After two years in Lake Placid, New York, the Skate America event moved roughly 280 miles southwest to Rochester in 1983, hosted by the Genesee Figure Skating Club and the late skating patriarch F. Ritter Shumway. The mid-October event welcomed skaters from 16 nations, although noticeably absent was a Russian contingent, a late withdrawal from the event and one that likely cleared the path to an American sweep of gold medals in the four disciplines. The event provided more than one “Kodak moment” on the ice (the famed film and camera firm being headquartered in Rochester, of course).
Like its predecessor events, the pin issued for 1983 Skate America features the original event pictogram first introduced in 1981—pairs skaters gliding on an outside edge—but reinterpreted for this event in gold on a diagonal red, white, and blue enamel background. Tucked below the pictogram on the left is the event year and name: “83 Skate America.” Turned 90 degrees along the right-hand side of the pin is the location: “Rochester NY.” A small trademark symbol (“TM”) also appears in the lower right corner of the pin, signifying ownership by the U.S. Figure Skating Association (USFSA, or today called U.S. Figure Skating) of the event name “Skate America.”
Like its predecessor events, the pin issued for 1983 Skate America features the original event pictogram first introduced in 1981—pairs skaters gliding on an outside edge—but reinterpreted for this event …
Unlike most lapel pins issued for figure skating championships, the 1983 Skate America pin features a screwback and tap attachment rather than a more traditional-style pinback. This style is not popular with collectors because it is not garment friendly and the sharp prong of the screwback can still protrude through even a relatively thick jacket lapel or coat front. This type of pinback should be banished from use.
Measuring approximately 1-1/4″ x 1″ (3.2 cm x 2.5 cm), the pin is a high quality piece that marks one of the earliest Skate America events. Skate America would next be held in 1985 in St. Paul, Minnesota, skipping 1984 since the original plan was not to hold the event in Olympic years, a plan that was later abandoned.
The Curator of The Netropolitan would like to make special remembrance of Dale Mitch and Robert Quinn and Nancy Quinn, all collectors extraordinaire whom The Curator was fortunate enough to befriend while attending this event. Their encouragement, stories about pin collecting, and camaraderie over the years were a significant influence, which lives on through The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins.
Enjoy A Kodak Moment. 1983.
1983 Skate America Gallery
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