The blade has a little hollow cut through the centre that provides two tiny edges on either side. You could cut yourself if you ran your finger along the edge of a newly sharpened skate, but the blade does not come to a point like a typically sharp object. The skin would have to be very thin to make a good impression from such a blunt tool.
Ice hockey players and ice skate manufacturers have made many improvements over the years. Today's blades are thinner and sharper than those used decades ago. They also tend to be longer lasting. That's because people are more careful not to run their fingers over the edges for fear of cutting themselves.
However, even with modern blades, it is still possible to cut yourself if you try to slide your foot too far forward or back while standing in front of the net. A player's leg or hand can easily get caught under the blade if he makes a mistake at the wrong time.
Also, keep in mind that the puck can be hard to see at times. If you're watching the game and don't notice that someone has slipped behind you, they may well find themselves on the receiving end of a painful cut after all!
In conclusion, yes, it is possible to cut yourself while ice skating.
Let's begin with some fundamental ideas. 1 The bottom of your blade is concave rather than flat. (See illustration of blade cross-section.) This forms a hollow, allowing your skate to cut into the ice. You've learned this the hard way if you've ever put on a pair of skates straight from the box (they don't come sharpened). 2 The top of your blade is flat. This forms a surface for you to stand on while skating. Some people call these things feet. 3 Between the bottom of one blade and the top of the next there is a thin piece of metal called the shank. This is where the term bare bones comes in. There are no bones between your legs and the ice when you go out for your first skate!
Now that you know what everything is made of, you may want to try putting them on yourself. Here's how: Start by placing one foot in the center of the other shoe. Make sure the big toe points up; it's what we call the position of readiness. Next, slide your shoes off one foot at a time, making sure both blades land on the floor or other solid surface. Finally, sit down and lace up your skates as if they were shoes. Now you're ready to skate!
1 Don't rush! Enjoy the motion of gliding over the ice! 2 Use your arms to balance yourself. 3 Keep your head up!
Yes. A skate blade will very likely cut through flesh and bone. It has a flat surface that tends to stay flat when you push it into the ice.
The way people injure themselves using ice skates is by pushing their hand into a unguarded blade or by stepping out of line and hitting their knee against the side of the rink. The elbow is the most common site for injury because the arm is bent when someone throws a punch with an ice hockey stick. Ice hockey players sometimes twist an ankle by failing to shift their weight after making a move toward the net or by jumping instead of sliding feet first in order to gain extra speed.
The hand is the most vulnerable part of the body when skating because it is pressed up against the blade. You should always wear gloves while skating so that you cannot be injured by your own hands.
People often think that ice hockey players are protected from injury because they wear armor-like padding on their bodies. In fact, more people are killed by ice hockey sticks than by ice skates. The reason is that a skilled player can generate tremendous power with his or her stick and can cause injuries that might not occur if he or she was simply playing soccer or hockey.
When swung at high speeds, hockey skate blades are sharp enough to hurt someone, yet they are also dull enough that you can run your fingers across them without even breaking the skin. In fact, skate sharpeners frequently use their fingertips to feel the edge of the blade to ensure that the skates are correctly sharpened.
The ice skates themselves are not sharp; it is the blade that is sharp. The ice skater runs across the surface of the ice and thus wears away any sharp edges that might otherwise injure someone.
This article was written by Mark Moran from About.com. It has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Skates are sharp, but not as sharp as a knife or a blade; you may brush your finger over them softly; nonetheless, skate blades can be deadly while travelling at high speeds and have been known to cause odd accidents. Also, because they are made of wood, ice skates are fragile.
When you slide on an ice skate you are actually sliding on a thin layer of plastic or metal that has been treated with some kind of resin to make it more durable. The thinner the layer of material that you slide on, the faster you will go. Ice skates with thicker layers are harder to skate but also last longer.
There are two types of ice skates: classic and ice hockey. Classic ice skates consist of three pairs of thin boards attached to the foot with leather straps. The edge of each board is razor-sharp so that you can glide across the ice without getting too much friction from other objects. Modern ice skates usually have plastic instead of leather boots and metal edges instead of wooden ones.
Ice hockey skates have one thick board that provides more stability but also limits how fast you can skate. It's hard to find information about ancient ice skates but based on what we know now they would probably have three thick boards instead of two.
In conclusion, ice skates are very sharp!
No one should ever skate on blades that are dull or unsharpened. Your skating edge will assist you in turning and maneuvering, as well as maintaining your balance. Maintain a sharp—but not too sharp—edge: A sharp blade grips the ice more effectively than a dull one. When you land, sharpen your blades if they begin to slip awkwardly. This can help you avoid injuries.
Ice skating is all about control. You need strong legs, good technique, and a feel for the ice to perform at your best. If you're new to ice skating, start with easier courses and levels of competition until you learn how to control yourself and your equipment better.
You can ice skate on unsharpened skates but it's not recommended. The only way to achieve a sharp edge on an unsharpened skate is by using a resharpener. The skin on your feet will be abraded over time even when you're not skating, so wearing shoes with a high degree of traction is important. Also, make sure that the nails on your boots are trimmed fairly short. Long nails can cause you pain when you push off of them.
Finally, drink plenty of water before you go out on the ice. Thirst makes you dehydrated which can make you feel tired and irritable. Avoid caffeine after midday; it increases your heart rate and blood pressure which could lead to dizziness or anxiety attacks if you're not used to it.
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