What was ice skating like in the middle ages?

In the Middle Ages, ice skating was primarily a practical activity for transportation and hunting, rather than a recreational sport. People used simple skates made from wooden blocks or animal bones, which were strapped to their feet to glide over frozen rivers and lakes. The activity was common in northern Europe, especially in regions with harsh winters. While it was not as formalized as modern ice skating, it laid the groundwork for the development of the sport in later centuries.