When should I have my skates sharpened?
Skaters are often hesitant to have their skates sharpened and you will often hear that it takes time for skaters to re-adjust after having their skates sharpened.
If there is enough difference felt to require an adjustment period it means you have left too much time between sharpens, your depth of groove has changed, or your levels are incorrect as well as blades possibly mounted incorrectly. With my consistent feel of sharpens, some skaters are now feeling the difference in ice between seasons. Some skaters also believe their blades will last longer if they don’t have them sharpened very often. Unfortunately, this is incorrect as the steel on your blades is wearing off due to friction with the ice the same amount. The longer you leave between sharpens increases the time needed during sharpening to achieve a keen edge again as well as reduces your consistent feel on the ice.
Leaving too much time between sharpens increases the risk of injury as depending on how the skater stops etc one edge may be more worn than the other edges and also, they are skating on dull edges that will not grip the ice.
Also, if skaters are spending time adjusting to edges that feel completely different, there is a potential waste of training time every time the skater has their skates sharpened.
If the skater feels that their skates are too ‘sharp’ after sharpening it is better for them to try a shallower groove rather than just waiting a long time between sharpens.
Conversely, if they feel their skates are too ‘blunt’ after a fresh sharpen it would be best to try a deeper groove.
I currently offer free changes within two weeks of initial sharpen to help you find the best groove for you and your boot/blade setup.
The deeper the groove the more ‘bite’ into the ice, the shallower the groove the less ‘bite’.
It is said the shallower the groove equals more speed as less resistance on the ice and deeper equals less speed but easier to turn and more grip into the ice. I have also had a lot of skaters report that they have more confidence taking deeper edges and power pushing through the ice with a slightly deeper groove than they were used to.
Skaters should always have their skates sharpened prior to competition to ensure their edges are keen and in top condition.
The best way to know how often to have your skates sharpened is to keep a record of the dates you have your skates sharpened and how many times you skate between sharpens. Then take note of how they feel post sharpening; is it a large difference (as long as the edges are keen, still level, and the same groove)? If so try having them sharpened a little sooner next time. Keep bringing the sharpens closer until it is only a minimal difference. If no difference is felt, you can try leaving a little longer between sharpens until you find the optimal time.
If you feel your skates are slipping it is best to have them sharpened and discuss with the sharpener the time frame between sharpens and how they felt straight after being sharpened.
Please Note: Blades may feel different when traveling to different rinks especially those in colder countries where the temperature of the ice is often lower thus causing harder ice and affecting the bite of the edge.
Therefore, having your blades in top condition will help minimise the affects of any difference in feel on the ice.
HRPM Sharpening 