Figure skate

Figure skate

Figure skates are a type of ice skate used by figure skaters. The skates consist of a "boot" and a "blade" that is attached with screws to the sole of the boot. Inexpensive sets for recreational skaters are available, but most figure skaters purchase boots and blades separately and have the blades mounted by a professional skate technician.

Boots

Figure skating boots are traditionally made by hand from many layers of leather. The design of figure skating boots changed significantly during the 20th century. Old photographs of skaters such as Sonja Henie from the 1920's and 1930's show them wearing thin, supple boots reaching to mid-calf. Modern skating boots, on the other hand, are extremely rigid to support the foot and ankle in jumps, and are cut much lower -- just over ankle height -- to allow the foot to flex. Because the stiffness of the boots makes good fit essential, many skaters either order custom boots or have their boots "bumped out" over pressure points by a skate technician.

In recent years, boots made of synthetic materials with heat-moldable linings have become popular with many skaters because they combine strength with lighter weight than leather boots, and are easier to "break in". The latest development in boot technology is a boot that is hinged at the ankle to provide lateral support while allowing more flexibility. Boots used in ice dance are usually slightly lower in the back to allow for greater bend in the ankle. Some boots also come with a flexible elastic back.

The typical colors for boots are black for men and white or tan for women, although other colors are available.

Blades

Figure skates differ most visibly from hockey skates in having a set of large, jagged teeth called "toe picks" (also known as "toe rakes") on the front of the blade. The toe picks are used primarily in jumping and footwork, and should not be used for stroking or spins. Toe pick designs have become quite elaborate and sometimes include teeth on the sides of the blade.

The skate blades are typically made of tempered steel, coated with a high-quality chrome. Lightweight alloy blades are becoming more popular with high-level skaters. Blades are about 3/16 inch (nowrap|4 mm) thick and may have a slightly tapered cross-section.

When viewed from the side, the blade of a figure skate is not flat, but curved slightly, forming an arc of a circle with a radius of nowrap|180-220 cm. The "sweet spot" of the blade is below the ball of the foot. [http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/equipment_uk.asp?DiscCode=FS&sportCode=SK Figure skating equipment] , accessed July 7, 2006.] This spot is usually located near the stanchion of the blade, and is the part of the blade where all spins are spun on.

The blade is also "hollow ground"; a groove on the bottom of the blade creates two distinct edges, inside and outside. The inside edge of the blade is on the side closest to the skater; the outside edge of the blade is on the side farthest from the skater. In figure skating it is always desirable to skate on only one edge of the blade, never on both at the same time (which is referred to as a "flat"). The apparently effortless power and glide across the ice exhibited by elite figure skaters fundamentally derives from efficient use of the edges to generate speed.

Ice dancers' blades are about an inch shorter in the rear than those used by skaters in other disciplines, to accommodate the intricate footwork and close partnering in dance. They also possess a smaller pick near the bottom to allow for better edge-work and less focus on jumping.

Blade types

Various specialty blade types exist, including:
*Tapered figure skating blades have a design which causes them to be thicker at the front near the toepicks and thinner at the tail of the blade; therefore, the edges are not parallel.
*Side honed figure skating blades have a concave design which causes them to be thicker at the stanchions and the edge stripe and thinner in between. They are easily recognizable because they cause reflections to be inverted.
*Parabolic figure skating blades were first introduced by HD Sports in order to employ new scientific developments in the creation of figure skating blades. The middle section of parabolic blades is thinner than that of normal blades, while both ends are typically wider than those of regular blades. [http://www.parabolicblades.com/] , accessed February 25, 2008.] This translates into less steel and a lighter blade overall. Their design is meant to improve skaters' blade stability, footwork, and edges.

History

Ice skates have a history dating back thousands of years. Specific "figure" skates were created in response to the rise of figure skating's popularity in the 19th century, coinciding with the beginnings of formalized competitions such as the World Figure Skating Championships.

References

External links

* [http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Ice-Skates.html Ice skate construction]
* [http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bliceskates.htm History of ice skates]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/1805/firsts.html Figure skating firsts]
* [http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/equipment_uk.asp?DiscCode=FS&sportCode=SK Figure skate parts]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • figure skate — I noun an ice skate worn for figure skating; has a slightly curved blade and a row of jagged points at the front of the blade • Hypernyms: ↑ice skate II verb dance on skates • Topics: ↑sport, ↑athletics …   Useful english dictionary

  • figure skate — a shoe skate used in figure skating, esp. one having a blade shorter than that of a racing skate, usually not extending beyond the toe or heel, and with notches or sawteeth on the curved forward edge. Cf. racing skate. * * * …   Universalium

  • figure skate — verb To practice figure skating …   Wiktionary

  • figure-skate — For a referee, judge, or arbitrator to make a completely wrong call. Get rid of the French judge so we don t get figure skated …   Dictionary of american slang

  • figure-skate — For a referee, judge, or arbitrator to make a completely wrong call. Get rid of the French judge so we don t get figure skated …   Dictionary of american slang

  • figure skating — figure skater. 1. ice skating in which the skater traces intricate patterns on the ice. 2. a type of ice skating developed from this, emphasizing jumps, spins, and other movements that combine athletic skills and dance techniques. 3. a… …   Universalium

  • figure-skater — noun [countable] [singular figure skater plural figure skaters] Thesaurus: skating and sports played on icehyponym sports events and competitions …   Useful english dictionary

  • skate — I (Roget s IV) v. Syn. slide, glide, skim, slip, skid, go quickly, race, ice skate, roller skate. II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) v. slide, glide, glissade, roller skate, rollerblade, ice skate, figure skate. WORD FIND figure skating • arena: rink… …   English dictionary for students

  • Figure skating — is an athletic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level (senior), and at local,… …   Wikipedia

  • Figure skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics — Individual men ladies Pairs mixed …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”