In the mid 1800s at a time when the accepted norm was to rigidly etch complex patterns into the ice American Jackson Haines began experimenting to adapt his dance training to his skating. The idea of a skater expressively usings his arms while moving freely over the ice to music - even spinning and jumping - got a decided cold shoulder. It was much too theatrical.

Frustrated, Haines left for Europe in 1864 where he became not only the first professional skater but also its first great star. His balletic skating style found success in London, Paris, and Stockholm, but he was absolutely idolized in Vienna. Among the many things he taught his legions of fans there was dancing on ice to their beloved waltzes.

Haines created many new skating moves including the sit spin and, because the strap-on skates of that day proved inadequate for his extraordinary needs, he invented a revolutionary new blade which was solidly affixed to the boot with screws and had a toe pick at the front to aid his jumping and spinning.

For 11 years Jackson Haines was an international celebrity criss-crossing the continent performing skating exhibitions to live music under outdoor ice conditions and with travel situations that we can’t imagine today. He died of pneumonia in 1875 in Finland due to traveling across Russia in a sleigh; his gravestone is marked “Americas Skating King.”

Long Live the King! The International Style of figure skating that Jackson Haines created is still very much alive today.