1914 US Nationals Ladies: Teresa Weld Blanchard

The first and many time American Ladies champion from Boston. (1914, 1921-24) For 50 years, this woman held sway over skating in the US, and worked tirelessly to promote it. She orginated SKATING magazine, and the testing and competitive format of early American skating. The headquarters at 17? Tremont Street was ingrained in everyone's head. I even made an effort to visit it on a business trip to Boston in my later years. I believe the spot now is part of the City Center complex on Tremont.

Other ladies that should be remembered:
Beatrice Loughram (25-27), Suzanne Davis King (1934), Joan Tozzer (1938-41), Rosemary Beresford (1918), and, of course, Maribel Vinson Owen (1928-33 and 35-37)

USFSA headquarters was moved to Colorado Springs in the 1980's, in a somewhat controversial decision. The Hall of Fame Museum would be quite a better attraction if located in a more travelled city!!!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• figure
• skating
• 1914
• US
• Nationals
• Teresa
• Weld
• Blanchard
• Boston

[Chutson353]

Don't ever forget these pioneers - First American woman to win an Olympic medal in Figure Skating - I think its a shame we fail to honor ALL Olympic medal winners instead of just the gold medalists - surely Kwan and Janet Lynn deserve a nod at those recurrent "best of" ceremonies as much as Sarah Hughes.

[k9henrydog]

@Chutson353 Yes, that is absolutely a great point....best wishes

[tokyopiglet]

stylish dress she is wearing i like that

[k9henrydog]

Yes, but it still covers the knees!!! See the linked Charlotte Oeschlagel post!!  She shocked the world by showing her knees....!!! Scandelous!! best wishes

[ThePomiget1]

how can u jump with that drees on??????? ahah

[k9henrydog]

Not very high....fer sure.......best wishes

[ItsEmmalicious]

oh i know! just what when a 5 jump is the norm!

[k9henrydog]

And it continues to change.........I worry where the sport will be in 10 years.......the level of skill required is freakishly difficult......best wishes

[ItsEmmalicious]

skate has evolved so much! i cant belive salchows where unlady like! & i thought that axel was a flying camel i cant belive how much its changed!

[k9henrydog]

Yes, absolutely....not to mention the short skirts!!! The only jumps that were allowed were the little half jumps, and toe jumps we all learn as a beginning skaters these days!! Sonja Heine was quite a trailblazer, raising her skirt length, and adding salchows, lutzes and flips, singles mind you! maybe a double salchow eventually, but I think American Suzanne Davis King brought that to the sport! Those RACEY Americans!! always causing a 'hub-bubb'!!! best wishes