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ASK MR. EDGE
May 2006
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.
When purchasing new boots, remember how important it is to get a good fit in the heel and ankle. Also, remember not to “over-boot” yourself. This will solve the problem of developing heel spurs, blistering and ankle bursas. Last month, if you remember, I was very long-winded in writing my article and didn't have enough time or space to answer questions. So, this month I've devoted more space to answering more of your questions.
Q. The tongue on my skate is sliding under the laces and is scrunching up near my toes. Needless to say, this hurts. I have tried using the hooks that are supposed to prevent this, but it hasn't worked.
Christina
A. Well, Christina, try this: 1. Loosen your laces down to the tips of your toes. 2. Pull the tongue forward. 3. Place your foot into the boot. 4. Kick back on the heel of your blade, forcing the heel of your foot into the back of the boot. 5. Keep the front of your boots pointed upward and begin lacing. Do not put your foot down flat until you have laced them all the way up. 6. If you have all-nylon laces, switch them out with the 50/50 blend. These will tie tighter and hold better. If this doesn't work, then your tongues are either worn out and need to be replaced, or your skates are too big for you through the instep area of your foot.
Q. I can't tie my skates tight enough around my ankles, and I have developed a deep crease at the ankle area. Will new and/or stronger boots help solve the problem?
Caitlin
A. What you need, Caitlin, is a better-fitting boot around the ankle and heel area. If you read my column last month, I explained in some detail the importance of a properly fitting and less-supportive boot. The deep creasing in the ankle area within a short period of time and lack of support are due to the fact that your boots are not fitting properly around your heel and ankle. The diameter of the boot is much larger that your heel and ankle and needs to be much more conforming to that particular area.
Q. How do I put my skates on and tie them before I get on the ice? I have to put them on when I'm on the ice because the floor in our rink can be damaged very easily by the skates. When I put on my skates on the ice, I always fall.
A. This is hard to believe! Are you sure that you're at the ice rink and not a roller rink? At any rate, assuming you are at the ice rink, invest in a pair of skateguards and put them on before walking across the floor and onto the ice. You could even put your skates on at home, and then you'll also be able to walk from the car into the rink.
Q. How do I tell what size skates I wear?
A. Same as your shoes. Have your feet measured and hope the person doing the measurements is correct. Remember skaters, moms and dads, there is no such thing as a stupid question. However, the way in which a question is written or asked sometimes can be a bit humorous.
Q. The bottom of my blade started to rust. I tried to clean it, but it stayed there. What should I do? Should I still skate on it?
Tiffani
A. My advice to Tiffani is: 1. Have your blades sharpened ASAP. This will remove the rust. 2. Be sure and keep your blades dry and store them in soakers. Do not store them in skateguards. 3. If you are using soakers, they are probably damp. If so, turn them inside out and place them in the dryer for 10-15 minutes. You could skate on them without having them sharpened, but as time goes on you'll start to feel as if you're going much slower and getting nowhere fast.
That's about all the space I have for this month's article. If anyone needs any help or advice, and you live in the Grand Rapids, Mich., area, I'll have a booth at the 2006 Grand Rapids Open in June. Till next time, happy skating.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.
