Often asked: Why Do Skates Have Sharp Blades?

Why are ice skates sharp?

Skates should always be sharp for whomever is using them. 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.

Do skates need to be sharp?

Skate blades need edges to be able to dig into the ice. New skates are not sharpened, so you will need to get them sharpened by a trained sharpener, and then re-sharpened every 15-20 hours of ice time – to keep them in tip top condition by removing knicks and deformaties in the metal edge.

Can you skate with 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.

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.

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.

Is it bad to skate on dull skates?

It’s really a personal preference. Basically, get them sharpened when they feel too dull for you, or you lose an edge on one side of the skate or you have nicks in the blade. As a rule of thumb, an average hockeyplayer will lose somewhere between 5 and 10 % of the skates edge per hour of skating.

Does Pond ice dull skates?

Does Pond Hockey Ruin Your Skates? The short answer is, it’s possible. Debris such as sand and twigs could become embedded in the ice, causing nicks in the skate blades. Also, the walk to the nearest pond hockey game could include sidewalks and parking lots, and without skate guards, blades will dull quickly.

Can you skate with brand new skates?

YES and YES. Brand new skates are never sharpened. DO NOT go on the ice with them. Brand new skates are also very stiff, and poorly form-fitted to your feet.

Does outdoor ice dull blades?

Outdoor ice can be very dirty or the dirt frozen into the surface makes the ice a strong abrasive. Blades which have been poorly sharpened often leave a weak or rolled edge that quickly breaks down leaving the skates dull. To protect your blades in your bag and while carrying them use SKATE GUARDS.

How often should you get skates sharpened?

The rule of thumb is to sharpen ice skates after every 15-20 hours of use. This is typical for athletes who play hockey or figure skate multiple times on a weekly basis.