About

Blade Contouring

Contact

All hockey skate blades are "rockered" with a curve ground into the blade for a more natural movement of the leg. It also allows for more maneuverability, stability and speed for the skater. But it isn't enough to just rocker the blade, it needs to be done properly to ensure performance. When done properly, the blade will give you maximum control and minimize muscle fatigue. How this is acomplished is through cutting a custom sized radius into the blade and positioning at a specific lie.

Each skate blade is actually rockered with three different radii of a different dimension. The center radius is the working radius where most of the skating is done. The center radius should strike a balance between maneuverability and stability. The front radius needs to be large enough to give that final push at the end of a leg thrust but small enough to allow a proper flex of the knees for a quick start. The back radius needs to be small enough to all for quick turns but large enough to keep them under control. Together all three of these radius combine to provide a custom level of control depending on your skating style and needs.

The 'lie' of the center radius can then be move slightly forward or back of center to adjust the posture of the skater. When a skater is standing erect, he should be balanced directly on the high point of the radius. Moving the radius slightly forward will force the legs to lock into a rigid position. This forward lie pitches the skater forward slighlty, creating a slight loss in muscle fatigue but creating huge gains in lateral movement and speed. Moving the lie back creates a defensive position, forcing the knees and ankles to bend while keeping the skater balanced. This allows defensemen to switch between forward and backward skating smoothly and quickly.

Together, the radius and lie can be used to shape your blades to assist you in how you play, competitively or recreationally. Using our Blademaster® Contouring system we can increasing manoeuverability and stability, reduce muscle fatigue and keep you on the ice longer.