be 3,500 years old. They suggest communication between China and Europe during that era. Later, in the 13th or 14th century, the Dutch added sharpened steel edges to skates. This allowed skaters to cut into the ice rather than just gliding on top.

In England, skating became a notable social activity. In the 1660s, metal skates arrived alongside the creation of the garden canal in St James's Park.

Famous diarists like Samuel Pepys recorded seeing people skate there. The Edinburgh Skating Club was the first organized club, formed in the 1740s. To join, candidates had to pass a test. They performed a complete circle on either foot and jumped over stacked hats. By the mid-19th century, skating was a popular pastime for the British upper and middle classes. Even Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were connected through ice skating trips.

Regional traditions also shaped the sport, such as the fen skating in England. In the Fens, skating was a popular recreation and a spectator sport.

Workers often competed in racing matches for prizes like money, clothing, or food. These skaters used specialized equipment called pattens or fen runners.

The footstock was made of beechwood and fastened with leather straps. The metal blades were slightly higher at the back than the front. In 1879, the National Skating Association was founded in Cambridge. This was the first national ice skating body in the world. It held professional championship races for crowds of thousands.

Modern figure skating was transformed by an American named Jackson Haines.

He was the first to incorporate ballet and dance movements into skating. Haines also invented the sit spin and developed a shorter, curved blade for easier turns. He was also the first to use blades that were permanently attached to the boot. In 1892, the International Skating Union was founded in the Netherlands. This organization created the first codified set of figure skating rules. It also governs international competitions for both speed and figure skating. The first international championship was held in Saint Petersburg in 1896.