| Ice skating has a long history. In fact the origins of | | | | From figure skating to ice hockey all around the |
| ice skating date back to the early ninth century. The | | | | world there is a fondness for this particular activity |
| purpose then was far more practical, however, than | | | | that transcends time and speaks volumes about both |
| recreational. The earliest ice skates are believed to | | | | the complexity of this activity and the simplicity of it. |
| have been found in London and made of horse bone. | | | | Ice skating is a sport that is both loved and hated by |
| It is believed that these skates served utilitarian | | | | its practitioners. For some the entire sport is ice |
| purposes such as movement from place to place in | | | | skating, for others the actual act of skating on ice is |
| order to search or scavenge for food rather than | | | | simply one aspect of a very complex and |
| the largely recreational purpose that most ice skates | | | | multifaceted activity. And others are simply content |
| have in modern society. | | | | to skate. In and of itself ice skating provides a |
| Ice skating over the centuries has become more of | | | | significant challenge for those just learning and |
| a recreational activity and provides long hours of | | | | becomes second nature to those who have been |
| entertainment to both skaters and spectators alike. | | | | doing it for long periods of time. |