If you are engaged in figure skating or hockey, you should definitely know how to sharpen skates and what it is for. Do not enter the list of those who ride worn blades and completely abandoned the condition of their skates. So how do you sharpen skates?
Who can sharpen skates?
You recently purchased brand new skates for skating. Keep in mind: blades have a certain profile radius. Its features depend on a particular model. How wrong are those who think that the factory contours of the blade are well suited for almost everyone. On this occasion, we can say the following: the factory makes a good contour, but would you not want to bring the good to the ideal?
How to sharpen skates? Do I need to sharpen them at all, if they were just bought? There is only one answer. In the sports store you can buy skates for full training on the ice, but they are completely unprocessed. And one more thing: in no case do you need to listen to those who say that leather skates have a high-quality blade. This is nothing more than a myth.
How often do you need to sharpen your skates?
How often to sharpen skates? If, for example, you have training up to 4 times a week, then you need to sharpen it twice a week. Favorite question for beginners: "Why do you need to sharpen skates?" Below are 4 main reasons:
- ice skating man
begins to feel more confident and takes great pleasure, since gliding is much better; - the athlete controls balance and blade better;
- fast rotation and instant acceleration: in figure skating it is necessary for beautiful jumps and spins, in hockey - in order to catch the puck and prevent the opponent from scoring a goal;
- blade sharpening provides better glide.
Proper sharpening of skates
First you need to figure out what types of sharpening exist. There are two types of them: without a groove and with a groove.
Professional athletes never sharpen blades on their own, they entrust this work to the masters. They have special equipment, and they know their job well. After you get your skates back, pay attention to several factors.
Back to the groove again. Without him, there can be no question, he creates two ribs. Its absence increases the likelihood of the blade swinging to the sides during riding. In addition, the correct push will be difficult. Later, the groove is leveled, however, few can restore it correctly, we are talking, of course, about amateurs.
High quality blade doesn't need
in constant sharpening. Its quality is determined by hardness. If you have stepped onto the ice and during the jerk, your skates begin to slip, and when cornering breaks, this is a signal that they need to be sharpened.
Real professionals take all this into account, because they know that if the groove is too deep, the athlete will not be able to slide on one edge. It is bad when the groove is very small: a breakdown in the corners cannot be avoided either. Along the entire length of the blade, the depth of the ribs should be the same. However, there are several nuances. How to sharpen hockey skates? They should have a small gutter with a radius of 5 to 8 mm. There is also a noticeable difference in sharpening socks for attackers and players. Then how to sharpen figure skates? Sharpening curly differs in that the radius of the groove ranges from 11 to 15 mm.
As you can see, there is still a difference in sharpening skates for figure skating and hockey.
The most common mistakes made by lovers when sharpening skates
It is verified that there are such errors, and they are common.
- Return the skates with the wrong radius of the groove. The contour is also incorrect. Result: You cannot control the skates while skating, which will result in injury.
- In some sections of the blade, you can see the wrong removal of steel. Beginners or just amateurs at this stage sin most. They take too much steel off the heel or toe. Result: poor stability, the blade may overheat during sliding.
- The difference between the outside and inside of the blade. Result: a person during riding can lose his balance and fall, and again be injured.
The very first thing that experienced coaches and athletes will advise you to do is give the skates to sharpening to real masters. It doesn’t matter what kind of skates you have: from plastic or leather, the main thing is how the skates sharpen. After all, it depends on whether it will be possible to feel comfortable while riding.
How to sharpen skates? Is it worth trying to do it yourself? The person who does this has a special machine and all the necessary equipment. But do not personally do this and trust lovers. It is best if you seek the help of a true professional. In addition, at home it is very difficult and almost impossible to do.