At the beginning of this winter, it is about to introduce to you a few historical notes on the skating.

It is impossible to truly trace the origin of the runner. Hailing from human ingenuity Nordic, the first runners were manufactured by using bone. Older people that deal with the winter weather set of bones in their feet to facilitate their movement. Some argue that the base would be 3000 years old, while others are more conservative. Let's see what the writer said of the Encyclopaedia of Sports, published by Oxford Publishing in 1961: "The Archaeology confirms the fact: it was found some years ago during dredging operations, off Makkau, skates felt that 2000 years old. They were jaw bones of animals. " Leave parts of northern Europe and make a leap in space and time.



Closer to home in Quebec, skating becomes a social activity from the mid-nineteenth century. In addition to practicing this physical activity on the ice surface of ponds, lakes and rivers, skating fans can be protected from the weather, because entrepreneurs manage "patinoirs" covered.

According to the work of the historian of the sport Donald Guay, the first skating rink was built in Quebec in 1856. A few years later, in 1859, built on the ice of the Montreal Skating Club. Both sites, however, seem to be ephemeral existences. In 1862, still in Montreal, we construct a true monument, the Victoria Skating Rink. This site two hundred eighty feet has a promenade that can accommodate more than 2000 spectators standing.

Beginning in the 1860's, there has been a real passion for skating. One of the most popular activities at the time is the masquerade. Several times a year, skaters disguise and run to the sound of music played by a band or a gang member. For the occasion, it is not unusual to reward skaters covering the most beautiful disguises. Other activities are also organized as skating with torches, fireworks, festivals ice. This festive atmosphere is salutary and several
"Patinoirs" are equipped to meet this demand amusements.

During this period clubs skaters are trained and are organized races on ice. A little later, in the late 1870's, contests skating fantasy are also presented and a Montrealer, Louis Rubenstein, won the championship of Canada from 1878 to 1889.

In a text published by the GRHAP, in the bulletin of November 1977, Monique Ferland-Juneau identifies, in the cities of Montreal, Quebec, Saint-Hyacinthe, Ottawa, Drummondville, Hull, Rivière-du-Loup, Saint John and Sorel More than 56 "patinoirs" with gables on the street in the heart of the second half of the nineteenth century. Leading figures commercial indoor ice rinks were built exclusively for skating. It was not until 1898, with the construction of the "Montreal Arena, located at the corner of St. Catherine and Wood in Westmount, as players and spectators have a real location for hockey .

The broad appeal of the population for the winter physical activities such as ice skating, speed racing, hockey and skating fantasy requires manufacturers of skates they improve their products. In the last quarter of the nineteenth century, they work hard to meet that request.