All Time Favorite Figure Skaters

[Mister Obvious]

Although skating was born in Europe, figure skating as we know it today traces its origins directly back to an American: Jackson Haines. He was born in New York in 1840 and died in Finland in 1875 after catching pneumonia while traveling by sled from St. Petersburg to Stockholm.

Just before the Civil War, a skating craze (accompanied by a dancing craze) swept over America. It was during this time that Haines leapt into the limelight with his mastery of skating and dance. In 1863 and '64, he won the Championships of America (now known as the U.S. Figure Skating Champion­ships), but he continued to receive cool receptions from his countrymen.

His lack of popularity in America finally prompted him to go to Europe, where he was an immediate success. He was especially popular in Vienna, where he created what some called the "international style of figure skating." It was not until the turn of the century that this influence finally began to secure its place in the American figure skating community.

https://www.usfigureskating.org/history-figure-skating

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c...aines2.jpg

Haines was a trained ballet dancer. When he was a young man, he performed in skating exhibitions and on the variety stages. At this time, figure skating was performed in the "English Style", which was rigid and formal, unlike what is performed today. Haines's style was in complete contrast; he used his ballet background to create graceful programs, and introduced accompanying music, an innovation.

He also screwed his figure skates directly onto his boots, which added stability and allowed him to do more athletic leaps and jumps. The common practice of the time was to strap the blades onto the boot, but direct attachments of skates based on the designs of the accomplished skater and author, "Captain" Robert Jones had been manufactured in London as early as 1772.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Haines