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Over-the-Boot Tights:In My Own Words, May 17, 2009
By kkrivers79

"Here are some interesting facts about over-the-boot tights in figure skating. Over-the-boot tights appeared in the sport in 1966 during the Ice Capades shows,the same time when Ice Follies and Holiday On Ice was in effect. The first skater to wear the tights was not Sonja Henie.It was pioneered by a petite skater named Anna Galmarini from Italy. Over-the-boot tights are worn to extend the leg line for short female skaters. The first over-the-boot tights were originally made from fishnet pantyhose that were cut by the bottom part of the foot,and then attached with hooks. Nowadays,the tights are attached with hooks with eyes,or Velcro fasteners. Some say that the tights keep the skater's feet warm and there is no need to paint the skates. Others say that the tights are very expensive,it could cause minor accidents,and they tend to rip. Some judges and coaches disapprove the look of over-the-boot tights in figure skating,and rather stick to the clean look of white skate boots. Over-the-boot tights come in 4 types of styles:Opaque-used in competition,fishnet-used in professional ice shows,spandex unitard-also used in professional ice shows,and see-through shimmery,which can be used both competively and professionally.Many famous skaters have donned this style,from Peggy Fleming,Linda Fratianne,Elaine Zayak,Kitty Carruthers,Tai Babilonia,Elizabeth Manley and Dorothy Hamill in the 80's to Kristi Yamaguchi,Nancy Kerrigan,Oksana Baiul,Nicole Bobek,and Caryn Kadavy in the 90's to today's skaters like Sasha Cohen,Irina Slutskaya,and Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes."

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