Skate sharpening can often be one of the most overlooked aspects of our sport. In addition to potentially damaging expensive equipment, a poor sharpening can result in wasted training hours on the ice. With over 30 years of sharpening and repair experience at your service, you can always be certain that your equipment is in top notch condition.

Frequently asked questions:

• What is a “rocker”?

  • The rocker refers to the curvature from your drag toepick to the heel of your blade. Figure skate rockers will typically be either an 8 foot radius or a 7 foot radius. Hockey blades tend to be much flatter….anywhere from a 9 foot radius to a 13 foot and greater radius. The smaller the rocker radius, the less contact your blade has with the ice. While this increases the ease with which a blade can pivot on the ice, it also increases the amount the blade cuts into the ice. The area on a figure skate roughly between the drag toepick and the front stantion is a much smaller radius that varies depending on blade model. This secondary radius is what skaters will often refer to as “the sweet spot” for jumps and spins. During sharpening, it is imperative that one does not unintentionally alter the profile of the blade or change the rocker radius.

• What is my “hollow”?

  • When a blade is sharpened, it is done so against a convex grinding stone that imparts a “hollow” to the center of the blade creating the two edges on a blade. In the U.S. hollows are expressed as fractional inches, the most common being 1/2”. A deeper hollow will cut deeper into the ice providing the skater with more grip, while also increasing drag. A shallower hollow has less “bite”, but offers more glide.

• How often should I get my skates sharpened?

  • How often you get your skates sharpen really varies from skater to skater. Recreational skaters may get their skates sharpened every few months, while competitive skaters may get their skates sharpened every 20 hours on the ice. While it may be tempting to extend the time between sharpenings as much as possible, this comes with several drawbacks. As your blades dull through everyday skating, you will subconsciously adjust your skating technique to compensate. The next time you get your skates sharpened, you will have to re-adjust to the feel of the blades. If this constant change is occurring while a skater is learning new jumps, spins, or other elements, valuable ice and lesson time will be spent on getting used to the feel of the blades rather than on improving your skating skills.

• What factors affect how long a sharpening will last?

  • Several factors can affect how long a sharpening will last. Ice quality and condition as well as whether it is indoor or outdoor can impact how quickly your edges dull. Ice temperature will also affect how your blades feel. Colder ice is harder and blades will grip less. Wearing proper skate guards will help protect your blades, as will regularly wiping snow and water off your blades following skating and storing your blades in soft guards.