Figure Skating
Figure Skating
Figure skating is a sport in which skaters perform a series of set movements on an ice-skating rink. The movements are performed as part of a program set to music that lasts several minutes. A program can include spins, spirals, lifts, jumps, steps, turns, etc. Programs are performed by individual competitors or by pairs of competitors, and points are awarded by a panel of judges. Competitions are held at local and national levels, and also at the international level. International competitions such as the World Figure Skating Championships and figure skating events at the Winter Olympic Games are regulated by the International Skating Union (ISU).
Benefits
Better balance: Ice skating helps improve your balance through fun and positive exercise. Travelling across an incredibly slippery surface should quickly train you to stay on your feet.
Improves joint flexibility: If your leg joints creak every time you rise from your bed in the morning, ice skating could offer a real solution. With its emphasis on quick foot movements and strong knees, your leg joints will receive a great workout and hopefully feel more flexible in no time.
Builds leg muscles: Focusing on lower-body movement, ice skating offers great exercise for the leg muscles, building and toning them up over time.
Cardio: Aerobic exercise is an important aspect of cardiovascular health, and ice skating provides a great aerobic workout. The best part about skating is you get a great cardio workout without even knowing it.
Endurance: Ice skating requires energy over an extended period of time, making it a great way to build your endurance. The longer you skate, the more you’ll improve your endurance, not just for ice skating but for other sports and activities as well.
Weight management: If you are trying to lose or maintain your weight, ice skating is a good way to burn calories while having fun! Ice skating burns from 300–650 calories per hour, depending on how hard you skate.
Stress relief: Regular physical activity like ice skating can help combat the effects of stress. Ice skating is one of the most fun ways to exercise, especially if you skate outdoors where you can soak up the scenery and enjoy nature.
Improves joints: Through gliding and synchronized movement of the legs, the joints and muscles will get a great workout and will become flexible in no time. Skating is said to be more beneficial than cycling and running. Ice skating works almost every major muscle group in the body, including joints.
Mental fitness: The fresh air and sunshine in outdoor ice skating, as well as the company of family and friends, greatly help in unwinding from a long week of work and stress. Self confidence is definitely improved as well.
History
Ice skating has been a popular winter pastime for centuries, especially in northern and eastern Europe. Before the invention of modern ice-skating rinks, people skated on frozen lakes, rivers and ponds. Figure skating gradually developed from this long tradition of ice skating, along with other sports like speed skating and ice hockey. The first known account of figure skating is A Treatise on Skating (1772) by the English writer Robert Jones, in which he describes a very formal and rigid style of skating. A much freer and more expressive style was developed in the 1860’s by the American skater Jackson Haines, and it’s this style that forms the basis of modern figure skating. In the twentieth century figure skating became more popular and competitive as movements and programs became more spectacular and athletic. National championships became major sporting events, especially in North America, and televised broadcasts attracted many viewers. The growing popularity of figure skating as a form of entertainment was further boosted by new forms like “ice dancing” and “synchronized skating” that appealed to mass audiences. Modern figure skating is both a popular spectator sport and a highly-profitable part of the entertainment industry. Live shows such as Disney on Ice constantly tour the world, televised figure-skating shows attract millions of viewers, and the world’s top figure skaters can become highly-paid entertainers and celebrities. 토토사이트
