Hockey and figure skates have several differences. Figure skates have more support, have longer, wider blades and have a toe pick for doing tricks. Hockey skates, conversely, have shorter, thinner blades that make it easier to make sharp turns on the ice. Be aware of these differences before you hit the ice, especially if your skating experience remains skills are limited.
Toe Pick
Most people notice the toe pick on figure skates when comparing figure and hockey skates. This toe pick allows figure skaters to dig the toe of the skate into the ice before taking off on a jump, giving them increased lift. The toe pick, however, can cause difficulty for skaters because it can dig into the ice at inopportune times, causing skaters to fall. It might take some time to get used to having this extra item on the skate, but it does help if you wish to figure skate.
Foot Support
Figure skates provide more support than hockey skates because of the jumps and tricks involved with figure skating. The boot remains taller, so it covers more of the ankle, and its heavy leather construction locks your foot in place during spins and jumps. You likely will not notice the difference in support, however, unless you begin competing in figure skating, which would require you to attempt spins and jumps.
Skate Boots
Hockey players must make countless quick turns and stops per game, so their boots maximize their ability to make these movements. The construction of hockey skates allows for the boot to stay higher off the ice, which allows players to achieve much steeper angles as they turn corners. You will find that hockey skates allow for more agility on the ice because of their raised boots and added flexibility. Figure skate boots weigh more than hockey skates because of the heavy leather used.
Skate Blade
The blades of figure and hockey skates have significant differences. Figure skates have longer, wider, sturdier and flatter blades because those dimensions give skaters a better chance of landing tricks. In comparison, hockey blades remain shorter and thinner because of the sharp turns that players must execute.
References
- "Ice Skating: Steps to Success"; Karin Kunzle-Watson et al.; 1996
- "The Figure Skating Book: A Young Persons' Guide to Figure Skating"; Debbi Wilkes; 1999
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