Skate Sharpening ---Myths and Realities...

 

Introduction

"Are your skates sharp?" This is a familiar question to hockey players, asked by coaches and parent's often throughout the hockey season. Unfortunately, though, regardless of the player's level (fun-oriented house league or highly-competitive 'AAA'), he or she DOES NOT KNOW THE ANSWER! At least, not until the skates hit the ice, and then it is too late.

Skating is a critical part of the sport and skates are the single most expensive piece of equipment, especially for those playing at the competitive level. (Exception being, of course, goal tenders, they have other expensive issues.) And how much time is spent learning how to tell if sharpening is needed, what kind of sharpening, the differences among the options available? About as close as it gets is; "Are your skates sharp".

How often, too, have you read an article about skate sharpening in a newpaper or magazine? I read ONE. It was 5 years ago and the author was marketing a new skate sharpening system. And what of all the different options available. There's contouring, profiling, Caging and rockering; ultimate, maximum and ever-edges; A, B, C and D-cuts along with suicide; specialty sharpening for defense and forwards: Confusing? An understatement to say the least. There has been a lot of attention paid to skate sharpening over the last 15 years, or so, by a wide array of interested parties. Specialty shops like Absolutely, Just and Mostly Hockey have done well from a business standpoint during this period. They have initiated marketing programs designed to keep the customer coming back (to spend his money, of course). Buy a $350 pair of Bauer 5000's and we'll give you 10 FREE sharpenings. Or, large retailers like National have substantially reduced their charges for skate sharpening (two years ago it was 99 cents, today it is $1.99 with an GTHL card) just to get the consumer in the door. And of course, to get to the skate sharpening facility (which is usually at the back of the store), you have to pass by the sticks, the tape, the laces.

Technology has entered the arena also (so to speak). Skates are clamped into a machine and a computer chip "drives" the sharpener to precise sharpening specifications. Gone (almost) are the days when you could go to your local arena or cycle shop and ask for a little "rockering". (There are a few of these experienced guys around, but for the most part, they're a dying breed. I've dubbed them "the vanishing GURUS OF EDGE".)

And where does this leave the consumer? The player, parent, referee, coach and even the occasional recreational skater is either confused , or absolutely convinced the right thing is being done to his/her skates. Choices are being made, but done so with either limited information or MIS-information at hand. This is the introduction to a series of articles on skate sharpening. These articles will explore the many myths within the industry, dispel the mis-information, and discover the realities of skate sharpening. The series is called "Skate Sharpening-Myths and Realities". And remember; The Turth is out there!