General maintenance
Before putting your skates on you should check for damage and loose screws. It is ideal to also check for these at the end of your session so you can have any maintenance done prior to your next training session.
When walking around the rink in your skates you should always wear your skate guards to protect your blades from damage, especially on the stairs. You would be surprised to know how quickly blades are damaged and how much damage is caused by not wearing guards as soon as you step off the ice.
Remember to check your laces and replace them if they are beginning to look worn as you don’t want them to break when you are skating. Laces can stretch when first put in so try to allow yourself a few training sessions between changing your laces and competing so you aren’t distracted by your skates loosening slightly.
After skating you should use a cloth to dry your blades and your boots. Be sure to also wipe the plates (where the blade attaches to the boot).
If your boots and soles are leather, they need regular waterproofing/sealing to ensure a longer life. If your leather gets wet and can’t dry out it will begin to rot and will not hold in your screws for your blades. The glue keeping everything together will also start giving way and boots will start separating, possibly causing soles to fall off.
Regular sharpening is essential to ensure optimum condition of your blades and to gain the most out of your training and competitions.
Lacing your skates correctly
Correct lacing of your skates will enhance your balance and control, and make your skates more comfortable.
When putting skates on first loosen the laces completely and position your heel firmly in the rear of the skate prior to tightening the eyelet area.
It is not necessary to lace all areas of the skate equally tightly. The most common cause of foot pain is boots that are laced too tightly over the instep. The lacing needs to be snug but not so tight as to cut off the circulation. Your foot muscles work hard while skating and it is important that they get an adequate supply of blood.
Storing your skates between sessions
Skates should never be left in an enclosed space after a training session. When you return home ensure you remove your skates from your bag and open up the tongue so your boots so can air when being stored.
You may need to wipe your blades again when you arrive home as condensation forms on them when you go outside into the warmer air particularly on days where there is more humidity.
Do not store your skates with the guards on as they trap the moisture and your blades will quickly start rusting. Any rust on your edges will blunt them and if left to rust for an extended period of time pitting will make it difficult to obtain a keen edge.
It is best to store your skates with fluffies/soakers on them to absorb moisture and protect the edges from knocks etc; as well as to protect the other items in your skate bag from your blades.
HRPM Sharpening 