Beginnings and Historical Development of Skating in Costa Rica (1885-2023)

Skating Career (1885-2015), Figure skating and artistic roller skating (1974-2023), Roller Hockey (1982-2013) and Ice Hockey (1996-2023)

Abstract

This article aims to reconstruct the historical development of racing skating, roller and ice hockey, and figure skating in Costa Rica. Emphasis will be placed on naming the main athletes of those disciplines, the main national and international competitions, practice venues and state support. The study period begins in 1885 with the classes offered by Don José Barrantes in the capital and concludes in 2023 with the founding of the Costa Rican Hockey League (CRHL). To achieve the previous goal, the necessary information will be obtained from newspapers such as La Prensa Libre, El Heraldo de Costa Rica and La República and from journalistic articles on the Internet. Racing skating is in the process of massification and expansion in order not only to raise the level of competition, but also to offer safe and recreational spaces to improve the quality of life in Costa Rica. Regarding roller hockey, it is known that it is from the 21st century onwards that it begins to achieve notable victories at the international level. In the promotion of figure skating and ice hockey, the support of the Castillo Country Club stands out. The help from FEDEPAT for the first discipline was insufficient. With respect to ice hockey, the support that the Castillo Country Club provides is only among its members, making it a discipline with limited and exclusive access.