| Ice skating has a long history. In fact the origins of | | | | its practitioners. For some the entire sport is ice |
| ice skating date back to the early ninth century. The | | | | skating, for others the actual act of skating on ice is |
| purpose then was far more practical, however, than | | | | simply one aspect of a very complex and |
| recreational. The earliest ice skates are believed to | | | | multifaceted activity. And others are simply content |
| have been found in London and made of horse bone. | | | | to skate. In and of itself ice skating provides a |
| It is believed that these skates served utilitarian | | | | significant challenge for those just learning and |
| purposes such as movement from place to place in | | | | becomes second nature to those who have been |
| order to search or scavenge for food rather than | | | | doing it for long periods of time. |
| the largely recreational purpose that most ice skates | | | | The difficulty of ice skating is much like that of roller |
| have in modern society. | | | | skating. Once you learn, you never really forget. You |
| Ice skating over the centuries has become more of | | | | may have a few unsteady moments in the beginning |
| a recreational activity and provides long hours of | | | | after a long absence but all in all it comes rushing |
| entertainment to both skaters and spectators alike. | | | | back once you get out there and try again. Whether |
| From figure skating to ice hockey all around the | | | | you are an avid skater or simply a breathless |
| world there is a fondness for this particular activity | | | | spectator of the sport, Im sure youve found the |
| that transcends time and speaks volumes about both | | | | dichotomy between the beauty of figure skating and |
| the complexity of this activity and the simplicity of it. | | | | the brutality of ice hockey fascinating. I know I |
| Ice skating is a sport that is both loved and hated by | | | | certainly have. |