Your skates are the foundation of everything you accomplish on the ice. When they start to show signs of wear and tear, it compromises your performance. Even seemingly minor damage to the blades worsens edge quality and makes it harder for you to manoeuvre with grace and control. You’re also less stable on the ice, which puts you at risk for a bad fall or injury. Essentially, you need a high-quality skate and a sharpened blade to glide, spin, and jump at the highest level. The first step is investing in a top-quality skate, like the ones we carry at the Figure Skating Boutique. Otherwise, you’re starting off on the wrong foot. What you do next is equally important. How you care for, transport, and store your skates has a profound impact on their longevity and performance. Why Blade Protection Matters Maintenance and storage will determine the lifespan and long-term effectiveness of your new figure skates. So, we hope you remembered to get a pair of blade covers when you picked them up, since even pro-level skates will rust when exposed to water. Blade covers keep the blades dry and protect them from accidental knocks. When blades develop rust, nicks, or scratches, it affects their edge quality. You can’t move around (or stop) as effectively, so your performance suffers. Unprotected blades wear out faster and perform worse. Not only are they vulnerable to rust and damage, but they also need to be sharpened more often. These additional maintenance expenses really add up over time. You may end up having to replace the skates altogether. In the long term, it’s much cheaper to purchase skate blade covers immediately, rather than having to deal with frequent sharpening and premature replacements. Skate Blade Covers Prevent Damage It’s surprisingly easy to damage your blades. Even seemingly small mistakes, like walking on hard ground after you step off the ice or throwing your skates into a duffel bag after a session, can have a big impact on their lifespan and effectiveness. Abrasive surfaces, like the hard ground, eat away at the blade’s sharpness. Dull blades are ineffective and even dangerous. By wearing hard skate guards off the ice, you preserve the sharpness of the blade on the ice. You’ll be able to push off powerfully, edge properly, and stop with precision. Scratches and nicks are inevitable without a high-quality blade cover. These bits of damage make it harder to perform at your best. They also shorten the lifespan of your skates, which will hurt your wallet as well as your skating results. Furthermore, exposed blades can cause damage. If you transport or store your skates without a blade cover, don’t be surprised to find that the blades have sliced through clothing, accessories, or even the bag itself. Types of Skate Blade Covers There are two categories of skate blade covers, each with a slightly different purpose. You should really have both types in your bag at all times. Soft Blade Covers Soft blade covers, a.k.a. soakers, protect your skates during storage and transport. They’re made from plush, moisture-wicking materials to reduce the risk of rust. Most also have a layer of padding that absorbs impacts and prevents nicks or scratches. That being said, you shouldn’t put soakers on right away. If you do, you will trap moisture against the blade during storage, which will likely cause the blade to rust. Instead, use a towel to wipe the blades down to dry them. Once they’re dry, put the stake soakers on; they should be a snug fit. Hard Skate Guards As you might imagine, hard skate guards are made from tough, durable plastic. They’re designed for walking short distances off-ice, like from the dressing room to the rink. Their job is to keep the blade sharp, since walking on the blades on concrete or rubber flooring will dull them. Additionally, hard skate guards provide extra grip and stability while walking. Hard skate guards come in centipede or universal designs. Centipede skate guards, such as EDEA E-guards, are highly adjustable, so they can fit over basically any blade. Universal guards, on the other hand, are trimmed to fit the size of your blades. Regardless of whether you own a pair of centipede or universal hard skate guards, you should never use them for storage. These designs are meant to be tough, not moisture-wicking. Moisture will get trapped against the blade and cause rust if left on for too long. You should always dry the blades and switch to soft covers before putting skates into your bag or storing them for the season. How to Use Figure Skate Blade Covers (Correctly) The most important thing to remember is to dry your blades thoroughly before storing them in soakers. You must remove all moisture first to prevent rust. Immediately after drying, place soft soakers over your blades before putting them in your bag. Between sessions, make sure you’re drying your wet soakers. Don’t just throw them back into your bag! Rather, let them air out after each session to prevent mildew. Hard skate guards should be used only when walking off-ice for short distances. Make sure you always remove them before transportation or storage. Explore Figure Skating Boutique’s Blade Covers Figure skate blade covers are essential pieces of equipment for every skater, no matter their level. That’s why we carry a wide range of soakers and blade covers here at the Figure Skating Boutique. You can choose from leading manufacturers, such as Guardog®, Jerry’s, EDEA, and Rockerz. If you decide on a pair of universal hard skate guards, we’ll cut and assemble the guards to fit your skates. Just remember to include the size of the blade when you order! Visit the Figure Skating Boutique to Find the Perfect Fit The Figure Skating Boutique is your go-to shop for all your figure skating needs. We offer an extensive range of skate guard covers and other figure skating products so you can perform at your best. Visit our website to view our selection of reliable and trusted brands, or stop by our store in Markham for expert advice. For more information on skate guards and for all your figure skating needs, call the Figure Skating Boutique at 1-866-957-0396 or contact us here.
