Skating on Ice, Back to the ’80s
Guest post by Ryan Stevens, Skate Guard Blog, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Rosalynn Sumners, 1984 Olympic silver medalist
and professional skater
In the ’80s, smart phones, apps, and streaming services didn’t exist. You’d just turn on the TV, fiddle with the bunny ears, and watch whatever was on. Ninety-eight percent of American households had a television and it was on for over six hours a day. It was common for viewers to stumble upon figure skating while channel surfing and quickly become hooked. Who wouldn’t fall in love with the only sport that perfectly combined athleticism with artistry?
Television: The Catalyst for Figure Skating’s Popularity
Figure skating enjoyed a boom in popularity in the 1980s, largely thanks to its popularity with television audiences. Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s winning “Bolero” performance at the Sarajevo Olympics in 1984 wowed audiences around the world and led to a highly successful international tour. The 1988 Olympics in Calgary captured the public’s attention with The Battle of the Brians, a duel between American skater Brian Boitano and Canadian skater Brian Orser. At the same event, The Battle of the Carmens saw an East vs. West showdown between East Germany’s Katarina Witt and America’s Debi Thomas. They both chose the same music—Bizet’s “Carmen.” The latter event drew higher television ratings than the previous year’s Superbowl.
Celebrity Status and Cultural Influence
The top skaters of the decade became bona fide celebrities, appearing on cereal boxes, in commercials, and in print ads. Live events drew record audiences and tours like the Ice Capades and Walt Disney’s World on Ice were family-friendly favorites.
Figure skating influenced pop culture in many ways. The world’s top skaters released exercise and music albums and made cameos on sitcoms and game shows. There was even a slasher flick with a knife-yielding skater. The 1978 feel-good movie “Ice Castles” remained a popular rental at video stores.
1978 movie “Ice Castles”
The Decline in Popularity
Figure skating isn’t necessarily on people’s radar today the way it was in the ’80s. The reasons why are complicated and nuanced. Here’s the shortest answer I can give you as to why.
You’ve heard the names Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. After “the whack heard around the world” in 1994, the sport’s popularity exploded even more. Promoters, event organizers and television channels were eager to make a buck while the iron was hot. They went overboard, oversaturating the market and completely killing the professional figure skating circuit. Not long after, a judging scandal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City led to a complete overhaul of the judging system. Many in the sport felt the new system was more fair, but it was harder for general audiences to understand. Gone were the marks of 5.9 and 6.0 and the booing of the Russian judge.
Figure skating’s presence on television has waned in recent years, making it less accessible to older audiences. The sport has also failed to have a presence on streaming services like Netflix and Prime, which hasn’t helped draw in younger fans. While the sport still has a very large audience, it has become a niche sport the general public only warms up to every four years when the Olympics occur.
The cover of Sequins, Scandals & Salchows
Looking Back: Reliving the Glory Days
If you’re interested in looking back at those glory days of the sport in the ’80s, check out Ryan’s book Sequins, Scandals & Salchows: Figure Skating in the 1980s. It will be released on September 3, 2024, where books are sold. You can preorder before this date.
Did you ice skate? Did you compete? Share your thoughts with the rest of us!
Thanks to Ryan for this guest post and blessings to all,
Tami