Notes about this Web Site

General Information

I maintain this site and write the journal and novel chapters as a hobby. I am not an elite skater or computer programer. However, I do my best to present accurate information about recreational skating. Although I test new additions to this site and check links regularly, please contact me if you find a mistake.

I have made every effort to keep the language in this web site inoffensive for young people and adults. Please keep in mind that this site contains information from an adult perspective. The skating novel and journal are not intended to be children's stories.

Skating Journal

The skating journal is updated at least once per week, usually by Friday evening. If I have a particularly busy week, a new entry may not appear until Saturday. Bookmark the Current Entries page to keep up to date with my latest rink adventures. If you are new to this web site, you might enjoy visiting the Journal Sampler, a selection of highlight entries in my skating journal.

The content of the skating journal and all of the other information in this web site is based on my personal experiences, opinions, and observations. The situations described in the journal entries are real. Of course, they are my perceptions and opinions of the circumstances. Someone else may interpret the same events differently. Since the journal was created to share both good and bad experiences honestly, all of the names of persons mentioned in the entries have been changed. I may also take the liberty of modifying indentifying characteristics and other details, which do not effect the outcome of the situations, to protect the privacy of these individuals. My intention has never been to hurt or offend any one. Unfortunately, skating is a frustrating sport as well as a rewarding one. I would not be offering an honest view if I did not share my negative experiences along with the positive ones. Remember, the journal is a personal "diary".

While I hope the journal motivates you to enjoy recreational skating, the entries are not intended to be a substitute for professional coaching, medical advice, etc. I am a doctor, but only a doctor of philosophy.

Hopefully fellow adult skaters will feel less alone in their frustrations by reading about mine. Please feel free to email me if an entry is meaningful to you.

Skating Novel

While I drew upon my personal knowledge of adult skating to write “Saving Grace”, it is a fictional story. Many of the surrounding events are purely fictional. I do not consider it my autobiography. Names of actual people and places (Peggy Fleming; Sacramento, California) have been included to establish historic and geographical context or are otherwise used fictiously. However, specific characters, places, business establishments, educational institutions, etc. are products of the author's imagination.

After starting this project about seven or eight years ago, I have almost completed Saving Grace. While I had hoped to complete the novel by 2005, but it remains unfinished. I still intend to write another chapter or two. However, the conclusion is a work in progress. Please email me if you would like to be on the notifications mailing list.

Cambridge Hills?

No, Cambridge Hills is not a real place. Don't bother looking for it in the road atlas, because it isn't there. Interestingly, neither is the town where I grew up! Lawrence and Martinsville, South Carolina are not real places either.

Glossary

The definitions provided in the technical glossary are offered in good faith for personal use. However, they are not necessarily official definitions. They are based on my understanding and experience as a recreational skater and fan of figure skating. For official definitions, please contact a figure skating organization in your country or locality. Keep in mind that terminology can vary depending on the country where you live. Coaches from various backgrounds may also utilize different terminology.

None of the technical information provided in the glossary (or anywhere else in this web site) is intended to be a substitute for quality coaching and physical fitness. Please consult your skating instructor before experimenting with any move.

For additional information, an excellent reference is widely available.
I recommend:
Sports Illustrated Figure Skating: Championship Techniques
by John Misha Petkevich
Sports Illustrated Winner's Circle Books; New York, 1989.

New! Updates

Please visit the New Updates page regularly to keep up with the new additions to the Figure Skating Journal web site. Since I update the journal itself every week, current entries will not be posted on the New Updates page.

Links

If you would like me to add your figure skating link to my Links Page, please email your URL, site title, and a brief (one line) description of your site. A reciprocal link is always appreciated. Contact me if your URL changes. I check links regularly and will delete any dead links. I will not accept sites containing nudity, obscene material, violence and other undesirable content.

Clipart

Much of the clipart on this site is original, meaning I created it myself (unless otherwise noted). Please do not borrow it without my permission. More clip art is coming as I continue to develop this site.

Photographs

All of the photography in this site is from the author's personal collection. If you want to use it (though I can't imagine why), please email me. I reserve the privilege to approve how the photograph is utilized.

Referencing Skatejournal.com

I created the content of this site. All of the writing is my original work. This includes the journal entries, novel, glossary, etc. You are welcome to use any of the information I have provided in this site as a reference. If you choose to utilize a direct quote, please reference my URL (www.skatejournal.com). I would appreciate if you would reference the exact page of my site where the quote actually appears (www.skatejournal.com/referenced_page.html) so your readers can refer to the original context. If you use "Figure Skating Journal" as as source of information, please provide a bibliographic reference to my site or specific page(s).

I also do not mind if you provide a link to my site as a frame within your web site.

If you are unsure about how you should reference my site, please email me.

Contact Me

Please contact me by email if you would like to provide feedback or comments. I love to hear from readers. If you must criticize, please keep your criticism constructive.

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The content of this site is copyright by "Kay" K. J. N., 1999 - 2007
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