Hi Followers, I haven't posted for a dog's age.
Our club is in an expansion year this year as we have doubled our ice time. I gave away my duties as the club equipment manager and summer dryland training. I am focusing my talents on coaching as well as mentoring our coaches.
In Other News: my son Paul retired after 19 years of speed skating. Paul is coaching with our club this year. Here is a picture from early and late in his career.
My son Aaron is beginning to live the life of an elite athlete, training for 4 months in Calgary and returning home this week. Aaron intends training full time once he finishes grade 12 in Lethbridge this school year.
SHARPING SPEED SKATES
I have footage to make a video on how to sharpen skates. There are others out there but they use some old ideas and make for some complicated sharpening of skates. My idea is that whenever I learn an easier, quicker way, I adopt it.
Sharpening Summary:
- Set up the same every time and use the same jig
- Sharpen only with the smooth side of your sharpening stone - unless you have a stripped edge, then use the course side first and then the smooth side following: This limits the amount of burr you create and reduces the wear of the blades.
- Use a method to reduce the side and top burr to a minimum each time you sharpen.
- De-burr your skates after every race / practice to reduce side burr. Side burr always feels like a "dull" skate blade. Many skaters re-sharpen their skates when de-burring would be more appropriate.
