Ice Skating: Steps to Success

This is the only book that I've seen that teaches the basics in a very comprehensive manner. All the basic techniques (glides, stops, crossovers, turns, edges) are taught in detail, complete with instructions on how the upper body, knees and feet are oriented. The drawings and the checklists are also very helpful. I highly recommend this book to all beginning skaters, and also for the more advanced skaters who feel that they need to work more on their technique.

This is an excellent book for the beginner or anyone looking to improve technique and edge control. The illustrations are very helpful and the step-by-step breakdowns explain the moves well. The background and history of ice skating is also quite interesting. I would highly recommend the book.

I would love to give this book a 5 star rating as it is among the best that I have seen. If you are a new adult recreational skater, especially a middle aged or older one, you won't find any that are better. No spins or jumps are taught in here, which is fine as most of those are not recommended - or safe to do - during crowded public sessions. But, if you master all the skills covered in this book, you will be recognized by everyone who sees you as a competent and beautiful skater. Don't get me wrong, this book is great for anyone who wants to reach any level, as these are skills that must be nailed down before moving on to the more dramatic, dynamic and potentially dangerous stuff. Aside from the cover and author portraits there are no photos in this book, which is not a criticism. The many line illustrations are clear and generally easy to follow, which can't always be said of the photos in other instructional texts. The language describing the moves is equally clear, well organized, and unusually free of typos. Interspersed with the lessons are evocative drawings of historical and iconic skating venues. If you are an advanced skater you probably won't learn much from this book but, if you are an advanced skater who is teaching a newcomer, this could be an effective training aid. It's an excellent text to augment professional or online video instruction. I regularly review it before and after trips to the rink. My 4 star rating only reflects that I couldn't give it 4.5 stars.

My daughter loves this book on Ice Skating

This book is excellent for the beginner! I just recently started skating and take weekly group lessons. This book has helped me greatly by providing specific excercises to put into my practice sessions which in turn have made me feel like I am finally "getting" the whole concept of edges and especially the crossover maneuver. I highly recommend this book for the beginning skater.

This book is daunting for a true beginner. However, I found myself reading sections over and over again, and each time I got more out of it. I didn't skate as a child, and started at age 55. It hasn't come easily to me. I'm glad I didn't get this book at the very beginning, but now I find it is particularly useful for pointing out common mistakes, and tips for correcting them. There are drills and diagrams, and detailed explanations of what each part of your body should be doing on a turn, for example. It's definitely a technical manual more than a coffee table book with pretty photographs, so if that's what you need, I recommend it.

Perfect condition and great book with lots of helpful info for both student and coach alike!

I will echo what other reviewers have said: this is an excellent book for beginning skaters. It will help you understand and develop basic skills so you can progress in whatever direction you choose, even if it's just to have more fun and be a more confident recreational skater. I like that she explains the value in each drill; what it does specifically (i.e. "swizzles" teach you to keep your weight on a certain part of the blade), and how it will improve your skills as a skater. I'm currently taking group classes, but it was due to the written information in this book, plus the illustrations, that I am finally able to properly do a backward one foot glide. The actual instructions are generally detailed enough that the reader can usually grasp what she means just by reading, but the illustrations take it to a whole new level. The only possible improvement would be a companion DVD, but as well done as the illustrations and written descriptions are, it probably isn't necessary. My only complaint with the book is that every once in awhile, she uses descriptions/terminology that are non-intuitive and would not be familiar to a new skater. It's infrequent, but a brand-spanking-new beginner will have to head to google from time to time to look up some of the terminology. In a book written specifically for beginners, that shouldn't be happening. She does specify in the beginning that the book isn't meant to be a substitute for a good coach, but realistically, she should have known that many of her readers would be people who do not have access to professional coaching of any kind. Overall, for any beginner looking to learn some basics on their own, or supplement what they're learning in classes or lessons, this book is worth checking out.

Excellent item, speedy delivery

Pese a que el libro era usado, se encontraba como nuevo tanto el exterior como el interior, tal como decía el vendedor. Una gran compra!!

Le livre par excellence lorsqu'on débute seul et qu'on veux des bases solides et académiques en patinage artistiques. Les explications sont claires et riches en détails.

As a learner who cannot attend group lessons and who finds individual lessons hard to schedule I found this book extremely helpfull with excellent diagrams to accompany very descriptive text, all presented in an order that mirrors my progress. I have been able to adjust and correct minor mistakes that would probably lead to bad habits difficult to correct at a later stage. I have never found learning from a book so straight forward.

A detailed book about the basic ice skating skills. My first time learning a sport through reading. Exciting experience for me, and it makes me realise how much information we pack into our movements. Worth reading it a few times whilst practicing skating on ice.