Different types of Ice skates
There has certainly been a rise in the popularity of ice sports, particularly during the winter season. The Olympics are only two years away. One thing that is easy to overlook in the excitement, funnily enough, is the ice skates themselves. People who are looking into getting into ice skating may find it a little overwhelming to purchase their own set of skates, especially since there are many different brands out there, did you know that there are different types of ice skates for different activities as well?
Ever since the invention of ice skates hundreds of years ago in Scandinavia, people have taken an interest in this fun way to travel on ice. Several different sports and recreational activities have been created using ice skates. The very first skates were found at the bottom of a lake in Scandinavia, and consisted of animal bones with holes drilled into them. This ancient pair of ices skates was pieced together and placed on the shoe using leather straps.
It wasn’t until nearly a hundred years later that the bones were replaced with a steel bar and steel platform and even later on before the entire skates would become one piece, instead of just strapped to the bottom of your existing shoes. Ice skates continue to evolve, making the wear and use lot easier and a hell of a lot more comfortable.
Figure skating is probably the most recognisable ice sport. The ice skates that are used for figure skating have a very high demand. They need to be light enough to manoeuvre around, but sturdy enough for all of the landings performed in the active sport. Skates used for beginner ice skaters are made with a vinyl boot, whilst professionals have custom fitted leather boots. All figures skates have hollow-ground blades with toe pics on the end that extend just beyond the back of the skate for certain moves.
Figure skates can run into the hundreds of pounds when custom made for the user. Recreational skates are very similar to figure skates, but not as well constructed since they do not need the flexibility or padding that professional skater’s need. Some children’s skates have a plastic band around the ankle to help keep their feet stable and can include double blades for better balance. Recreational skates can start for as little as £20 since they are not meant for competitions and wont endure a lot wear and tear such as that of a professional skate.
Speed skates are totally different than figure skates since they are made for forward momentum and speed rather than multi-
directional skating. The boots are made of leather or some other light material to allow the feet to bend in a natural running position for maximum speed and agility. The blades extend past the boot by sixteen or seventeen inches and are flat. A new invention for speed skates is called the “slap blade” which allows the blade to detach from the heel while moving, supposedly to increase forward momentum. These skates are made for racing and speed.
Another variation of ice skates are those used for hockey, since hockey players tend to spend more time in their skates than figure or speed skaters, their skates are made with extra padding and built more like a running or athletic shoe. The blades are about the same length as the boot and are curved in the front and back to allow for multi-direction skating and a quick turn around speed. They are made of hard materials like plastics to allow for the beating that they take from other player’s skates, sticks, and pucks. Unlike the other types of skates, hockey skates are built to last and take a lot of abuse.
Before purchasing your ice skates make sure that you know which type of skates is required for the activity that you want to participate in since there are so many reasons to have the correct ice skates. You also want to make sure that you get a proper fit, since an ill fitting skate can cause problems not only
Ice skates should fit like a good shoe, not too tight and not too loose, and should be comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Always take care of your ice skates, water proofing the leather from the ice, and keeping your laces from being worn will help ensure that you get the most out of your skates.
Figure skate blades need to be sharpened to maintain correct contact with the ice and avoid sliding. Blades are you’re only contact with the ice, so you want to know that they will be there when you land. Make sure to put hard guards on the blades when you are not on the ice to protect, not only the floors, but also the blades as they can be chipped and dulled quickly making them harder to use. Keep your skates free of damaging rust, something that you will never be able to repair, by wiping your ice skates off every time you get off the ice.
