We hope that you enjoy your new skates.
To get the most out of your skates, protect the blades with guards when walking off the ice, wipe them dry, and use soakers for transport. Read the skate maintenance guide below for the full routine.
Use the guidance and tools here first. For individual advice, use Ask an Expert to request a connection with a supporter.
Common Questions Answered
Is it normal to get rust/discolouration on the blades? It’s normal, but not ideal. You should remove rust as soon as it’s noticeable, and usually a soft cloth is good enough - do not use steel wool or other hard/rough surfaces as this will damage the chrome and/or edges.
Make sure the skates are dried properly after use (twice – once straight off the ice, and once an hour later when the blades have warmed). Stored your skates in a place not subject to extreme temperature changes or high humidity.
Light discolouration is the start of oxidization of the blade, and typically doesn’t impact the blade or experience – but keep an eye on it. Sharpening will remove rust before it sets in too deeply.
Why does it feel strange to skate? When you buy new skates there will be minor variations in where your foot sits on the blade, particularly with figure skates, and the balance might not be quite what you’re used to. In particular, the blade profile (how it curves from front to back) may be different to your old blades. Skate on your new skates for a few sessions to see if the feeling becomes more natural (usually it does).
However, if you’re falling onto the inside or outside edges of the boots and unable to hold a straight line on one foot, it’s possible that the blade isn’t in the right position for you – you might have an ankle supination or pronation. Get in touch and we’ll provide some advice.
What sharpening depth should I get? Most beginners start with 5/8ths of an inch, but quickly move on to 1/2 inch or less.
Ask your skate technician to find out what depth of hollow your skates were sharpened to initially.
You’ll know if this is too much/too little: If too much you’ll be putting a lot more effort into skating forward in a straight line – it’ll feel slow and difficult to skate. In addition, you may have problems stopping due to “catching” the edges. If too little you’ll be able to skate forwards fine, and stop easily, but you’ll have difficulty holding the edge on turns – either your foot will slip out or you’ll not be able to turn as sharply as you’d like. It’s normal as your ability progresses to want to try deeper sharpening, and this may help some of the more complex techniques.
How often should I have the skates sharpened? This is user’s preference. You’ll see different recommendations from different people. I prefer to say: if you cannot hold a corner like you used to, or there is noticeable rust, then it’s time to sharpen them (and ideally you should have done so already).
Keep a log of how many hours of skating between your sharpening (as your own weight and hardness of the ice at the arena you skate at play a part), so that you can work out what’s right for you. Unless you’ve changed depth, if when you get them sharpened the difference is negligible, it was too soon. If it’s an extreme difference, you’ll need to get them sharpened sooner next time.
For problems with a purchase, contact the retailer who supplied your skates and check their warranty and returns information.
What if I decide that the skates aren’t the right size? If there are only minor pressure problems it’s possible that skate heat moulding or punching can rectify the problem, and we can help with that.
For problems with a purchase, contact the retailer who supplied your skates and check their warranty and returns information.
Please let me know if you have any questions – otherwise I wish you all the best for your skating progression!