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ASK MR. EDGE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF


New products come and go: boots and blades for example. Competitions come and go, but sadly, skating injuries are here to stay.


It has been nearly 11 years since the first


“Ask Mr. Edge” article appeared in SKAT- ING magazine. At that time skating inju- ries were running rampant and very few had any clue as to why. What to do about all the injuries was the question, so a meeting of boot manufacturers was called to discuss the issues at hand. Te hope was that someone could produce a product that would reduce, or perhaps eliminate, skater injuries. During that meeting each manufacturer was asked for its input. If my memory serves me correctly, I was the first to speak. In de- fense of all those present I spoke my mind and reminded everyone that great strides al- ready had been taken and that all the boots at that time were very sound. Te problem, I surmised, was with the fitting, mounting, and blade sharpening. Despite further tech- nological advances in boot making, I still hold that thought. Since then, I’ve written numerous arti-


cles and answered many questions regard- ing specific injuries and what one can do to resolve them. Unfortunately, many of the good boot fitters and sharpeners have long since retired or passed on, forever keeping their secrets to themselves. Many “Ask Mr. Edge” readers have


gained a greater understanding of what to do for specific boot problems; still, others are repeating the same mistakes. Why do I suspect this to be true? Easy! I travel the na- tion to service skaters and see firsthand that things haven’t changed. In some areas it has become even worse. Bad fittings, mountings and sharpening still lead to skating injuries. So what can one do to limit the poten-


tial for injury? 32 JANUARY 2013


1. Make sure you seek out someone who is experienced with the many different boot brands and models so your feet don’t end up with bumps and calluses on them.


4. Make sure the soles and heels of your boots are properly leveled and sealed to pre- vent the blades from twisting or sinking into them over time.


2. Have your blades sharpened at least monthly.


5. If injured, give yourself a sufficient amount of time to heal. Te worst thing you can do is to come back too soon after an injury.


3. Make sure your blades are properly se- cured when they are mounted so the screws don’t fall out.


6. Do not overdo your off-ice training. Skaters who also participate in school sports that involve running and jumping should make sure that those shoes have a well-sup- ported arch.


Te list goes on, but these are the most


important things to remember. Till next time, have a great skate!


Mr. Edge


Mr. Edge is a qualified skate technician with years of expe- rience. He answers questions on boots, blades and foot prob- lems related to your equipment. Te opinions of Mr. Edge are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of U.S. Figure Skating or SKATING magazine. Remember, if you have problems with your feet, check with a doctor — the problem may well be with your boot, but it could be more serious. Check with your local pro shop for more information about boots and blades.


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