1981 and 1982 Skate America Pins: In the Beginning.

Last Updated on February 3, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum

Both Skate America events featured an almost identically designed pin

In October 1981, a new annual figure skating invitational—Skate America—was launched in North America and was contested in Lake Placid, New York. The event would be contested there again in 1982. And once in a while, figure skating pins made for different events end up looking similar, and for 1981 and 1982 Skate America, that was decidedly the case. The pins are nearly identical in design, with both versions incorporating the original event pictogram—pairs skaters in red and blue gliding on an outside edge—but one year also being available in an undated version. Read on for more about that.

Pins Gallery: 1981 and 1982 Skate America

The main difference between the pins, although subtle, comes in the treatment of “Skate America,” with the wording on the 1982 pin being smaller in size and in a different font. Both are in blue lettering on a gold background. See them in the following gallery and learn more in the details that follow.

The pair skater pictogram dominates the design of each pin, with “Skate America” tucked below and to the left. The event location and year appear along the right-hand edge, rotated 90 degrees, reading either “Lake Placid ’81” or “Lake Placid ’82.” Notice that it is the 1981 event that featured both a dated and undated pin. For both years, the pins are done in enamel on a gold-colored base metal. A red, white, and blue color palette harkens the once-bold patriotism of America.

There is some mystery surrounding the undated pin. In 1982, while attending Skate America, The Curator of The Netropolitan purchased the undated pin at a souvenir shop on Main Street, yet the dated version was sold at the arena. The undated pin may have been an early production made to commemorate the 1981 event and was simply leftover stock. If anyone has definitive information as to the mystery of the undated pin, please contact The Netropolitan.

Although Skate America officially arrived in 1981, it had roots going back to the 1979 Flaming Leaves International, which served as the official test event for the new Olympic Field House built for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. Out of that event was borne Skate America, but remember the 1979 event was not titled Skate America. After 1982, Skate America would move on from Lake Placid and not return to the Adirondack village until 2009.

Enjoy this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1981 and 1982 Skate America Pins: In the Beginning.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on January 2, 2020, was updated on February 5, 2022, and has been updated again with new and expanded information.

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