Ice skating is a popular winter sport, as well as a mode of transportation, in a variety of northern countries. Seasonal rinks are often built in warmer climates as well, especially for the traditional winter holidays such as Christmas. Several Olympic sports are carried out on ice skates, including figure skating, speed skating, and hockey. Nations from all over the world field ice skating teams, thanks to indoor rinks which make ice skating possible year round.
Ice skating involves wearing specialized skating shoes, usually with a single blade, and skating around on an icy area, such as an ice rink or frozen body of water. Skate blades are also available sold separately for attachment to conventional shoes, although skaters should be careful to make sure that they have enough ankle support. Skilled ice skaters can execute complex jumps and other movements, while beginners often find themselves flat on the ice more frequently than they would like.
Crude ice skates suggesting that humans have been using blades to get around on ice for thousands of years. These early skates were made of bone, and designed to be tied to existing footwear with leather straps. Other early skates were made from wood and stone, tooled in a variety of ways for the best skating experience. In the 1600s, skates made from metal began to appear, with the idea of an ice skating shoe emerging in the 1800s.
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