Books


Since 2013, Skate Guard blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. If you love figure skating and want to learn more about the world's most exciting winter sport, I sincerely hope that you will consider adding these fascinating new books to your shelves!

Cover image for "Jackson Haines: The Skating King", a book about Jackson Haines, The Father of Figure Skating

The legend of The Skating King has been one of the most enduring stories in figure skating history. 

Jackson Haines left America during the height of the Civil War and toured extensively through Europe. He translated ballet to the ice. He performed for Czars and Emperors. He inspired the formation of many of the world's oldest skating clubs. He changed the world's most exciting winter sport forever and our fascination in him has never waned.

In this meticulously researched biography, figure skating historian Ryan Stevens chronicles Jackson's story from his humble beginnings in New York to his premature death in Finland in 1875 - both on and off the ice. Through extensive study of 19th century archives and unpublished material housed at the K.H. Renlunds Museum and World Figure Skating Museum, Stevens proves that fact can be far more intriguing than fiction.

Available where books are sold in paperback, hard cover and eBook editions on November 1. Pre-order your copy today!

Cover image for "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" by Ryan Stevens, foreword by World Figure Skating Champion Donald Jackson

If you love figure skating, you will not be able to put this book down.

Much has been written about figure skating jumps over the years, but most of it has focused on technique. Precious little has been written from a historical perspective.

From the author of the Amazon Best Seller "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating" comes a fascinating book that is jam-packed with stories about the origins and international evolution of figure skating jumps over the course of more than a century.

"Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" includes:

- Essays on the waltz jump, toe-loop, Salchow, loop, flip, Lutz, Axel, pairs throws, twists and side-by-side jumps. There is even a chapter devoted to the history of the backflip!
- Charts detailing a wide variety of technical firsts under the International Skating Union's IJS system.
- Dozens of compelling, little-known facts about the people who have been responsible for some of the biggest technical achievements in the world's most exciting winter sport. 

Available on Amazon in paperback, hard cover and Kindle eBook editions. Order your copy today!

Cover image for "A Bibliography of Figure Skating" by Ryan Stevens

From the author of the Amazon Best Seller "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating" comes the quintessential guide to reading about the world's most exciting sport.

"A Bibliography of Figure Skating" is a fascinating reference book highlighting over a century of figure skating literature, including biographies, historical books and periodicals in over a dozen languages.

Read about the first Bibliography of Skating, penned during the Victorian era by Frederick William Foster. Learn helpful tips and tricks to help you track down rare books and magazines, many of which are now out of print. Expand your knowledge of Olympic figure skating stars past and present and begin crafting your own ultimate figure skating library. 

Available on Amazon in paperback, hard cover and Kindle eBook editions. Order your copy today!

Cover image for "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating" by Ryan Stevens

How much do you know about Canada's most exciting winter sport?

The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating is a mammoth 432-page book crammed with fascinating facts and figures, many of which you simply can't find online.

This compelling reference book includes:

- Biographies of hundreds of skaters, coaches, choreographers, judges and builders... including many incredible people you have never even heard of.
- Detailed records of Canadian figure skating competitions dating back to the 19th century, including complete results of the Canadian Championships from the early 20th century to present day.
- Intriguing facts and figures about the governance and growth of Canada's most exciting winter sport.

Available on Amazon in paperback, hard cover and Kindle eBook editions. Order your copy today!

U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL ORDERS

Amazon has different product links for different marketplaces (countries). If you are not in Canada and have difficulty following the above links, it is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Type in the address of your country's Amazon marketplace.
2. Type in the book name(s) you are interested in.
3. Place your order.

Follow Skate Guard on social media