Subject: recreational {ice} figure skating FAQ part 0
Supersedes: <rec-skate-faq/recreational-figure-skating/part0_794870416@rtfm.mit.edu>
Date: 9 Apr 1995 18:34:05 GMT
Summary: This 6 part posting consisting of parts 0 to 5 contains
        responses to frequently asked questions about figure skating as
        a recreational activity.  It also contains subjects of general
        interest to ice skaters.  Part 0 contains the table of contents of
        the other parts.
X-Last-Updated: 1995/02/09

Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: 14 Jan 1995
Version: 199501


Introduction
------------

Welcome to rec.skate.

There are four other FAQ's posted regularly to rec.skate, rec.answers 
and news.answers.  They are the Competitive-Professional Figure 
Skating FAQ list posted by Sandra Loosemore, the Inline Skating FAQ 
by Tony Chen, and the Conventional Roller Skating FAQ and the Skate 
Books FAQ by George Robbins. 

Recently, Kevin Anderson has compiled a series of technical photos 
taken from consecutive frames of video shots, which are available by 
ftp from ftp.sunet.se in the /pub/pictures/sports/skating/misc 
directory.  These photos show a variety of jumps and other 
maneuvers done by the world's best skaters.  The pictures are also 
mirrored at (ftp://haskell.cs.yale.edu/pub/sjl/www/skate-images/) 
or World Wide Web 
(http://www.cs.yale.edu/HTML/YALE/CS/HyPlans/loosemore-
sandra/skate.html) thanks to Sandra Loosemore.


Disclaimer

Basic ice skating skills cannot be adequately described by the textual 
descriptions given here.  If you wish to learn figure skating, sign up 
for a class (offered at many rinks) so you can have an instructor 
demonstrate the proper techniques and help correct you if you're 
doing something wrong.  Rely on a good instructor to help you select 
skates and other equipment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----

PART 0.  Introduction

Welcome

Disclaimer

1. This Table of Contents

PART 1.  First steps on skates

2. In the beginning
    2.1 Should I buy skates or rent them?
    2.2 Should I buy figure skates or hockey skates?
    2.3 Will figure skates give me enough ankle support?
    2.4 What is skating leg, free leg, outside edge, inside edge?
    2.5 Why do I skate mostly on my inside edges?
    2.6 How do you make an outdoor rink?

3. Venturing onto the ice
    3.1 falling and protective equipment
    3.2 stopping
        3.2.1 Snow-plow stops
        3.2.2  Hockey stops
        3.2.3 T-stops
    3.3 stroking

4. Training and instruction
    4.1 adult beginner skaters
        4.1.1 The skater mother and other horrors
        4.1.2 Talent vs. determination
    4.2 Amount of practice needed to make progress
    4.3 Adult-Onset Skating Syndrome (AOSS)
    4.4 Lessons

PART 2.  Figure skating eqpt

5. Know your skates!
    5.1 Boots
        5.1.1 selecting new boots
        5.1.2 breaking in your boots:
        5.1.3 maintenance
        5.1.4 selecting used boots
        5.1.5 lacing

PART 3.  More figure skating eqpt
    5.2 Blades
        5.2.1 buying new blades
        5.2.2 three ways of checking used blades:
        5.2.3 mounting
        5.2.4 Rocker
        5.2.5 Grind or Hollow
        5.2.6 Sharpening explained by an expert

    5.3 Children's skates

    5.4 Diagnosing boot and blade problems

    5.5 Accessories

PART 4.  Beyond the Basics

6. Preliminary skating skills
    6.1 Skating backwards
    6.2 forwards and backwards cross-overs
    6.3 3-turns and mohawks
    6.4 spins
        6.4.1 about dizziness
    6.5 jumps for beginners

7. Precision skating

PART 5.  Skating and your body

8. Off-ice training and endurance
    8.1 improving turn-out
    8.2 the pay-off!

9.3 Injuries
    9.3.1 Injuries from falling
    9.3.2 Foot injuries

10. Credits

Appendix 1, Contact information for the Adult Skaters Forum

Appendix 2, Commonly available blades, radius, hollow and price

        
