Boots and blades
Figure skates are two separate parts — a boot and a blade — and each affects what a skater can safely do.
The boot
Boots differ mainly in stiffness. A stiffer boot supports the ankle through jump landings; a boot that is too stiff for the skater's level makes basic knee bend and edge work harder instead of easier.
Fit matters more than brand. Heel lift inside the boot is a common cause of blisters and of unstable landings.
The blade
Figure skating blades have a toe pick at the front and a curved profile along the length, called the rocker. The rocker lets the skater turn and spin on a small section of the blade.
Sharpening
Sharpening does not just make the blade sharp; it sets the depth of the hollow between the edges. A deeper hollow grips more, a shallower one glides more. Consistency matters, which is why many skaters stick with one sharpener they trust.
- Getting startedWhat learning to skate usually looks like in Canada: group lessons, basic skills, and when figure skating becomes its own discipline.
- JumpsAxel, Lutz, flip, loop, Salchow and toe loop: which are edge jumps, which are toe jumps, and why the Axel has an extra half rotation.
- ScoringThe ISU Judging System in plain terms: technical element score, program components, base values and grade of execution.
- AboutA plain-language reference on figure skating basics.