The Elements of a Great Skate Sharpening

The Elements of a Great Skate Sharpening

When it comes to skate sharpening, remember the abbreviation ESS: Even, Sharp, and Smooth. For your skates to perform their best, they need to meet these three key standards. Here’s a simple guide to check each one:

E = Even Edge Height

After sharpening, make sure your skate edges are even. You can use an edge checker to test this. If you spot any unevenness, it needs to be fixed. Check out Page 23 for more tips on how to measure edge height and why using an edge checker is important.

S = Sharp Edges

For confident turns and stops, your edges need to be sharp. To test this, hold the skate upside down and gently scrape the edge with your thumbnail. A sharp blade will easily shave off a tiny bit of your thumbnail with minimal pressure.

S = Smooth Surface Finish

Lastly, check the surface of the blade. It should be shiny and smooth. Any lines on the surface should run parallel to your skating direction and be very faint. Avoid blades with lines in a “snake skin” pattern or lines running perpendicular to the skating direction. These imperfections can cause a dragging feeling while you skate, making your glide less smooth due to increased friction.