FAQS about Skating
What's better hockey skates or figure skates?
Ideally you should start your child in the type of skate that they will use later, however since there is no way of knowing for sure for most kids, either one is fine. Hockey skates are better for wide feet. Figure skates are better if your child has any ankle problems.
If you're coming back to skating I would recommend keeping with whatever skates you wore as a child.
If you're skating for the first time as an adult I would recommend hockey skates since they are just more common.
How does skate sharpening work?
Whenever you buy new skates you will need to get them sharpened before you use them. The length of time that they'll stay sharpened for depends greatly on how you skate but if you're just using them for recreational purposes they should be good for 15 hours at least. If you are skating outdoors they will need to be sharpened more frequently.
How should I take care of my skates?
Try not to walk on any non rubber surfaces with them as it will make them dull and could cause them to get nicks or become uneven. Make sure you dry the blades after every use so they don't rust. Hard guards should not be put on skates after you have used them because they will cause the blades to rust.
How should skates fit?
Skates should fit snugly, even for growing children. Usually skates fit a size or two smaller than your shoes. A good way to measure for kids is to take out the insole and have them stand on it. If there is more than a finger's width of room then the skates are too big.
Why are bike helmets and street hockey helmets not allowed?
Bike helmets are only designed for forwards impact and street hockey helmets are only designed for balls or pucks hitting the front.
Can my child use a skate aid on the ice?
No it is imperative that your child learns to balance on the ice by themselves and fall.
How come my child walks/runs instead of pushing and gliding?
Some children, particularly younger ones can take a full year or two to transition to pushing and gliding. Be patient.
Why does my child only push with one foot?
This is a common problem among adults and children learning to skate as 1 leg is generally stronger than the other. This can sometimes take a long time to break out of and requires a lot of encouragement , persistence and patience.
Why do my/my children's ankles lean when they skate?
This is a common problem and there are lots of reasons for this.
1) Skates are not tied tight enough
2) Skates do not have enough support around the ankle. Cheaper or used skates can have this problem.
3) Skates do not fit. The skates are either too big all around or too wide.
4) Ankles, feet and calves may not be in good alignment to start with. If you find that your shoes wear out unevenly as well, you could be leaning somewhat when you walk.
5) Skates may not be made properly- sometimes this results in only 1 foot leaning
While a small portion of this has to do with ankle strength, if your ankles are leaning all the time it's probably another issue.
I am an adult learning to skate for the first time. What equipment do I need?
A helmet, gloves and skates. You may wish to get hockey pants, wrist guards and knee and elbow pads as you will progress much faster if you are not afraid of falling.
