| When you're thinking about buying a pair of ice skates, | | | | have slightly smaller, less sharp toe picks. |
| it's important to first define what kind of skating you | | | | Because they are manufactured from heavy leather, |
| plan to do. Just as the word "ball" can mean any one | | | | figure skates are often much heavier than skates |
| of a hundred different kinds of balls, the term "ice | | | | designed for hockey, racing or simple recreational |
| skates" encompasses boots with ice blades for | | | | skating. Several skate makers are now designing |
| playing hockey, racing, figure skating and ice dancing, or | | | | recreational ice skates from plastic, vinyl, soft leather |
| simple recreational skating. Different skates are | | | | or heavy canvas, all of which are lighter and usually |
| designed for each of these kinds of activities. | | | | more comfortable for simple ice skating activities. The |
| Figure skates are designed with a very stiff boot so | | | | break-in period for soft skates is usually very short or |
| that the foot and ankle are well supported when a | | | | nonexistent. Soft ice skates also have more internal |
| skater jumps or spins on the ice. Lack of support from | | | | room for extra padding for warmth and comfort on |
| the boot can cause a skater's foot and ankle to twist | | | | the ice. |
| on landing, which can cause injury. | | | | All ice skates will be available in various inexpensive to |
| Although it is difficult to see the difference from a | | | | high-quality versions. Beginner and simple recreational |
| distance, the heel of a high quality figure skate will be | | | | skates usually come with metal blades attached. |
| made of leather, rather than the wood usually found | | | | Skates intended for more advanced skaters are |
| on recreational skates. Leather provides a more | | | | usually sold without blades, as advanced skaters in |
| resilient cushion when the skater's weight lands on one | | | | any ice sport want to choose their blades and have |
| foot. | | | | them professionally mounted on their skate boots. |
| Hockey and racing skates do not feature the kind of | | | | All ice skate blades must be sharpened occasionally. |
| built-up heel you will find on a figure skate. These boots | | | | Dull blades will not perform well on the ice. Someone |
| generally have a flatter sole. | | | | who has been skating with rented skates will be |
| Figure skates all have prominent toe picks, the jagged | | | | surprised at the improved performance when first |
| part of the blade that permits a skater to "dig in" to the | | | | taking to the ice on well-sharpened blades. Blades |
| ice when jumping or pivoting. Racing and hockey | | | | should be sharpened by a professional. |
| skates have no toe picks, because these skaters do | | | | Blade-sharpening is not a do-it-yourself endeavor. |
| not perform these maneuvers. Recreational skates will | | | | |