Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 March 2016 15:30
By Andy Ness
Whether you are a Mite or a high school player, a pair of skates is one of your most important pieces of equipment you can have. There are so many variables from sizes to sharpening to brands. I will try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that we get in hopes that you can better understand how a skate actually works.
I think one of the things we must first consider is understanding how a skate should fit. Many parents buying skates for their son or daughter just don’t really understand how a skate is sized. A general rule of thumb is that a skate fits two sizes smaller than your shoes. Being a skating instructor, I will be able to tell immediately if a skater’s skate is too big. If the skate is too big, it will not respond the way it should. As the foot moves, the skate should move with the foot. Plain and simple, the skate and foot act as one unit together. We do not want the foot slipping and sliding around in the skate. I know parents want to buy skates that the skater can “grow into,” but improper fitting is immediately putting the skater behind the 8-ball.
Next, we really need to look at lace pattern. As I have worked with many Mite teams this year, I have seen countless coaches having to retie skates. If you look at the photo below, you will see what a lace pattern should look like. The laces should be snuggly tied all the way up, almost mirroring the number 11. If you are a parent that cannot get your son or daughter’s skates tied tight enough, please have someone that can. Remember, these are not tennis shoes. The skater’s ankles need to have support and nothing makes more of an unstable ankle than loose skates. Also, make sure the skater’s laces are properly sized so the skater doesn’t trip on them.
Skate sharpening is something that is of utmost importance and a little bit harder to understand for new parents. Each skate blade is made up of an inside and outside edge. In the middle of the edges is the flat or hollow of the skate. This part of the skate is shaped like an upside down U. The deeper the hollow is, the more “bite” the skate will have. The shallower the hollow is, the more “glide” the skater will have.
Sharpening is really based on personal preference, but I can tell you that the more advanced the skater, the shallower the hollow. Even at a younger level, if a skater has a really deep hollow, it will be even harder to stop because the skate will “catch” more.
Most skate shops commonly sharpen skates at half-inch hollow. To understand this, one must understand the closer the hollow gets to 1 inch, the shallower the hollow gets. Generally I like younger skaters to get to a 5/8 inch hollow while older skaters get to a 3/4 inch hollow. I personally skate at a 1 inch hollow as it provides minimal amount of friction on the ice. Once a skater has very strong edges to begin with, he/she can go shallower on their hollow.
In the top photo, you will be able to see the “rocker” of the blade which is essentially the shape the blade takes from toe to heel. It’s amazing to see how little of the blade is actually in contact with the ice at any point in time. “Rockering,” “profiling” or “contouring” can be immediately done after purchasing a new pair of skates. This will give the blades their “shape” from toe to heel.
Finally, we should look at brand. Every brand usually has a few different models to choose from. Finding a skate with the proper fit and good stability is the key. It doesn’t always have to be the top-of-the-line model. Within each model, there are many different price points to look at. Generally as you go up in price, the skate is made with lighter and more durable material. It is really a matter of what works best for the individual. When shopping for skates, consider trying on a few different models so you have something to compare to.
Skates are an expensive investment so having as much knowledge about them will help aid in making the best decision. Good luck.
Andy Ness is the head skating and skill coach for the Minnesota Wild. He has also been an assistant skating instructor for the New Jersey Devils, the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.
