Ice skating is one of the most popular winter sports. In order not to get injured while skating, you need to be able to tie the lacing correctly - this helps to more securely fix the skates on your feet.
When buying skates, take the time to try them on. They must be chosen exactly in size, otherwise they will not last long, and the likelihood of injury increases significantly. If you do not plan to buy your own skates, and there is not so much experience in choosing them at the box office, pay attention to the brand's popularity. World manufacturers design such shoes taking into account the anatomical features of the foot, so that it is comfortable to turn around and ride in them.
How to lace up skates correctly
The skates are better fixed to the feet if they are properly laced. The boot must fit comfortably and tightly on the foot to protect it from mechanical damage. They begin lacing from the bottom up - at the same time, in the part of the toe, the lace should be weaker so as not to exert strong pressure. Tighten the lacing in the instep area, this will help the ankle and heel better fit and at the same time be protected from injury. And in the area of the upper hooks, it is better to loosen the lace - the leg will be more comfortable, moreover, flexibility will not be lost.
Before going out on the ice for the first time in new boots, lace and unlace them a few times to check how the shoes will fit more tightly on your feet.
Before tying the laces, try to knead the lacing area, that is, the bootleg and tongue, so that the boot will better wrap around the leg. If the shoe is properly laced, you won't be able to get a single toe under the lace.
How to improve the fixation of the skate on the leg
Skate laces should not be too thick - nylon laces that stretch slightly are best. To make the ridge snuggle to the foot, lacing from outside to inside, so that the cross laces would lie on the tongue of the boot. The part of the lacing, located at the crease of the foot, can be fastened to the knot for additional fixation.
Do not tighten the lacing around the toes too tightly, as this can disrupt blood circulation in the foot.
With a properly laced shoe, the leg will not rotate in it, the toe does not separate from the insole. The more firmly the heel is pressed against the insole and the back of the boot, the better the fixation of the skate on the foot.
When finishing the lacing, do not do too much tension - this will make the foot easier to bend in low or deep squats. It is best to check the tension of the laces on each pair of hooks or holes. To do this, try if you can squat freely, each time after the next pull on the lace. This, of course, is somewhat tedious, but the result will also be good.
Boots can be laced with or without hooks. The first option is more convenient - lacing is easier, you can quickly take off your shoes. On the vertical part of the boot, the distance between the hooks should be approximately 2-2.5 cm. Much less often, lace-up shoes without hooks are used for skating.
To fix the upper part of the skate well and securely on the leg, perform the lacing as follows. Throw the string over the hook, put it under the bottom of the hook and wrap it so that it looks like a loop before moving on to the next hook. This way the lacing holds much tighter and the hooks stay in place longer.
