Profiling the Hockey Skate Blade

We’re super-excited to introduce a new member to our hockey advice site, this being one of my all-time favorite pro shop owners. I’ll introduce David W. Carlson a little later, and invite visitors here to leave questions down below for David. But for now, let him take it away…

Dennis C

Blade profiling or contouring or radiusing is shaping the “rocker” of the skate blade. Basically, it rebalances the skater if they are experiencing a decrease in on-ice performance. If the skater feels they are too far forward or on their heels, they should get their blades profiled for peak performance.

Many companies offer profiling systems, and the concept is the same. For example, Blademaster Mark VI Custom Radius (which we use), Blackstone, CAG One, Wissota, Maximum Edge, Prosharp, etcetera.

More blade to ice contact or larger Radius i.e., 11 foot to 13 foot equals more stability and speed, and a shorter or smaller Radius such as 7 foot to 9 foot offers more maneuverability and agility.

Your skate sharpening professional will consult with their clients to determine your best choice. We consider skate size, player assignment and personal preference. Getting your blades profiled is as important as selecting the best Radius or Hollow, so get them done at least every two months or after 10 to 12 sharpenings.

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David W. Carlson is from Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, and the Founder of SSU and SSU PROSHOPS-EQM with over two thousand members worldwide.