1986 Skate America Pins: The Maine Event.

Last Updated on July 13, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum

Annual invitational figure skating event commemorated with two lapel pins

For only the second time in its short history, Skate America was held in a state other than New York. Top competitors from around the world gathered in Portland, Maine, for 1986 Skate America—the first major figure skating competition to be held in the northernmost New England state. The event was commemorated with two lapel pins that continued use of the familiar logo.

Pins Gallery: 1986 Skate America

Building on the past, the 1986 Skate America pins feature the familiar red and blue pair team gliding effortlessly on an outside edge. It’s a memorable and clean logo, first seen at the 1981 event, that instantly identifies Skate America. In a reversal from the previous year, the logo was restored to the original configuration, where the pair skaters lean to the left. For the 1985 Skate America event, the skaters leaned to the right, somewhat ironic given the longstanding left-leaning politics of Minnesota.

Two pins from the 1986 event are featured in the gallery. The first is more a traditional design on a gold-colored base metal with red, white, and blue enamel fills. It is clean and crisp. Tucked into the lower left corner beside the skaters are the event year and name, in blue with a gold outline: “’86 Skate America.” Turned 90 degrees along the right side of the pin is the location, in gold: “Portland, ME.” A blue border frames the pin. The second, larger pin features a shiny gold finish that is almost mirror-like, something rarely seen in figure skating pins. The same general design is used for this pin, but the event year, name, and location are instead treated in blue.

Skate America would return to Maine in 1988, again marked with two different lapel pins—this time each more interesting than their predecessors.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on August 21, 2021, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

#figureskatingpins #pincollecting #pintrading #pincollector #netropolitanmuseum