When to Sharpen Your Skates
Keep your blades sharp for optimal performance and safety
🎯 Why Sharp Blades Matter
Sharp skate blades are essential for control, safety, and performance. Dull blades slip, slide, and make every skill harder—from basic gliding to advanced jumps and spins. Knowing when to sharpen your skates is one of the most important maintenance skills you'll learn. This guide will teach you how to recognize when your blades need sharpening and how often to get them done.
🔍Signs Your Skates Need Sharpening
1. Slipping on Edges
Your edges slip out from under you when you try to hold a curve or turn. This is the #1 sign of dull blades.
2. Difficulty Stopping
Your stops feel less effective, requiring more effort or distance to come to a complete stop.
3. Chattering or Vibrating
Your blades chatter or vibrate when you glide, especially on edges. Sharp blades glide smoothly and quietly.
4. Can't Hold Crossovers
Crossovers feel unstable or your edges give out mid-crossover. Sharp edges grip the ice for solid crossovers.
5. Jumps Feel Off
Takeoffs and landings feel slippery or unstable. Jumps require sharp edges for proper technique.
6. Spins Won't Center
You can't find your center in spins, or you travel more than usual. Sharp blades help you stay centered.
7. Visual Inspection
Run your fingernail gently across the edge—if it doesn't catch or scrape, your blade is dull. You can also see nicks or flat spots.
8. The Thumbnail Test
Gently run the blade edge across your thumbnail. A sharp blade will shave off a tiny bit of nail. A dull blade will slide without catching.
⚠️ Safety Warning
Be extremely careful when testing blade sharpness! Blades are sharp enough to cut skin. Always test gently and never run your finger along the edge.
📅How Often to Sharpen
Sharpening frequency depends on several factors:
General Guidelines:
- Recreational skaters (1-2x/week): Every 2-3 months
- Regular skaters (3-4x/week): Every 4-6 weeks
- Serious skaters (5+x/week): Every 2-4 weeks
- Competitive skaters: Every 1-2 weeks or before competitions
Factors That Affect Sharpening Frequency:
- Ice time: More skating = more frequent sharpening
- Ice quality: Hard, gritty ice dulls blades faster
- Skill level: Advanced skaters need sharper blades for jumps/spins
- Blade quality: Higher-quality steel holds an edge longer
- Skating style: Jumpers need more frequent sharpening than dancers
- Walking on hard surfaces: Damages edges quickly
Keep a sharpening log! Note the date each time you sharpen your skates and how many hours you skated since the last sharpening. This helps you identify your personal sharpening schedule. Most skaters find a pattern after 2-3 sharpenings.
⚖️Too Sharp vs Too Dull
| Condition | How It Feels | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Too Dull | Slipping, chattering, can't hold edges, stops don't work, everything feels harder | Get sharpened immediately. Dull blades are dangerous and make skating frustrating. |
| Perfectly Sharp | Edges grip the ice, smooth gliding, confident stops, spins center easily, jumps feel stable | Enjoy! This is the sweet spot. Track your hours to know when to sharpen next. |
| Too Sharp (rare) | Edges feel "grabby" or "sticky," hard to glide smoothly, blades dig in too much | Skate for 30-60 minutes to break them in. Overly sharp blades mellow out quickly. |
ℹ️ The "Break-In" Period
Freshly sharpened blades often feel very sharp for the first 15-30 minutes of skating. This is normal! They'll settle into the perfect sharpness after a brief break-in period. Don't panic if they feel grabby at first.
🏪Where to Get Skates Sharpened
Options:
- Pro shop at your rink: Most convenient, usually $10-20 per sharpening
- Dedicated skate shops: Often have experienced sharpeners
- Hockey shops: Can sharpen figure skates (make sure they know figure skating hollow)
- Sporting goods stores: Hit or miss quality—ask if they're experienced with figure skates
What to Look For:
- Experience with figure skates (not just hockey)
- Knows about hollow depth (ROH - Radius of Hollow)
- Uses quality sharpening equipment
- Consistent results
- Good reviews from other figure skaters
Questions to Ask:
- "Do you sharpen figure skates regularly?"
- "What hollow do you recommend for my level?"
- "How long have you been sharpening?"
- "Can you check my blades for damage?"
⚠️ Bad Sharpening Can Ruin Blades
A bad sharpening job can damage your blades permanently. Always use an experienced sharpener, especially for your first few sharpenings. Ask other skaters at your rink for recommendations.
🔧Understanding Hollow (ROH)
The "hollow" is the groove between your two edges. It's measured as ROH (Radius of Hollow).
Common Hollows for Figure Skaters:
- 7/16" (deeper): More grip, better for beginners and lighter skaters
- 1/2" (standard): Most common for figure skaters, good balance
- 9/16" (shallower): Less grip, better for advanced skaters and heavier skaters
Deeper Hollow (smaller number):
- More edge grip
- Better for beginners
- Better for lighter skaters
- More control but slower glide
Shallower Hollow (larger number):
- Less edge grip
- Better for advanced skaters
- Better for heavier skaters
- Faster glide but less control
Most adult beginners do well with 1/2" hollow. As you advance and get heavier or lighter, you might adjust. Ask your coach or sharpener for recommendations based on your weight and skill level.
🛡️Protecting Your Edges
Between Sharpenings:
- Always use blade guards: When walking off-ice (hard guards)
- Use soakers for storage: Absorb moisture, prevent rust
- Never walk on concrete: Ruins edges instantly
- Dry blades after skating: Wipe with towel, then use soakers
- Avoid touching edges: Oils from skin can cause rust
- Store in a dry place: Moisture causes rust and pitting
What Damages Edges:
- Walking on hard surfaces without guards
- Leaving wet blades in your bag
- Dropping skates
- Skating on debris-covered ice
- Rust from moisture
- Nicks from hitting boards or other skates
Learn more in our complete skate care guide.
💰Sharpening Costs
Typical Pricing (as of 2025):
- Standard sharpening: $10-20
- Rush service: $15-30
- Blade profiling: $30-50 (only needed occasionally)
- Punch cards: Buy 10, get 1 free (common deal)
Annual Cost Estimates:
- Recreational (every 3 months): $40-80/year
- Regular (every 6 weeks): $80-160/year
- Serious (every 3 weeks): $160-320/year
Sharpening is a necessary expense for skating. Budget for it just like ice time and lessons!
📚 Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about skate sharpening
The main signs are: edges slipping during turns, difficulty stopping, chattering or vibrating when gliding, unstable crossovers, and jumps/spins feeling off. You can also do the thumbnail test—gently run the blade across your thumbnail. A sharp blade will catch and shave a tiny bit of nail; a dull blade will slide without catching.
It depends on how often you skate. Recreational skaters (1-2x/week) typically sharpen every 2-3 months. Regular skaters (3-4x/week) need sharpening every 4-6 weeks. Serious skaters (5+x/week) sharpen every 2-4 weeks. Track your hours and watch for signs of dullness to find your personal schedule.
Yes! Each sharpening removes a small amount of blade material. Over-sharpening wears down your blades prematurely and wastes money. Only sharpen when you notice performance issues or after the recommended time based on your skating frequency. Blades should last years with proper sharpening frequency.
Hollow (ROH - Radius of Hollow) is the groove between your two edges. Deeper hollow (like 7/16") gives more grip but slower glide—good for beginners. Shallower hollow (like 9/16") gives less grip but faster glide—better for advanced skaters. Most figure skaters use 1/2" as a standard. Your sharpener can help you find the right hollow for your weight and skill level.
Yes, but make sure they're experienced with figure skates! Figure skates use different hollows than hockey skates. A good sharpener will ask about your hollow preference and understand figure skating needs. Ask if they regularly sharpen figure skates before trusting them with your blades. Bad sharpening can damage blades permanently.
Freshly sharpened blades often feel very sharp or "grabby" for the first 15-30 minutes. This is normal! They need a brief break-in period to settle. If they still feel wrong after an hour of skating, the sharpening might be incorrect (wrong hollow, uneven edges, or poor quality work). Return to the sharpener and explain the issue.
Standard sharpening typically costs $10-20 per session. Many shops offer punch cards (buy 10, get 1 free). Annual costs range from $40-80 for recreational skaters to $160-320 for serious skaters. It's a necessary expense—budget for it like you do for ice time and lessons.
Guards (hard plastic) protect your blades when walking off the ice—use them anytime you're not on ice. Soakers (soft fabric) absorb moisture for storage—use them in your bag between sessions. Never store skates with guards on (traps moisture and causes rust). Always use guards when walking, always use soakers for storage. Both are essential for protecting your edges!
Keep Your Blades Sharp
Shop our premium skating accessories and practice wear for optimal performance.
Shop Now