1978 US Figure Skating Pin: City of (Faded) Roses.

Last Updated on November 17, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum

Event pin speaks to a simpler time in the sport, with a folksy feel

In early February, figure skating’s best traveled to the Pacific Northwest for the 1978 US Figure Skating Championships, held in Portland, Oregon, where a pin that has earned a certain distinction marked the event. All those years ago in the City of (Faded) Roses, you might say that the Memorial Coliseum, where the event was held, was the city’s original autonomous zone. But in contrast to more recent occupations to have taken place in Portland, that facility harbored a group of obedient and law-abiding inhabitants: figure skaters and followers of the sport.

Pin Gallery: 1978 US Figure Skating Championships

The 1978 Portland pin is a folksy souvenir of a time when figure skating was innocent and unaffected—when compulsory figures were revered, a well-executed double Axel was a thing of beauty, and skaters respected the sport and valued its tradition. The main logo design of the 1978 US Championships speaks to that simpler time. Such is the wholesome appeal of the design that it could have been created by a high school graphic arts class.

About that distinction mentioned earlier? The soft, uncoated silkscreen finish of the pin is perhaps the most delicate ever used for a major championship pin, and even the slightest mishandling will mar or scratch the surface. Now, more than 45 years after the event, it is unusual to find the pin in good condition and without at least some damage.

On a white background and above a large, central “78” designed in keyline style is a silhouette of a female figure skater. Notice the positioning of the skater is delightfully stilted and “off,” looking a bit more like a gymnast on a balance beam. The pin is on a gold-color base metal and features a decorative, rope-style edging. Above the year and to the left of the skater is the event location: “Portland, Oregon”; and tucked into the negative space of the numeral “7” is the event date: “Feb. 8-11.” Around the circumference of the pin, on a dark blue background, is the event name: “United States Figure Skating Championships.” Similar to other U.S. Championships pins of the time, this pin also is executed in a patriotic color palette of red, white, and blue.

Cheers to what Portland, Oregon, once was.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on December 26, 2020, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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