http://iowapublicradio.org/post/making-best-icy-winter
Check out this link to hear my interview on Iowa Public Radio.  Added my "spin" on the ice skating in Iowa, figure skating, coaching and information about how to get involved with the sport in Iowa.

The Ice Ridge is proud to support the sport of figure skating by providing a way for up and coming athletes to start on the road to the Olympics!
Check out our learn to skate programs! by clicking on this link.

Olympic History - Figure Skating

 Figure skating is the oldest
discipline in the Olympic Winter
Games. As far back as 1908, figure skating competitions were included in the Olympics in London, and in 1920 at the Antwerp Games.
Since the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, singles and pairs skating have been
a key fixture of the Olympic Games.

In 1976 ice dancing was included in the Olympic program; prior
to this (in 1972) it was the only part of the Olympics
as a demonstration sport. 

Today, figure skating is one of the most popular sports in the world.

 Figure Skating today

The Olympic Games program includes the
following figure skating competitions:
individual men’s and women’s events,
pairs events, ice dancing and also team
events. At the present time, only 5 sets of medals are contested
in the Olympic figure skating program.

 Single skating (Men and Ladies)
consists of a short program including 7 compulsory elements
and a free program. A well-balanced free program should include
jumps, spins, and steps.

 Likewise, mixed pairs skaters first perform a short
program (7 moves) and then a free program. Compulsory moves include
lifts, spirals, throws and synchronized jumps.

 One of the most significant criteria in the judging
of programs is the degree to which a pairs’ movements mirror
one another.

 Ice Dancing is the only discipline that allows the use 
of music with vocals. Dancers much adhere closely to the rhythm 
of the music and express the character of the music with appropriate 
emotion and feeling.

At present, ice dancing competitions, like those
of other forms of figure skating, consist of two programs. The
short program combines a compulsory dance—consisting of one
or two parts—and certain proscribed elements. The theme and rhythm
of the musical accompaniment is determined each season by the ISU
the sport’s governing body, while the length of this dance—currently

2 minutes and 50 seconds—is similar to requirements of other 
forms of figure skating. The free dance has not undergone significant 
changes over the years and the basis of its scoring remains, the
quality of the compulsory elements in close dancing positions,
the unison the skaters display and their ability to express the
character of the musical selection.


Team Events
in figure skating are a competition between the best national teams. Representatives of the singles and pairs skating perform a short and free program; in ice dancing they complete a short and free dance. Each team may have one sports pair and one dance pair, one male figure skater and one female figure skating.


Equipment
 

• Custom-made boots made of thick, stiff leather, with extra laces and 
  wide tongues, which provide the ankle with both flexibility and support
  usually made to the individual order for the skater.
   
• High strength carbon-steel blades with concave grooves along their entire
  
  length and teeth in the toe of the blade to allow for
  pushing off when executing certain types of jumps.
   
• A suit made of stretchable material that does not restrict the 
  skater’s range of movement. The outfit should correspond to the 
  character of the musical selection and reflect the theme of the 
  program.
   
• A standard skating rink is 30 by 60 meters 
  in size, with plastic or sliding boards. Figure skaters need ice 
  of the highest quality which is achieved using ice resurfacing 
  machines. The thickness of the ice over its entire surface should not vary 
  by more than 0.5 cm.