Tips for Lacing Up!
● Ensure socks or tights are on properly and there are no wrinkles or bunched material that would make wearing a skate uncomfortable
● Ensure you are in an area where there is a place to sit and a matted floor to protect you and your blades
● Loosen the laces in all areas of the skate to allow for easy placement of the foot into the skate
● Ensure your skater’s foot is placed into the skate as it would be in a shoe - the foot should be touching the insole of the skate, toe to heel, and ankle should be straight before the skate is tied.
Skates should be:
● Laced fairly loosely over the toe and gradually getting tighter up to the ankles, but still with enough opportunity to bend at the ankle
● Double check!: Run your fingers along the laces from toe to ankle once they are tightened- they should not move. If they do, the skate likely needs to be tightened.
Laces should be:
● Hooked securely with sufficient tension to allow one finger down the back of the boot.
● Long enough to be tied in a proper double bow.
● In the case of skate laces being long, tuck them in. Do not tie laces around ankles.
Getting off the ice:
● Always wear hard plastic guards when walking off the ice. This will help keep your skates sharp
● Dry off skates with a towel/rag. Do NOT put the hard guards back on, rust will form on the blades.
● Use soft fabric guards on your blades to transport your skates to protect the blades
