Why are ice skates so high?

Question

It seems like one would have better balance with shorter blades. Suppose the blades only stuck out an inch from the shoes--wouldn't that still make a person just as able to glide on the ice, and with better balance compared to tall blades?

Answer 1

One of the most important skills in skating is the ability to get a good, deep "edge" on your blade.   These edges are used for everything, including turns, entries into jumps and moves such as hydroblades and spreadeagles

Skating on an edge is skating on the inside or the outside edge of the blade.  The deeper you angle the blade towards it / lean into it, the steeper the curve or turn you are trying to do.

If you had a blade that wasn't very high, then your boot would hit the ice preventing a good angle between your blade and the ice.

Answer 2

hmm... i've never thought about that!

Answer 3

uuu....NO!! ice skates are meant to have that high of a blade!! and its called boot not shoe! and i really don't think it would still be able to make the person adjust to the ice, cuz they would just slip and fall if the blade isn't as high as they make them! no affense but this question is really unrealistic and useless!!!

Answer 4

The toe rake (the set of toe picks) are already an inch or more (especially with the advanced blades with the monster picks).  Besides it taking up space,  it has to be just high enough that the bottom pick doesn't drag the ice.  Blades are also "rounded" at the bottom . . . they have a rocker/radius . . .so that adds a teeny bit to the measurement as well to make it effective.  Also, the heel in the boot may make it seem like the blade is taller.

I'm no blade engineer, but those are are my thoughts.  The blades have been like that for a long time . . . figure skaters are able to do fantastic feats with them so there is a purpose to the design!