stopping problem

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

I have skated 9-10 years, till 2004-2005 when i stopped (don't really remember why) and later sold the skates. Back then i used to stop very well at any speed.

Last week i've bought a new pair of skates (bauer supreme) sharpened them at the rink (don't know what radius of hollow, they didn't mention it) and started skating...
I have a problem-i can't make the hockey stop nor the snowplow; the blades just seem to dig into the ice instead of "shaving" it, no matter how hard i try to bend the skate/blade at various angles.

This is extremely frustrating because i used to be able to make the stop effortless. Please give me a piece of advice regarding this problem-is the sharpening of the blades to blame? Or have i become an complete idiot? I also mention that i am an advanced skier (on piste) and have been skiing for the past 12-13 years.

Thank you in advance for answer my question!

ANSWER: Hello Traian,

Well my first guess would be that yes it has to do with your sharpening!  -- You may have too deep of a hollow...   this will give you like razor sharp edges and would require compensations that you may not be used to.   

You can try rubbing the blades against the edge of a piece of wood - or a wood bench...  this will help to dullen the edges just a bit!  (Maybe that will be enough)!

If that does not work - you may have to go back and ask for a shallower hollow - usually 1/2" is a good place to be.

If you did it before - you should be able to do it again!

Hope this helps!

Good luck!

Martial



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for answering my question!

How can i measure the radius of the hollow? Could you tell if i attached a close-up picture?
I will try what you said with a piece of wood.

Unfortunately i can't ask for a shallower hollow (or any kind of specific hollow) because in my area (non-US) there aren't any specialized ice skates shops, but only sharpening machines at the rinks operated by "the sharpening guys" who are borderline illiterates and sharpen "by the eye".

Answer
Hi Again Traian...

I understand...  an experienced sharpener could probably tell by looking at it...  Unfortunately I have played for over 45 years now - but never had to sharpen my skates once!!  

Usually the skate sharpening machine has the gauge to determine this... and that's how they change it.

Did you try dulling them on a stick or a piece of wood??

:-)