clhs sciblog

I guess many people watch the Winter Olympics in these days and I think many people notice that speed skates look like an athletic shoes and figure skates have stiff, high boots that lace higher up the leg.

Speed skaters use their skate blades to push them forward, more blade pushing against the ice, the more faster  can skaters go. However, hockey and figure skate blades are shorter than a speed skates but they are cut in specific shapes according to their intended use. Those blades are shaped to curve gently along the bottom edge, which is called the rocker. Figure skates have a toe pick in the front to have grip in the ice and launch skaters high into the air for jumps.

I didn’t know those skate blades are curved in specific shape and have lot of scientific help. Also I heard that short skate blades are bending when they go through the curve. It surprises me that those metal blades can bent. Read the full article here.