Editor’s note: In each issue of SKATING magazine, one of the country’s top skate technicians will provide their expertise on skating boots, blades and related industry equipment.
Skate care 101 BY RICK STEPHENS You’ve purchased your own skates, now how do
you care for them? Here are a few tips: • When coming off the ice, carefully wipe off your
blades using your fingers. Try to remove as much snow as possible before putting your guards on. • Dry your blades. All steel will rust, even stain-
less steel, and if your blades get rusty the steel can become pitted and could cause you to lose an edge while skating. • Dry your boots. Leaving your boots wet or damp means they will take longer to dry between skating sessions. A damp boot will cause premature wear.
• Use soakers. Moving from a cold temperature
to a warmer temperature will cause condensation to form on the blades. Your soakers will protect the steel from air and moisture, and also keep the blades from contacting anything that might cause a nick. • Air-dry your skates or use a boot dryer. It is rec-
ommended to remove your skates from your bag so they can dry out. Leaving skates in the car or garage can cause multiple problems, from mold and mildew to condensation and rust on your blades. • Check your guards often to make sure they are
clean and free from grit or other objects that could damage your blades. Try using an old toothbrush to clean the inside of your guards. If you can’t get them clean or they have a hole, it is time to replace them. The same applies to your soakers. If they have a hole they are less effective in protecting your blades. If your blades do get rusty, have them sharpened as soon as possible. Removing the rust will stop it from spreading. If you keep your skates clean and dry, they will perform better and last longer.
Rick Stephens and his family are owners and
operators of Highland Ice Arena, a two-sheet rink with Pro Shop in Shoreline, Washington. He has more than 53 years of experience with boot fitting, blade mounting and sharpening. Rick also makes custom insoles for skates and has worked closely with Harlick (Phil Kuhn), Jackson Skates, SP-Teri and Riedell. When he’s not at the rink, Rick is riding his bicycle or skiing, and taking lots of photographs.
product spotlight:Ice Dynamics® Timing is everything, and the Ice Dynamics®
program aligns the off-ice training schedule with the on-ice competition season, helping skaters be in top shape for major competitions. Ice Dynamics® is a website that delivers a full year of off-ice training pro- grams right to your computer, tablet or smartphone. The programs are developed for, and used by, skaters across all disciplines, from beginner through elite international competitors. Skaters choose from four tracks based on their
experience: • Junior Competitive: lower-level competitors (three days/week)
• Synchro Competitive: for synchro teams (three days/week)
• Competitive: mid- and high-level competitors (four days/week)
• Elite: high- and elite-level competitors (five days/ week) Subscribers to the Ice Dynamics® training pro-
grams access a full year of challenging daily workouts and flexibility series accompanied by video demos of each exercise. Each video shows how to perform and ramp up the exercise as the skater becomes stronger or more flexible. Equipment options are given to make the workouts perfect for in the home or at the gym.
28 APRIL 2017 —
icedynamics.net
Editor’s note: In each issue of SKATING magazine, a skating equipment manufacturer will profile one of its products. This is not an endorsement from U.S. Figure Skating or SKATING magazine.
This is a great time to get started! See firsthand
how over the course of the year, training intensity in- creases as major competitions approach, then cycles through recovery and rebuilding phases between the major competitions. This month, we are releasing an updated version
of the website. Look for newly revised workouts for all tracks with all new video content. To learn more about the programs,
visit
www.icedynamics.net. Description provided by Kat Arbour
ask the expert
MICHA EL CUNNINGHAM
SKATE TECHNICIAN U. S. OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATING TEAM
Q: Is there any- thing I can do to make my skates less sticky after a sharpening? Candace, 15, Boston
A: What you refer to as “sticky” is probably the feeling of the sharpness back in your blades. What you can try is, while you have your skates on, scuff your blades back and forth on the rubber mat on the rink floor a couple of times or rub the blade edges across the plastic step plate at the ice entrance. That will, just slightly, dull that really sharp feeling to make them less sticky.
What you should also do is, the next time you have your skates sharpened, talk with your skate technician about softening that sharp edge for you, or making your radius of hollow a little shallower, or maybe both.
Ice Dynamics ®
Also, don’t wait until your skates are really dull to get them sharp- ened. Have them done on a regular basis before they really need it so the transition from dull to sharp isn’t so noticeable.
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