ASK MR. EDGE
Summertime care tips for your skates
Spring is here and summer is right
around the corner, so it’s necessary to take some extra care when it comes to your boots and blades. Let’s start with the easy part — your
blades. T e temperature diff erence between the inside ice and the outside weather re- quires taking extra care when wiping off your blades. A cold blade brought out into the hot weather will develop condensation (tiny drops of water that form on a cold surface such as a window, or in this case, a blade, when warmer air comes into contact with it). If you don’t immediately wipe off your
blades a second and even third time, rust will develop. Carbon steel blades will devel- op condensation much quicker than stain- less steel blades. Leaving rubber blade guards on instead
of soakers after skating will cause black lines to form down the center of the blade hol- low; this, again, is from condensation build- up. Placing dry terry-cloth soakers on your blades after skating will reduce the risk of rust forming on your blades. Placing wet soakers on your skates will promote rust for- mation along the outside edges. Always be sure to carry a separate towel in your bag for wiping your blades down after skating. Do not use soakers to wipe your blades off .
Another problem skaters face is boot
and foot odor. Although everyone’s feet sweat, the amount secreted by the sweat glands varies for each individual. Add to this bacteria and dead skin cells, which also are released with sweat, and you’ve a recipe for stinky boots and feet. T ere are several things one can do
to help reduce or eliminate the odor from boots and feet: Wash feet daily with an antibacterial
soap. Scrub thoroughly using a soft brush to remove any dead skin cells. Completely dry feet after washing. Use
a hair dryer if necessary. Apply foot-specifi c antiperspirants or antibacterial gels to con- trol moisture and bacterial growth. Antifungal powder also can be applied to
help prevent athlete’s foot. Wear absorbent cotton socks rather
than nylon ones. Change socks daily, or twice a day, if necessary. Wear shoes that breathe, such as sandals or shoes made from mesh or canvas. Bacteria love to grow in warm, moist,
dark places so these types of shoes help pre- vent bacterial growth. At the end of the day, remove insoles
from skates and allow them to air out. A good drying time is 24 to 36 hours. Also, loosen the laces and pull the tongue forward to allow the inside of the boots to dry. Dryer sheets, such as Bounce, placed
inside the boots also will help eliminate odor.
If anyone has any other ideas about car-
ing for stinky boots, by all means, try them. What may work for one won’t necessarily work for another.
Mr. Edge
Mr. Edge is a qualifi ed skate technician with years of ex- perience. He answers questions on boots, blades and foot problems related to your equipment. T e opinions of Mr. Edge are his own and do not necessarily refl ect the opinions of U.S. Figure Skating or SKATING magazine. Remem- ber, 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.
34 MAY 2013
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