How To Take Care Of Your Figure Skate Blades

[@legitlyspelunking]

Great video! Something worth mentioning is not to store your skates in hard guards after skating, even if you wiped down the blade, because hard guards trap moisture which can lead to more rusting

[@CoachJulia]

You are so right! Storing your blades in hard guard definitely leads to rust issues. Thanks for bringing that up!

[@wenwen9435]

Thanks for mentioning this! I'm a beginner skater and I literally thought this video and your comment were very helpful!

[@joannacao5711]

Why didn't I come cross this earlier... I just bought my first pair of 'expensive' skates with the MK professional lite blade. After finish skating I wiped them dry carefully and PUT THEM BACK into the hard guards. A day later I have two rusted blades.....

[@josiegustemahana799]

Just happened to me!! 😭 worst part is that after I wore them I realized they probably aren’t the right size skates either 😩

[@noorallawati5390]

Oops I didnt order soft guards and we don’t have stores in my country so I need to order online 😢

[@artgalgenius]

The soft guards also protect against condensation forming on a cold blade as the metal warms up.

[@CoachJulia]

Great input! Thanks.

[@vintagefacade9]

I'm beginning skating as an adult, so I'm still learning a lot of basic moves! I'm really looking forward to learning crossovers!

[@CoachJulia]

Nice! I am hoping to put up a crossover tutorial soon so maybe that will be a help to you. ☺️

[@CoachJulia]

Congratulations on winning the February blade care giveaway!!! Just sent me a message at [e-mail] with your mailing info and I will get your goodies shipped out to you!

[@vintagefacade9]

ThriveDiaries Oh my goodness! I’m so excited!!! Thank you so much! 😄 I’ve just sent an email!

[@user-bl2vr9jj2z]

Lol cross overs are fun

[@JamesPadfoot]

I have two soakers / soft guards - one for right after a session, from the rink to home + 2 hours, and one I slip on after the blade is properly dry and room temp. This way I'm never storing my blades in a soaker that is well... soaked. Also because I live in a temperate place, I keep desiccants in my bag to take away any moisture I missed.

[@CoachJulia]

That sounds like an excellent blade care system! Thanks for sharing!

[@hamishdelmonte9275]

Great video! Could you do one on skate sharpening? How do you know when the blades need to be sharpened? Thanks!

[@CoachJulia]

Thanks, and that is a great idea! I will work on that.

[@isa-lx3yx]

I'm only beginning to skate but I'm really looking forward to learning backwards crossovers and basic spins and turns 😍

[@CoachJulia]

Good for you for getting started! Hopefully I can get some helpful videos up for you soon so you can get some extra tips on those moves.

[@LeoFan16]

During the summer months I keep my blades in a good shape with the following technique: I put vaseline on the sharp parts of the blade and a towel around it with a rope to keep it in place. Just before I put my skates in the hard cover again before skating, I remove all the vaseline. With this technique I keep my blades in a good shape during the summer months.

[@CoachJulia]

Interesting, I have never heard of that technique.

[@agagustin]

I think you can also use those silica gels that you get when you buy bags, shoes, electronics or beef jerky 😄 to prevent moisture when you store your skates. Prevents molds and foul odours in your boot. 👍🏽

[@CoachJulia]

That’s a great tip! Thank you. :)

[@reiiiiisan]

This video and channel is very informative! I've been skating for about 6 months, didn't skate at all for September, and ever since I've been using rental skates. There's a pro shop at the rink I go to so I'm looking forward to getting advice and getting my first ever skates sometime soon.

[@CoachJulia]

Getting your first skates is pretty exciting! I like the Jackson Elle for adult beginners but I would love hearing what you decide to get!

[@reiiiiisan]

@@CoachJulia Hi there! Update: I got my skates yesterday. 😄They are the Jackson Mystiques.

[@skynorthern6430]

Wow，thouth given 3 years ago，still so helpful. Love this episode.

[@Cowface]

I discovered that I wasn’t properly drying my blades before putting on my soft guards by turning my soft guards inside out one day and discovering some brown spots, indicating rust. Since then I’ve made a point to keep a microfiber towel in my skate bag, it seems to do a better job than terry cloth

[@CorneliaLaursen]

I just started skating this year so I would love to just get really comfortable on the ice going both forwards and backwards and hopefully doing crossovers!

[@CoachJulia]

Congrats on getting started! That is awesome! I will be posting crossover lessons soon, but in the meantime be sure to check out the forward and backward skating lessons I already have posted. 😁

[@dakotahmusik]

your videos are really great! I'm learning so much about skating (as an adult who just enjoys it). Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@kristynnlee7386]

I recognize that rink in Roseville!!! I learned to skate there with Erin! Many years ago lol

[@CoachJulia]

Was it Coach Erin Ranslow??

[@kristynnlee7386]

@@CoachJulia yes!!!!! It was!!

[@勇敢瀾瀾不怕困難]

I wanna know if there is a must for buying both hard and soft guards and both ur video is amazing! It’s helps me a lot

[@CoachJulia]

You definitely should have both. Soft guards for protection while storing you skates and hard for protection while walking around in them.

[@juri8999]

I just bought new skates today! this video was really helpful

[@CoachJulia]

Glad I could help!

[@KiwiPowerNZ]

My drive to and from the ice ring is 50mins. On the way home I place my skates in the passenger footwell and blow hot air on them all the way back. When I arrive home they’re warm and bone dry then I put the little sock things on them and store them. Probably not something I can comfortably do when summer arrives though 🤷‍♂️ but works in winter 🙂

[@CoachJulia]

That is a great system! Maybe in the summer you can use a fan or something.

[@ashleychen3174]

Nice tutorial! I hope to get my turns and Mohawks soon...

[@CoachJulia]

Glad you liked it! I will try to get some tutorial up soon for those turns!!

[@njhjhfdyg138]

this year I would love to get a clean axel

[@CoachJulia]

That’s awesome! Landing a clean axel is a big accomplishment!

[@njhjhfdyg138]

yes it is😁👍

[@HaveanIcedaymx]

Hi Julia! Great video :) Can we get some tips on that beautiful Ina Bauer of yours?

[@CoachJulia]

I would love to! I will get it in the list to film just as soon as my Doctor gives me permission to bet back in skates after the ankle injury I had this fall.

[@Clover_008]

So your hard guards are mainly used for walking around, and then when you're done skating and have dried the blade you then store them in just the soft guard? I've enrolled in lessons at my rink and want to make sure I get some of the care down to take care of my skates!

[@CoachJulia]

Sierra Williams Yes, that is exactly right. Hard guards are to protect the blade while walking, soft guards are to protect the blade (and stuff in your bag) after you are done skating and have dried them off.

[@michealbarkman9542]

hey could you do a video on how to get a damaged figure skate blade repaired? such as rounded tail, a bump near the toe pick, blade re-profiling?

[@CoachJulia]

Those are some great suggestions! I will see what I can put together.

[@1savior3nails4given]

Loved the video! I was actually talking to my mum about blades and she mentioned about the life of the blades...she doesn't skate but I had never actually heard of that.. until now! How long is the life of a blade? Like, approximately how many sharpenings can be done before they start to wear off?

[@chapin3206]

I'm' pretty sure the life of the blade depends on the skate you get. Depending on this, they can last up to several years (if well taken care of)

[@CoachJulia]

CN Chaplin is right, the life of the blade varies quite a lot. If you have a night quality blade the steel will hold a sharpening longer, if you have a really expert sharpening job then that will help take off less steel at a time so the blade will last longer. But if you have a really heavy handed sharpening job, they can take quite a bit of steel off and that will severely shorten the life of a blade.

[@lucybraun8969]

Got my guards and my soakers, but Ionstead of toweling my blades and boots down, I was merely relying on the soakers for dryness, so thank you for that tip. Gotta find a good skate bag. The shop where I bought my slates only had skate suitcases, which felt a bit like overkill to me. A skate bag is more me. So, I guess any large canvas bag will work, so long as the blades are properly covered before putting them in it.

[@CoachJulia]

Taking care of your skates is super important! Glad you are learning new ways to keep your skates it good shape.

[@noorallawati5390]

1) Can i use the plastic cover that comes with the blades until my guards arrive? 2) What to do if I don’t have soft guards at the moment? 3) Say after hours of drying post skating, can i store the sktes with hard guards?

[@zoemarie9778]

This is so helpful as a newbie thank you!!

[@CoachJulia]

Glad it was helpful!

[@martinripley5981]

As always, excellent quality video!

[@CoachJulia]

Thanks so much for the feedback!

[@ari-xk4mf]

So I was visiting my cousin and we went ice skating and while I was there I saw your photo on the wall and realized I accidentally visited your rink 😂 Also, I have skates that haven’t been skated in for years probably and I’m starting lessons again this week and was looking at guards and soakers to purchase when my sister told me that’s unnecessary and only for people who skate a lot, is that true?

[@CoachJulia]

Oh my gosh. How funny, well I hope you enjoyed the rink!. As for the guards and soakers, anyone who owns skates should have them, unless you are not concerned about reuse and damaging your blades. 😆

[@yalcinozay2115]

Hi do you have videos on how to use inside/outside edges forward and backward

[@CoachJulia]

I did post a tutorial about forward inside and outside edges in September, have you seen it yet?

[@audreystarr6166]

Hey coach Julia, can you make a video or explain how and where to get your skate soles varnished? I recognize that's what you've done to these skates in the photo but I can't find info on what product is used or where to have it done.

[@CoachJulia]

The skates in the video actually came with that varnish on them. I have my skates custom made so I can actually choose the sole finish. But, if you have a leather sole, you can use Snowseal to provide a protective coating. I have a video on this channel about restoring an old pair of my skates and share that snow seal process. The video came out in May or June of 2019

[@baiNEKO]

I'd like to ask the best skating instructor on youtube: What kind of skates do you wear, and what do you recommend for a picky beginner (adult)? I'd like to choose a comfortable, supportive, beautiful pair of skates that will be my best friends as I learn, practice and improve. I've been struggling between rentals and the pair of Roces I originally ordered (which I am not loving - I thought they were suede and made in Italy, but it turns out they're synthetic and made in China!). Thank you!!

[@CoachJulia]

I wear Custom Harlick Skating boots. I absolutely love Harlick and. Been wearing their boots for over 20 years. They make ready to wear boots as well. You can check them out online. A lot of my students wear Jackson skating boots, as an adult beginner a Jackson Elle is probably a good boot for you, of course withought seeing you skate, I can't say for certain. Glad you are enjoying my videos!!

[@kokichiwithachickennugget6761]

What if you don’t have a pro shop in your area? Or really anywhere? (I live in Oahu)

[@CoachJulia]

The only place that I know of that sharpens skates is The Ice Palace on Honolulu. I know it isn’t Oahu, but perhaps you can make the trip to get it done.

[@cerenademe9433]

Hi! Thanks for the tips! I was reading that you should only keep your soft guards on while you're in transit and not to store them long-term with the soft guards on as they can trap moisture, especially if they've soaked up some moisture from condensation after leaving the rink. You don't leave your soft guards on at home, do you?

[@CoachJulia]

I actually do store my skates with the soft guards on as it protects my blades from any nicks they might get from banging into things. But before I put my soft guards on, I dry them thoroughly with a hand towel. So the remaining moisture that the soft guards pick up is minimal.

[@FaithMidnight]

What do I do when the nearest pro shop is roughly 100 miles away? Coincidentally so is the nearest ice rink, and I just got a used pair of skates at a thrift shop.

[@SuperDesignChick]

Rust never sleeps!

[@CoachJulia]

😬 Nope! gotta keep those skates dry!

[@pupu2410]

One thing I would like to add is to not be cheap when getting your blade sharpened.A bad sharpening may not be obvious the first time, but after a few more times you will really notice difference when skating.A negative one,definitely.

[@AlisonWritesAndSkates]

I did all this and still managed to find tiny rust spots on the base of the blade today! Maybe because it’s hot and humid out? Is there a way to get rid of small rust spots without sharpening? I just got a sharpening a few days ago. 🥺

[@KazerOnYoutube]

This was really helpful thank you so much 🥺

[@CoachJulia]

Glad it helped!

[@margaret7671]

During public sessions, where can I leave my skate guards once I remove them?

[@CoachJulia]

At most rinks skaters will either put them in the wall by the glass at the entrance to the rink, or, if they are bringing a water bottle, they will put their guards on the wall by their water bottle. If your rink has hockey players benches on one side, you can probably set your things back there while you skate.

[@margaret7671]

ThriveDiaries Thank you!

[@berniehenry1960]

im new to figure skating and just got my first pair of skates. How often shouold you sharpen the blades?

[@CoachJulia]

The basic rule is every 20 hours of skating. Some skaters find they can go longer between sharpening, but that is the average time.

[@berniehenry1960]

@@CoachJulia thank you so much, I love your videos by the way!

[@dbxlbruh]

How often am I supposed to have my skates sharpened? My pro shop told me after every four sessions and I’m following their guide. Does that sound like a good interval?

[@CoachJulia]

The general guideline is to sharpen them after about 20 hours of practice. With time you will begin to learn your own preferences, but that is a good starting point.

[@shannenchan3204]

Hii again, I store my skates in soft guard after I dry them but they have recently developed rust at the SIDE of the blade, not the bottom. Is there a reason why this happens and is there any way to prevent it or remove it?

[@AllieOnPointe]

Great video!!!

[@CoachJulia]

Thanks Allie!!

[@tabithadehaan8405]

do you store the skates also at home with soft guards on? or just on top of a towel with the blades exposed?

[@mkblades287]

Love this video! 💜

[@CoachJulia]

Thank you! I love your blades!!!

[@micaylagoyne7673]

Are all blades the same size? If not, how do you size your guards? Can I buy guards online, or are they best bought in the pro shop when I get my skates? Are some brands of guards better than others?

[@CoachJulia]

Blades are not all the same size, usually you need to cut down a pair of guards to fit your blades. Edea did just come out with a new style that is supposed to fit all sizes.... amzn.to/3hfVPNb

[@СвітланаВилущак]

Can you recommend some brand for skates?

[@shannenchan3204]

Hello what kind of bag should I get to store my skates in besides zuca? I heard that we should let our skates dry and be ventilated so I'm not sure what bag to store it in. Anyone has any suggestion?

[@arenyaeger5570]

I was wondering when I'm about to get on the ice, where do I put the hard guards? I noticed you just put them on the wall, but I'm a bit uncomfortable doing that since I'm worried someone will steal them. Any advice?

[@CoachJulia]

Generally people either put them at the wall by the entrance, or if they bring a little wall bag with them then the guards get put wit the wall bag. Another thing I have done is carried them out and tucked them into where the hockey player put their water bottles during games.

[@arenyaeger5570]

@@CoachJulia Thank you so much!

[@yonasanalexander8987]

I always drying my blade after skating on ice, but why my blade still got rust?

[@annastasyachandra3288]

do you need to water the blade after skating ? I’m still new 😊

[@CoachJulia]

After skating you should dry your blade so that it does not rust.

[@Chloe-yw4fg]

Hi I don’t have a soft guard but is it ok to wrap it in a dry towel?

[@CoachJulia]

Yes, that works.

[@lalalulareinadelbum]

How often should I sharpen the blades?

[@CoachJulia]

Generally about every 20 hours of skating.

[@saekyoa85]

Every 3 months or so

[@saekyoa85]

Depending how often you skate

[@Kleinerfruchtzwerg]

Hey Julia, do you also have an idea how to protect revolution blades? I already have 4 scratches in them after only one skating session🥲

[@hanalee753]

I totally love your channel! I am just getting into skating (30 years old, so I won‘t be able to join Olympics anymore, but I still want to get as good as I can and have fun with skating) and your videos really help me to self-learn the basics as clean as possible! One question: I bought a pair of used skates and only noticed now that one blade is kinda tilted? It‘s not in a right angle to the bottom of the boot, more like tilted to the outside of the shoe. I didn‘t have much problems with it, but could it be one? The shoes itself are super comfy and warm, but probably not the best quality, so I think putting a new blade on would be quite expensive... Any advice?

[@CoachJulia]

That sounds like an unfortunate problem! The only fix is to get a new pair of blades. 😔. I love MK blades, perhaps check their website and see what they recommend for your level of skating.

[@jongover5056]

Hi your heels look really shinny like polished?

[@CoachJulia]

They have a chem glaze finish on them which is extremely waterproof and also gives it that shiny look.

[@rosiestreets9468]

Is it ok to put your skates in your bag with hard guards on?

[@CoachJulia]

This is a big ‘no-no’ actually. Much better to put them in the bag with soft guards or wrapped in hand towels to absorb the moisture.

[@queenie6998]

When do you use your hard guards?

[@CoachJulia]

Use your hard guards anytime you are walking around in your skates and you are not on the ice. I keep my guards by the rink door so I can put them in as I step off the ice. I take them off to dry them and store them between sessions.

[@TsukiNaito1]

Will it hurt to store your skates with hard guards instead of soft? I'm not always near a rink so I don't want to invest more than I need. ^^'

[@1chienandalou]

Yes, I would not leave them on. The blades rust like that. You can make soakers if you don’t want to spend money but you can buy them for about $10. Definitely worth it to not reduce the life/quality of your blades.

[@TsukiNaito1]

@@1chienandalou Thanks for the advice, man.

[@sirwaffles4030]

can you make your own soft guard?

[@CoachJulia]

Yes! I used to make my own from old hand towels.

[@sirwaffles4030]

@@CoachJulia Okay, Thank you!

[@virgogaurav1]

What if you already have rust in your blade

[@CoachJulia]

They should probably be sharpened before you skate in them again, to remove the rust.

[@plantsarebetterthnpeople]

Oh no I got nicks i didn't know that how you fix them I didn't sharpen them right away are they ruined 😳

[@CoachJulia]

They probably aren’t ruined. Having them sharpened will help reduce the nicks, and if you know how to use a hand stone, they can help eliminate them as well.

[@plantsarebetterthnpeople]

@@CoachJulia ty I learned a lot from you I know how to spin on one foot forward sizzles and sometimes backward sizzles tysm

[@jasminduncanson2520]

You're not boring you just rather be safe than sorry my soft guards are in the shape of koalas and penguins

[@CoachJulia]

Koalas and Penguins sounds fun!

[@jasminduncanson2520]

@@CoachJulia oh thanks I ❤ penguins 🐧 and koalas

[@seaslug1002]

Does anyone know how to remove rust from my skates?

[@CoachJulia]

Where is the rust? If it is on the bottom of the blade, then you will just need to get them sharpened.

[@virgogaurav1]

What is nix

[@CoachJulia]

It is when there is damage to the smoothness of the blade edge.

[@asheeasmith]

where are you getting these extra long leggings?

[@CoachJulia]

I actually make all my skating leggings! I am hoping to start a ready-to-wear line soon.