The technique

To perform at its best, an instrument must be properly tuned.
Here you can find some technical insights to better understand the secrets of ice blades.

Sharpening

The sharpening is represented by the concave groove that runs along the bottom of the blade, creating two sharp edges on the sides.
The sharpening depth is expressed in inches or mm and can be more or less deep. The most commonly used ones range from 5/8 to 3/8 inches (18 – 11 mm).

A deeper sharpening result in sharper edges, favoring grip over glide.
A shallower sharpening result in less pronounced edges, favoring glide over grip.

Main rocker

The main rocker of a blade is the longitudinal curvature that determines the point of contact of the blade with the ice.

It is determined by the circumference of a hypothetical circle with a radius equal to the rocker itself; the smaller the radius of the rocker, the more accentuated the curvature.

Rocker is expressed in feet and the most commonly used are 7′ and 8′.
A 7-foot rocker has a steeper curve that favors maneuverability and changes of direction.
An 8-foot rocker has a less pronounced curve that favors stability, smoothness and speed.

Secondary rocker

Secondary rocker is a more specific curvature, usually found in the front or center area of the blade and is measured in inches.

The secondary rocker is designed to provide a smooth transition and is often described in qualitative terms, such as “subtle” or “aggressive”.

A subtle secondary rocker means the transition between the midsection and the tip of the blade is more gradual; this can be helpful for finding the toe picks more quickly before jumps.

An aggressive secondary rocker creates a sharper transition between the midsection and the tip; this makes the blade more maneuverable and sensitive to front-end movements.

Toe picks

In the context of figure skating, the toe picks are the serrated front part of the blade that is essential for the execution of toe jumps and other technical evolutions.
These can be divided into two main categories:

Straight Pick: The picks are arranged in a straight line, along the longitudinal axis of the blade.
Thanks to their shape, they have a deeper dig into the ice during the pick phase but do not allow for correcting the jump setting.

Cross Pick: The picks are arranged in a crisscross configuration with respect to the axis of the blade.
This configuration avoids excessively deep or potentially unstable lunges and allows a better setting of the jumps or spins right from the beginning.

Tapering

A tapered blade is thicker at the front and gets thinner moving toward the heel.
This results in two different angles (or edges) at the front and back.

Side honing

Side honing is the slight concavity along the sides of the ice skate blade.
This process (together with the tapering) lightens the blade and sharpens the edges, improving grip, traction, and control on the ice.

THE FLEXIGLIDE™ PATENT
Our innovative Flexiglide™ side honing technique varies along the entire length in order to modify the edges of the blade as they contact the ice.
This way, front grip and rear smoothness are maximised.

Chrome relief

Blades, being mostly made of steel, must be chrome-plated on the surface to prevent the formation of oxides. However, the part in contact with the ice must have bare steel.

The chrome relief is a specific technique that involves the selective removal of the chrome layer in the areas adjacent to the blade edge, leaving the coating intact on the rest of the surface.

THE AQUASKID™ PATENT
The usual mechanical processes for removing the chrome layer can lead to the formation of rounded or concave edges. This is unfavorable because it compromises grip, stability, and smoothness, making the blade more difficult to control.
Our Aquaskid™ chrome relief method keeps edges intact while offering exceptional grip. It also significantly improves speed due to the completely smooth surface compared to traditional mechanical processes.

Bravotouch ™

Bravotouch™ is an exclusive detail that makes the difference every time the skater has to grab the blade during a spin.
The beveled top edge provides a comfortable and precise tactile sensation, preventing cuts to gloves or scratches to fingers.
A small technical feature that adds safety and comfort.

Tail

The tail of a blade is the rear part and serves to maintain balance, stabilize the trajectory and support the skater’s weight during pushes and landings.
Free skating blades have a longer tail to provide greater stability when landing jumps and more support when pushing off.
In dance blades, the tails are shorter and more rounded than those of free blades.
This is because in ice dance, skaters do not perform jumps with high rotations, but rather steps and close movements.