Ice Skate Sharpening
Whether you’re a hockey player, figure skater, or recreational ice skater, you need sharp blades to make pinpoint turns and cuts and to move quickly across the ice. Over time, your skate blades will wear down and become dull. At Pete’s Skate Shop, we offer ice skate sharpening to make sure your blades cut through the ice, and you move the way you need to.
Sharp blades do more than help you move quickly on the ice. When you’re skating on dull blades, you’re more likely to fall and get injured.
Ice skate sharpening is one of the most important things you can do to care for your skates and make sure that you’re able to move the way you need to. Contact Pete’s Skate Shop to have your blades sharpened today.
What is a Hollow?
The sharpness of your blade edges is actually created by a rounded groove that goes down the middle of the blade. As the central part of the blade is hollowed out, the outer edges are sharpened. The depth of this hollow affects the feel of the ice on the blades.
At Pete’s Skate Shop, we use ice skate sharpening to make sure your skates feel and function exactly the way you like and need them to.
Choosing the Correct Radius of Hollow
While there isn’t a right or wrong choice of hollow, there are a few things to consider. Smaller or less experienced skaters usually do better with a deeper hollow, such as 3/8 inches or 7/16 inches. Larger or more skilled skaters may prefer something shallower, such as ½ inch or 5/8 inches.
Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal choice, and it can take some trial and error to figure out what feels best to you.
How Often to Sharpen Your Skates
Not only does ice skate sharpening help you perform better on the ice, but it’s also important for making your blades last longer. Sharpening can remove any surface rust that begins to form along the blades and will eventually ruin them.
As you gain experience, you’ll be able to feel when your blades need sharpening. Until then, a good rule of thumb is every 5 to 10 games. More than that can become excessive and cause your blades to wear out sooner than usual.
Contact Pete’s Skate Shop
To keep your skates moving smoothly across the ice, visit us in Loves Park, IL, just outside of Rockford. Stop in today or call (815) 282-0568!