Customer Reviews
Novice skaters only need this book - By: jeremy ellman, 26 May 2004 
As a novice ice skater I was looking for a book which would show me the basic steps. Most books try to cover everything, which is a mistake as people who are going to try a triple axel or whatever don't need to be told about the disadvantages of hire skates.
"Ice Skating: Steps to Success" covers basic techniques, their execution, common errors & how to correct them. It even includes drills to practice. There are detailed diagrams showing the moves, which is not unusual, but it also gives a step by step description of what is happening at each point, & where you should be putting your weight.
Part of its appeal is that it is co-written by a mature beginning skater, which explains its attention to detail.
If you are a beginner you do not need another book. Ignore the amazon special offers & just buy this one.
Truly like having your own coach!! - By: , 24 Feb 1999 Even though this was publishedin 1995-I hope they keep this on the printing press hotlist. This book is one of the most worthwhile books of it's genre. It's not just informative,explaining techniques(though it does that,too)It offers a highly structure program that can adjust according to your ability & proficiancy.It focus's on the basics that many skaters sorely need but lack nowdays. Amust have!
"A must have!" says SK8USA Webzine http://www.sk8usa.com - By: , 11 Feb 1997 Whether you're a beginner or intermediate skater, Karin Künzle Watson helps make the most of your time on the ice. Nine-time Swiss National Champion Karin Künzle Watson pairs up with adult skater Dr. Stephen J. DeArmond to give basic skaters a foundation from which to build. Watson, who began skating at age six, went on to become a world professional champion skater & now coaches skaters from around the world. She is one of the few individuals worldwide to have passed Gold-level testsin all disciplines of figure skating: singles, pairs, dance & Published by Human Kinetics as a part of their Steps to Success sports series, the book offers 50 training exercises & over 300 technical illustrations & renderings of some of the best places to skatein the country.
Each skating drill includes key points to remember when you're on the ice. Künzle teaches a series of
skating principles to control your posture, balance, degree of lean & rotation. These aren't just book techniques, but are the same principles she teaches her skaters. What's more, they work! The authors have even included hints on how to increase the difficulty or make the exercises a little less challenging for less "practiced" skaters.
The book celebrates the history of skating, plus offers useful information on sating posture, balance,
correct push & glide techniques, forward stops, forward & backward skating, crossovers, two foot
turns, mohawks, three turns, swingrolls & even more advanced edge moves.
If you're looking to jump & spin, this book is & isn't for you. It doesn't contain specifics on jumps
& spins, but face it, if you're three turn or mohawk isn't perfect going into a jump, then you need this
book to examine the reasons. Consider likewise, the myriad of young skaters who can do double jumps,
but hardly a clean crossover & you'll see why this is a "must have".
Tommy Mullins, Publisher SK8USA Webzine
Thorough and easy-to-understand how-to book for beginners. - By: , 23 Sep 1996 This book doesn't spend much timein my bookshelf! When I
considered learning to skate, I wanted to find a book that
focused on the real basics of figure skating. This book is
by far the best I have seen of that genre & I refer to it
after nearly every lesson or practice. The authors stick
to beginner moves & techniques only. You won't find any
spins or jumps here! After a brief discussion of the history
of ice skating & a good discussion of how to buy & fit
boots & blades, each principle & move is introduced both
in text & with sketches. The sketches, presumably of the
author, include itemized steps to performing the move and
lines & arrows to show the foot & body movement. The
writing is generally clear & detailed enough so that with
the corresponding diagram, a reader would know just what to
do. Of course, actually *doing* something like a three turn
won't always come right away! Certain fundamentals, like
balance, are referred to throughout the book to reinforce
their importance. Some good concepts are used, like the
"body box" for explaining balance. Each chapter ends with a
table of common problems & how to correct each one.
The descriptions & diagrams are not perfect, though. I
still can't quite see the different between crossovers and
advanced crossovers despite reading & re-reading those
sections. I'm sure an explanation & demonstration by my
instructor will clear it up.
As an adult skater, I'm anxious to develop skills quickly.
This book describes nearly every item on the ISI Alpha
through Delta lists. I'm convinced that this book, together
with lessons, will have me working on Freestyle I before
long!
