Heavily taping ankle area

[Rustpot 1]

Would there be any benefit to taping your ankles inside your skate...similar to how football players do? It would add stability and strength until you develop stronger ankles/skating.

I never thought about it... Like I said though, I only wrap it 6 times, enough for the tape to not snap on me during play. If I wrapped the ankle itself I think I'd need more tape and have problems with getting it off and the hair on my leg.

My ankles are getting better with every session, so by the time the rinks get frozen next year (mid-October) and after a summer of working on it, I should be able to skate without any additional support.

On a side note, I had a skating class last semester. My balance is still sub-par (but getting better) and I wore my shinguards during the class. I have bad knees as well, so falling on the ice with my bare knee would definitely give me more trouble than taking precautions. Boy did I get funny looks strapping on shin pads and taping my ankles... until we got a bit more in depth and just about everyone ended up falling at least once, having to nurse their knees for the rest of the class. I fell more than most, but I was able to get right back up and keep skating, working on technique and balance

[RadioGaGa 162]

Would there be any benefit to taping your ankles inside your skate...similar to how football players do? It would add stability and strength until you develop stronger ankles/skating.

I never thought about it... Like I said though, I only wrap it 6 times, enough for the tape to not snap on me during play. If I wrapped the ankle itself I think I'd need more tape and have problems with getting it off and the hair on my leg.

If you decide to try it...look for the pre-warp stuff...it's thin, but kind foamy....it is a base wrap that not only gives an additional layer of support, but you also don't have to rip out hair on arms/legs. It would probably be in the same section of the shop as the tape and other stuff like that.

[Jbone 0]

After I started wearing my tounges out I taped my ankles to make it tight and so there was less movement. I found it helps alot.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

Would there be any benefit to taping your ankles inside your skate...similar to how football players do? It would add stability and strength until you develop stronger ankles/skating.

I never thought about it... Like I said though, I only wrap it 6 times, enough for the tape to not snap on me during play. If I wrapped the ankle itself I think I'd need more tape and have problems with getting it off and the hair on my leg.

My ankles are getting better with every session, so by the time the rinks get frozen next year (mid-October) and after a summer of working on it, I should be able to skate without any additional support.

On a side note, I had a skating class last semester. My balance is still sub-par (but getting better) and I wore my shinguards during the class. I have bad knees as well, so falling on the ice with my bare knee would definitely give me more trouble than taking precautions. Boy did I get funny looks strapping on shin pads and taping my ankles... until we got a bit more in depth and just about everyone ended up falling at least once, having to nurse their knees for the rest of the class. I fell more than most, but I was able to get right back up and keep skating, working on technique and balance

I'm in the same boat... I've been skating about a little less than a year, and I'm B.D.C. (Big dude Crew) so my ankles are so-so. I give them a few wraps with some ace bandage.. then pop the skates on. That way removing it won't leave you in agony like removing tape would. I was even thinking of getting one of those lace-up ankle braces... but I figured that would be overkill, and I'd have no flex in my ankles.

[Jake 0]

I'm just going to try it at sticktime this week and see what happens.

[Rustpot 1]

For me it's $2 every 4 ice times for the tape cost, and I'm just not sure how the Ace bandage will mess me up if I'm still in the beginning phase of skating...

Plus the tendon guards are getting floppy- the tape now also serves to keep them and the tongues in proper place

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Look at the pictures linked, Kovalev, Gaborik, Gonchar, finesse players, fast skaters, guys who's game revolve round their ability to get turned and get going.

It's probably so their ankles don't snap like twigs when they turn hard at speed with another player on their back.

As for me, I use tape on my ankles, 3 times round for me. I am 6'3'' 240lbs, so its an extra little support for me, previously out of neccessity, now out of habit/fear of not taping them

[Monty22 833]

For me it's $2 every 4 ice times for the tape cost, and I'm just not sure how the Ace bandage will mess me up if I'm still in the beginning phase of skating...

Plus the tendon guards are getting floppy- the tape now also serves to keep them and the tongues in proper place

The tendon guards are floppy from the tape. It breaks the stiffners in the boot.

[Neo5370 132]

Look at the pictures linked, Kovalev, Gaborik, Gonchar, finesse players, fast skaters, guys who's game revolve round their ability to get turned and get going.

It's probably so their ankles don't snap like twigs when they turn hard at speed with another player on their back.

As for me, I use tape on my ankles, 3 times round for me. I am 6'3'' 240lbs, so its an extra little support for me, previously out of neccessity, now out of habit/fear of not taping them

Yeah but don't those guys bend at the waist a little too much to compensate for having less forward flex at the ankle? Looks like terrible strain on the lower back.

EDIT: For every "great" skater that tapes, there is one that doesn't; i.e. scott niedermayer, paul kariya, Mike Gartner (fastes AS skills lap).

[Lester8 11]

I think taping the boot is similar to a higher boot-cut--It locks the angle between skate blade and lower leg. When the player drives their knee forward, the blade has to rock, instead of bending at the ankle and staying flat on the steel. Sure he can't squat straight down easily, but he probably accelerates forward faster.

I guess by taping around the tendon guard you still have your upper leg secured to the boot, but by the tibia bone rather than the anterior tibial tendon (which usually leads to lacebite). The taping technique could be good for people with anterior tibial tendons that stick out forwards.

The leverage not only bends the skate tendon guard, but also creases the boot between eyelets. There's strain all over the boot.

As for preventing injury when sliding feet first into the boards, the added stiffness over the ankle joint will put all the force on the knees--Pick your poison.

Weak in the ankles or not, the skating technique is different for locked or loose ankles. With locked, you must tip and point your whole leg (if not body) to rock the blade; with loose, you can simply pull your heel or toes up. Loose allows you to skate lazy, which is probably why I prefer it.

[Reaper 0]

what size skate do you wear?

I'd think 84s would be for Jr. skates :D

I use 84's on my Graf 709's. I hate having extra lace to deal with.

[Jason 65]

I just realized that I totally missed this thread. I've always wondered why guys do this. I would like to say that I have never taped my ankles and can't understand why anyone would unless they were using old floppy skates from the 70's.

Could you imagine the need to tape Synergy, Vapor XXX or One90 skates, especially around the tendon guards? This has to limit forward flex. No question. Forward flex is key IMO.

I do respect the fact that the players pictured are incredible skaters, but I tend to think that they would be better without the tape. Call me crazy. I don't mind. I'm a huge Habs fan, but Kovalev pisses me off sometimes. I think that if he took the tape off of his ankles that he could get his knees over his toes and accelerate faster. He gets by on his stickhandling and ability to so extremely quick cuts (turns).

I would go as far as saying it is silly to put your socks over your tendon guards. It wouldn't impede forward flex near as much as the tape would, but it would still impede a skater somewhat and most importantly it looks STUPID! I remember when I was younger some of the players on my team started pulling the backs of their socks under the heel of the skates. I knew they were doing it purely for looks, but I thought it made them look like figure skaters or something. UGLY.

Don't get me wrong, looks shouldn't be more important than performance and personal preference and such. However, my personal opinion is that taping around your tendon guard or wearing your socks over your tendon guard looks ridiculous and impedes your ability to skate at an optimal level.

Feel free to oppose my view. I am interested to hear a different perspective.

[Marrick66 0]

Well, my take on it is this: Taping seems to help in those situations where you've got to move your feet quick(along the boards, in front of the net, etc). Or, maybe to me more accurate, stopping and starting situations. Less give in the ankle area would mean a little more power transfer and balance. Now, once you're in an open skating situation, the forward flex would suffer and you'd have less speed. I've tried both taping and not taping, and I found that a boot with a little higher cut than normal helps me. There's no scientific basis I based this on, just my experience as someone who has ankle balance issues.

[Jason 65]

I would definitely agree with you if you have ankle balance issues. However, I doubt Gonchar, Kovalev and Gaborik have the same issues. If you strengthen your ankles by skating and doing off ice training it will help your game a lot more than taping your ankles will.

[Marrick66 0]

You're probably right, I doubt they need it. Maybe at one time, now it's just habit. Never underestimate a hockey player's superstitions.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I don't want to toss your bubble but Kovalev is faster then you might think. And what about Fedorov and Gaborik who tape their ankles and skate super fast. Just try it before saying it is no good...

I just realized that I totally missed this thread. I've always wondered why guys do this. I would like to say that I have never taped my ankles and can't understand why anyone would unless they were using old floppy skates from the 70's.

Could you imagine the need to tape Synergy, Vapor XXX or One90 skates, especially around the tendon guards? This has to limit forward flex. No question. Forward flex is key IMO.

I do respect the fact that the players pictured are incredible skaters, but I tend to think that they would be better without the tape. Call me crazy. I don't mind. I'm a huge Habs fan, but Kovalev pisses me off sometimes. I think that if he took the tape off of his ankles that he could get his knees over his toes and accelerate faster. He gets by on his stickhandling and ability to so extremely quick cuts (turns).

I would go as far as saying it is silly to put your socks over your tendon guards. It wouldn't impede forward flex near as much as the tape would, but it would still impede a skater somewhat and most importantly it looks STUPID! I remember when I was younger some of the players on my team started pulling the backs of their socks under the heel of the skates. I knew they were doing it purely for looks, but I thought it made them look like figure skaters or something. UGLY.

Don't get me wrong, looks shouldn't be more important than performance and personal preference and such. However, my personal opinion is that taping around your tendon guard or wearing your socks over your tendon guard looks ridiculous and impedes your ability to skate at an optimal level.

Feel free to oppose my view. I am interested to hear a different perspective.

[Jake 0]

Another thing I didn't think about is that these guys might have custom-designed forward-flexing boots/rockers, and thus might not need much more forward flex.

I still haven't found the time to try it yet.

[Jason 65]

I know Kovy.

I have a love/hate relationship with Kovalev. He amazes me sometimes, but other times he leaves me pulling my hair out. When he wants to, he can skate damn fast and go through a whole team. He just doesn't want to often enough it seems. As for these guys...Federov, Gaborik, Kovalev, etc., they are all fast. No question. I'm not sure how each one tapes his skates. I'm only certain about Kovalev. I don't really think that taping around the laces is a problem. I did that when I was younger for a while, but never around the tendon guard. It trashes the skates and limits your forward flex. Everyone to their own I guess. I was just surprised to see pros doing it.

Question for you, does Kovalev not tape the bottom of his blade? Doesn't look like it in the pictures from the first post. What is the reason for this?

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

yeah Jason,

He does not tape his heel-bottom because it allows him to stickhandle with less friction on the spots of his blade where he stickhandles...

[Lester8 11]

It's a trade-off. By securing your ankles, you use your weight to dig your toes into the ice, but you have to hop more when you turn your feet. Your ankles never tire and your weight remains constant, so you can skate hard longer, but your thighs and hips do more work. With unsecured ankles, you have to squeeze your calves to plant your feet, but you never have to hop. As your calves get tired, you have less and less leverage or ice grip. Pick the one that plays up to your strengths, especially if your team buys your skates.

[Jordan 13]

I asked one of the top power skating intructors around this area (Jules Jardine...World Class Hockey in Toronto) about this one. He is a former minor pro and NCAA All American; and, in my experience, is the single best skater I have ever seen, including NHL players:

His take is that a properly fitted skate, tied securely should not need tape. He prefers forward flex to be as free as possible and that the kids will learn the necessary balance and develop the required ankle strength without tape.

He said that most that use tape likely tried it at some point and then came to rely upon it. Not likely that someone who has succeeded (ie in the NHL)is going to start trying out new things with their skating.

FWIW, as I wrote this post, I thought of dozens of respected power skating instructors I have seen either personally or on video, and I cannot recall a single one that taped their ankles.

[djinferno 2]

I think that this can be beneficial for people that have pronation problems, I have tried it and it did help but i did not like it overall

[hockeymom 2]

I think that this can be beneficial for people that have pronation problems, I have tried it and it did help but i did not like it overall

I'm not sure if taping ankles would help people with pronation problems or not... but if the problem were THAT severe, I would hope they would have custom orthotics in their skates (at a minimum SuperFeet). Pronation starts with the feet and the correction should also be at the feet - not putting a band-aid (so to speak) on the ankles.