Skate Sharpening & Profiling
FAQ
Regularly sharpening your ice skates is crucial for maintaining peak performance and safety on the ice. Whether you are sporting Bauer, CCM, Jackson, or Edea, sharp blades provide better grip, control, and stability, allowing for smoother gliding, more precise turns, and improved stopping power. Dull skates can lead to poor performance and increase the risk of falls and injuries due to the lack of control.
If you can schedule your drop-off, we should have your skates sharpened and ready for pickup by the next day.
Providing expert answers and precision sharpening for skaters in Herriman, Riverton, South Jordan, and Daybreak.
1
How often do I need to sharpen skates?
The frequency of sharpening depends on several factors, including how often you skate, the quality of the ice, and your personal skating style. For recreational skaters, sharpening every 20 to 30 hours of ice time is generally recommended. However, more frequent skaters, like hockey players or figure skaters, may need to sharpen their skates every 10 to 15 hours of use. It's essential to regularly check the condition of your blades and adjust your sharpening schedule based on your specific needs and skating habits.
2
Do I need to sharpen brand-new ice skates?
Yes, it is generally recommended to sharpen brand-new ice skates before using them for the first time. While new skates come with factory edges, they might not be properly sharpened for optimal performance. Factory sharpening can vary, and the edges may not have the correct angle or level of sharpness needed for effective skating. Sharpening new skates ensures that the blades are prepared to provide the best grip, control, and stability on the ice. It's a good idea to have them sharpened to ensure the edges are consistent and suited to your skating style.
3
What is deburring and why do my skates need it?
Deburring ice skates after sharpening is essential to ensure performance and safety on the ice. When skates are sharpened, small burrs, or rough edges, are often left on the blades.
Deburring removes these imperfections, creating a smoother edge that enhances glide and maneuverability. It also helps prevent nicks and chips in the blade that can occur if burrs are left untreated. Regular deburring not only improves the skating experience but also extends the life of the blades by maintaining their integrity and performance.
4
Should my edges be checked after each sharpening?
Yes, checking the edges of your ice skates after every sharpening is necessary. Ensuring that the edges are even and properly sharpened is crucial for maintaining good performance and safety on the ice. Both edges should be level and have the same height for balanced performance. Uneven edges can lead to instability and difficulty in controlling your movements.
Properly checked and sharpened edges help reduce the risk of accidents and falls by providing better control and grip on the ice.
5
What is a hollow and why does it matter?
An ice skate hollow, the shape of the groove or indentation ground into the blade of an ice skate, is not just a technicality but a significant factor in the skate's performance on the ice. The blade of an ice skate is not flat; it has a concave groove along its length, creating two sharp edges on either side. This groove is the "hollow." The depth and curvature of the hollow significantly affect how the skate interacts with the ice, influencing the overall performance.
The hollow is generally referred to by the radius of the circle that would fit into the groove, which is called the Radius of Hollow (ROH). Common ROH measurements range from 3/8" (9.5 mm) to 1" (25 mm). A smaller ROH (e.g., 3/8") creates a deeper hollow, resulting in more pronounced edges, which provide better grip or "bite" on the ice. A larger ROH (e.g., 1") results in a shallower hollow, which makes for a smoother glide but less grip. Deeper hollows (Smaller ROH) provide more control and better turns as the sharper edges dig into the ice more. Figure skaters usually prefer this due to needing more precise movements. Shallower hollows (Larger ROH) allow for faster speeds with less resistance from the ice, making it suitable for more s or those who prefer quick, straight movements.
The choice of hollow depends on the skater's style, weight, and the ice conditions. Heavier skaters might prefer a shallower hollow to avoid excessive bite, while lighter skaters may benefit from a deeper hollow for better control.
6
Does it matter where or who sharpens my skates?
While there might be numerous options for skate sharpening, there's immense value in entrusting your skates to the same person who consistently delivers the performance you seek. This ensures uniformity in the sharpening of your blades and helps preserve the feel and quality of your skates. Other sharpeners may use different equipment or techniques, leading to slight variations in your edges or blade profile. We strive to minimize variability and provide reliable results in the form of consistent feel and performance on the ice.
7
What is skate profiling?
Skate profiling changes the shape of your blade's bottom from front to back. That shape influences how much of the blade contacts the ice and how the skate feels during acceleration, turns, transitions, crossovers, and gliding.
Different profiles can create very different characteristics, from quick and responsive to smooth and stable. The goal isn't to find the "best" profile. It's to find the profile that works best for you.
8
Is profiling the same thing as sharpening?
No. Profiling determines the blade's shape from front to back. Sharpening creates the edges and the hollow across the blade's width.
Think of profiling as determining how the blade interacts with the ice, while sharpening determines how much bite and glide you get from your edges.
The two work together, which is why you may sometimes need to adjust your hollow after profiling.
9
How do I know which profile I need?
I can help you with that.
Runner length, skater size, position, skating style, current setup, and what you're feeling on the ice all help determine where to start.
Tell me what you like about your current skates, what you don't, and what you'd like to improve. I'll help you narrow down the options and choose a starting point.
10
I'm new to profiling. Where should I start?
Choose First-Time Profiling.
You don't need to understand Quad, Zuperior, Natural Curve, pitch, or radius measurements before getting started. We'll talk about your skating and what you're looking for, and I'll help you select a profile that makes sense.
Your first profile is a well-informed starting point, and I'm here to help along the way.
11
What will profiling actually change about how my skates feel?
It depends on the profile.
A profile can make a skate feel quicker and more responsive, smoother and more stable, better at carrying speed, easier through crossovers, or more natural underfoot.
That's why choosing a profile based solely on what another player uses isn't always the best approach. Different skaters want different things from their blades.
12
What's the difference between Quad, Zuperior and Natural Curve?
A simple way to think about them is:
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QUAD: Responsive and connected. Great for quick edge engagement, acceleration, cuts, and transitions.
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ZUPERIOR: Smooth and efficient. Emphasizes speed retention, stability, and flow through turns and crossovers.
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NATURAL CURVE: Fluid and intuitive. Designed around natural balance, seamless transitions, and an effortless feeling underneath the skater.
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There is overlap between them, and the individual profile within each family matters too. That's where I can help.
13
Will profiling make me a better skater?
Profiling isn't a substitute for skating technique, but the right setup can better complement how you skate.
A skater shouldn't have to fight their blades. The goal is to create a setup that gives you the balance, responsiveness, stability, and movement you want so you can focus on skating, not your equipment.
14
What if I don't like my new profile?
Tell me what you're feeling.
Feedback like "I feel too far forward," "the heel feels stuck," "I don't feel stable," or "I love the speed but want quicker turns" can tell us a lot.
Sometimes finding the ideal setup takes a bit of adjustment. Profiling isn't just about putting a template on your steel. I'm here to help you find the setup that works for you. That is why I offer one heavily discounted adjustment for first-time profilers within a short window of time, as long as they communicate with me.
15
Is profiling permanent?
Not necessarily, but profiling does remove steel.
A blade can generally be reprofiled into a different shape, as long as enough usable steel remains. That's another reason I prefer making an informed recommendation rather than repeatedly changing profiles unnecessarily.
16
Does profiling remove a lot of steel?
The amount removed depends on the existing blade shape and the profile being applied. The goal is always to achieve the intended geometry without unnecessarily removing steel.
New runners can also vary from one another out of the package, so profiling creates a known, repeatable shape rather than assuming both blades started exactly the same.
17
Why does my runner size matter?
A profile that works beautifully on a long adult runner may not behave the same way when applied to much shorter steel. Profile families include different sizes and geometries for a reason.
That's why I consider runner length along with the skater, rather than simply recommending the same popular profile to everyone.
18
Does a smaller skater need a different profile than an adult?
Often, yes.
Runner length is a major consideration, but body size, strength, skating ability, and skating style matter too. Youth players and smaller-footed skaters shouldn't automatically be treated like scaled-down adults.
The goal is to create an appropriate amount of blade contact and mobility for that particular skater and runner.
19
Will I need to change my hollow after profiling?
Maybe.
A new profile changes how the blade contacts and interacts with the ice. Because of that, the hollow you've always used may feel different after you profile it.
I consider your current hollow, weight, runner size, profile, and how much bite you prefer when recommending a sharpening setup.
20
How long does it take to get used to a new profile?
Some skaters notice an improvement immediately. Others need a few skates to adapt, especially when the new profile is significantly different from what they were previously skating on.
Give yourself some time to skate normally before analyzing every movement. If it feels off at first, I recommend 3 to 4 ice sessions. Then, if something consistently doesn't feel right, let me know what you're experiencing.
21
How often should my skates be reprofiled?
You'll find a wide range of opinions about this. How quickly a profile changes depends on how frequently the skates are sharpened, how they're sharpened, and how much steel is removed each time.
My general recommendation is to consider a Profile Refresh about once a year, or whenever your skates don't quite feel the way they used to.
If you already love your setup, a refresh isn't about changing it. It's about keeping it.
22
Do new skates or replacement runners need to be profiled?
If you want them to match the profile you're accustomed to, yes.
New steel doesn't automatically reproduce your existing profile. Profiling replacement runners allows us to recreate the geometry you've already become comfortable skating on.
23
Can you match a profile I already like?
It depends on what profile was applied. That's one reason it's important to track your setup.
If you aren't sure what was done previously, reach out to me and tell me everything you know about the setup and, more importantly, what you like about how they feel. We'll try to help match you to the right profile.
