The Essential Figure Skater
This book was written by a trio consisting of an experienced coach, a competitor, and a  mental training  coach. Figure skating at its advanced level is a sport demanding nerves of steel, so mental training is regarded as a necessary ingredient for competitors. This book, however, is largely directed at beginners. There are wonderful pieces of advice, ranging from how to clean your skates to the complications of dealing with an outdoor pond, but the inclusion of a mental training component seems unnecessary and even confusing at this early stage. The how-to portion, with instructions for the various basic skills of skating, is quite good: edges, turns, stroking, spins, and fundamental jumps are all outlined with precision, though the illustrations are somewhat unattractive and not terribly helpful. There is a chapter for spectators, explaining how to distinguish between the various jumps, spins, and other moves in a typical program. Perhaps most useful of all is the thorough glossary. Recommended for all public libraries."Bonnie Collier, Yale Law Lib.Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.