| Ice skates were originally invented to help people | | | | and the depth of this hollow is different depending on |
| save energy whilst they were hunting in harsh winter | | | | the types of skating that the skates will be used for |
| conditions. Early ice skates were made from the leg | | | | and the ability of the skater. |
| bones of horses, ox's and deer. The early versions of | | | | The radius of this hollow can be anything between |
| the skates were attached to the feet with leather | | | | 0.5 cm and 2.5 cm. In general the larger the hollow |
| straps and the people that wore them used a long | | | | the greater the control the skater has but skates |
| pole with a sharp metal spike to help propel them | | | | with less of a hollow can achieve greater speeds. |
| along. | | | | The style of skate that the person chooses is |
| These skates have since been developed for | | | | generally made as a result of a number of different |
| different types of skating. The most notable | | | | factors including the skater's ability, strength and also |
| development of the traditional Finnish design took | | | | the activity that they use the skate for. |
| place in New Brunswick in 1859 when James A. | | | | There are five core types of ice skate which each |
| Whelpley developed the skate to help people that | | | | have unique aspects that differentiate them from the |
| wear them travel over extensive distances. The | | | | rest. These skates fall under the following categories |
| skate was designed to help the user travel rapidly | | | | figure skates, hockey skates, bandy skates, racing |
| along the Long Reach section of the St John River. | | | | skates and touring skates. Figure skates are typified |
| The skate was made up of a steel blade that was | | | | by the toe picks on the front of the blade and are |
| attached to a pair of normal boots with leather | | | | designed to enable jumps in figure skating. |
| straps. The design and quality of these skates has | | | | Hockey skates are used for playing ice hockey and |
| been in development ever since. | | | | typically do not use moulded plastic on the upper |
| Although it may look like the ice skate comprises of | | | | section of the boot so that the skater can have a |
| a single blade skate the actual blade of the skate | | | | good range of mobility. Racing skates generally have |
| does not meet at a single point like a knife. Instead | | | | longer blades and they are often higher than other |
| the ice skate blade has two blades that have a | | | | skates so that the skater can make deeper turns |
| hollow ridge between them. Both of these blades run | | | | without the boot contacting the ice. |
| parallel to one another and indeed the better the | | | | Touring skates are those that can be attached to |
| quality of the skates the better the more consistent | | | | cross country ski boots and are used to travel long |
| the two blades are. | | | | distances on ice. The length and breadth of these |
| Poor maintenance and improper sharpening | | | | skates makes them steady on uneven ice and the |
| techniques can therefore damage the effectiveness | | | | fact that the skates can be removed from the |
| of the skates and can have a considerable effect on | | | | boots make them popular as it is possible to |
| an individual's ability to skate. The hollow between | | | | approach any terrain without having to completely |
| the two blades is known as the Radius of the Hollow | | | | remove the boot. |