1983 Skate America Pin: Not Quite A Kodak Moment.

Last Updated on March 30, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum

Pin features a patriotic red, white, and blue design with a striking diagonal background pattern

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. The mid-October event welcomed skaters from 16 nations, although noticeably absent was a Russian contingent, a late withdrawal and one that likely cleared the path for 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), but that moment was not necessarily captured in the pin that commemorates 1983 Skate America.

Pin Gallery: 1983 Skate America

Like its predecessor events, the 1983 pin features the event pictogram that was first used in 1981—pairs skaters gliding on an outside edge—but reinterpreted for this event in gold on a patriotic 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 common-law ownership of the name “Skate America” by the U.S. Figure Skating Association (USFSA, or today called U.S. Figure Skating).

Unlike most 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.

The Curator of The Netropolitan would like to make special remembrance of Dale Mitch and Robert Quinn and Nancy Quinn, all three 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 this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1983 Skate America Pin: Not Quite A Kodak Moment.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on March 13, 2021, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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