Figure Skates vs. Hockey Skates vs. Speed Skates
Whether its hockey, world-class figure skating or the breathtaking pace and gracefulness of Olympic speed skating, there’s an artistry that’s unmatched when a professional laces up a pair of ice skates. Those skates, though, are finely crafted tools, each specifically designed to allow the skater to excel at certain tasks. Let’s look at the different types of ice skates—how they vary and how the differences affect performance.
A Brief History of Ice Skating
Scientists have found evidence that humans crafted an ice-skate-like device as early as the third millennium BCE. Archaeological evidence includes polished and sharpened animal bones, found in Sweden and Finland, dated anywhere from 3000 to 1800 BCE, which were strapped to shoes with leather, but typically included a pole for navigation.
The earliest metal blade was found in Scandinavia, dated to around 200 BCE. Wooden and iron blades were commonly used by the Dutch for centuries, starting around 1200 CE. Edges were added to the skates around 1500, doing away with the need for poles. In 1865, an American, Jackson Haines, first added a toe pick to skates, allowing skaters to jump and more easily change directions.
Figure Skates—Primarily about Precision and Artistic Movement
The distinctive features of figure skates include both the length (up to 11 inches) and the “toe pick,” a set if small teeth at the very front of the blade that skaters use to grip the ice, aiding in braking, but also allowing spinning, jumping and intricate toe-step footwork. The blades are also slightly curved and typically have a hollow-ground center, a shorter tail (rear blade extension) and extremely stiff boots. The blade is commonly concave in the center, which facilitates precision and speed in turning or maneuvering.
Hockey Skates—Build to Maximize Speed, Agility and Maneuverability
Hockey skates typically have a shorter blade…around 8 inches…and have a pronounced curve from the heel to the toe, allowing the wearer to travel faster and make quicker turns. The blade is also concave, with two distinct edges (inside and outside) that grip the ice for quick change of direction. Unlike figure skates, hockey skates do not have a toe pick. The boots focus on providing maximum ankle support as players constantly shift direction. The skates are designed to fit extremely tightly, often referred to as a “second skin.” Most modern hockey skates have interchangeable blades, which can be changed almost immediately.
Speed Skates—All about Speed and Power
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of speed skates is the length of the blade, which can be up to 20 inches. The added length primarily provides stability when competitors reach top speeds (which can be up to 35 miles per hour for an elite athlete). The blades on a speed skate are virtually flat, intended to promote gliding rather than turning. The modern speed skate has a hinge at the toe, known as a “clap” mechanism, to allow for longer and more powerful strokes. The boots are lightweight and low-cut, allowing maximum flexibility in the ankle.
