Blogger: Etta Wilson
Location: Books & Such Nashville Office
Weather: about 40 degrees
Like many of you I suspect, I’m wrapped up in the Winter Olympics. At a dinner party this past weekend, we had quite a discussion about what makes curling a sport, and is it a good idea for women skiers to use larger skis than men use.
Earlier this week I was thrilled watching Americans Charlie White and Meryl Davis and the beautiful Canadian pair Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir compete in ice dancing–my favorite competition.
During the event the commentator said that judges watched how close and symetrically a pair skates. Two humans skating precisely as one to the rhythm of music. The affection the skaters displayed for each other at the dance conclusions was freer and more obvious than I remembered. Hugs and kisses all around at the end of performances. It seemed so romantic! Such love on display! Such happiness after all the trials and efforts!
I wonder what skaters read, how they stay in touch with what’s happening outside the rink and what disciplines they use to keep their minds focused. Do they plug in iPods as they practice? You could do that as a soloist but pairs have to think about the other person as well as themselves. Sounds somewhat like marriage, doesn’t it?
Surely there have been romance novels about ice skaters, but I can’t remember any titles. How do authors balance the hours of laborious practice, the disagreements with coaches, the injuries, the missed activities with friends against the glorious achievement of a good skating performance and finding the perfect partner?
It’s sort of an anomaly to associate love with ice rather than heat. Ah, but true love melts us all, doesn’t it?
I loved watching Meryl and Charlie too. Did you see the clips of them as children together? That really makes me wonder about the ups and downs their relationship has surely had as they moved through adolescence and into adulthood. It is not uncommon for ice dance partners and pair skaters to be couples off the ice as well as on. Sometimes you have partners who are married to other people, even rivals. That must be hard to manage.
I have seen movies that show romance on the ice (especially the Cutting Edge series), but I’ve never seen a novel. I’d love to read it. I wish I could get my husband on the ice, but he’s afraid he might fall.
I can’t think of any novels about ice skaters, but even my husband loves the movie “Cutting Edge,” except he thinks the name is “Ice Castles.” Doesn’t matter. It’s still a great movie! Sue Harrison
Good thoughts! I only saw the Canadian dance and thought it was beautiful. I always wonder about any romantic attraction between the pairs, when they spend so much time together and obviously work so well together (on the ice, at least!). It would make a great story!
Ice Castles is a different movie. Not a love story as I recall, although has romantic elements.
Several years ago, Ekaterina Gordeeva wrote a memoir about being married to her skating partner. The book came out after his tragic death. Solo but not alone.
Well, there are obviously some authors among you who might imagine a wonderful romantic novel between ice skaters or perhaps a teen novel. BTW, what do you call those protectors skaters put on their skates as they come off the ice?
Etta
Is the Cutting Edge film available on video or DVD?
A super skating book for young readers is Noel Streatfeild’s
WHITE BOOTS
probably very dated by now but excellent about feelings and so forth.
Very English!
Thanks, Elizabeth. I knew there had to be one.