Skate Sharpening

1. Why sharpen my skates?

• Improved performance: better grip, control, and glide on the ice
• Safety: Sharpe blades prevent slips and accidents
• Efficiency: Sharp blades require less effort, conserving energy during practices and games
• Longevity: Regular sharpenings help maintain the integrity of the skate blades, extending their lifespan
• Precision: Sharp blades enable precise movements and techniques, both for hockey and figure skaters.

2. How do I know it’s time to sharpen my blades?

• As a general guide, sharpen after every 10-20 hours on the ice. If you’re skating competitively or playing hockey regularly, you may need to sharpen every 5-10 hours.
• If you’ve participated in any pond hockey, you could use a sharpen on your next visit to our rink.
• It’s time to sharpen if you find yourself slipping more often than usual, struggling to make sharp turns and stops, if your skates don’t bite into the ice like usual, or if you feel less in control on the ice.
• You can also do a visual inspection- if you see any noticeable flattening, rounding of the edges, or imperfections, it’s time for a sharpen.

3. What is a “hollow”?

• The hollow of the blade refers to  how deep your skate blade is cut. Typically, these are measured in 1/8” increments.
• The hollow you prefer depends on your preference.

4. How do I know what hollow I prefer?

• A shallow hollow (1” to 5/8”) might be for you if you prefer more glide in your skate. It general requires more edge control and more knee flexion to drive the edges into the ice. It allows for better gliding and retained speed.
• A deeper hollow (9/16” to 3/8”) might be for you if you prefer more bite or edge. Skaters who might not have the size to drive their edges into the ice might prefer this. It allows for quick acceleration, the ability to skate faster, and make sharper turns in smaller spaces, but may result in more fatigue since it’s more resistance.