How to Jump and Spin on In-Line Skates

Rating:
Summary: Good, but could be much better
Review: After skating with Pics for 4 years (and not knowing another single soul with them), I was first excited to really get into this book. When I first got it I tore through it, and haven't opened it since.

The book is okay, for beginners it a place to start. It certainly would build excitement as a beginner.

These are my complaints:
1) The printing and graphics/illustrations are pretty horrible. And all of the low resolution (quality)
2)There are no illustrations that take you through the moves in a clear and concise way. Photos of those doing the moves to SEE correct positions would help.
3) After a certain basic level, the explainations drop off to nada.
4)The explainations themselves are extremely hard to follow, unless you already know how to perform the move and have some background information. Where there was stuff I didn't know how to do and wanted to learn, I was very confused.

In general, this is a good start for those using Pics, and I'm glad that this sport is expanding so I won't have to skate so alone so much! I want something even better though. Where a skater can pick up the book, read the paragraph over and over and pick up something new each time about arm positions, leg positions, checking, balance, edges, etc.

Rating:
Summary: Stands alone in its class!!!
Review: Can an in-line skater duplicate the aerial grace of Kristi Yamaguchi, or the fluid moves of Brian Boitano when all there is to work with are eight plastic wheels?

Until recently the answer to that question would have been negative, but as Bob Dylan once wrote, "the times they are a changin'." Just as in-line skates revolutionized roller skating, it looks like history is about to repeat itself as a new generation of purpose-built in-line skates prepares to boost artistic roller skating into a higher, faster orbit. But even though these new skates, like the Pic Skate by Harmony Sports and the Triax skate at last have the potential to bring the Triple Lutz, Salchow, and perhaps someday even Quad Toe Loop to the hardwood floor, many traditional roller skaters still question whether true ice-style figure skating is really attainable.

"How to Jump and Spin on In-Line Skates", by Jo Ann Schneider Farris and Marion Curtis attempts to answer that question, as it bridges the technique-gap by translating ice moves into in-line moves.

As a professional ice skater, trainer and U.S. Figure Skating Association Gold Medalist, Schneider Farris not only has the credentials, but also plenty of enthusiasm to back up her claim that in-line figure skating has arrived. Salting the text periodically with phrases like, "you'll love this move," or "learning this move is fun and it enhances your creativity..." the author keeps the budding in-line figure skater interested, and more importantly--motivated.

While this book addresses various levels of skill by adding advanced techniques onto basic moves, it clearly isn't intended to be a pure training manual, though no doubt it will be used as such, since it's literally the only training and technique book available on in-line figure skating. The various subjects are delivered up in short vignette form instead of ponderous long chapters, and frequent sidebar discussions highlight the text. Techniques for sizing, skate selection, brief history and general interest blurbs show up frequently in the margins. "How to Jump and Spin on In-line Skates" is designed to motivate and encourage, while explaining in enough detail to satisfy even proficient figure skaters wishing to transition from ice to in-line.

While the book focuses primarily on the new generation of purpose-built in-line figure skates, Schneider Farris frequently points out that many moves can be accomplished with reasonable success even on sporting goods-store-quality recreational in-line skates. That means a big cash outlay isn't required before the reader can pick up enough technique to turn heads at the roller rink.

The difficulty in writing such a book is that in-line figure skating is a sport still in process; techniques and moves are being invented and refined even as in-line figure skates continue to be fine-tuned, honed and shaped to mimic the feel of ice skates. While the skates aren't quite there yet, this is the first time the sport has gotten this close, so at least now the tools are available, even when the ice isn't. A talented skater can now get incredibly close to his or her potential, even though riding eight little plastic wheels.

To sample things, I stepped into a pair of high-line Harmony Sports skates in order to get a feel for their performance. I was promptly amazed. Coming from a pair of recreational Bauers, I first noticed that the Pic Skates deliver a pronounced toe-low feel along with enough steering-twitch to hint at the potential for lightning jumps and spins. The disk-shaped urethane toe-pick--designed for launching into jumps--is somewhat easy to catch on the floor; in short, these skates feel eerily like an ice skate--even to a novice such as myself. And while my 45 year old frame wouldn't dream of playing Scott Hamilton in a succession of back-flips, it is easy to grasp a sense of the performance potential in these skates, at least if strapped to sufficiently talented feet.

Additional chapters written by contributor Marion Ennis-Curtis are also quite palatable; she explains complex moves with an economy of words while creating clear mental images. That's not surprising; Ennis-Curtis is herself a skating instructor and U.S.F.S.A. double silver medalist, as well as a credentialed schoolteacher. She has already racked up several years of giving instruction on a set of in-line figure skates.

The book is illustrated by Larisa Gendernalik, whose simple diagrams and whimsical images eliminate the need for those ugly numbered black and white diagrams with their confusing lines and arrows. That's another reason readers won't easily nod off, despite a distinct training tone to the book. And just when the technical descriptions seem too hard to decipher, Schneider Farris pops up with another humorous aside that allows the reader a moment for a welcome brain-reboot.

In-line figure skating is about to take off, and while no one is willing to venture a guess as to when, or even if it will make it to the Olympics, "How to Jump and Spin on In-line Skates" is clear evidence that this is a sport on the cusp, poised to make one grand entrance.

Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK HAS INCREASED MY LOVE OF SKATING!
Review: HOW TO JUMP AND SPIN ON IN-LINE SKATES, by Jo Ann Schneider Farris is THE BEST!

This book has made me LOVE SKATING more than ever!

Jo Ann's writing style is so enthusiastic and fun, and every section makes me want to put my skates on and experiment.

The drawings by Larisa Gendernalik are so neat too! I love the cute skating figures she has made and find myself trying to look like the photos.

I want to recommend this book to everyone who loves to skate. You'll have a blast reading the book and you'll find yourself wanting to get your skates on so you can try every move.

Again, HOW TO JUMP AND SPIN ON IN-LINE SKATES is the BEST!!!!

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Review: I am an ice skater who loves figure skating, and I have a tremendous urge to do all the moves I do on the ice on my in-line skates. And....Jo Ann Schneider Farris' book, HOW TO JUMP AND SPIN ON IN-LINE SKATES has made it possible for me to re-create ALL MOVES that are possible on the ice on my in-line skates! I am so happy!

What I can do is absolutely amazing! Flying camels! Sit spins! Double Salchows! Flip jumps! Spirals! Spread Eagles! The list goes on and on.

I would recommend this book highly to anyone who wishes to explore in-line figure skating!

Rating:
Summary: WHAT A GREAT BOOK!
Review: This book is so much fun!

I love to skate (ice and roller), and now, I'm able to in-line skate like I do on the ice and on traditional roller skates!

HOW TO JUMP AND SPIN ON IN-LINE SKATES has taught me what to do, and now, I skate all the time. I don't have to wait for a rink to open since I can skate anywhere!

What I like the best is that I can now do spins on in-line skates, which I thought was impossible. The writer explains in detail how to do moves, and when I follow the steps, I'm doing amazing things!

Jumping is so much fun too. I especially like the photos and drawings of the skaters in action.

Every day, I can't wait to get my skates on! I would recommend this book to everyone: advanced skaters and beginners!

Everyone should have a copy of this book!

Rating:
Summary: Great Instructional Carry Around Book in your skating bag!
Review: This BOOK IS THE BEST!

The writer writes in an entertaining style and gives the reader and skater a great review of what wonderful things can be done on an in-line skate.

I love skating more than ever now because this book inspired me!