Skating

Question
Hello. I hope u can help me with some info. I just bought new skates and I've skated on them twice. The blades are sharpened at 1/2" The first time I skated was at rink 1 of the place I play. I got good grip and was happy. The second was at rink 3 and I was slipping all over the place when I would try to accelerate. Plus I didn't get the glide when I stop, its more like skidding. Do you think that it's cause I got a bad sharpening or different ice? How should I go about fixing this problem? Is there an adjustment period as well with the new skates?

Answer
Mike, Thanks for writing.  The problem is both.  One rink was probably used more obtain for figure skates (rink 1) so the ice is going to be softer. Probably around 20 to 21 degrees on the ice surface. Where as rink 2 has a harder ice for hockey players, probably around 15 to 17 degrees.  I would recommend a 3/8 inch hollow for hockey and not a 1/2 inch.  This type of edge should get you through both types of ice.  

Plus, there is an adjustment period. Your old skates have been sharpened so many times that you no longer have that new rocker on the blade.  So now that you have new blades, you have a different rocker, which means you will have a different balance point.  Once you get adjusted to this new balance point, the chattering while stopping should come to a halt.

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