Ice skaters should always take extra caution when they are on the ice because their blades can easily cut through flesh and bone. Even with protective gear, skateblade cuts can still cause major injury if it strikes in the wrong area. An Essential Piece Of Equipment– This really is a must have machine for teams, families, and individuals that spend a lot of time on the ice and need to keep their blades sharp.

When your skates are correctly sharpened, you will notice a significant improvement in your skating performance. Sharpened skate blades allow you to glide effortlessly on the ice, making it easier to perform turns, stops, jumps, and other manoeuvres. Dull blades, on the other hand, can make it difficult to skate smoothly and can even lead to injuries. This means the next thing to do is buy some skate guards. There are two different types of skate guards, hard guards and soakers. Different Types Of Skate Guards Small Radius (Less Than 1/2”) – Suitable for lighter players who don’t dig into the ice as much Pros The cloth you use to dry your skates is also important. The best kind of cloth is a microfiber cloth or a Chamois car drying cloth. Be careful where you walk Since the abrasive cylinder is elastic and will conform to the blade using only LIGHT pressure, it fits itself to the ROH of the blade at hand.The blades used for speed skating are specially crafted from a metal alloy that is sharpened on both the leading and trailing edges. This sharpening allows them to cut through the air and reach higher speeds when skating. Profiling your skates means changing the shape of your blade to suit your skating style and needs. A skilled skate technician can customise your blade to suit your skating style. This process can help improve your skating performance even more and make your skating experience more enjoyable.

When it comes to Olympic ice skating, the blades on an athlete’s skates need to be as sharp as possible. This is because a sharper blade makes less noise while skating and it can cut through the ice more easily. It’s better to be prepared than sorry in case you accidentally end up going off someone else’s fingers with your skate blade. Ice Skate Blades Cut Flesh And Bone Most skaters get between 10-20 hours of ice time from each grind. This number also depends on your body weight, experience level and how sharp you prefer your blades to feel. In general, professionals recommend to get your skates sharpened every 4-8 hours of skating. This might sound crazy given that many figure skaters are on the ice for 4-10 hours a week.

Sharp edges create more glide as they float above the ice surface rather than sinking below it. This will help you get more speed and smoother adjustments while turning and stopping. Our skilled team of Blademaster-trained staff at Willies sharpen your blades to your preference and are on hand to advise if a change in hollow could improve your performance. You can find us at 52a Earlsdon Street, Coventry, CV5 6EJ.

Now, these measurements can vary and are different even within the figure skating world. Ice dancers tend to only have a 1/4 ” ROH.

Figure Skating Sharpening: Final Thoughts

But it’s also important to understand that the sharpness of your skates isn’t the only factor in your performance. Ice skaters should also ensure they have a proper fit and enough mobility in their boots, which will provide better protection from injuries and falls. Of course, how sharp you make them depends on your skating style and performance goals, so if you’re a beginner, it’s best to go for a duller skate; this will mean better control when turning and stopping.