The Father Of Artistic Figure Skating Is A New Yorker Who Lived During The 19th Century
by Dvora Meyers from Deadspin > Sports News Without Fear, Favor or Compromise on (#3G3GG)
Skating on ice dates all the way back to 3,000 BC. Or, anyway, the oldest pair of skates date back that far. The blades on these early skates are made of animal bones with holes bored through them; leather straps attached the skate to the foot.