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ASK MR. EDGE
May 2007
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.
The first question comes from Allison, who lives in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. Her daughter was born with bilateral talipes. (Talipes is any deformity of the foot involving the ankle joint.) Her condition has been corrected over the years, and now that she is skating she wants to know which boot offers the best support.
Answer: There are many forms of talipes. Before I can give a well-formulated answer, I have requested pictures of her feet in order to better recommend which boot might serve her best.
Generally speaking, however, a boot must be securely fitted around the entire foot for the best support. Keep in mind that the better fitting the boot, the less support you need to skate comfortably. When your foot is inside the boot, there should be little to no room along the lateral sides of the boot and your foot and ankle. The boot should be able to flex somewhat freely, without causing pain in the ankle joint. The ball of your foot should be flat in the boot and it should feel snug but not tight. In the case of bunions, use an ankle punch tool and mold out a small area to accommodate them. In some instances it may be necessary to add some sort of arch support or prescription orthotic device.
Nica from New York asks, “How important is it to have a custom sharpening, and what should one look for in such a sharpening?
Answer: With a good sharpening, expect the following:
- Even edges, so your angle of lean while skating is equal on each side, making it much easier to do any move requiring an inside or outside edge
- A smooth feel for the ice under your feet. You will not feel as if you are getting hung up in the ice.
- Better control of takeoffs and landings
- More speed with less effort, because your edges will be clean and crisp
The next question comes from Marcia, Enya, Amelia and Bernice in Madison, Wis. They asked if it is possible to lose your edge during a hockey game – something that happened to their friend. Their friend hit a wall and then kept falling. Her dad said it was because she hit the wall. “Should we believe him?” they ask.
Answer: Chances are that she did lose an edge. This happens quite a bit while playing hockey. Hockey players are constantly running into things or other players, causing them to lose an edge. Even professional players have this happen on occasion.
Of course, there is the possibility that she may have sustained a concussion. If this were the case, her coach should have been able to recognize this and would have taken her out of the game.
Have a great skate,
Mr. Edge
If I can be of service to anyone, I'll be at the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Spring Invitational in May. I'll be in Strongsville, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio, in early June.
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.
