| Ice skating is a popular sport these days. But it is by no | | | | will vary between a quarter and one inch, depending |
| means a new past time. The oldest ice skates ever | | | | on the type of skate and the purpose it is used for. |
| found are said to be over 5,000 years old and they | | | | For a professional figure skater, this hollow will be |
| were made from the leg bones of either a horse or | | | | deliberately carved to suit the skater's style and |
| ox. They were secured to the feet with leather straps | | | | weight. Speed skates and touring skates have a |
| and a metal spike was used to propel the skater | | | | completely flat bottom with no hollow to aid speed |
| forward. Of course, these ice skates were used | | | | without cutting into the ice. |
| mainly for ease of transport across ice and less for | | | | Figure skates are the most popular recreational ice |
| entertainment although we can never be completely | | | | skates. Moulded from stiff leather for ankle support |
| sure! | | | | and with toe picks for easier manoeuvring, these are |
| Scandinavia and Finland are the obviously places for | | | | the type you will normally be hiring if you attend an ice |
| the first ice skates to be made given their vast | | | | rink for fun. |
| amounts of ice. Some of the examples of the skates | | | | Hockey skates are much more lethal looking ice |
| that have been uncovered in these regions and | | | | skates. Moulded from plastic, leather and ballistic nylon |
| consisted of a thin strip of copper attached to the | | | | they have better manoeuverability and thinner, faster |
| underside of a leather shoe. So, what else can you do | | | | blades than a recreational ice skate. The ice hockey |
| to an ice skate? Apart from slight adaptations for | | | | goalies skate are cut lower and the blade is set slightly |
| comfort and durability, the ice skate has barely | | | | different with a protective shell which provides more |
| changed much over the last 5,000 years. | | | | protection. |
| The Long Reach skate was the most widely used ice | | | | Bandy ice skates are quite different. Used for playing |
| skate for many years and this was developed in new | | | | rink bandy, they come with a much lower cut boot |
| Brunswick, Canada by James A Whelpley in 1859. This | | | | which barely covers the ankles and a longer blade. |
| was developed for long distance skating on the lakes | | | | Racing skates, or speed skates have extra long |
| and the family owned business of manufacturing ice | | | | blades and the shoe is connected to the blade via a |
| skates in this area for another seven years before | | | | hinge. They also have higher blades to allow for better |
| they moved to New Hampshire. | | | | turning and to prevent the boot coming into contact |
| Today's modern ice skate has changed little although | | | | with the ice. |
| there are now slightly different designs depending on | | | | So, whether its recreational skating, figure skating, |
| what the user wants them for. Although the bottom of | | | | speed skating, rink bandy or ice hockey that you want |
| an ice skate is often seen as a blade it no longer | | | | to get involved in, finding the correct type of ice skate |
| resembles a knife blade. It actually has a crescent | | | | will make the game a whole lot easier and a whole lot |
| shaped hollow along the surface so that you actually | | | | more comfortable. |
| skate on two parallel edges. The depth of this hollow | | | | |