Monday, June 05, 2006

What is "Skate Fit For Performance"

Skates that truly fit, work better! Period!!

A qualified skate technician will work through the skate fitting process with you, generally, one on one. The fitting process will be completed in two stages. First the boot will be fit and made comfortable. Second, the blades will be aligned on the boot relative to the foot that is wearing the skate.

Some of the common points in the process are outlined below:
Through a series of questions they will guide you through your boot selection process.

The boots will then be sized correctly for length and width.
Any pressure points in the skates will be removed.

Issues such as arch discomfort or inadequate support may have to be dealt with. This is a necessary part of a true custom skate fitting.
The skate blades are then aligned on the skates to allow for the biomechanical differences in the feet as well as the rest of the body. For example, leg length discrepancies will often effect the blade alignment. Such issues need attention and correction.

Posting the foot or working with the foot bed of the skate to put the foot in a more neutral position. This may be an appropriate tactic to straighten the foot inside the skate boot.

For many skates, a heat fit is a great way to complete the fit and will accommodate any of the last small fit adjustments.

The skates will be sharpened and if required, the blades shape will be profiled to ensure a smooth transition from one end of the blade to the other.