How Do I Know When I Need to Sharpen My Hockey Skates?

The need for sharpening skates depends on a few observations. You should be able to tell very quickly if your blades have become dull. You can usually tell just by being on the ice, so the more ice time you have, the easier it will be to tell if your skates aren't performance sharp.

  1. Push-Offs

    • When on the ice in your push-off position, which enables you to accelerate quickly, you push off your back leg with the blade parallel to the ice. If your pushing-off foot slides during takeoff repeatedly during the day, it is time to sharpen your skates.

    Skating Edges

    • When at practice or during a free skate, practice your sharp turns by using the edges of your blades. If your feet slide out while taking sharp turns on either your inside or your outside foot, it is time to sharpen your skates.

    Finger Test

    • Take your skates off your feet, and run your index finger along the blade. Be careful; do this test only if the first two tests fail. Run your finger along the length and across the width. If there are no sharp edges, and your finger seems to fall over the edges, it is time to sharpen your skates.