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ASK MR. EDGE
January 2003
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.
Having a problem with your skates or boots? Can't find the answers? Well, Mr. Edge is here to answer all your questions. With many years of experience and a never-ending resource list, he can help you solve your boot, blade and foot problems.
It's that time again! The leaves are gone, the turkey eaten, snow on the ground, and best of all ... it's time for the U.S. Championships!
Hope everyone out there is enjoying themselves this season, or at least what's left of it.
I've had some interesting questions posed to me this past month, but that's for later. Right now I'd like to remind everyone not to forget to be sure and take off your rubber guards before stepping onto the ice. If not, then GOOD LUCK ... you'll need it!
On another note, one of you wonderful people (from Canada even!) e-mailed me about what might be good for sore, sore feet after a hard day's skating. Well, I have to say everyone probably has their own way of dealing with sore feet, but here's my favorite: Indulge yourself in your favorite music (my personal fave is jazz) and follow this up with a good bubble bath, topped off with a 15-minute foot massage. Enjoy!
Without further delay, let's get right to your questions for this month. Ready or not, here we go!
Our first question comes from none other than ... Chicago, Chicago, that wonderful town, or something like that ...
Q: I recently bought my first pair of freestyle skates and am having trouble breaking them in. Right now they keep rubbing at both the inside and outside ankle area. I've tried walking around the house in them and have skated an hour and a half every week for the past 10 weeks. However, I still do not feel any give in them. Do you have any advice on what I can do to break them in? What should I expect? How will I know when I have successfully broken them in? Chicago, Ill.
A: Sounds to me as if you've been sold a boot with too much support for the kind of skating you are doing. I would be willing to bet that you are also having trouble with your spins and jumps. You could expect that from a boot with far too much support built into it. If possible, I would try and return the boots and exchange them for a much softer pair. If the store refuses to take them back then try the following: Soak your boots, and I do mean soak them, in some sort of leather conditioner, e.g. Lexol or mink oil. This will help to soften up the leather, but it will take some time so don't expect it to happen overnight.
Q: My daughter has developed callouses on the bottom outside of her big toes. She does not participate in any other sports except figure skating and also takes dance once a week. Are her skates, which are about four months old, causing this? New Jersey<
A: Well, Dad, guess what? Maybe yes and maybe no! First, see that she is correctly putting on and lacing up her boots properly. To check this, be sure that she is unlacing the boot very loosely down to the tip of the toe. After placing her foot in the boot, be sure that she is tapping back into the heel of the skate. With her boot pointed upward, begin lacing the boot up starting from the bottom. Remember, do not place the foot flat down until finished lacing! She should feel some relief. If not, then her boots are too narrow for her and, yes, indeed the skates are the cause. If she is already doing this and having no problems, then it is probably caused from her everyday shoes or sandals, if that is what she wears.
Q: Every winter I do a lot of outdoor skating on our backyard pond. When I go to practice inside however, my blades seem very dull, even though I've just had them sharpened a couple of days before. What is my problem? Wisconsin
A: Well, lass, the last thing you want to do is to take a good pair of blades onto outdoor ice, especially a pond. Just stop and think of what you are skating on — all the dust and debris that has been blown onto the pond. Is it any wonder your blades get dull when you think of it that way? You might as well just walk along the sidewalk without any guards on. The best thing to do is wear a secondary pair of skates outside.
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.
