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ASK MR. EDGE

March 2001

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. This month, Mr. Edge discusses some common issues, from skate sharpening to sealants.

Road trip! Yes indeed, skating fans. It's time for fun, relaxation, ocean breezes and parties.

Same old stuff. How boring! If you really want some excitement for spring break, you ought to join me up here in Alaska for some overland skiing. My buddy, A.P. Bear, and I, are really tearing up the terrain. As someone once said, "to boldly go where no one has gone before." Now, that's living.. I'm sure glad I've got my super sealant on the soles and heels of my boots. I wouldn't want any water damage done to them, else I might lose my blades.

By golly, that reminds me. I had a couple of questions come in last month inquiring about which is the best sealant to use on your boot bottoms. In my sometimes favored opinion, I personally like to use a specially blended polyurethane that is resistant to cracking, or shall I say about 99% assured of not cracking. Of the numerous pairs I've done over the last 10-12 years, you can count on one hand those that have cracked at some point, but never before the boots should have been replaced. Now that's reliability. I've heard rumors that varnishes, polyurethane and other resins will crack after a short period of time and that water seeps in and then becomes trapped inside, thus rotting your soles. I will agree that in the event a very hasty job has been done, water will get in through the cracks, but I have never seen one so bad that the soles have rotted through.

When using any type of polyurethane, it normally takes about a week to 10 days to coat the boots properly. The first three or four coats literally soak down through to the inner core of the leather, saturating it and thus sealing the pores in the leather. From that point on it just builds up through to the top and layers itself on the outside of the boot.

Now, it's party time! Sorry, I mean question and answer time. Must be spring fever setting in.

I have a problem with my skates. I have reached Freestyle 4 now, and am having a problem with my jumps. It looks like my toe picks can't grab the ice very well so my jumps are really bad. My coach told me to change the blade, but I don't know if this is necessary or not. Do I have to change my standard blade into something else? Jakarta, Ind.

Yes, my friend, you really do have to change your blades. As a matter of fact, you should have begun changing blades at the Freestyle 1 level. There are many brands of blades that would fit your skating level, not just the ones I mention here. You would do quite well with a Coronation Ace or Comet. The MK Professional and the Ultima Protege would also serve you well. Contact your local pro shop for further information about these and other blades.

When do you usually get blisters skating? Montreal, Canada

Very simply, you get blisters when your boots are not properly fitted to your feet or you are not lacing your boots up properly. Blisters can occur on the heels, ankles, arch area or even your toes.
Be sure that you are knocking back your heels in the boots when you put them on and be sure that you keep the toes pointed up while you lace them. This will help to lock in your foot so it won't move while you are skating. If your feet are able to move around in your boots, then chances are you will get some blistering -- it's only a question of where.

My skates don't have the proper seal on the bottom of my boots. Should I have them sealed with that shiny thick lacquer? Grand Rapids, Mich.

It depends on how much time you can afford to be off your skates, how well you want them sealed and how nice you want them to look. If you are in a hurry, there are some brand-name sealants available or a heel and sole enamel. However, keep in mind that neither of these will hold up as well as a lacquer or polyurethane, unless you coat them on a regular basis.

I was wondering ... when is the best time to start looking for a new blade? Springfield, Ill.

Most pro shops open around three or four in the afternoon. Try then! Only kidding! This really is a good question. As you are looking at the side of your blades, you will notice an area from front to back that has not been chrome-plated. This is called the edge relief line. Every time your blade is sharpened, a little bit more of this line is reduced. By the time you have around a 1/16th-1/32 inch remaining, you should begin thinking about buying new blades. However, some people will remain skating on their blades until there is no more edge relief line left to see.

Those who remain skating on such worn-out blades find it very difficult to rock up to their toe pick, center their spins, etc. You will be a much better skater if you change your blades on a regular as-needed basis. Continuing to skate on worn blades will result in a loss of hundreds of dollars in ice and private lesson time, because you will not be able to master whatever it is you are working on.

How often should my figure skates be sharpened? I skate six days per week. Geneva, Switzerland

How often your skates need to be sharpened depends upon:

a. How hard or soft is the ice you skate on
b. How many hours a week you skate
c. Are you also doing dance or edge classes?
d. How good your skate sharpener is (most important)

If you are skating 10 hours a week, just doing freestyle, with average ice conditions, and you have a very good skate sharpener, then you should have them sharpened about every six weeks. However, if the ice is very hard, 10 hours per week skating, good sharpener, then about every four weeks would be average. But, if you have an average skate sharpener, no matter how good, bad or indifferent the ice conditions are, you may be having to sharpen them every two to three weeks.

Well, so ends another issue of Ask Mr. Edge. As usual, I've enjoyed answer your questions once again. So please, keep those e-mails coming. Most importantly of all though ... 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.