History Early history of ice skating thumb|Skating fun by 17th century Dutch painter Hendrick Avercamp|200x200pxResearch suggests that the earliest ice skating happened in southern Finland more than 4,000 years ago. This was done to save energy during winter journeys. True skating emerged when a steel blade with sharpened edges was used. Skates now cut into the ice instead of gliding on top of it. The Dutch added edges to ice skates in the 13th or 14th century. These ice skates were made of steel, with sharpened edges on the bottom to aid movement.
History Early history of ice skating thumb|Skating fun by 17th century Dutch painter Hendrick Avercamp|200x200pxR.esearch suggests that the earliest ice skating happened in southern Finland more than 4,000 years ago This was done to save energy during winter journeys True skating emerged when a steel blade with sharpened edges was used. Skates now cut into the ice instead of gliding on top of it. The Dutch added edges to ice skates in the 13th or 14th century. These ice skates were made of steel, with sharpened edges on the bottom to. aid movement.