Different sports, different skates: These boots were made for skating

FIGURE SKATING

Different sports, different skates: These boots were made for skating

07 Feb 2026

Figure Skating, Short Track, Speed Skating and Ice Hockey are all sports performed on skates. However, the equipment the athletes use is very different. Let’s have a closer look…

From bones to steel

People began skating thousands of years ago in ancient times. It is believed that the activity originated in Scandinavia and Russia as early as 1000-2000 BC, when people attached animal bones with leather strips to their sandals to move across frozen lakes. The Dutch developed skating further, with blades made of steel and with edges. The Dutch transported goods on frozen channels by the 16^th century.

Later, recreational skating became popular in Europe and then North America. Eventually, it was a sport.

The different ice skating sports have different needs. Figure Skaters need to glide, spin and jump, Speed Skating and Short Track athletes need to race across the ice, and Ice Hockey players have to be fast and agile.

Modern blades are mostly made of carbon steel or stainless steel.

Figure skating blades & boots

Blades have a toe pick to perform jumps
The blade is curved and extends past the foot
Ice dance blades are a bit shorter in the rear and have a smaller toe pick than figure skating blades
Blades are about 4 to 5 millimeters thick and 20 to 30 centimeters long. The length depends on the boot size
Blades have edges so that skaters can move on the inside or outside edge
Boots are made of leather or modern synthetic materials
Figure skaters have stiff and higher boots that give them more support.
Ice dancers sometimes prefer a lower cut boot to be able to bend their knees better

Speed skating blades & boots

Corner judge Melanie Winters checks skates blades before an event © ISU

Blades are 40 to 55 centimeters long and about 1.1 millimeters thick
The blades have very little curve compared to the other ice skating sports, to allow the skaters to perform long, gliding strides
In the so-called “clap skate”, the heel of the blade is not attached to the boot while the toe of the blade is attached with a hinged apparatus
Boots are made of carbon fiber leather. The heel is rigid, the upper part of the boot is pliant and cut low to the ankle

Short Track blades & boots

Blades are shorter than for long track (30 to 45 cm long) and about 1.1 millimeters thick
Blades are extremely sharp as the athletes need to maintain high speed and control in turns
Blades are placed off-center to the left to avoid the boot touching the ice when the skaters lean into a turn
Athletes use a more traditional skate in which the blade remains fixed to the boot at all times
Boots lace higher up the ankle to protect the ankles and are made of fiberglass, graphite and Kevlar

Ice Hockey blades & boots

Blades are shorter than those for figure skaters and, in general, 1 mm thinner. They are more rigid for quick turns and agility
No toe pick
Boots are stiff and durable for ankle support and protection against collisions and pucks
Boots are made of leather or composite materials