The first part: yeah pretty much right. And don't fret too much, as long as you're not seeing rust on your blades, you're doing fine.

The second part: Nope... It's not.
Personally I think my blades aren't sharp enough when I don't cut myself with them putting my finger over them
I'm not saying yours need to be that sharp, but I don't think it's even possible to blunten blades enough to not feel a ridge. I usually feel it on my camel spin immediately when my blades start to blunt, and drop them off for a sharpening right away.

My cheap blades needed to be sharpened about once every 15 sessions, my more expensive blades every 25 sessions. The amount of sessions goes down steeply if you skate a lot of public sessions on bad ice, or if you walk about the rink without your hard blade covers on - or if you let your blades rust.

Just make sure that your guards, as well as your blades, are completely dry if you put them back on at home.

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Amanda

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance . . . "

My Skating Journal

I was holding my skate upward and putting my pointie finger down flat and feeling for a ridge. Is that another or good way to do it?

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FSWer

BTW. I don't really know how to tell rust on my blade. What do I look for and were.

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FSWer

Brown or orange spots or dots, anywhere on the blades, feel a bit rough to the touch.

You know what? Just ask your skating coach to show you how to check whether your blades are sharp.

And stop fretting. My first blades were never sharpened after they came out of the factory for the first four months I skated (and I skated 12 hours a week then), and they were rusty cuz I messed them up, and they were bent because they were mounted improperly. I still learnt most single jumps on them and passed 5 tests up to the 2-foot spin on them. A girl in my class turned out to have blades without a rocker even, after passing the 2-foot spin.
So stop fretting and start practicing your spiral off the ice in the time you're using to fret about your blades! It'll give you a better result yield

For the very first basics of skating, all that really matters is if they're sharp enough to push off. If you stand on the ice and your feet can just slide apart sideways without any resistance on the ice, then your blades are too blunt to skate. Otherwise, to learn to skate just plain laps, it really doesn't matter much.
But ask your coach if you're in doubt.

On the side of the blade or on the spikes that touch the ice? Do they look orange or brown as we know it? Is it easy to spot?

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FSWer

The blade can rust *anywhere*, and yes it's easy to spot.

Say,btw. We all know you need to dress warm in a Rink. But does anyone know how I should be dressing to go TO the Rink in Summer. For when it's like 97% out but could in the Rink? I mean,you don't wear a short-sleave shirt in a Rink last I checked. LOL. Thanks.

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FSWer

It totally depends on the temperature of your particular rink. Ours is quite warm in the summer, so I skate in pants and a short sleeve or sleeveless top. I've seen some public skaters in shorts and short sleeve tops, but for training, I think shorts aren't fantastic, unless you have tights- since there tend to be more falls than just skating around. I always bring my fleece jacket and gloves in my skating bag in case it's a "cold" day at the rink. Then I can wear the jacket over the sleeveless top.

If your rink is cold, then I would wear pants and a short sleeve top to get to the rink, since it is so warm outside, but bring a jacket in your bag. The jacket will keep you warm while you are on the ice.

If it's too warm to wear pants to the rink, also bring those with you, and change into them once you get there.

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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)

I wear my sweatpants to the Rink. But your saying just wear a light jacket over my short-sleave shirt and I'll be fine? I shouldn't get sick?

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FSWer

I don't know how cold your rink is- but I would think a light jacket would be enough, or maybe a sweatshirt? I don't think you would get sick from being cold in a rink, it would more be a matter of just being uncomfortable from the cold.

Have you been to your rink in the summertime yet? I know all rinks are different, but all the ones I've skated at (6 of them) are warmer in the summer than in the winter- even the ones that are still chilly in the summer, are more comfortable in the summer (those ones are usually freezing in the winter).

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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)

Layers is the answer. Or change when you arrive - if the changing rooms are locked out of use, as they so often are when hockey isn't being played, then go and change in the gents'.

I wear a T-shirt and then take a sweatshirt with me to wear over it - when it's really hot, I don't even need the sweatshirt, especially if I have been working hard!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Mmm I skate in jogging pants (or tights, if I wear a skirt) and either a sleeveless or a short-sleeved top.
Know quite a lot of girls who do tank tops or spaghetti tops even too, and our rink is not one of the warmest around. On the other hand, beginners skating around tend to freeze their butts off in tank tops, you need to be skating quite hard to stay warm wearing that. It depends on how hard you train more than how cold it's at the rink.

For a beginner, I'd suggest 2 layers: a short-sleeved t-shirt and a zipper jacket with long sleeves over it, then either normal tights and a yoga/ballet/aerobics pants on top, or thin tights (something like 60-90 den) and jeans on top or thick sporting pants, with a preference for the latter. Don't forget gloves!

You're more likely to get sick if you wear more than that, you'll sweat and catch a cold. Anyway, if you get really cold, jump up and down holding yourself to the boardings. Should warm you up quickly enough.
If you're worried, take 2 pullovers with a zipper, and leave one by the boardings. You can put it on if you get cold, or a nice big shawl/scarf that you can put on if you get cold.

Here's a photo of me with a skating friend who is almost at the same level I am at. We both skate the full session (no standing around chatting etc) and we both skate at the same rink. You can see the influence of personal preferences on dressing very clearly:

Well people!!!!! Here I am back from the Rink again with my latest on Ice Skater report on my skating. I got to Newington Arena at about... I guess you could say 20min. after 3:00. They had the lights off in the Rink. But the door was unlooked... As it was almost time for Public Skate. I went in...and I was the first one there with my Staff. I got my skates on,and went out on the ice. I also happened to count skaters as they came on ice,and there was a really small group today. About 6-7 total skaters for Public Skate. But hey, LOL a really nice quiet Public Skate though. I like it. LOL. I must also say that I think I'm getting a little better at making my laces tight. Though I did have to get off a couple of times to fix my laces. As they really weren't tight all the way up. I just want to say too that it was a former Ice-Dancer (yes who had a Partner and might be looking for one again.) that actually pointed my laces out to me. I told myself "say..she's an Ice-Dancer,so she knows what she's talkin' about". LOL. My Learn to Skate coach Caitlin (I'm not sure if I should give the last name. But if there's anyone on this Board who skates at Newington Arena you might know who I'm talking about) was there,and we hugged each other and she pointed my laces out too. Though I think I figured out what I'm doing wrong. I was thinking I have to push my laces under the top criss-cross to hold them down. Then do the bow. Does anyone know if I'm right on that? I also feel a few times. LOL. But then again it didn't look like the Zamboni had been out. As the ice look a lot more chopped up today then normal. Though I'm wondering if I was also tripping over my lace. In which case it was a combonation of both. The Rink is also going to be owning the Proshop there now. As the origanal people were just renting. So hopefully they'll be better stuff soon. I also got a soda after getting off. HEY...all Skaters get something after leaving the ice. LOL. I also dried my blades and skates (laces too) and wrapped my skates in a big towel(anyone know if that's good to do?) With keeping them in the towel in my skatebag until I go skating again. BTW. I'm keeping my blade protectors off until tomorrow to dry all the way. With the bag zipped. So I hope tomorrow is enough time. I think I'm becoming quite a skater. So that's my report. Once again.....thanks a bunch On Ice Skaters!!!! Your the best friends on-line I've ever had. xxxxxxx ooooo

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FSWer

Here's a link to lacing figure skates that may be helpful for you:

http://http://figureskating.about.co.../ht/lacing.htm

Just try and remember that having secure ankles will help make you a stronger and safer skater. All skaters must have support in their boots to skate properly and safely.

If you find that you're having trouble tying your boots tight enough, you can do what I did when I was first learning to tie my own skates as a kid: practice off-ice at home. You don't need to walk around in them or anything, but work on getting them comfortable by lacing them up over and over so that you'll eventually be able to find the right "feel" for you. Everyone has their own preference on the tightness of their laces. It may just take a bit of practice, but you'll get the hang of it.

Could you please post the link again Jessica? It doesn't work. BTW. I do pratice at home. But I think a lot has to do with how much light is in your area of the Rink. When you bend down from a bench,there isn't much light.

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FSWer

Hmm, that's odd. You're right; the original link didn't work. Let's try this one (it appears to work for me):

http://figureskating.about.com/od/bo.../ht/lacing.htm

The link connected. But all I got was a white page. Nothing on it.

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FSWer

Dana - also, make sure the towel you have your skates wrapped up in isn't damp. You want everything to be as dry as possible in between those times you go skating. So maybe just dry everything off, put the skates in the bag but not wrapped in the towel, and you should be fine!!

And good job remembering about those blade guards. I used to forget and sure enough my blades got rusty.

I can tie my laces in the dark I think. It just takes practice, and a lot of muscle power. When I've not skated for a while (like the summer), I make my hands bleed from just tieing the laces - so a lot of it is muscle power and tough skin

Also, there's different ways to tie your skates, everybody has a preference. Look around at how people tie theirs.

Give it a moment to load.

I let it load all the way,with nothing popping up. As to Stacey. Your saying just dry my blades,and the whole skate,etc. But just put the towel in my bag. Don't wrap the skates up? BTW. should I dry the inside too. Were my feet go?

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FSWer

You don't need to dry the inside of your skates, but you should let them air out when you're not skating and they'll dry by themselves. That's why you should unzip your skate bag when you get home and just let air circulate around your skates. Some skaters put things inside their boots to help absorb excess moisture and odor. I use things called "Stinkeez" that look kind of like Beanie Babies but have special absorbent pellets inside them. I just stuff them in my boots when I finish skating. There are also plastic ball-shaped things that are also used in running shoes that you can get at shoe stores. My pro shop carries them for the hockey players. But, really, you don't have to use these things - letting your boots air out thoroughly is enough.

Just ask your coach to show you how to tie your skates. It's always easier if someone can show you in person.

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