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ASK MR. EDGE
May 2004
Mr. Edge is a qualified skate technician with years and years of experience. He can answer your questions on boots, blades and foot problems related to your equipment. Questions will be answered in SKATING magazine and later posted on the web site.
Well skaters, it's that time again.
Those April showers have once again brought about the May flowers and along with it some nice warm weather. Soon it will become rather hot and humid, which, by the way, reminds me about heat moldable boots.
Warning: Come summertime, never leave your heat moldable boots in the car. The first time you step on the ice after the boots have been in the hot sun all day you'll wonder what happened to all the support they used to have. No need to fret though, the support will return once the boots have cooled down.
OK, enough for the reminder. It's once again time to answer all those questions, but first another reminder. Please remember to include your full and proper e-mail address when writing me. It's impossible for me to write back to you with an answer if I don't have your correct address.
Now as usual, it's time to answer some of your questions.
Q: I made a skating rink in my backyard this past winter and think the outdoor ice has rusted my new blades. I would now like to know how to remove the rust from the blades.
Chicago, Ill.
A: Well, before I get into removing the rust let me go over a couple of rules about caring for your blades.
Rule #1 — Never take a good pair of skates and use them on outdoor ice.
Rule #2 — Wipe your blades dry with a cloth towel after skating.
Rule #3 — Do not leave rubber guards on your blades if they are wet.
At any rate to remove the rust, take some oil and a scouring pad and rub gently until the rust comes off. Be aware that this will leave your edges dull so you'll need to have your blades sharpened. If the rust is only down the hollow of your blades, a sharpening will take it off. Good luck!
Q: The chrome plating seems to be peeling off the blades that I've had since last April. What can I do about it?
Charleston, W.V.
A: Well, although it probably looks pretty ugly, it's only a cosmetic problem. There is nothing you personally can do to make them look any better. I might suggest you contact the blade manufacturer and see what their warranty is. Most companies guarantee the plating for up to one year.
Q: I bought a new pair of boots and they seem to have a huge crease in them after only a few months. I can't tie them tight enough in the ankles anymore. Now what?
Washington, D.C.
A: Nothing a good shoe repair shop won't be able to fix! They need to be rebuilt. In other words, they need to have the support put back into them. The real problem is that you can no longer tie them tight enough around the ankles. This leads me to believe that they were too big to begin with (around the ankles that is). New boots that are supportive will always feel snug around the ankles at first. Watch out though, because once they break in the real truth comes to light. For your next pair of boots, you may want to consider a special makeup or full custom pair.
Q: My boots are giving me a problem, not only in the ankles but in the arches as well. Any suggestions?
Minneapolis, Minn.
A: The first thing to do is have the ankles punched out. Most pro shops will have a machine that will be able to do this quite easily. Secondly, your boots may be a bit narrow through the arch area. This will cause your foot to bind up through the instep and cause pain in your arches. When relieving the pressure off the side of your instep, the arch pain will more often than not go away. Again, the fact that you have flat feet and pain as well is a good indication that your boots may be too narrow through the instep area.
Mr. Edge and all related elements are property of Arena Sports & Consulting Services, Inc. ©2013. Send your questions to Mr. Edge via mail (Ask Mr. Edge, SKATING magazine, 20 First Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80906); FAX (719) 635-9548 or e-mail them online.
The opinions of Mr. Edge are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Figure Skating or SKATING magazine. Remember, if you have problems with your feet, check with a doctor – the problem may very well be with your boot, but it could be more serious. Check with your local pro shop for more information about boots and blades.
