Why do figure skates have heels?

Question

Suddenly,this question came to my mind....I really wander why....

Answer 1

Since reading your question, I was thinking "yah, why the heel"?  I never thought of that!  

As already mentioned, it takes from the street boot design, as the blades were strapped to them for skates . . . until an attached boot/blade design came out.  So the heel has always been there mainly for looks.

This reasoning makes most sense to me . . .

"Different figure skaters prefer different size heel - ice dancers often wear high heels, which push their body weight forward onto the balls of their feet for deeper edges and better control of quick steps and changes of direction."

http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/program...

Interesting!

Answer 2

I really have no clue!!! LOL  That's a good question.  Maybe it's becaust it makes for an easy place for them to grab when they hold their foot and lift their leg up? Or it could help with the balance. I'm not sure!

Answer 3

it should be because of the history of skates

from strapping on pieces of bone to their feet at first then later pieces of metal onto their boots.

from this phase into having the skate in one piece, they just took the blade and the boot (having a heel) and perminantly sticking them together and hasn't changed much since.

and like even look at many shoes and boots nowadays, they have heels unless like they're converse or flip flops

Answer 4

As well as being there for the history of figure skates were made, they have been updated and kept of them for 2 main reasons.

Reason 1 is for posture. The heal helps with spins and jumps, and also balance sometimes.

Reason 2 is that it looks classy. It wouldn't really be as nice to see a figure skating routine on hockey skates, would it?

Hope this helps!