1981 US Figure Skating Pins: Mission: San Diego.

Last Updated on June 9, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum

An historical mission, Snoopy, outstanding skating, and colorful lapel pins mark the event

February in Southern California, and particularly in San Diego, made for a very pleasant change of venue for a national figure skating championship. Winter garb could be left at home and instead daily temperatures in the low 70s could be enjoyed. It was an unusual climate for figure skating indeed, but once inside the San Diego Sports Arena, spectators were treated to a succession of outstanding skating performances in a post-Olympic year. And although the two pins made to commemorate the 1981 US Figure Skating Championships were not as outstanding as the skating, both are memorable, particularly the main logo pin that prominently features a local landmark.

Pins Gallery: 1981 US Figure Skating Championships

That landmark is the bell tower of the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá. On a gold-color base metal, the pin is filled with red, white, and blue enamels. Somewhat curiously, a skate blade is superimposed on the facade of the mission, creating an odd link between the event and the centuries-old church. Although it is questionable whether the marriage of the mission and skate blade is appropriate, the pin is a unique souvenir of a memorable event.

Blue and red banded areas along the right and bottom edges contain the event location, year, and name: “San Diego 1981 Nationals.” The pin was highly sought after and difficult to obtain in the mid to late 1980s when figure skating pin collecting and trading was at its zenith.

The second of the two the pins issued for the 1981 US Figure Skating Championships features the “Peanuts” character Snoopy, but it must be noted that Snoopy was not an official event mascot. The cutout-style pin instead should be thought of as an event tie-in. Like the logo pin, the Snoopy pin is executed on a gold-color base metal filled with red, white, and blue enamels. Snoopy glides along confidently atop a band that reads “San Diego ’81” with his colorful ski cap shielding his long, floppy ears from the cool ice rink air. The pin, in a word, is delightful. Who doesn’t love Snoopy? And who doesn’t love Snoopy showing off his figure skating prowess? The judges agree: 5.9 for technical merit and 6.0 for artistic impression.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on August 29, 2020, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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