When do you sharpen your skates

Losing an edge is when you step on something not friendly to skate blades and an entire section of the edge is flattened and impossible to skate on.

If you get them sharpened regularly and still dread that first session, talk to your skate tech about your experiences and ask about adjusting your hollow. With some feedback from the skater, we can customize that grip to your preference. No matter your hollow preference, all sharpenings should end with smooth, level edges, and a clean finish on the blade. The last thing to think about when getting your skates sharpened is if you have any special events coming up so that you can time your sharpening accordingly.

When you look at the calendar and see a competition, test session, or show that month, you should call for a sharpening appointment a bit of time in advance so you can have fresh edges for the event.

Some skaters need a week or so to re-adjust after having their skates done, others need less time or more. Show your skates some love this month and talk to us about making a plan so that your edges are always at their best.

The skate shop carries Riedell, Jackson, and Edea skates, as well as skating apparel and accessories. There is no magical sweet spot when it comes to sharpening your skates, but here are a couple of things to consider:. As a general guideline, The Hockey Fanatic suggests getting your skates sharpened after hours on the ice. If you remember from your elementary school math class, the radius of a circle is half its width. When it comes to skate sharpening, radius refers to the shape the grinding wheel takes out of skate blade that is brushed against it.

Think of a circle with a small radius and how that can cut into the end of a rectangle. When sharpening skates you will want to determine what radius size you need. This article discusses the effects of the Hollow and mentions:.

The larger the radius of the hollow, the less the edge will bite into the ice. Skate Sharpening: Radius of Hollow — Sparxhockey. Skate Sharpening Guide — bshockey. Ice in backyard or outdoor rinks can gather dirt quickly or have it frozen into the surface. This makes the ice abrasive and potentially dangerous. This dirt and debris will dull blades faster than when skating indoors. Outdoor ice is typically harder than indoor ice and can wear your blades down quicker. If you find yourself needing to sharpen your skates the service is available at most rink pro shops as well as sporting good stores.

While there are tools you can throw in your hockey bag to sharpen your skates, they are best used for a touchup and not as a longer-term solution. Beginner skaters may not need to sharpen their blades as often as those making a lot of stops and cuts. Of course, no matter the ice surface, always use skate guards to protect yourself and the blades.