ProSharp Skate Profiling

Profiling is the shaping of the steel skate blade from heel to toe, customizing the blade shape to each player’s body position, skating ability, and stride.

By doing this, players can maximize their blade’s contact with the ice, and the 4 key aspects of skating - acceleration, transition, speed, and stability.

Learn the Basics of Skate Profiling from our Skate Expert, Wally

Understanding Skate Profiles & Why They Matter

Questions Players Should Think About Before Profiling Their Skates

Also referred to as ‘rockering’, profiling is the actual shaping of the skate blade. This allows different lengths of the blade to make contact with the ice. The more contact with the ice, the greater amount of glide. The lesser amount of contact creates the ability to turn sharper (smaller radius). The goal is to create a balance between glide and turning radius, custom designed for the individual skater.

Examples of common radius measurements, from the most amount of glide (or contact) to the least (or sharpest turning radius), are 13’, 11’, 9’, 7’.

WHAT IS PRECISION BALANCE PROFILING?

Precision Balance Profiling is a process of transferring the mechanical points of the foot directly to the skate blade. Profiling is the process of controlling the “APEX” of the blade radius through a machining process. This enables the skate technician to control the amount of knee bend as well as the position the body in the proper location over the skate blades, thus, affecting the body’s balance and power generation.

Our personalized analysis system enables the technician to establish the correct “radius” and “lie” required prior to performing any machine work.

ELEMENTS ADDRESSED:

Age, height and weight
Arm length in relation to the shoulder to floor distance
Leg shape – knock kneed, straight or bowed out.
Foot position while walking – toed in, toed out or straight
Position played
Brand of skate used

BENEFITS OF PRECISION BALANCE® PROFILED SKATES:

Injury reduction
Controlled leg extension
Increased stability
Increased lateral movement
Increased power
Reduced fatigue
Improved balance
Increased agility
Increased speed

WHY CONSIDER PROFILING SKATES AT ALL?

Skates are very generic in design and have many inherent variables, which can affect efficiency and performance. It is not feasible to expect that a manufacturer could build a skate that is exactly right for every individual’s requirements.

The Precision Balance® system of transferring the mechanical point of the foot directly to the skate blade eliminates the most common variable present on skates today. This area is the inconsistent installation location of the holder and blade assemblies on the sole plate of the skate.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SIGNS THAT PROFILING IS REQUIRED?

Short, choppy strides (player's feet are going a mile-a-minute, yet there is not much speed)
Poor balance (excessive falling during pivots, cornering or without any outside assistance)
When hit, usually falls backwards
Loses battles along the boards and in the corners
Uncontrolled, excessive height on snap shots and slap shots
Weak backhand shots
Cannot find a stick with proper feeling ‘lie’
Lower back pain (usually on one side only), aching knees and / or sore groin
Fatigues quickly
The tendon guards on the skates are broken down (they should remain stiff for the life of the skate)
Excessive wear in the heel area of the boot (blisters or sore heels)

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF PRECISION BALANCE® SKATE SHARPENING AND PROFILING:

Improved edge control
Improved acceleration
Improved speed and agility
Improved confidence allows player to attack smaller spaces
Regain and recover balance quicker