The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-13
.'SCUDS.

SClDS.
There is another legitimate province Of
English skating. namely 'scuds." These
are figures skated hand finland by two
or more skaters Nalstllg can hardly be
included under this heading, as it can
be done by a. very Indifferent performer
ana with little attention 10 the rules of
correct form. These ''ScudS' can be Skat-
cd in very many different ways. in all
of which the performers will have to
observe their form, and make their turns
partners TO grief The simplest form of
this ska ting is perhaps where two Skat-
crS each holding one hand of the other
at rms lenShth perform the same figure
a G for instance-the one follows in the
track of the other, the two skating in
tandem position rather t.lan as a pair
Then both hands may be held, right by
right. and left by left. a change of foot
being gained by what is termed a pass.
The turn completed by both and the fig
ure executed by both on the one foot,
the hands are gradually released. The
leading skater drawing the other in front
and past him. the hands are then Joined
again, and the figure is recommended.
There is also the Austrian method of
hand-in-hand skating. where the leading
skater places both hands behind his back
where they are held by the second sEat-
er.
But there is an infinite variety of scuds
and methods of doing them. One very
favoIite one IS the united rocker. Two
or more ska ters holding hands. either at
arm S length or crossing. start off with
three or four powerful strokes on The out
side edge. gradually forming a line one
behind the other as they progress. Then
all turn a rocker and a. pass is eXecut-
cd. so that the rear man OF the first ar
rangement becomes the first in the new:
then with the same number of strokes
S~;sy .ayJry 200 ss- in,
made by all. and SO on. The pace that
can be gained is enormous. ana sSated on
open ice the effect is pleasing. and it is
most eXhilarating for the skaters them
selves. Every skater in doing these scuds
must Keep his head, and be careful to
make no mistake himself. l Fave seen
eight skaters hand-in-hand doing a rock
ing scud. when one of the men in the
middle did counter turn, that is a turn
with the opposite rotation of the body to
that of the rocker; as a result all eight
were in 4 moment lying pell-mell on the
ice piled up on the top of one anoth-
er.
A CHAMPIONSHIP.
So far there has never been a figure
skating championship in England, but
the day cannot be far off wher such an
event shall take place. Many skaters. OBJ
ject to the idea of a championship compe-
tition, but there can be no objection to
one if the prize is ff1e bare honor OF win
ming At Davos Platz, in Switzerland.
there has been for the last eight years
a competition. Large turns to be done at a
centre, and combined figures form the
programme. so that all the skating is
necessarily OF the pure English type.
There is challenge bowl presented to. the
winner. who also receives small silver
shield recording the fact that he has
won. 1t has been found to work excel
lently well. and has done very much to-
wards encourag ing English skaters to
excel. Such a competition conducted on
the same lines and managed by compe-
tent Judges would be an acquisition In