Figure Skating

Let's have a look at ice skate sharpening. It is an essential part of taking care of your skates.
Let me help you better understand what it is, when you should be doing it, why and how. All your non-technical questions answered about figure skate sharpening!

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

WHY should you sharpen ice skates?

Why do you need to sharpen your blades?

Well, the answer is pretty straight. Just like a chef cannot do what he wants to do with the vegetables and salad things with a dull knife, similarly, a figure skater cannot do the moves they want to, and the lithe fluidic choreography of movement on a dull pair of figure skating blades.

Sharpening is an essential step in taking care of your skates.

When your blades slide on the ice uncomfortably, it is an indication that it is time you sharpened them. More on this in the coming sections, but the point to note is, the hollow or the portion of blade between the inside and the outside edges of the blade is where the slide happens. When the ice melts the kinetic energy gets converted to heat and makes the blade glide on the ice.

The sharper the edges are, the easier they melt the ice and the hollow will slide smoothly, making your skating fluid.

What happens if you don’t sharpen your skate?

When you do not make the edges sharp, they won’t melt the ice as rapidly. If the ice is slow to melt, there wouldn’t technically be a hollow to slide on and the motion of the figure skater will be sluggish and not really elegant.

If you do not sharpen your skates, you can also slip and slide and won’t be able to make turns on the ice and will also be prone to falling hard on the frozen sheet of water. You will find it challenging to stop as well. This can hurt badly. Sharp skates are crucial for a fun and safe skating sessions.

Want to learn more about the blades (styles, profiles, materials, how to choose them...)? Check out my detailed article.

HOW OFTEN - Figure skate sharpening

Do new figure skates need sharpening? Are they sharpened by default?

Yes. New figure skates need to be sharpened.  When the brand is shipping the skates, they send dull blades so that there is no issue when in transit and there are no injuries when they are shipped.

They are not sharp when sent, so you need to sharpen them before you begin skating.

How often should I have my blades sharpened?

Here are a few indications:

• How are you using the skates? It depends on the figure skating level. The more advanced the skater is, the more stress the blades go through as the turns are faster and tighter, the stopping is abrupt, and the speed is higher. For beginners, the sharpening frequency can be lower as they won’t do all of the above.
• How heavy is the skater? The heavier the skater is, the more frequently will the blades require to be sharpened as the pressure is higher.
• How hard or soft is the ice for skating? The outdoor rinks have a harder ice and the blades dull faster on this kind. The indoor rinks where the ice is softer, the blades may not need sharpening very frequently.

Between every 2 weeks and every 6 months depending on the frequency of use and the above criteria. I give you some indications below to help you realize when it is necessary.

When not to have my blade sharpened?

Never have your blades sharpened just before a test or a competition.
It should be at least a few training sessions before so that you have time to adapt and blunt them a little.

HOW MUCH - not enough or too sharp blades?

How can I tell when my blades need sharpening?

There are a few signs that you can check and a few tests you can do if you need to know if your skates need sharpening.

• Are you slipping sideways when you skate or try to stop? Is the tail of the blade slipping often? When the dullness gets worse, you might feel the heel of the skate slipping out too.
• Fingernail test: Try and drag your fingernail over the blade in 3 or 4 spots of the blade. This should be done to both the blade edges, the inside and outside. If there is a little bite sensation the edge is nice and sharp. If the nail seems to slide smoothly, the edges are rounded.
• When was the last time you sharpened them? If you don’t remember, it is probably time to sharpen them again. Typically, if you are skating 4-6 hours a week, once a month or every 2 months sharpening should be just fine.
• Run a finger over the blade, but not lengthwise! Run it widthwise and if you can distinctly feel two different edges with a definite bite to them, your blades are fine.
• How does the skate feel on the ice? Is it smooth and gliding or do you feel sluggish? The deeper the hollow, the easier it is to move on the ice. Are you struggling to stop while you’re skating? Are you needing to push harder to get your move on? If yes, it's time you sharpened your skates.

Can skates be too sharp?

Yes, they can become too sharp when being sharpened.

But it depends on the skater how sharp they want the skates to be. The blades can get too sharp if the one sharpening them is a novice unexperienced professional (or if you do it yourself without knowing fully about it).

What to do if they are too sharp?

Sometimes, the blades can get too sharp from proper sharpening. Here is how you can optimize the sharpness.

• You can do a variety of stoppings and breaks to wear the blades evenly into perfectly optimized sharpness.
• Dull the skates by doing a few rounds and laps around the rink. The extra sharpness can be dulled into perfect smoothness this way. When doing this, mindfully distribute all your weight evenly on the skate.
• Rubbing the skate blade on the plastic of the board in the doorway of the rink to dull them evenly. Go straight up and down when rubbing so that the dulling is even. Don’t dull it too much by pressing in the blade too deep into the plastic and pushing outward.

How is figure skate blade sharpening done?

How do you sharpen figure skate blades?

One must take the figure skates to a specialist or a professional who will first look at the skates and determine if they really need a sharpening. The edges and the hollow need to be observed with care and it is a specialists’ job to maintain the hollow properly. You must refrain from it if you are an amateur or not trained in the job.

You must be careful before you let someone do it as it is a skill which one has to develop, and it comes with experience. These skates are different from hockey skates. A warning against the sharpeners at the rinks – the skates might get ruined. The automatic machines are no good. Ask your teacher or coach, ask for recommendations or entrust the responsibility to them just to be safe.

Make sure to get recommendations from your coach about sharpener and what depth of sharpening to have.

How much does it cost?

Sharpening is a low-cost affair, which can cost differently in different countries.

• In the UK, it costs as low as £5 to £8.
• In the USA, it can cost around $6 to $10.
• In Canada, it can cost from 6 CAD to 10 CAD

Do you need a machine or are the hand sharpeners any good?

You do need a good machine sharpening, because they are designed to give you proper sharpness. Hand sharpeners would not give you the desired outcome unless you are a pro at hand sharpening. But if there are just a couple of spots to make better or touch up, hand sharpening is fine too. However not everyone should do touch up. You need to understand what you are doing.
This is what a manuel sharpener can look like

Technical details – intro

Let's not go into too much details here. This is not an article to teach someone how to use the machine. You can find detailed articles about it online.
But here is a short intro for those interested.

The hollow at the bottom are rounded and given edges which are crucial for figure skating. The curvature can be from 5/16^th of an inch to about 2 inches – this depends on the skater’s weight and the style they skate in. The jumps are also a crucial deciding factor. Ice dancer and figure skater do not need the same sharpening.

The radius of the hollow is the concave bend of the blade which is obvious when you look down the length as you keep the skate at eye level.

The more the edges of this hollow are obvious, the sharper are the edges. The deeper the hollow is, the more you can feel the sharpness of the blades.

Beginners are better off with a larger radius of hollow. As the skill gets better, you can reduce the radius further.

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Looking for ideas to say 'Thank you' to yours or your kid's favorite ice skating coach who is there for every step, turn, fall and success? 
Below is a detailed list of figure skating coach gifts for you to choose from, useful at the rink or in everyday life.
Plus, some can be personalized to show your coach how special he/she is!

Note: this is a list of gift ideas for a coach. If you are looking for gift suggestions for a figure skater (boy, girl, woman, man), head to this other article.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Offering a gift to your ice skating coach - when, what... Etiquette

Like for a favorite teacher, wanting to say thank you to a coach is a nice gesture.

First things first, don't forget to SAY THANK YOU. This is the most important. On top of that, you/your kid can offer a gift (discreetly not in front of the other skaters) for:

• Christmas
• Birthdays
• End of season
• Successes at competitions / tests

However, if it is a gift from only one skater, it should remain small.
Know that some coaches are uncomfortable receiving expensive gifts. Accepting those will have an impact on ethics perception.

The thought is what counts the most.

Best Figure Skating Coach gifts - useful + personalized (or not)

Personalized figure skating coach gifts to use at the rink

Let's start with a list of presents that can be very useful at the rink.
I would not offer new equipment such as guards or soakers, unless you really know they need some. But there are many other items that can be very useful and be personalized!

• A Towel to dry out their blades and prevent rust formation - this is an essential item, and yet it is often a very boring piece of fabric. You can offer a more inspiring one!
• A Water Bottle to keep hydrated at the rink - it is very important to drink water, especially if you need to shout a lot to be heard from the other side of the rink!
• A Travel Mug - days at the rink can be long and cold. With a travel mug, the coach can keep his/her drink warm
• A Scarf or a Vest - The skater is moving a lot and keeping warm, but the coach is often standing still looking at the skater. It can be very cold for him/her
• A Clipboard - if your coach likes to keep notes or to draw the routines while on the ice, a clipboard is really practical, and even better if personalized!
• Hand warmers - same as before, it gets really cold for a coach so hand warmers to keep in his/her pockets can be really appreciated (there are rechargeable ones or single use packs)
• ...

Personalized ice skating coach gifts to use for his / her coaching business

Being a figure skating coach is also a business. There are some useful items that can be used to work around the rink times.

• A Mouse Pad to remember you while using the computer
• A personalized Pen, a nice small gift that is always very useful
• A Planner to keep track of all the lessons and skaters
• A Binder to organize documents about skaters or invoices
• A Notebook to keep track of the progress of the skaters
• A personalized Luggage Tag to place on his/her luggage for competitions or his/her skate bag
• ...

Gifts for Home / Car

And then you can also choose something more discrete (not for the rink), that will be used by your coach only in his/her home and car

• A Mug for drinking coffee or tea in the morning
• A Pillow to decorate the sofa
• A Magnet for a reminder on the fridge
• A Keychain to carry a reminder of your "thank you" everywhere around
• A personalized air freshener for his/her car
• A bumper sticker to show the world who is the best coach ever!
• And for a Christmas gift, maybe an ice skating Ornament
• ...

Simple can be the most touching... thank you cards & self-made ideas!

But if your budget is limited, know that sometimes, the most thoughtful gifts are simple.

• A lot of coaches say that they really enjoy thank you cards and they keep them all.
• They also mention enjoying receiving pictures of their skaters to keep on their desk or for photo albums
• And finally, why not cook something!  Homemade cookies or candies show that you have made an effort and if he/she enjoys food, you should get a big smile 🙂

Non-skate related - Figure skating coach gift ideas

But it is not mandatory to offer a gift related to his/her coach status.
If your coach has been around for a long time, he/she can already have a lot of items.
So, you can be lost thinking about what can be useful...

This is where the gift card can be a good idea - This way you are sure the coach can find something he/she really wants:

• Gift card for Amazon - for him / her to find any types of products
• Gift card for Starbucks or another chain of coffee shop - if he/she drinks a lot of coffee
• Gift card for his/her favorite take out / lunch spot - sometimes the coach has to eat quickly between lessons
• Gift card for his/her favorite brand...
• ...

See all gift cards

Group gifts for figure skating coaches

If you decide to give a gift as a club as a group of all parents of a certain level, then the ethics dilemma can disappear and you can offer a bigger gift if everyone contributes.
In that case the gift ideas are infinite and you need to know what the coach likes.
When I was younger, we have offered, as a club:

• Branded bags
• Stationary bike
• An experience: a spa treatment or a special diner at a high-end restaurant
• ...

Synchronized skating team coach gift ideas

And if you are looking for gifts for a synchronized skating team coach, below are some design specifically for synchro...

More articles about figure skating:

• The essential pieces of figure skating equipment you need - read article
• Gift for figure skaters - 50 ideas - read article
• Figure skating off-ice training routine - what to work on - read article
• Best ice skating bags to carry your skates - read article
  
• Best ice skate towels to dry out blades - read article
• Best Figure Skating Protective Gear - read article
• Figure skating training clothes - tips + 5 looks - read article
• Best figure skating tights and leggings - read article
• 9 Tips fo Figure skating moms and dads (competition level) - read article
• Figure Skating Competition Checklist - read article

Need an original idea for an ice skating gift idea for a friend or relative? 
Below is a list of figure skating gifts at various prices, and for all types of ice skaters: Girl, boy, ice dancer, synchronized skater...
Plus, I also included some gift ideas for coaches and moms and dads. 
Have fun finding the perfect gift for figure skater and maybe personalize it!

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Top 10 Figure skating gifts

If you don't want go through the 50+ ideas in this article, here is a top selection of ice skating gifts:

For the rink

For training at home

For fun 

Personalized gifts for figure skaters

Further in the article I cover equipment related to ice skates and figure skating practice. But I am starting with personalized gifts because I think they are thoughtful. Receiving a unique object made for you is always a hit!

On most of my designs on Zazzle products, you can add the name of the skater. Here are examples:

Practical ice skating gifts - Girl & boy

Let's start with practical objects that can be used around figure skating practices - unique + practical is a winning combination! For example:

• Towels to dry the blades and make sure no rust forms on them,
• Water bottles to stay hydrated during practice,
• Mirrors to make sure the makeup is competition-ready,
• Luggage tags to identify your ice skating bag
• ...

See all my designs for female figure skating accessories

See all my designs for male figure skating accessories

Clothes

Then clothes are also a good idea: to show the passion for the sport outside of the rink or as practice wear during training. Ice skating clothing gift ideas include

• T-shirts
• Tank tops
• Jackets
• Leggings...

Bags

Further down I cover figure skating bags, but here let's consider other bags to show the skater's passion for the sport in everyday life.
You an also find zipper pouches in different sized to organized your make-up or pens or other belongings.

Journals

Notebooks and journals are always a success! The figure skater can: write a diary, take notes on practice sessions, draw... be inspired by ice skating!

I have also create notebooks sold on Amazon. They can't be personalize. However I have been able to create a special inside: under the lines there are silhouettes shadows of figure skaters. An inspiring notebook to write a diary. See all of them here.

Decorations

A figure skater often wants his/her room to reflect the passion for skating. Gift ideas include:

• Pillows
• Room signs
• Lamps
• Candles
• Posters
• Comforters
• ...

Electronics' accessories

• Computer sleeves
• Phone cases
• Mouse pads
• ...

Jewelry figure skating gifts

Of course, you often cannot go wrong with jewelry. but it depends on the skater. Even with a small budget you can find cute options. Ice skating jewelry gift ideas include:

• Necklaces
• Drop earrings
• Charms
• Bracelets
• Watches
• ...

Christmas ornaments

And for a small gift specific to Christmas, you can also offer an ice skating Christmas ornament to decorate the tree!

Practical ice skating gift ideas - accessories

Now, if you are looking for something really dedicated to the practice of ice skating for a serious figure skater gift, this section is for you.

New skates

Well, figure skating implies quite a significant budget. Therefore, a birthday or Christmas can be the occasion to offer a new pair of skates. But this is a decision to be taken with the skater, to make sure the pair is adapted to the level and the foot shape.

Figure skating accessories

Any figure skater needs a collection of equipment apart from the skates:

• New bag - see my article about the best ice skating bags to take care of skates
• New guards - see my article about the best ice skating guards to take care of blades around the rink
• Fun soakers to protect your blades inside the bag

Training clothes

You can find new beautiful training clothes. We saw some personalized examples above. But you can choose more technical ones with adapted fabrics including;

• Leggings
• Jackets
• Men's training pants - sadly there is not much choice in this category

On-ice training equipment 

You can of course offer items to help with training on the ice. However, those will be very practical gifts but may not be the most inspirational. Mostly:

• Protective pads to reduce risk of injuries when practicing jumps
• Water bottle (we saw some personalized ones above, but you can also choose traditional ones)

Off-ice training equipment 

Another idea for a serious figure skater (male or female) is to find a gift to help with off ice training.
The skater cannot always be on the ice. Practice hours are limited and at a cost. But there is much he/she can do off the ice to improve performance: exercises to
improve balance, flexibility, strength and endurance.
Therefore you can find original gifts for a figure skater in this category such as:

• Equipment to practice pirouettes / spins - to work on balance and core strength
• Stretching bands and guide to help improve flexibility day by day for better splits, arabesque...
• Or a more obvious slide board - to slide, even if stuck in your bedroom
• Check out my top 10 figure skating off-ice training equipment
• And if your skater is really missing ice skating, consider setting up synthetic ice at home. Learn more.

Inspirational figure skating gifts

Now let's have a look at inspirational figure skating gift ideas.

Books

Books are a great option and there is a wide variety of books on figure skating:

• Practice tips
• Biographies (male, female, pairs, dance...)
• Stories for kids and for young adults

See all my suggestions in my article about Figure Skating Books

Coloring book

I have created a paperback figure skating coloring books available on Amazon for different ages:

Training session

For a serious figure skater, another great gift option is to pay for training sessions with a renowned figure skating coach or a choreographer.

Ice skating Experience / Trip

And if you are looking for a very special gift for a big occasion, why not take your skaters to one of the most beautiful ice skating places in the World such as:

In NATURE

• Lake Louise in Banff for an unforgettable skating experience in Nature surrounded by mountains
• Ontario's Arrowhead ice skating trail surrounded with forest
• Lake Weissensee in Austria surrounded by mountains
• Lake Windermeere Whiteway in British Columbia, Canada
• ...

IN CITIES

• The Somerset House Ice rink in London
• Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park in New York city
• Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa - 7 km long in central Ottawa
• ...

And maybe you can offer a personalize luggage to go with it!

Small ice skating trinkets

If you are looking for smaller gifts, trinkets for ice skater, you can consider:

• Stickers
• Magnets
• Keychains
• Erasers,
• Pens...

Stickers

Keychain

Synchronized skating gifts

Looking for gifts specific to synchronized skating? I also have collections focusing on synchro where you can personalize with the skater's name but also the Team's Name!

Figure skating coach gifts

Are you looking for a figure skating coach gift for Christmas or at the end of the season to say thank you?
Check out my collections of best figure coach items including:

• Clipboards to take notes
• Mugs to keep drinks warm at the rink
• Water bottle to stay hydrated
• Keychains
• and many more...

Figure skating Mom & Dad gifts

And to finish here is my collection of gift ideas for figure skating mums and dads. Show your kid that you are proud to wake up early and go freezing at the rink...
Ideas include:

• Hoodies to keep warm
• Seat cushion to protect from the freezing hard benches
• Planners to stay organized
• etc...

More articles about figure skating:

• The essential pieces of figure skating equipment you need - read article
• Figure skating off-ice training routine - what to work on - read article
• Best ice skating bags to carry your skates - read article
  
• Best ice skate towels to dry out blades - read article
• Best Figure Skating Protective Gear - read article
• Figure skating training clothes - tips + 5 looks - read article
• Best figure skating tights and leggings - read article
• 9 Tips fo Figure skating moms and dads (competition level) - read article
• Figure Skating Competition Checklist - read article
• Figure skating coach gift ideas - read article

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Do you or your kids have a passion for ice skating? Below is my selection of some of the best figure skating books to read - including learning the techniques, biographies of figure skaters, history of the sport, and stories for all ages.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Technical figure skating books to learn and improve

On ice training

Let's start with books about practicing ice skating. Understand all the moves that create routines.

Ice skating books for beginners

Ice skating for the first time can feel overwhelming. The sensation on this thin blade are extremely different. Balance needs to be found.
Below are books for parents of beginner kids or adults getting into ice skating.

Off-ice training

As the skater advance and gets serious about the sport, off-ice practices become an important part of training. Below are books to guide the skaters on how to work out off ice in order to improve on ice.

Biographies of figure skaters

Figure skaters will love to learn more about their favorite ice skating legends: their practice routines, their path to success, their determination, the obstacles they had to face... Stories that will inspire. There is nothing better than learn from people who have already done it. They are great figure skating gift ideas (see more gift suggestions here).

Other books about ice skaters

For an introduction to the stories of various figure skaters

Figure skating books for kids - 4 to 7 years old

In this section I have gathered some for the best figure skating books for kids with charming stories of fictionnal and non fictional figure skaters.

Stories featuring figure skating - 8 to 12 years old

As you skater gets older, there are some fantastic stories about figure skaters.
However, I am sorry, I have not found any where the main character is a boy...

Young adult books featuring figure skating

Young adults, with a passion for ice skating, might enjoy the following stories about figure skating, young love, dreams and friendships on and off the ice.

Figure skating notebooks for training log

Journal or take notes about your ice skating practices in one of those notebooks. 

The following notebooks can be personalized:

History / culture of figure skating

It is also important to better understand the history and culture of ice skating so that we can make it move forward and become more inclusive. Below are some books worth a read to gain perspective, especially when it comes to diversity and perceptions.

History books about figure skating

Ice skating coloring books (adult and kids)

Want to relax while dreaming about ice skating? Check out these coloring books for adults and kids.

These are the ones I created:

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