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Learn all about the fascinating world of figure skating history with Skate Guard Blog. Explore a treasure trove of articles on the history of figure skating, highlighting Olympic Medallists, World and National Champions and dazzling competitions, shows and tours. Written by former skater and judge Ryan Stevens, Skate Guard Blog also offers intriguing insights into the evolution of the sport over the decades. Delve into Stevens' five books for even more riveting stories and information about the history of everyone's favourite winter Olympic sport.

Under The Christmas Tree


Holiday gift-giving becomes a pricier spectacle with each passing year. Stockings are no longer stuffed with oranges and penny candy; they contain Amazon gift cards and NatureBox subscriptions. Barbara Ann Scott dolls have been replaced with iTunes cards. For many, less is not more.

In your last minute holiday shopping, you may be wondering what you get the skater that has everything? It's a question that people have been struggling with for decades. Today's blog is a little nostalgic collection of advertisements of the kinds of goodies skaters would hope to find under the Christmas tree in the fifties.

Photo courtesy "Skating World" magazine 

Photo courtesy "Skating World" magazine

Photo courtesy "Skating" magazine

Photo courtesy "Skating World" magazine

Photo courtesy "Skating" magazine

Photo courtesy "Skating" magazine

Photo courtesy "Skating World" magazine

Photo courtesy "Skating" magazine

What kinds of skating-themed gifts did find under the Christmas tree in your youth? Do any of these advertisements mean anything to you? If so, fire off an e-mail! I'd love to share some of your holiday skating stories in the next edition of Reader Mail.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on FacebookTwitterPinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.