Hockey skates should be inspected regularly to monitor the wear of the blades. A sharp skate provides better glide, allows for more precise control of movement and balance, which ultimately affects the feeling of riding. Therefore, it is safe to say that only a player on well-sharpened skates can achieve rapid progress.
Instructions
Step 1
Sharpening is not just a dull blade. First of all, a new, just bought skate needs to be improved. It is believed that a factory blade is already optimally sharpened and suitable for any player, but for an experienced player it is obvious that it needs improvement. Competent sharpening will help you create a profile that is ideal for a particular player. Moreover, the profile must be changed in the learning process, guided by individual needs.
Step 2
A properly sharpened skate should have a small groove at the base of the blade, which will form two distinct edges of the skate. It is these ribs that allow you to make the correct push, so sharpening hockey skates essentially boils down to restoring the groove on the blade. The main thing is to put the skates in the hands of professionals, since the depth of the groove, the level of the ribs, the ratio of the radii of the groove and the profile - all this affects the style and quality of skating.
Step 3
It is also not recommended to sharpen yourself, since without good equipment it will be difficult to maintain the required dimensions, which will lead to imbalance on the ice. After sharpening the skate, you need to inspect it and, if necessary, bring the blades yourself. To do this, you need to remove the burrs on the blade using a diamond abrasive stone, grind the microparticles with a polishing stone and give the edges the desired shape using a rough lapping stone. These manipulations will provide the skate with perfect grip, especially if, after finishing, the blade is lubricated with a special oil that reduces friction. Now you can test the new blade during the next workout.
Step 4
The main thing is to monitor the condition of the skates, and as soon as slippage or imbalance is felt, go back to sharpening. With intense training, it makes sense to sharpen your skates once every 2-3 weeks.
