Figure Skating Blades: What Are They Made Of? Blades Part 2

Have you ever wondered what figure skating blades are made of and what that means for you and your skating? What about the profiles and models? There's been tremendous progress and innovation by blade manufacturers. As a coach, my understanding of the sport, coupled with my knowledge of the blade, allows me to help my skaters make sound choices for their equipment to maximize their skating potential. I'm going to help get you started and understand the blade materials so that you can better understand what blade type and model may be best for you?

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My name is Aimée Ricca, and I’m an ISSA Certified Elite Personal Trainer (E-CPT), Nutritionist (CN), and Youth Fitness Coach (CYFC). I'm also a PSA Ranked and Rated Skating Coach/Choreographer. My passion is to inspire and empower you to achieve your healthy living goals – because I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive!

I became a coach to help others avoid making the mistakes that I made. I've suffered injuries, been exhausted, and frustrated because I didn't have access to the right program to achieve my goals properly, I learned everything the hard way by seeking out instruction, information, and inspiration. I share my experiences so that you don't have to learn the way I did - subscribe to my channel to find out the shortcuts!

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⚠️⚠️ ⚠️ Disclaimers ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️

[charlesliu]

Hi Aimee, thanks for such a scientific intro of the blades! So my personal and adult friends' experiences show that for adult skaters, even without being able to do an single Axel, would benefit a lot from getting the elite-level blades. 😁 I invested the Pattern 99 directly from the Aspire XP, with skipping the Coronation Ace that many people recommended as perfect intermediate blades. I found the change was enormous, in a positive way! I lost my spins a little bit because of the flatter profile, but got them back very soon. Indeed, since the Aspire XP has a 8' rocker, the Pattern 99 actually succeeds even better!

[MobiusMinded]

Great Channel Aimée. Former competitive skater (late 1960’s through mid 1970’s.) thinking of getting a pair and doing it again after close to 50 years 😁🤣

[tammyaamodt]

Hello, Aimee. I’m an adult skater coming back to the ice after 30 years (I’m now 50 yrs old and been skating again since May of this year). I had Riedell’s Silver Star Boots with JW pattern 99 blades back in the day and they gamed change my progress exponentially. Of course those skates are dead and I purchased Jackson Elle’s with the Mirage blade. I have regained most my edges and some of my baby jumps (used to have a full flip, but I’m to chicken to try again so working on the 1/2 flip). I’m currently not with a coach but was told by one at the rink that my boots have a higher heal height than what I’m used to and this may be the reason I’m struggling to find the sweat spot on the mirage blades for spins and some of my edges. I’m going back and forth on should I invest in Riedell’s again or JW pattern 99 blades. My question is how similar is the Jackson’s Mirage profile to the JW Pattern 99 blade? If they are very similar should I just invest in the Riedell’s again and have the Mirage blade placed on that? I know this is an old video, but if you see this and respond I’d be most grateful.

[ashietoashes]

I've been watching all of your videos trying to figure out if switching from coronation ace lites to matrix legacy is a good idea! I've been through quite a few boots, (jackson debuts were okay, edea ice flys were not for me, but my risport royal primes are my favorite so far) but I've always had the same blades. I'm working on axel and starting doubles, getting to more difficult spin combos, and working on intermediate MIF. My skate tech recommended Matrix Legacy and I was wondering what you thought of them, if the transition will be easy, or if they're a good intermediate blade. Thank you Coach Aimee!

[ChrisToupee]

Hi Coach Aimee, thank you very much for the video. I am planning to buy EDEA Chorus, but I do not know if I should buy the Coronation Ace LITE or the Coronation Ace. I do not have of people to ask about the two blades from where I am from, so I would like to ask you and your circle of ice skating friends on why I should buy Ace LITE. I already read that it is lighter and thinner, so I am asking for personal experiences of using Ace LITE. Thank you very much.

[Islaonice]

Hi Aimée!
I’ve watched your video but I’m still not sure on what blade to buy. This weekend I’m going to get new skates (Edea overtures which were recommended by my coach) and I’m pretty sure they won’t have blades attached. So I’m not too sure what blades to buy. Im basically a beginner I started a few weeks ago. Any recommendations?
(Your video is very amazing, I’m not saying I didn’t learn anything but I’m not the best at learning)
Thank you Aimée!

[yvettebarrascout]

My daughter has received advice to change her Aspire XP to Coronation ACE. What is the difference? Ty

[wrapmonster]

im between the john wilson gold seal and the john wilson gold seal revolution. What do you recommend? I like that the rev are lighter but they also seem to wear out quicker because of the plate material. I also heard that its harder to grab because of the unique shape. Whereas the regular gold seal is a simple standard shape. I just dont know argghhh

[artdelac]

Hi there Aimee, subscriber here! Wanted to say that thanks so much to you, I discovered and have access to Greg at Polar Skate shop being that I am in Essex County, NJ 🙂 I have a question re blades. I'm a middle-aged guy and due to knee/joint issues from a medical condition, I rely and love skating as a recreational activity and more importantly, as physical therapy for strengthening and its overall health benefits. I am a competent skater but with my limiting physical conditions (have vertigo spells too, ugh! LOL), my kind of skating certainly does not involve jumps and spins. At my level of skating, would I be able to get away using dance blades for my recreational skating? I suppose I like the thinner profile for easier edges/turns but I am not sure if the shorter toe pick and tail can be disadvantages. Or are these all irrelevant and I could still enjoy recreational skating with dance blades?

[canskates]

What are the differences between mk club 2000 and mk professional blades? Also, mk club 2000 or edea rotation? Which one is better?

[rosi...]

We just changed my granddaughter to Edea Chorus with Paramount C A blade. What is your opinion on Paramount? We wanted to try something different and new.

[irinatututu]

Really like your videos, although i must say, trusting your skate tech is not the best option most of the time. Many of them (if not 90%) would suggest a wrong edea size for you ( EVEN AUTHORIZED DEALERS) which is mind boggling. Edea also said that wrong size suggestions is a world-wide problem XD. I got my first skates off of local ebay and trusted edea measurement (+0.5 for adults). It was a great skate and served me well through all single jumps. But when i came to MULTIPLE professional skate shops to get ice flys, they suggested me a 255 size, when my foot is 240 mm long under pressure. And with new 2023 lust edea suggests taking the skates mm to mm (so 240 instead of 245 for a 240mm foot). And the worst part is that you cant even trust your coach. They may be great at teaching but I saw multiple times how great coaches put little children learning doubles and triples in a skate that has 2cm of room in it AND suggesting the wrong hollow(Hello Alexey Mishin and his flat 18 mm hollows for doubles).
At this point you can only trust yourself and when you find a great sketch tech - babysit them, praise them and never let go.

[Annisks]

Dear @Aimée Ricca
I believe John Wilson and MK are the only companies whom use term side honing for blades which has concave shape on the sides of the blade. Example Ultima calls this dovetail shape Taper Design or Tapered Edges. So when you talk about side honed blades, I assume you are referring to JW or MK blades.

I have some difficulties to understand how this bite angle increasing materializes in JW or MK blades where concave shape is removed (if it even ever exists) from the edges when chrome removal process is done.

Actually they are rounding the edges quite heavily in all of their blades and in my opinion that causes totally opposite affect than what you explain to the people.

Example Ultima Apex blades this dovetail shape go all the way to the edges like in your sketch and this has increasing bite affect like you explain. Can you kindly clarify more detail level how Side honing increases the bite angle in JW or MK blades?