Newsgroups: rec.skate
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 11:49:30 -0500 
From: Thomas.Sullivan@cs.cmu.edu
Subject: Re: How to sharpen skates ??
	<1992Dec14.170939.24446@iscnvx.lmsc.lockheed.com>

Excerpts from netnews.rec.skate: 14-Dec-92 Re: How to sharpen skates ??
Thomas V. Ogata@iscnvx.l (1200)

> What I'm still
> looking for is information on radiusing (sp ?) skates, i.e. how much blade
> should touch the ice,  should hockey forwards have more or less radius than a
> defenseman,  do figure skates have the same radius as hockey skates ?  Are
> there any books on the subject ?  Is there any rhyme or reason to skate
> sharpening ?  I've noticed big differences before and after I had my skates
> reshaped and would like to know why (maybe they can be improved even more).

> Also, who makes skate sharpening machines ?  I'd like to write a few of them
> for information also.


> Tom Ogata
> togata@lmsc.lockheed.com

Well, I'm no expert, but I'll give you the hockey player's perspective (well,
ONE hockey player's perspective!).  

In general, forwards want less blade radius than defensemen as they
like less blade on the ice for quick turns, etc.  Defensemen like a bit more
for balance, and goalie's skate blades are almost flat like a speed skater
for even better balance.  

Of course, everyone has their own preferences when playing.  Some
players like their skates sharpened before every game, some every
couple games (or practices), some even between every period (if you
have access to such a thing, ie. the pros).  Personally, I get mine done
every 4 or 5 times I play.  If I had a budget to cover new blades and
the continued sharpening, I'd probably get 'em done more often than
that.  

Oft-times heavier people will want a bit less hollow in the blade than
lighter people, because their weight will cause them to cut into the surface
better.  Too much hollow will make their turns sluggish, and the chances
of them catching a groove or slight divot in the ice is much greater.  

As for the "radius" for figure skaters vs. hockey skaters, I think it might
not make much sense to compare.  (Chime in any time now figure-
skaters, I'm out of my element on this one!)  The blade on a figure skate
is shaped differently from a hockey skate, because of the moves and
things a figure skater must do.  Someone explained the figure skate blade
shape here a couple months ago, I found that very interesting, maybe
s/he would like to repost that.  I'm sure speed skaters have even a different
blade shape but my understanding is that it is primarily long and flat for
them.  Also, Tuuk makes a blade called a V2 blade for hockey which has
a thinner blade in the front 1/3 of the blade tapering to a normal width
blade in the rear 2/3 of the skate (V2 owners, did I get that right?).  I've
heard pros and cons for these blades.  Personally, as a defensemen they
don't sound too attractive to me, I'll stick with what I have.

Blade material matters as well.  My skates have a steel composite blade,
not as hard as stainless steel.  People I know with stainless steel blades
don't need them sharpened as often as mine do.  Next pair of skates I get
will have stainless blades.  There are also titanium composite blades which
are very hard.  I don't know much about those personally.

As for books, I don't know of any, but if you find any, please post them
to the net, I'm interested.  One book that talks a little about sharpening is
Laura Stamm's power skating book.

Hope this helps.

--Tom


Newsgroups: rec.skate