Product Description
Provides a look at the skating careers of such performers as Dick Button, John Curry, Scott Hamilton, and Brian Boitano. ... Read more

Product Description
WHAT MAKES AN ATHLETE REACH BEYOND PAIN AND HEARTACHE FOR A SPORT?WHAT PRICE WILL HE PAY TO PURSUE DESTINY?GOLD! THE TODD ELDREDGE STORY IS THE EXCITING BIOGRAPHY OF CHAMPION SKATER TODD ELDREDGE, WHOSE DEDICATION THROUGH TRIUMPHS AND SORROWS WILL INSPIRE READERS TO NEVER GIVE UP ON A DREAM. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Awesome skater
Eldredge is a great skater.The previous reviewer had to be kidding.It took awhile to find a book about a male athlete?HUHN???!!!

todd is gold
MY SON HAD TO READ A BOOK ABOUT A MALE SPORTS STAR THAT HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT, WELL IT TOOK AWHILE TO FIND A MALE ATHLETE BUT MY SON LOVED THIS MOVING BOOK AND FOUND IT TO BE VERY INSPIRATIONAL AS WELL. ... Read more

Product Description
From finding a pair of rusty roller skates in a garage, Jayson Sutcliffe went on to become three times world champion in his sport, amassing twelve world top 3 rankings, overcoming trial and hardship, bias and abuse and the untimely death of his beloved brother.

After twenty years of suffering, Sutcliffe has chosen to tell of the childhood abuse that ultimately changed his life forever.In an effort to bring closure to what he describes as – ‘memories from hell’, the pain and suffering he endured throughout will shock all his readers in a revealing chapter of unbelievable events.In a world outside of the suffering, Jayson was the first artistic roller skater from Australia to win an individual medal at a Word Championship and went on to make history by becoming the first skater ever to win a world title on both roller and In line skates for figure skating. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A Champion in Life
Roller skating fans and competitors will enjoy and relate with much of Jason's financial and physical struggles as well as well as sacrifice of what most would call a normal life. However, maybe it wasn't so much of a sacrifice for him when he has such an addiction; his all consuming love of the sport to willingly let go of other desires for the time being.For readers who have no idea about roller sports, here is a story of someone who found his passion early in life, grabbed onto it with both hands and was lucky enough to have parents willing to scrape enough money together to let him try...and succeed.

But giving up a "normal life" does not protect Jayson from the hard knocks that taught and molded him into what he is; a person with depth and understanding of things many may never get to learn: here's what it takes to be a champion in a sport and in life.

Understanding achieved..............
An enlightening read - Jayson was an enigma to me, who, from a distance, has influenced my roller-skating daughter for quite some years in much the same way as Jayson talks of the respect, admiration, affection, and impact that many others have had in his life.

Jayson probably has little idea that he has been watched and emulated from afar for so long......

I wanted to know more..... to ensure Jayson is a worthy role model. Jayson writes in a down to earth, yet colourful style, clearly defining events, also his thoughts and opinions. The love within Jayson's immediate family and the extended family he has grown in the skating fraternity is clear.

I found myself touched and warmed by Jayson's honesty. There was much gratification in reading of someone else's experiences with sport officials and finding they were the same as mine (reitererated in 2006 movie "Stick It"). My hope is that Jayson's story will touch enough people to stir change that brings roller sports into the 21st century.

Good on you Jayson! Please carry on sharing your passion for people, skating, drama, design, flamboyance with all you can.

Skating Star Shares All!
Sutcliffe's story explores competitive roller skating at the highest levels. Well written and fun to read! Pick this up if you're a fan of roller sports or just want read about this renegade guy from the land of Oz.

Skating Legend!Fantastic read!
I promise you once you pick this book up you will not put it down!It tells a story of a wonderful man who has a passion for skating..a sport he loves and through courage and determination and what life has in his path he skates to the top!
Truly inspiring book for anyone who has a dream!

One of the most honest books you'll ever read.
Jayson gives an open, honest and heartwarming look into the up and downs that have been his personal and skating life. I found it inspiring. He gets back up every time he's knocked down and inspires courage to do the same. If you ever have been at a crossroads in life you will relate to his story. ... Read more

Product Description
This biography of Torvill and Dean tells the story of their relationship on and off the ice. Their Olympic triumph of 1984 is recounted along with the disappointment of their comeback attempt in 1994 when they won the bronze medal at Lillehammer. ... Read more

Product Description
Toller Cranston is: six-time Canadian figure-skating champion, celebrity, costume designer, artist extraordinaire, broadcaster, choreographer of skating routines, raconteur, bon vivant, coach, world traveller, art collector, legend, and enigma. In 1976 he won Olympic bronze (so why did it feel like defeat?). This book tells the story of his life after those fateful games at Innsbruck.

The rise and fall of Toller’s first professional ice show is described in soul-searing detail. His subsequent triumphant tour of Europe as the Skater of the Century is recounted, in contrast, with wicked humour. There are vignettes here of his encounters with the rich and famous from Leonard Bernstein to Pierre Cardin and of his life among Europe’s aristocrats and bohemians. Toller has experienced the high life and the low. He has stayed in the most luxurious hotels, held court in palatial houses, sought seclusion in beautiful estates. But the hard times have taken their toll.

In the early 1990s a combination of circumstances, including a disastrous professional association with out-of-control American skater Christopher Bowman and a lawsuit that dragged on for years (ending in complete victory for Toller), led to a personal crisis from which recovery came slowly. But even in the blackest hours, Toller’s humour and creative powers never deserted him.

This generously illustrated book is an extraordinary self-portrait written by a uniquely gifted individual. Toller’s wit, insight, and delicious way with words will entertain and astound readers whether they are skating fans or not. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Zero Tollerance
This book is both inspirational and insightful.It is a delight to read and the voice of Toller can be heard throughout.He is remarkably candid with his opinions

Zero Tolarence; and, not all remembered correctly.
I skated with Toller, as a principal, at Radio City Music Hall in the production of ICE, in New York City. I must admit that this book is extremely entertaining!! A must read for figure skaters and fans. But I was there! And though Toller said there was no closing night party, there was. Toller and I were there along with Peggy Flemming, Robin Cousins, and the rest of the cast. Plus, its producer: Bob Shipstad and choreographer: Sara Kawahara and pair skater, soon to become one of skatings most innovative producers and choreographers, Sandra Bezic.
But anything Toller writes is his interpretation, which is slightly different to what actually happened. Still, take it with a grain of salt -- and enjoy. I think Toller is one of the greatest skaters -- of any era. And perhaps the most esoteric skater of all time. I'll buy anything he writes and enjoy (if not agree)every word. His books are hilarious and witty.

Only readable for the mildly humorous writing style
What a disppointment! As other reviewers have stated, I too enjoyed Mr. Cranston's skating. I had read this in anticipation of his new book coming out, but now I will save my money.

There are some moderately interesting descriptions of skating tours in Japan and Central America. There are some vague descriptions of salacious or bizarre encounters with famous people. It should be a lot more interesting than it is. But Mr Cranston fails to make his era live for the reader, and he fails to offer any analysis of his decisions, making the book essentially pointless.Furthermore, any humor he achieves is ruined by two parallel themes: How great and Artistic Toller is, and how much he has Suffered. These themes were singularly unconvincing. ...

This is definately Toller!
An interesting look into the mind and life of Cranston.The figure skating world is shown, warts and all.Toller is definately THE most innovative and influential skater that has come along in this century.

Brilliant!
Toller Cranston is truly a complex and fascinating person, one of a kind both on the ice and off. I think it took great courage to write such an honest memoir.I had to force myself to put it down so I could savour itover the course of several days, when I really wanted to devour it all atonce. I'm sure he has much more to share, and I'm eagerly awaiting his nextbook! ... Read more

Product Description
Torvill and Dean, the world's most successful and popular skating couple, tell their own story, from their working-class childhoods in Nottingham to world stardom with their own multi-million dollar show of photos, many in color . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful Tale about a Wonderful Couple!
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean look and act the part on ice reminiscent to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on ice. But off the ice, they lead separate lives and married other people probably wisely. Jayne is married to American sound engineer, Phil Christensen who they met and fell in love on one of the ice tours in 1994. Chris' relationships with French Canadian skater, Isabelle Duchesnay ended in divorce. SHe and her brother were Chris' protege in the 1992 Winter Olympics and only won a disappointing Silver Medal. Jayne is a lot less controversial and likable. Anyway Chris divorced Isabelle and married American skater and US champion ladies' Jill Trenary. They are reportedly living in America with their two children. Torvill and Dean are no longer a skating couple but their legacy is quite unforgettable. When they won their first world ice dance championships conquering the Russians, they were awarded an M.B.E.(Member of the Order of the British Empire). Their coach Betty Callaway received one in 1984 as well. During 1984, they set records and an unforgettable four minutes on the ice dancing to Ravel's Bolero. They should have been elevated to an O.B.E. then but that didn't happen until 1999 after they retired from the sport. While other athletes have become dames and knights, Torvill and Dean returned one more time in 1994 to a disappointing Olympic Bronze medal. 1994 was probably a forgettable year in figure skating for those of us who learned that the beautiful sport is filled with jealousy, rivalry, and ugly hatred that makes the sport look as brutal as any other off the ice. Anyway, Torvill and Dean are not like that. They play by the rules even though between 1992 and 1994, the ice dancing rules became so restrictive from music to moves that it is any wonder that the great era of ice dancing was between 1984 and 1992. Since then, it has been a shadow of it's old glorious self. Of course, Dean and Torvill now coach and lives far apart. They were awarded the OBE way too late. Their legacy will not be forgotten. Jayne is a classy lady and quite forgiving compared to other skaters. It's nice that Dean is creative without losing his masculinity. God bless both Jayne and Chris and their futures. ... Read more

Product Description
The world's most successful and popular ice dancing couple shares their own story, from their working-class childhoods in Nottingham to world stardom, and talks frankly about the behind-the-scenes reality of their astounding career, revealing the conflicts and chaos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

For true fans
This book will be appreciated by true T&D addicts,although switching back and forth between their two voices made it seem mildly disjointed.Details of the unglamourous side of life on the road gave a realistic perspective.Not bad,but it somehow left me wanting more.A great deal of trivial details without alot of the substance such a book could have had.Fans will enjoy it,casual readers may not...

Finally, we find out what happened at the 1994 Olympics!
Thoroughly satisfying account of this famous ice-skating pair's beginnings and career, leading up to the 1994 Olympics and beyond.This book provides wonderfully intimate insights into how Chris and Jayne think and behave on and off the ice.Their fans will devour this long-overdue book, which answers many questions we have about Torvill and Dean:Were they ever romantically involved?What did they really think about winning the bronze medal at the 1994 Olympics?Will they retire in the near future?Newcomers to the iceskating world will learn the fascinating quirks and coincidences that paved the road to championship for this pair. ... Read more

Product Description
This candid autobiography reveals the incredible inner strength that brought "Rudy Galindo" through his worst hours -- despair over the deaths of loved ones and his painful struggle with drugs and alcohol. Unwilling to hide his roots, his mistakes, or his sexual orientation, "Rudy Galindo" brings readers a lesson in humanity, proving that anything is possible, if you never quit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great autobio of a great champion
Fans of Rudy Galindo and figure skating will enjoy this frank autobiography that leaves out nothing and gives a fascinating behind-the-scenes look into the fast-paced and sometimes heartless world of international skating. Rudy's working class family made major sacrifices to keep him in the sport, and the reader can't help but be moved. USFSA politics is exposed for what it is - they can and will scuttle a skater's career if s/he doesn't fit their "image" - and you'll shake your head yet again over the strange world of judging. Rudy tells it all, and the good news is that his career is far from over. Sequel, anyone?

Makes You Feel What He Is Feeling
Rudy Galindo's autobiography ICEBREAKER is wonderful. Rudy's honest and vivid descriptions of his feelings make the reader cry and cheer right along with him. This book is an inspiration to anyone who feels that he/sheis different. It is such an example of how anyone can reach his/her goalagainst all odds if they will work hard enough and never, never give up.Rudy Galindo is a true champion in every way -- not just on the ice -- andthis book shows that beautifully.

Here's one bio that's never on thin ice
I liked Galindo's sweetly naive depiction of himself as the "All-American kid," even if he does flirt with denial at times.After all, he grew up border-poor in a dysfunctional family with aself-destructive gay older brother (who was a terrible role model for gayRudy), and Latino when that was still a social burden.

But"Icebreaker" is very much a story of hard-won triumph, and Ireally got the sense that Rudy's positive attitude got him over the hurdlesand into the stardom he so richly deserves.(That, and loads of nativetalent:he was quite recently the best amateur male figure skater in theUSA, no. 3 in the world.)

Rudy is a professional skater now, and he hassome pointed opinions in this book about the perils of excessive juvenileskating competition for those who are willing to listen.Skatingenthusiasts will enjoy the extensive technical vocabulary in this book; Ijust held on and enjoyed the ride.A very good read about a very admirableyoung man who is a role model in several different ways.

Greg was better.
Something about this book just isn't very satisfying. When I saw the name Eric Marcus attatched to the book I was excited because I remembered that he helped Greg Louganis produce an excellent book. However, Rudy's bookleaves a lot to be desired. The sroty seemes to focus more on his skating.True, skating was a vital part of his life, but it seemes that's all thereis. This book would have been better if more time was spent on the eventsthat happened between competitions.

Rudy!Rudy!Rudy!
This warts-and-all autobiography traces figure-skater Galindo's life from early childhood to his turning pro.Not too long ago Rudy was the no. 1 male figure skater in the USA and no. 3 worldwide; the story of how hetriumphed over a dysfunctional, near-povery-level background is inspiringand uplifting.Although gay, Rudy perpetually casts himself as the"All-American" kid. Time and again the conservative skatingauthorities told him his costumes were a bit too flamboyant, his wrists tooslack to win the big-time points; to his credit Rudy ignored them and wonanyway.Though some may find it a bit too emotional,"Icebreaker" is a winner, and anyone who still thinks gays lackgrit would do well to check it out. ... Read more

Product Description
As the 1998 Winter Olympics approaches, two young American figure skating champions, Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan, prepare themselves for the ultimate showdown. Skating for the gold gives fans a closer look at these two highly-popular skaters--on and off the ice. Photos throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

An Ok Skating Book
I liked this book.It's about skating.This book really tells about skating for gold from 12 years old and on. It tells the challenges Michelle and Tara went through.I liked especially how Michelle started and the tricks she pulled on her father.This is a golden book.

Awesome
I personally thought this was a great book. It did have a lot of technical things, but there was a glossary as well. It had a lot of narration, but it also had some stuff in the skaters' eyes as well. There was just enough writing, but some pictures as well. There were featured chapters on each skater, but ones with them together. This book is a great buy if you want to find out about a competitive skater's life, or just find out about Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan's lives.

Not fiction nor fantasy, but a very helpful book.
I am a figure skater, I have been for 4 years now, and I am not reading this book, I am studying it.I think there is excellent advice and quotes that help me to realize why I skate, not to win, but have fun.Skating is as much physical as it is mental.I think this book really helps people to see the pressure skaters face before competing and how many people are depending on them to win.This book itself should take home the gold.

If You Like Both Tara and Michelle....
...as I do, this book would make a fair addition to your skating collection.The book was not bad -- it was an interesting read, but it didn't really tell me much that I didn't already know about both skaters.Tara and Michelle's individual autobiographies give you a far better look into their lives and their emotions throughout the especially eventful 1996-1997 skating season.The photos were good and it was a good overview of both skaters and their careers, but if you want the real story of these skaters as well, you should definitely pick up Triumph on Ice and Heart of a Champion to get the whole story.

A Gold Medal of Excellence for this Work
I was quite impressed with the deep metaphor used throughout the novel.The author used the metaphor of the ice skate to symbolize how we must shape the world for the better.Just as the blade of the skates skims across the cold and unaccepting ice of the rink, mankind must skim across the world, leaving a trail of happiness edged by cold hard steel.The zamboni that cleans off the ice, symbolizes negative forces that serves to erase all that we have created.Our dreams of gold and silver as shattered, just like Nancy Kerigan's knee years ago.I love the Olympics and I love how the author integrates these wonderful games into his work.The only problem with this book are the two main characters.The author has gone too far with these characters.They do not seem realistic.Sometimes authors can be too creative, this is apparant in the characters of Tara and Michelle.However, I recommend this book as a guide for everyday life. ... Read more

Product Description
Man of Speed

Part athlete, part rock star, Apolo Anton Ohno has won fans across the globe with his charisma, his movie-idol looks, and his edge-of-the-seat victories at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Going for the Gold: Apolo Anton Ohno tells the story of this skating hero, start to finish.

Here's what you'll find out about America's newestidol:

• What made Apolo fall in love with speed skating
• Why his troublemaking almost ended his Olympic dreams
• How Apolo turned his career around
• What Apolo has planned for the future

Customer Reviews (7)

Great for young readers...
This Avon book is for young readers. A fantastic way to introduce the biographical genre to 4th-6th grade reading levels. Well written, inspiring book, interesting subject, easy to follow.

the real star is steven bradbury
I have to say that the real star
is really steven bradbury. if one
saw the olympics in the 1000 meters
, he was the 1 that one. i dont think
i will buy this book. he came out on the
jay leno show and the conan obrian show
and he said absolutely "nothing" about
the sport if it was growing. one has to actually
check the websites to find information about
speedskating, and the history of the sport.

If you want some one positive in my view, Check
out Gold Medalist Derek Parra. He was enthusiastic
in his interviews. and trains at the utah olympic oval.

i dont recommend this book. for the most part speedskaters
stay hush hush about things. it is like they just want to
be the only ones doing it.
sooner or later, African Americans will dominate this sport.
it is just a matter of time.

It's OK...
My friend ordered this book, as we are both obsessed Apolo fans. I was a bit dissapointed. It was stuff I already knew, and the way it explained things, it made it seem as if it were aimed at people younger than I am. But it had great photos, and overall it wasn't too bad.

Not that great for die-hard Apolo fans . . .
I bought this book a few months ago, shortly after it was published, mostly because I was obsessed with Apolo.I was a bit disappointed with the author's interpretation of Apolo's life and events.He made Apolo's life sound too much like a story, and I didn't really like the kind of informal language he used.Plus, I could tell that the author didn't really get to know Apolo personally.There wasn't really anything in the book about Apolo that I didn't know.Someone could have very easily gotten all of the information from the internet, newspapers, and magazines.

There are some great pictures in there, though.But overall, I wouldn't really recommend the book for die-hard Apolo fans (fans who know pretty much every thing about him that has been released to the public), because it's mostly redundant.The book is more well-suited to younger fans, around elementary or middle school age, since the language used by the author can be annoying to older, better educated fans (in high school, college, or beyond).

Great Book
It's is a review of the story that his fans know well: however, it is a good book to read because it has a little bit of short track history as well as the biography on Apolo. It also has great pictures of Apolo. ... Read more