Exactly right. If you're "on the flats" that means you're standing straight up on your blades and both edges are touching the ice at the same time. You'll skate in a straight line.

HEY!!!!!! MY PLEASURE!!!!!!! I LOVE to do this!!! After all......you guys were the ones that REALLY MOSTLY helped me out!!! I keep your advice in mind when I go,and I trust you ALL!!!!!! Anyway,back to what I was asking. So the difference in Edges is ALL in which way your Blade ends up turning it'self when YOU turn,right? BTW. am I right at saying Edges are for turning corners when you go around a Rink?

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FSWer

When you're on an edge you are moving on a curve. It helps on the corners but it's not the only place in a rink you can use them. You can ride edges around the hockey circles, or you can do alternating edges (changing feet every half-circle) down one of the blue or red lines. Or you can do figures (eight-shapes) in the middle of the ice.

Edges = curves. When you lean on an edge, the blade rides in a circle because of the way it's made and your body goes with it (hopefully).

sAY,BTW. Does anyone have a copy of the 1964 Olympic Figure Skating Competition they can send me?

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FSWer

Well fellow Skaters!!! I just got back from Newington Ice Arena this afternoon...so here is todays...Rink Report!!!!!..and..it is another good one!!!!! I got to the Rink a little after 12:30.Almost 15min. after the start of Public Skate. I registered with my Passes at the Desk,and went in to dawn my skates. Today I practiced my Edges again,and praticed going around the Rink Corners ON my Edges. I DID fall on the first couple of tries. But I finally got the hang of it,and was turning the corners easy. After the Girl (Christine) that I made friends with, pointed out that my skates needed to be tided tighter and EVEN came over and offered to HELP me TIE them. As well as pointing out that when SHE ties HER laces,she goes DOWN before going in the hooks,and I go UP.In which after my reply to her was "Thanks a BUNCH Christines!!" She has really been a BIG HELP to me. She HERSELF is taking lessons. But I must say that she in my opinon anyway is a VERY advanced Skater already!!! Then again,I don't remember if she ever told me how long she's ben Skating. I must say too,that I THINK I figured out how to control and make a turn. I had to spread my arms out,and turn them too. BTW. Christine and I were kinda talking,and this question came to mind to ask on a Board...and that is..does anyone know why skaters don't hurt their ankles or trist them,etc. when going on Edges? That is if it's true they don't. I also met a little 10 year old girl and skated with her. I asked her if she wanted to skate and we both skated hand and hand. 1 hand holding the other. She had an American Girl Doll.So I didn't get to try what I wanted to try. I felt like asking her if she wanted to skate like we were Ice-Dancers. LOL. It would have been fun!!! I'd love to do that. So that is todays Rink Report!!!! Next Report sometime next month. As I still need to get the Dates I go.

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FSWer

Well,my fellow Skaters...Today I must admit is one of the most unusual days, and Reports ever. As it turned out that there was NO Public Skate scheduled when I got down there. Even though my Supervior (from what I believe)...DID call the Rink. So I belive it must have been a last min. change with Hockey. As 2 Hockey Games were going on in both Rinks.The Girl I spoke to told me that there was no Sun. Public Skate for the month of Sept. and said she was also uncurtain about the Schedule for Oct. So I just ate. at also took the advantage to go in the Pro.-Shop and get my Skates sharpened. So...FSWer had his FIRST SKATE SHARPENING TODAY!!!!! I must say that I'm real proud of myself. As I've never had it done before!!! So that's my report. I am also schedled to go on the 27th. But only time will tell on that. LOL. Please check beck again for my next report.

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FSWer

congratulations on the skate sharpening!

You should know that it's sometimes difficult to stop on newly sharpened blades. Be extra careful the next time you go skating!

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Thank you Jessi.I will.

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FSWer

Good luck with the newly sharpened blades. They can feel quite different to blunt ones!

I was considering getting mine sharpened today but decided I didn't have enough time. I was at Incredible Ice in Coral Springs, Florida for a public session which was lovely. Just five on the ice - two coaches, two pupils and me

Sarah

I also just want to say that it wasn't much to get my skates sharpened when I did it. Just $5.00. The guy told me that for me since I skate about 2-4 times a month. That a once a month sharpening is what I'd need. Does that sound right? BTW. I found out there is no Sun. Public Skate through the month of Nov. at Newington. I am going to call back around Thanksgiving. I hope to have better luck.

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FSWer

That really doesn't sound right at all. I skate on average three times a week, three hours each time and sharpen my blades once every 6 weeks or so. They certainly need doing at the end of six weeks but they don't need doing much earlier than that. Decent quality blades should last about 50 hours of skating between sharpenings. There's no way you're doing that if you only skate 2-4 times a month. Really poor quality blades with softer steel may only last 20 hours of skating. I am very careful that as soon as I get off the ice my blade guards go on. I don't even like walking on the rink's rubber matting without guards. That helps my blades last longer between sharpenings.

Good luck!

Sarah

Once a month is way too much for the amount of time you skate, Dana. Mine get sharpened every two months, and I skate nearly every day. You could easily get away with having it done once or twice a year, if you take good care of your blades, as I know you do.

Would every 6 months be ok for me?

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FSWer

Yes, I think once every 6 months would work. The exception would be if you accidentally stepped on something hard and got a big nick on your blade or something. Then you would want to have your skates sharpened to smooth your edges out again. But if you're careful about wearing your guards when you're walking around on the floor, every 6 months should be fine.

Ok. Thank you Clarice. I just got them done last month. So I can get them done in March. Thanks a BUCH!!!!

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FSWer

Hi fellow skaters!!! Just wanted to report in and say that I have to call my Rink around Thanksgiving to get the Public Skate Schedule for Dec. As I've been off- ice due to Hockey. So hopefully I'll be back on-ice and back here again son with more Rink Reports. Thanks.

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FSWer

Ok fellow Skaters!! This is going to be a hard one to type. But I need some people to tell about this..so here it goes. I am still off the ice, due to my Rink changing their Public Skate Times...as well as complications and circumstances beyond my control (sorry if I spelled those words wrong,maybe someone can fix my spelling). I'm not sure if I should really explain what's happening on a Board. But if anyone feels like they can help me please PM. me,and I will tell you what's happening. We are working on it. But nothing official yet. So anyway..when,and (IF) I ever get back on the ice I'll have more Rink Reports. TTFN.

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FSWer

LOL,I am still trying to get to the Rink on the schedule they have NOW.

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FSWer

Hi guys. I have just been switching to a brand-new set of dry towels every time I store my skates. To keep them dry all-around and so my blades won't poke my bag. When I return I just put the towels my skates were wrapped up in,in the wash and rewrap my skate with fully dry towels. Is that ok?

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FSWer

Yep, that's perfect.

Have you been able to finds any solutions to your problem so you can get to skate again?

Thanks. I dry the WHOLE skate (both) when I get off ice. Rewrap both in the same 2 towels I bought (1 skate per towel). Then put those in the laundry when I get back,and rewrap my skates on the floor with 2 new ones. The whole skate boot and all (1 towel per skate). Still working on getting back.

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FSWer

HEY FELLOW SKATERS!!!! If things go well and nothing happens...I return to the Rink Jan.,24th!!!!

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FSWer

I go to the Rink tomorrow my friends!!! Please watch for my Report!!!

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FSWer

Well my fellow Skaters!!! I just got back on the ice again today at Newington Arena!!! So here is my first Report of 2010...I got to the Rink at about 3:45pm. (for an evening skate). I went to register at the Desk with my Skate Passes,and had my hand stamped. (I guess there doing that now as something new). I then went to get something to drink at the Food Court. As I had a little time. Hockey Games were going on in BOTH Rinks. But Public Skate got one Rink at 4:10pm. (We were in the Red Rink today. Rather then the Blue that we nomally use). I sat down and put on my skates in the Lobby today while waiting to go in. Talk about a mistake. I am NEVER doing THAT again. As I DID put my Gaurds on...but all they did was keep coming off. So I had to walk the few feet it was from the Bench to Rinkside in the Rink with no Gaurds on (so can someone here tell me if they've ever had to do that before,and is doing that just that little bit every one in a while enough to hurt your blades)? Talk about being the worlds WORST Skategaurd inserter!!! I can never get them on tight enough to keep them from falling of when I begin to walk. I also lost one of my sliders today on one. Which makes one useless now. Maybe the other kind would be better for me. The kind with the springs that the famous Skaters use that just adjust to the blade. Anyone here know were I can get them and for how much? BTW. Fokes!!!! NEWINGTON ARENA Pro-Shop is now offically OPEN AGAIN!!!! I asked the guy there as well as looked,and unless HE didn't know what I was asking for. Or I didn't know what to look for myself. In which case I could have seen them and didn't know it. They didn't have them. Well anyway...to on the ice. After I got in. Me and about over 30 skaters were waiting while the Zomboni smoothed the ice from after the Game for us. We went on,and Public went until 5:30. Thee were too many skaters to try any of my tricks I had been doing. So I really don't have any to report. I must say though that I DID get knocked over by another Skater. I am presuming it was a Backward Skater. As a LOT of them were going Backward. But then I didn't take notice. I am also hoping that my laces were tide tight enough. I didn't feel to different. So I guess they were ok. A girl a Public Skate did tell me that SHE ties HER skates going DOWN,rather then UP. Which is why they get tighter for her. But she never actually showed me HOW you go down when tying your laces. If there's anyone here who can explain that more clearly to me. So I can learn how to do it,I would really appreciate it. I also saw a girl on the ice taking pics. I must say that you must have to be a VERY GOOD skater and be able to trust yourself not to fall or even get knocked over doing that. Or...guess what? LOL. At least nobody had a BABY in their arms pretending to do Pairs with one and that's all that counts. LOL. After Public Skate I went to the Food Court,got a Cheeseburger,picked up 13 free..that is free copies of Figure Skating Magazines.12 of which WERE intiled "SKATING"...and then went home. Unless something happens.....next Report next week. TTFN. LOL.

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FSWer

Hooray! I'm glad you're able to go skating again.

If the floors are covered with a sort of rubber covering, then it's okay to walk on that without your guards on. Just not on bare concrete, tile, anything that's a hard surface. Most rinks use the rubber flooring so that we can walk around without having to put guards on every single time.

The guards with the springs in the middle are like this:
http://www.icesk8.com/universl.htm

You could maybe print out the picture & bring it in to the pro shop to show the guy there what you're looking for.