| Skates are boots with fastened metal edges. Skates are used for moving on ice surfaces. The boots are made from leather or plastic and the edge from metal.
Various types of skates are available:
Skates for figure skating (so called “Figure skates”): Figure skates are used during figure skating. The distinguishing part of these skates is the special teeth on the edge, which help the figure skaters while accomplishing difficult performances.
Hockey skates are skates for playing ice hockey. Hockey skates are divided into skates with a detachable edge and a molded edge. The detachable edge is meant for its replacement or for required adjustments. Skates are also divided with respect to the degree of protection and maneuverability and according to usage for defenders, forwards or goalkeepers.
Walking skates - the shape of the edges is as in the case of hockey skates, but not equipped with the corresponding protection for the cape and sides of the boots. Used for amateur games or for strolls.
The sharpening of skates:
The edges of figure skates are sharpened with a radius ranging from 11 to 15mm "for the groove" (The recess which runs from one edge of the bearer to the other end, is called the groove). It creates two clear ribs - internal and outer. Without this, the edge of the skates always falls to one side and the figure skaters cannot properly push or cannot be confident of their balance. Therefore, the sharpening of skates includes not only sharpening the sides of the edges but also to restore the channel, which gets leveled during training sessions.
Who does not like to move along the smooth ice in a snow-covered park! Skates have a long history. In 1941, some peculiar item made of bone with a hole for a lace was demonstrated in London's archeological society. It was an ancient skate, which was used in the 12th century by a resident of London. Early skates were made of bones and tree and used to skate with the help of sticks with sharp stone tips. During the reign of Peter I, wooden skates were made and the skates were manufactured in the shape of a small boat with a high toe in the form of horse head. There are two types of skating sports: speed skating and figure skating.
A speed skating competition was held for the first time in 1676 in the Netherlands. But as a sort of sport, it gained popularity only in the 19th century; in the beginning of 1880, racing skates were designed. The first world championship was held in Amsterdam in the year 1889. Already in those days, the classical distances such as 500, 1500, 5000 and 10000m were included in the program of competition. In 1924, racing on skates was included in the Olympics and from 1936 onwards, the world championships are held. Competitions for racing on skates were earlier held and even held nowadays in a closed circuit, consisting of two straights and two turns. The classical length of such a circuit is 400m. Participants of the competition race in pairs. Earlier, competitions were held on open skating rinks but from 1980 onwards, skaters moved onto artificial ice under the roof, where very high results were registered.
While selecting skates the following criteria is to be taken into consideration:
* Comfort (if the skater is comfortable in the skates - it's your choice);
* Skating qualities (the important things are the speed and maneuverability);
* Quality of the parts (the life of the skates depend directly on the quality of the parts).
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Many people use ice skates this season, but not many know that ice skates were invented about 5000 years ago. The first ice skates were invented by Finns and were made from the leg bones of horse or deer and were attached to feet with leather belts. Skates were used for hunting and for saving energy while moving on ice.
Skates of those times saved about 10% of energy compared to normal walking on icy surface. You may think it's not much, but in the very cold winters of 5000 years ago this could mean the difference between staying alive or freezing to death.
