FAQ: How Sharp Are Ice Skates?

Can ice skates be too sharp?

While your skates can never be too sharp, they can certainly be too dull and that can take a whole lot of fun out of the game. For those skaters who do feel their skates are too sharp at times, we recommend reviewing our post on selecting an ROH. You should experiment with a slightly shallower radius.

Are skates sharp when you buy them?

Most stores sharpen new skates for free when you’ve bought them at the store. In sum, new pairs of skates do not come sharpened (unless request). The first skate sharpening after you buy them is also critical to their effectiveness on the ice. So, don’t rush out onto the ice with your new pair of skates.

Is the bottom of an ice skate sharp?

1) The bottom of your blade is not flat, but rather concave. (See blade cross-section figure) This creates a hollow which allows your skate to cut into the ice. If you’ve ever put on a pair of skates out of the box (they don’t come sharpened), you’ve learned this the hard way. No hollow = No bite = Sore butt.

How can you tell if ice skates are sharp?

You Can Do the Thumb Test to Check the Blades. This is the most common way of checking whether or not your ice skates require sharpening. You have to: Place your thumbnail on the blades. Slide them across gently without cutting your thumb.

Can you skate on Unsharpened skates?

No one should ever skate on dull or unsharpened blades. Your skating edge will help you turn and maneuver, as well as keep your balance. The second is that people with weak ankles cannot skate. Keep them sharp — but not too sharp: A sharp blade grabs the ice better than a dull one.

Do NHL players sharpen their skates between periods?

Most players do not get their skates sharpened every period. In the NHL, players will have freshly sharpened skates for every game, but not in between periods. That is a ton of weight to wear for an entire game.

What happens if you don’t sharpen skates?

When Skates are Not Sharp The edges on the blade will ’round’ away from the hollow due to the weight your body places on them, and due to the friction that is generate with the ice. This ’rounded’ results int he skates not being able to bite into the ice as well as they could when they were first sharpened.

How can I sharpen my skates without a machine?

Use your flat file and begin at the toe or heel and move it across the blade in a diagonal motion. The file should always remain perpendicular to the blade when sharpening. Run the flat file across a blade in one direction 15 to 20 times and then repeat in the opposite direction. Do the same for the other skate.

Why are ice skates so sharp?

The reason is that you need the sharp edges to ensure that you can dig into the ice to get the “grip” you need to push off. Dull skates are much harder to skate on.

Why do hockey players sharpen their skates?

“I always liked my skates sharp.” The relationship between NHL players and their blades is a delicate one, as sensitive and vital as the interface between the blades and the ice itself. A hockey skate doesn’t have a single edge, like a knife. Most recreational players just want their skates sharpened.

How often do hockey players sharpen their skates?

A rule of thumb is for every 15 to 20 hours of ice time, but let’s go beyond the basics. The biggest factor is how often you skate, hence the rule of thumb based on ice time. It’s not unheard of for some players to sharpen their blades before every game, and others once or twice a year.

What should I sharpen my skates at?

You can get your skates sharpened anywhere from 1/8th of an inch to one inch. 1/8th would be the sharpest, and one inch would be the least sharp. The majority of pros use something with a shallower hollow, but preference does widely vary.