A figure skating fiction phenomemon! Originally published between 1998 and 2000, On the Edge, now in its second run, is the most popular figure skating serial in modern history. This coming of age melodrama sparked the imagination of a thousand figure skating fans.

Get figure skating fiction in small doses. Read these special selections from Private Ice's archive of figure skating short stories, humor, and poetry.

Graceful and stubborn. Powerful and arrogant. Destined for each other and for figure skating greatness. Will fate allow? Listen for the Whispers on the Ice.

Figure skating fiction's original soap opera, The Strong and The Sequined. Running continuously since 1997, The Strong and The Sequined is the first modern skatefic. Always outrageous, The Strong and the Sequined is so close to reality that even top US Figure Skating Association officials love it. Private Ice is proud to host the TSTS Archives.

Go behind the scenes with insider Sonia Bianchetti as she spins true tales of figure skating's powerful and autocratic leaders. Figure skating is neither pure nor glittering nor glamourousÑit's politics and intrigue, money and back room deals. In the wake of the 2002 Olympic figure skating judging scandal, Bianchetti puts the new, secretive, and complex judging system in historical context and outlines--with the clarity of vision that has made her a legend--what must be done to save figure skating.

Figure Skaters—Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, Jr.

Both Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, Jr., have a history as singles skaters, but in 2000 they joined together to become one of America's leading pair teams. Inoue placed fifth at the 1994 Junior Worlds. She represented Japan at the 1992 and 1994 Olympics. Baldwin was the 1987 U.S. novice champion and the 1991 national junior champion.

Inoue began skating at age 4. Doctors thought it might help her asthma. Before skating with Baldwin, she skated pairs for a few years with Tomoaki Koyama.

Baldwin comes from a family of skaters and was on the ice by his first birthday. He decided to try pairs after never finishing higher than ninth at the senior level at nationals.

Inoue and Baldwin stood on the podium at nationals in 2003 as bronze medalists. They won gold in 2004 but dropped to second in 2005. They placed in the top ten at the World Championships in both 2003 and 2004.

Inoue is 4'11" and Baldwin is 5'9". They are the first pair in the history of figure skating to complete the throw triple axel in competition (2006 Four Continents). Inoue received her U.S. citizenship in 2005, making the pair eligible to compete for the U.S. at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Jill Watson coached the team for more than four years. Inoue and Baldwin followed her to Arizona when she took a job there, but they later decided they wanted to return to California. They are now coached by Peter Oppegard. Watson and Oppegard were the bronze medalists in the pairs event at the 1987 World Championships.

Inoue and Baldwin are both college graduates. He has been in the wholesale car business for more than 10 years. She may pursue a medical degree in the near future. The two donated their fees for appearing in the 2004 Champions on Ice Tour to the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund.

—Beth Braccio Hering

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Figure Skating fiction, serials, stories, novels, humor, and poetry at Private Ice!

Figure Skaters—Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, Jr.