Boots and Blades

Riedell calls the toe pick the rake; knowing where it sits against the ice is a basic skill.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · recall

Sharpening removes steel along the middle of the blade, leaving a hollow with an edge on each side.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · recall

A deeper hollow gives two precise edges; a flatter one leaves the edges less pronounced.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · recall

The blade radius sets how much blade is on the ice: more blade means more speed and less agility, less blade the opposite.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · recall

More blade on the ice means more speed and less agility; less blade on the ice turns more easily but runs slower.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · applied

Heel lift decides the clearance between the toe pick and the ice: a higher lift gives more, a lower lift less.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · recall

The first skates used animal bones as blades; today's blades are steel, or titanium bodies with steel runners.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · recall

Edge bite follows the depth of the groove: a very deep groove bites hardest, a shallow one least.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · applied

The first skates ran on animal bones; blades then became steel, and modern light blades join a titanium body to a steel runner.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101; Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · applied

C points at the teeth at the front of the blade, the toe pick or rake. The other marks point at the heel, the curved runner and the mounting plate.

Source: Riedell, Figure Skate Blades 101 · applied

Each brand sizes its skates its own way, so a trained fitter measures the feet and the skater tries the boots on.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · applied

The foot should rest flat with the toes just brushing the end, snug at heel, arch and ball, with room to move the toes.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · recall

Eyelets that close up mean the boot is too wide, too long or both; a wide gap means too narrow, too short or both.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · applied

Oversized skates do not support the foot and can cause discomfort and injury; buy a pair that fits for the season.

Source: Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · applied

Riedell allows at most 3/8 inch of extra length for children and 1/4 inch for adults.

Source: Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · recall

The boot should be snug, with firm arch support and the greatest support at the ankle, but loose enough at the top for a finger.

Source: Special Olympics Figure Skating Coaching Guide (2021), 1.4: Skates · recall

Thin hose grips the foot best inside a tight boot and gives better balance; thick socks are bulky and make the foot sweat.

Source: Special Olympics Figure Skating Coaching Guide (2021), 1.4: Socks · recall

Lacing starts at the toe with even tension; a couple of cross twists at the top eyelets hold the heel while the ankle can still bend.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · applied

The boots are heated, the foot set into the heel cup, the boot laced firmly and the skater stands about ten minutes before re-lacing.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · applied

In B the eyelets nearly meet, the sign of a boot too wide or too long. C's wide gap means too narrow; A and D lace with an even gap.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · applied

Break-in ends when the skate has moulded to the foot; it varies by skater, and more skating moulds the boot faster.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · recall

A tight spot can be pressed or stretched; going up a size to relieve it leaves the rest of the boot too big.

Source: Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · applied

Sets pair a boot with a blade matched to its skating level; advanced skaters often choose boot and blade separately.

Source: Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · recall

The firmest boots, rated 100, are meant for skaters doing triple and quad jumps; beginners need less support.

Source: Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · recall

Microfibre is lighter and needs less maintenance; leather moulds with heat and can be adjusted for trouble spots.

Source: Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · recall

The blade should run between the big toe and the second toe at the front and meet the middle of the heel at the back.

Source: Special Olympics Figure Skating Coaching Guide (2021), 1.4: Skates · recall

Riedell warns that laces that are too long are a tripping hazard; use the correct length.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · recall

Riedell rates support in four steps, light, medium, firm and extra firm, matched to the skater's level.

Source: Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · applied

Measure first, try on, let the dealer prepare and mould the boots, then skate them in until they form to the foot.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · applied

In A the heel rests in the heel cup and the toes just touch the front. B leaves a gap behind the heel, C squeezes the toes, D lifts the heel.

Source: Riedell, Fitting guide · applied

Rubber guards belong on the blades as little as possible, just for the walk from the ice to the bench.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · recall

Guards hold moisture, dirt and grit, so blades left in them rust and lose their edges.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · recall

Soakers are fabric covers, often terry cloth, that soak up moisture and keep blades from knocking into each other in the bag.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · recall

At home the soakers come off, the blades dry uncovered for a few hours, and the soakers are turned inside out to dry too.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · applied

Blades are dried thoroughly with a blade towel straight after skating, and again at home.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · recall

Air dry leather boots after every use; a good polish keeps outside moisture off them.

Source: Riedell, Ice skates FAQ · recall

Dirt and grit in the guards wear the edges; clean the guards from time to time with water and a narrow brush.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · recall

Dry the blades, use guards only for the short walk, travel in soakers, then let blades and soakers dry uncovered at home.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · applied

Steel and fabric both need air: first the bare blades, then the inside-out covers, which return to the blades once dry.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · applied

C wears a soaker, the soft cover for the trip home. A bare blade knocks against others, a hard guard traps moisture, a wet blade rusts.

Source: Fred Bartick (skate technician), blade care, iCoachSkating · applied