Last Updated on November 26, 2022 by Netropolitan Museum

Figure Skating Pins Profile: 1987 World Junior Championships

By 1986, Kitchener-Waterloo, in Canada’s Ontario province, was an old pro hosting major figure skating events like the Canadian Figure Skating Championships and Skate Canada, having seen those events contested there in 1980 and 1982, respectively. The city welcomed another major event and the world’s best junior skaters to the 1987 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, held for the 1987 season in early December 1986, just a few days after the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. And taking a look at historical weather for the area, it was definitely cold outside with temperatures generally only in the high 20s and low 30s.

The pin made to commemorate the 1987 World Junior Championships has a warmth that perfectly contrasted with the frosty air experienced by those who attended the event. By and large, figure skating pins from the late 1970s to present are not particularly well conceived or clever in design, and although that also is the case with the 1987 World Juniors pin, the production value helps it to stand out from the rest. Events held in Canada are typically marked with good quality pins.

In true Canadian style, a red maple leaf immediately shows the viewer that the pin is from an event held in Canada.

In true Canadian style (and has been noted here at The Netropolitan on several occasions), a red maple leaf immediately shows the viewer that the pin is from an event held in Canada, which is particularly helpful if one did not know where Kitchener-Waterloo is on the world map. A skate boot and blade in white, enclosed in a circle, create the main design element, with the maple leaf displayed on the upper part of the boot. The background of the circle is done in a contrasting red and gray. On a silver-color base metal, the main body of the pin is filled with dark blue. The event year, name, and location are stacked below the logo: “1987 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, Kitchener Waterloo.” When the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo are written about in narrative, such as on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) website, they are hyphenated but note that the cities are not linked with that mark on the pin. Measuring approximately 7/8″ x 1-1/4″ (2.2 cm x 3.2 cm), the pin is reasonably heavy for its size.

Also in true Canadian style is a second, larger pin from the event that would have been made in limited number and given only to officials, competitors, and selected others. The design is identical to the main logo pin but is scaled differently, being a bit more wide proportionally than the logo pin. Measuring approximately 1-3/8″ x 1-7/8″ (3.5 cm x 4.8 cm), the larger pin is substantial in feel.

Enjoy this week’s figure skating pins blog: Baby, It’s Cold Outside. 1987.

Figure Skating Pins Gallery: 1987 World Junior Championships

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