Secrets of Skating - Hardcover

YA?A treat for anyone who follows figure skating. Sweet gives readers a close look at the philosophy and personality of an individual performer but introduces many other skaters. This account of the career of Oksana Baiul, a gold medalist in the 1994 Olympics at Lillehamer, is formatted in a design that is as sweeping, colorful, and risky as its subject's performance. Occasionally, the photos seem fuzzy and the text, on busy backgrounds, hard to read, but the presentation suits the dashing style of the narrative. It is rich in quotations and photographs of contemporary skating stars?Victor Petrenko, Michelle Kwan, Brian Boitano, Tara Lipinski, and others. The foreword is written by Dorothy Hamill. Within the glamour action shots and the flashy format are the details of Baiul's early life in Ukraine and insights into the rigors of Olympic competition. The author also conveys the flash, dash, and camaraderie of the professional life. In addition, there is a technical portion that defines and diagrams a variety of spins and jumps. This is a book that delivers.?Frances Reiher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.