The Passion to Skate: An Intimate View of Figure Skating

by Sandra Bezic, David Hayes

Katarina Witt, Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, Lu Chen - these are only some of the dynamic performers profiled in The Passion to Skate.
Now, for the first time, we can go behind the scenes with an insider for an in-depth look at the world of these skating superstars, from training to traveling, from performances to life off the ice.
Drawing on her experience as a world-renowned choreographer and former champion skater, Sandra Bezic describes the competitive and artistic strategies behind international gold-medal-winning performances. She outlines each of the critical steps in this process, from developing the sound...to the look...to the movement. Taking us backstage at Stars on Ice, one of North America's top touring shows, she describes the special challenges of translating skating onto film and TV screens. While vividly illustrating the drive, ambition, and passion necessary to succeed in the elite ranks of skating, Sandra reveals her many tricks of the trade with humor and clarity.

Genres: Figure Skating, Nonfiction, Sports

173 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[EuroHackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what it says on the tin: this is a love letter to figure skating, circa 1996. The author was an amateur competitive pairs skater who later became a renowned choreographer, both for competition and for professional shows, and takes us backstage, discussing everything from choreography to the quirks of the (old) judging system, to how professional ice shows are made. This is an exquisite presentation (large coffee table book with full color photo spreads) and beautiful words to go with it, touching on every aspect of the sport, both athletic and artistry.

There is also a very touching tribute to Sergei Grinkov near the end that brought tears to my eyes. It is obvious, even now, how very well-loved he was in the figure skating community.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A behind-the-scenes look at the world of figure skating, from the dream through the realization that there are many facets to a successful figure skating routine. Readers will explore the competitions, the sounds, movements, and the look that are all part of the program.

Backstage at Stars on Ice, readers get an intimate look at the process of putting together the show and explore the unique problems of translating figure skating to film and television.

Replete with photographs of some of the brightest stars of the figure skating world, readers gain an intimate insight into this fascinating sport.

Highly recommended.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly comprehensive history of Bezic's life in skating. It works better for readers who already have a pretty good knowledge of who she and the skaters she worked with were as it's more a behind the scenes look at what goes into the design of a performance, from costumes and choreography to location scouting and sets for TV specials, rather than a book about skating. There are a lot of pictures mixed throughout. I wish there had been more examples like the time lapse jumping photo, but that would probably turn it into a different kind of book.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it mostly for the photos & memories of watching all these skaters

[Martina Frammartino · Rating 4 out of 5]

La passione del pattinaggio, davvero. Le prime pagine sono dedicate alla sua carriera da pattinatrice e già quelle sono carine, anche se ha ottenuto buoni risultati ma nulla capace di farla notare dagli appassionati non canadesi.
E poi c’è la trasformazione in coreografa, con l’attenzione ai dettagli e il modo di osservare il mondo del pattinaggio, di prendervi parte, che cambia completamente. Fra gli esercizi da lei coreografati, di cui ho messo il link nel mio blog, ci sono Casablanca e il programma corto di Kurt Browning dei Mondiali del 1993, Singing in the Rain sempre di Browinig, i due programmi del 1988 di Brian Boitano, quello olimpico di Kristi Yamaguchi, quello dei Mondiali del 1984 di Barbara Underhill e Paul Martini, quello olimpico di Tara Lipinski e una parte della Carmen on Ice di Katarina Witt.
È facile, e pure normale, essere incantati da un bell’esercizio, ma cosa c’è dietro? La prima cosa a cui noi pensiamo sono le enormi capacità tecniche che deve avere l’atleta, ma anche il suo entusiasmo. Pensiamo al tempo, alla fatica, alla dedizione, ma tendiamo a trascurare cosa significhi costruire un programma vincente, forse perché è qualcosa davvero al di fuori della nostra esperienza. Sì, i programmi sono costruiti, studiati nei minimi dettagli, anche se quando vengono eseguiti bene sembra tutto fluido e naturale. Non si sarebbero potuti fare gesti diversi senza alterare l’esercizio, no? Eppure dietro c’è un lavoro minuzioso, il coreografo avrebbe potuto facilmente fare una scelta diversa. Se lo avesse fatto l’esercizio sarebbe stato altrettanto bello?
Libro affascinante, che aiuta a guardare il pattinaggio da un’altra angolazione e ad amarlo ancora di più. Complimenti, Sandra!
Il testo completo: http://sportlandiamartina.wordpress.c...…

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

written by skating choreographer sandra bezic, this book goes through all it takes to be a prof. skater, different olympians, their parters, and some of the skating tours. it requires dedication, skill, focus, creativity, balance, and, well...passion to skate.

[Surreysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

A professional autobiography and editorial. Naturally, there's lots of emphasis on the skaters Bezic has worked with, and on the Stars on Ice tour, but she also acknowledges particularly stunning performances from outside her "stable".

[Shakun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book from my 2nd figure coach.

Wanna do shalcaw ? learn from this book!