SKATING. I

n early times progre ion on ice was accomplished by binding shin-bones of animals to the feet, the skaters propelling themselves by aid of a spiked stick. Interesting examples of bone skates may be seen in Brit. Museum and other collections. Blade skates were probably introduced from Holland, and are mentioned by Pepys and Evelyn. The most reliable skates for figures are those which are attached to the boots by screws, but for speed skating the Norwegian racing skate, made entirely of metal and permanently attached to the boot, has been almost universally adopted. The rules of form as laid down by the International Union for figure skating are as follows: ‘Upright carriage, not bent at the hips, but without being stiff; strong bending of body or knee to be only momentary; head upright; free foot to be held not far from ice, toe turned downwards and outwards as far as po ible, swinging freely and a isting the movement; arms to hang easily, and like the free foot may be used in a isting movement.’ In speed skating the body is bent forward from the waist as much as po ible, and the hands, except when the skaters are sprinting, are clasped behind the back,