5 comments about Home Ice: Reflections on Backyard Rinks and Frozen Ponds.

1. A good easy read. A must have for hockey fans in New England and for builders of backyard hockey rinks. Not a big reader, but I couldn't put this on down. Very well written.



2. Even if you live in a climate that will never allow you to build a backyard rink, this wonderful little book should be read. In a age where youth sports are increasingly dominated by organization and structure and where the attraction of video games keeps kids inside on even the nicest of days, this book takes us to a place where play is unstructured, where one can lose themself in the early morning hours or under the stars, where family and friends can gather to play, skate and even sometimes compete, where the rituals of building, maintaining and disassembling the rink mark the passage of time.
   
   Ultimately this book is as much about a family and a bond between them as is it about ice skating or hockey. Read, enjoy and take something away from the experience.



3. I was geared up to read about the experiences the Fallas and their friends shared on the Bacon Street Omni. And Falla delivers the goods with humor and honesty, with wit and wisdom. But Home Ice, for me, has become more than a celebration of hockey and that which unites families and communities.
   
   I, a relative newcomer to New England, didn't expect to learn so much about the Boston Bruins. I had heard of Orr and O'Reilly, of course, but I didn't grow up watching them as Falla did. He brings his memories of the Big Bad Bruins to life. Falla also mixes Black and Gold with the Oil. His skate with Wayne Gretzky enriches the book, giving it balance: the Great One juxtaposed to the average Joes who play on the pond.



4. After reading the book I wanted to head right out and build the rink it was the spring thaw but I did clear out my back lot and leveled it got it ready for winter can't wait until the first freeze



5. I wasn't a hockey player growing up. Basketball was my first love. My Dad put up a hoop in the driveway back in the early 70's, and the memories of playing 21, Horse, and three on three will last forever. Meeting neighbors and friends, playing by myself working on skills: those were the days.
   
   And Falla's stories of his backyard rink inspire the same kind of love and committment to family and friends that my father's hoop did. What a wonderful book, made all the more important and influential by the author's passing away not too long ago. He was a wonderful writer who seemed to inspire many others through his life, teaching, and writing.
   
   Thanks to Jack Falla...

4 comments about Laura Stamm's Power Skating - 4th Edition.

1. Laura Stamm's Power Skating thouroughly describes power skating techniques with diagrams, photos and written descriptions. This book is beneficial to both new skaters and pros. Whether you are just learning to skate or want to perfect your technique you will benefit from the information in this book. An excellent reference tool for coaches at all levels.



2. Laura Stamm's power skating instruction is incredibly useful for all skill levels. This book is a gold mine of practical tools one can use to improve their own stride or to teach skating more effectively. I highly recommend Laura's work to anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of skating or to fix bad skating habits they've had for 15 years. An excellent resource!



3. Take the ideas and techniques and drills explained in this book a few at a time. Bring them with you to the ice again and again. Use the ideas. Learn the techniques. Practice the drills. Practice them some more. Own the style. Watch your game and your confidence develop and transform powerfully. This book is a valuable, well-written guide for achieving superior levels of power, speed, and agility in "skating great hockey!"



4. There's more to ice skating than fancy moves. "Laura Stamm's Power Skating" is a guide to iceskating with focus and determination for the sport of hockey. With tips on speed, balance, maneuverability, and using your enhanced skating skills to better effect on the rink, Laura Stamm gives hockey players who want to increase their skills with the fundamental techniques of movement on the advice everything they need to know to not make a false move when it counts. "Laura's Stamm's Power Skating" is a top pick for sports collections and very highly recommended.

5 comments about Frozen in Time: The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team.

1. In 1961, the greatest tragedy in U.S. figure skating history - and possibly world figure skating history - took place when a Sabena-Belgian Airlines Boeing 707 developed problems trying to land at Brussels airport. The plane nosedived into a farmer's field, killing everyone aboard. Among those on board were 18 members of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating team, who were heading to the World Championships in Prague. This is the story of those skaters.
   This book focuses largely on Laurence & Maribel Vinson Owen, as well as Stephanie Westerfield, who were the most well-known members, but also mentions skaters such as Laurie Jean Hickox and Doug Ramsay. It talks in-depth about the training & competitions they went through to become U.S. Figure Skating team members, as well as the terrible accident itself & how it affected U.S. Figure Skating at large - especially the rush to produce new skaters to replace those so tragically lost.
   Journalist (and adult competitive figure skater) Nikki Nichols has done an excellent job in telling the very real stories of these people who were the Americans' best hopes for 1964, and never got to perform. Most of today's figure skaters have never heard the sad story of the 1961 US team, and this book is an excellent telling of their story. Highly recommended.



2. If you are a fan of figure skating, this book is a definate must read. It opened my eyes to things about skating and competition that I did not know as a former figure skater. It is a wonderful tribute to the skaters of the 1961 U.S. Team.



3. This is one of the most poignant books written about figure skating history. I knew the story of the 1961 tragedy, but this book focuses on each skater in ways I've never seen done before. MUCH more here than just a focus on the famous Owen family. Good reading, well worth the price. ORDER IT!



4. The U.S. Figure Skating team was at the pinnacle of the sport in 1961 as 18 skaters, their family members and coaches boarded the plane for Prague and the World Championships. They never reached their destination. The plane crashed, and all on board were killed.
   
   This book is a reverential look back by competitive figure skater and journalist Nikki Nichols. The focus is on the top two women skaters, Laurence Owen and her rival, Stephanie Westerfeld. Both faced a tremendous amount of pressure. Owen's mother, Olympic skater Maribel Owen was the most famous woman skater of her day. Maribel worked both her daughters (Laurence's sister Mara was a pairs skater) endlessly in order for them to achieve glory. Far from the Owens' turf in New England, Myra Westerfeld was doing the same thing with her daughters, Sherri and Stephanie, at the Broadmoor in Colorado. Laurence and Stephanie finished first and second in the U.S. Championships and were expected to do great things in the World Championships. Laurence graced the cover of Sports Illustrated on the day she died.
   
   Nichols also goes into the history of the sport. Maribel's nemesis was Sonja Henie, the most famous figure skater in the world, who won many championships and starred in Hollywood movies. My mother fell in love with figure skating watching those movies, and she passed her love of the sport on to me. Nichols' overview of the sport's history was an important part of the book, and I needed the refresher course, not only on the history, but on those dreaded school figures and the partisan judging that seems to have always been a part of who wins and who loses.
   
   Anyone who reads this book looking for juicy scandals will find none. What they will find is history, rivalry, and a national sport that was brought to its knees by a terrible tragedy. That the USFSA was back on top in 1968 when Peggy Fleming won the Olympic gold is an amazing feat.
   
   Any fan who loves the sport of figure skating should enjoy this book.



5. Frozen in Time: The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team by Nikki Nicholas -- Sports non-fiction
   This book tells the story of the members of the U.S. Figure Skating World Team, friends and family who died in a plane crash en route to the Worlds in 1961. Nichols relates the struggles of the top athletes to get to the top spots that would earn them the right to be at the World Championships in Prague. A skater never skates alone and this book is also about the coaches who helped the skaters on their paths to glory and their family members who supported them. Nichols imagines what the skaters were thinking and feeling at crucial moments in their lives. She also interrupts the narrative to discuss other competitors, past, current and future. Nicholas attempts to explain how the legacy of the 1961 team affected all the skaters to come after them, from Peggy Fleming's glorious gold medal in 1968 to skaters in 2001 receiving scholarships from money left in memory of the 1961 team. This book is written from extensive research by a dedicated skater and skating fan and it shows. The stories of the 1961 team members are compelling but the writing isn't stellar. Nicholas interrupts her story to discuss skaters from the past (pre-1961) and present day (post-1961), which was a little jarring in the middle of the story of the 1961 U.S. Team. The imagined scenarios are also a little odd. I also feel that Nicholas rushed the legacy part though her book is subtitled The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team. I enjoyed learning about the lesser known people involved in the crash and learning more about what happened during the flight. The 1961 U.S. World Team is a subject that is infrequently discussed but should be known to all those who are interested in the sport. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars.

5 comments about My Sergei: A Love Story.

1. I remember watching this pair when they were competing. I wasn't an ice dancing fan, but they were so incredible to watch, I started watching any competition they were in. When Sergei died, I was devastated for Ekaterina. When her book came out, I read it, and cried all the way through. But really, it isn't a sad ending. I find it to be very inspirational to see how Ekaterina faced the worst that could happen, and came out on the other side with a wonderful attitude and will to go on. It is now 12 years later, and this book STILL makes me cry, and still inspires me.



2. What a wonderful story this was. I love to watch skating and have not missed watching an Olympics since I was a kid. I am familiar with a lot of the skaters mentioned in this book. I thought this story was so touching and full of emotion. Katia considers her life with Sergei almost too perfect. They were so in love and their life together was indeed a fairy tale. I commend Katia for being able to pick herself and go on with her life no matter how difficult after Sergei's unexpected death in 1995. I thought the comparison between Russian and American customs was very interesting. This was an enjoyable and heartwarming read.



3. I'm really glad I found this book at a library book sale last year. Though this story is no longer current news, I hadn't forgotten about the tragic death of Sergey Grinkov or watching him perform with his wife Katya in the 1994 Winter Olympics. And even though the world has long since moved onto other headlines and stories of interest in the figure skating world, the love story told in this book is truly timeless. As a Russophile and a historian whose field of expertise is Russian history, it was a double joy to read because of all of the descriptions of Russian culture, the differences between Russian and American customs, and what life was like in the late Soviet period and the early post-Soviet period. (Although I have to say that the transliteration style wasn't completely pleasing to me; for example, I don't think I've ever read any other book where a double O is used in place of the letter U, as in Ligooshina or Katoosha, and I'm still trying to figure out how the nicknames Serioque and Katuuh are supposed to be written in Russian characters.)
   
   Though the book begins and ends sadly, in between there's a lot of happiness and love, making this into a beautiful heartfelt love letter to a wonderful person, skating partner, friend, lover, husband, and father. The love between Katya and Seryozha is so pure and genuine, nothing like the type of superficial and problem-plagued celebrity relationships we're used to hearing about. It even made me a little jealous of their storybook love story! All throughout, Katya is very honest and open, about their relationship, the world of young skaters in the Soviet Union, what goes on behind the scenes at the Olympics, the hectic life on the road of skaters, and how difficult it was to constantly have to leave their daughter Darya behind while they skated. While I'm sure there are some things she chose not to write about, overall a very detailed and honest life and love story emerges. She was so lucky to have this wonderful man, who was so much more than just an athletic partner, for (what was then) half of her life.
   
   Because the love story is so beautiful and like a dream come true, the reader can really feel her deep grief and sorrow expressed at the beginning and end of the book. It's a terrible thing to lose the love of your life, the father of your child, the only person you've ever skated with for the past 13 years, when you're only 24 years old. This beautiful love story isn't diminished for me by knowing that Katya has since moved on with her life and found love again. She had a child with Ilya Kulik six years after Sergey died, and married him a year later; it's not like she jumped into his bed soon after this book was published! (And since Kulik is six years younger, he would have been a bit too young for her then anyway.) When you're widowed at such a young age, you should hardly be expected to be in mourning forever, and it may help the more current reader to not feel quite so sad at the end, knowing that this intense pain and sorrow isn't such an overpowering force in Katya's life anymore. And new husband or not, there's no denying that her first husband, her first love, was indeed the greatest love of her life.



4. I was in love with Katia Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov from the moment I first saw them skating together. Their classic routines were perfect enough to win many world championships including a 1988 Olympic gold medal in Calgary Canada.
   
   Romance eventually blossomed and the beautifully matched pair were married in April of 1991. Their daughter, Daria Sergeyevna Grinkova, was born in my favorite Morristown NJ a little over a year later.
   
   Reading Katia's memories of their life and love still brings tears to my eyes.
   
   I recommend this book for its portrait of pure innocence enframed in the magical world of ice skating.



5. Love this book! I always was fan of G&G and only discovered little bit more about their life now. It's amazing to find out, that there is actually love like this! I can only wish I could ever have even 1/3 of such level of love! Sorry for my mistakes, English is not my first language:)

5 comments about The Complete Book of Figure Skating.

1. I agree with previous reviews. This is an excellent book for both skaters and their parents. It not only provides detail information and graphics about each move and jump on ice, but also give a good advice on how important it is for off ice training and passion of the sport.



2. This is a much more visual book than Petkevich's, which has detailed verbal explanations that take a bit of effort to visualize. Unfortunately, some of the pictures in Shulman's book leave large gaps between frames, and it's hard to tell how to get from one position to the next.
   
   There are some editorial or proofing mistakes that really hurt the book. Figure skating spins and jumps are done in one direction (counterclockwise for most, clockwise for some) that the skater chooses early-on in their training. Shulman explains this, and the fact that her directions are for counterclockwise spinners and need to be reversed by clockwise spinners. Unfortunately the picture and directions for the one-footed spin are backwards, and describe a *clockwise* entry and spin when all the other spins are written for counter-clockwise skaters. This will be very confusing for a begining skater who has no coach of their own!
   
   In one or two other places a picture is reversed (mirror image), which again can be very confusing if you're trying to learn on your own and don't know that there's a mistake in the book.
   
   There is a good section on modern off-ice strength training, including periodization.
   
   Overall I'd recommend this book *in conjunction* with Petkevich's book: both have gaps that the other complements. And of course there's no substitute for a real coach!



3. I was disappointed in the book because I wanted it for a new young figure sakter, and I was anticipating more pictures -- this book is very technical and for older skaters.



4. It has information to all of the essential movements in figure skating, spins, jumps, footworks. It also has a lot of interesting and related stories to the movements such as Paul Wylie's spread eagle.
   
   A great book for a figure skater.



5. When they say complete they mean it. Having searched the internet for several technical terms I was often frustrated with the limited information. This book not only provides great on ice information but great 360-degree review for the avid skater.

5 comments about Speed on Skates: A Complete Technique, Training and Racing Guide for In-Line and Ice Skaters.

1. This is a great book for anyone involved in in-line or ice speedskating. Being a speedskater myself, I have had much success using the book. It is great for novice and elite skaters. The book offers a lot of information regarding techinique and training. I hope others have or will have as much success using this book as I have.

   A MUST-HAVE FOR ANY SPEEDSKATERS LIBRARY!!!




2. A must have. Loaded with information and great pictures. Also very technical training schedules for the serious skaters. Not too much for short trackers but still alot of useful skating information.



3. From the background I had during my competitive years in the sport of inline speedskating, I believe the book is a complete and technical guide to the basic terminology, strategy, and mechanics that are involved with speedskating; both on ice and inline skates. There is heavy usage on photographs to show you the correct way to skate to reach your potential but to achieve what is seen in the picture typically takes years of training with coaches to show you the ways to train your body to achieve the form and stride of an effecient inline skater.
   
   I also believe that some of the material is dated regarding the current face of the sport but the book is a staple in the sport and is a worthy look for outsiders and internally at the facets of the sport of inline and ice speedskating. For anyone interested in speedskating either on ice skates or inline skates, this book is the most comprehensive guide from a champion speedskater that covers most facets of the sport.



4. This book is thorugh and even those of us that are completely uneducated about athletics and how to improve in them can understand clearly what is written in this book. I was afraid it would be too technical but it caters to all levels of knowledge. I am very impressed. I plan to start impleting these practices very soon.



5. This book is like a personal trainer for inline (roller skating). I started reading this book in July 2006 and by August 2006 I was so much faster in inline skating. This is from someone who has never taken any lessons and started to skate on his own. I did the Northshore Inline (Duluth) half marathon later in Sept 2006 in 1 hour 6 mts (pretty impressive by my own standards). I keep referrring to it once in a while to keep up my training and speed.

5 comments about Ice Skating: Steps to Success (Steps to Success Activity Series).

1. 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.



2. If you're looking for a companion read to your lessons or solo forays onto the ice, this is a great start. The illustrations are easy to follow and the tips on how to troubleshoot and how to increase your proficiency are helpful. Ice skating is a difficult thing to learn through a book, but this is a great one to consult as you get your bearings.



3. This book is good for the beginner. A lot of basic and experienced informations are included. A new edition is expected.



4. 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.



5. 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 the one foot glide (and am getting better at it every day).
   
   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.

5 comments about Conditioning for Figure Skating: Off-Ice Techniques for On-Ice Performance.

1. I highly recommend this book. It details off-ice conditioning programs for singles, pairs, or dance and skaters of all ages and skill levels. Strength training, effective warm-up and cool down, plyometric, and other off-ice conditioning programs are detailed, as well as effectively improving your muscular and cardiovascular conditioning on ice. The only negative to this book is the photos and text explaining some of the moves - they could be a bit more descriptive.
   A great book from a very qualified author. These programs will yield great results on the ice if you put the time and effort in to conditioning.



2. A wealth of information that is hard to find elsewhere. After reading from cover to cover, I handed it over to my daughters coach and together we developed an off ice training regimen that suits her skill level and reflects her goals. Definite improvement in sucessful jumps completed noticed right away.
   
   I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is serious about ice skating.



3. This is a well writen book that explains different exercises that will be of benefit to figure skaters and athletes alike. It is more of an adult/young adult read. Overall, very informational.



4. This book was so good from the library I wanted my own copy so that I could dog ear the pages and make sure I stay on track to get my skating to the level it can be to be great!



5. My daughter has trained with Carl Poe and it is great to have his techniques available whenever she needs them.

5 comments about The Skating Rink.

1. Another amazing piece of work by Bolano, and unlike 2666 this one didn't take a month and leave behind feelings of despair that lasted almost as long, this can be read easily in one afternoon and will mostly disturb you for even less.
   
   Like many poets that write novels Bolano sentences and paragraphs can become small stories of their own, forcing the reader to revisit the lines a couple times before re-embarcing on the rest of read.
   
   The Skating Rink is interesting in the way it looks at corruption that becomes a scandal, the motives are often desperate and indicative of human failings, moral hazards that we are waist deep into before we feel the current that pulls us with no hope of return to normalcy. Even though we know that the situation is out of control and will not end well our irrational mind will convince us that we are OK.
   
   The "discovery" of Bolano with "The Savage Detectives" and the breakout 2666 published after his death is providing the means to translate more or Bolano's work, this is good news for readers every where.



2. He keeps amazing us with his talent. And burdening us with his now endless supply of new and forthcoming books from this deceased author.



3. If you feel compelled to read this book, be sure to make a list of the three narrators, and who they are--otherwise you'll have a difficult time remembering who is who.
   
   I have no idea how this writer could ever be compared to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who is a wonderful story teller and writes beautifully. I kept waiting for a climax, or explanation, or logical ending, but never received one. Perhaps it's cool to write without paragraphs or quotation marks, but unless the book is being read by the author, it makes for confusing reading.
   
   I plan on adding this to my growing list of least favorite books I have ever plodded through. Just so you know my taste, the first on my list is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.



4. I tried to read this three different times but gave up. I could not follow the characters. The plot obscure and devoid of cultural anchors. Who are these people? What is this grim existence?



5. I chose this book for our bookclub as it was well reviewed and fairly short. I was looking for something that was not too popular and yet would inspire coversation. This book is an interesting read. It did provide some good talking points but does not seem to leave too much to discuss. It seems one must read some of his longer books to truly see his genius. Although the end was a suprise It did not seem to fit with the rest of the book. It was if the story ran out of room or time.

5 comments about Mind Gym : An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence.

1. This book includes many of the basic mental concepts discussed in sports: staying positive, etc. Although there were some helpful tips, it was a task to sort through the excessive name dropping. As an athlete, I don't need to know the names of everyone the author has ever helped. I assume, since I am buying and reading the book, that I will at least somewhat trust what is being said and that I will be willing to try it myself. If you need the 150/224 pages of professional athlete anecdotes, then this book is for you. If, like most athletes, you don't have time to sit and read fluff, find another book.



2. I am an 1,90 and 120kg marathon runner. When I announced that I intend to run a marathon the reactions varied from amusement to worry that I will not survive. That might have been the case if I wouldn't have had THIS book. It made all the difference in the world. Maybe half of the training time was "mind gym".
   The result? Not only I have finished alive but I made quite a good time (3h44). This performance changed not my weight (I am still 120kg) but my self-image. I know now that the only limits are in my head. I changed. A lot. From the introvertit obese to the cocky, confident obese :) I fired my boss. Actually, the company fired him for mobbing. I got a fat settlement. I switched careers. I took one sabbatical year and focused on learning trading. Here, again, the "Mind gym" made a huge difference. I become profitable and then ... very profitable. I don't own a Porsche but I am free (of worries, schedules, bosses)
   
   If you intend to buy only one book for the next year: BUY THIS ONE !!



3. Pretty good book if you need some general motivation... The author knows the topic and gives some good examples, but doesn't really get into specific actions to help resolve issues. Also, alot of baseball and golf examples, I found it hard to relate it to the sports I am involved in. Tons of great quotes, etc to get you amped.



4. This book is tough to review because people have different expectations with sport psychology books. If you are looking for a neatly organized system of beliefs, principles, and exercises to begin applying to your game tomorrow this might not be the book for you. Maybe you should check out With Winning In Mind or 10-Minute Mental Toughness? With that said, I loved this book. Once you start it you might not be able to put it down. Its a motivational book that weaves sports psychology principles into stories to illustrate the importance of each principle. This book inspired me to write down an effective system of beliefs and checklists I can go through before a game. The important part is the system and beliefs are mine.



5. This book was recommended to me get over issues I had playing racquetball. I kept making mental mistakes and things got worse as the match progressed. This book has taught me how to stay focus and keep moving forward. My game has improved quite a bit and I have beaten players that I have never beaten before. When things go wrong I use the techniques in this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to take the next step. This is one of those books that you will read more than once and make notes of certain chapters.