Skate profiling theories

[Mimizk 114]

I want to discuss and get more knowledge about profiling, contouring for skate edge.
Now we can see some of sentences which were wrote about contouring on the internet easily.
Of course on this forum too.
But I feel most of them are not given a enough summary.
Or too old, or too unscientific…
So I learn about your contouring theories more widely.

Honestly, I’m so interested in goalie’s contouring theory but this is just a goalie thread theme.
But I want to provide my information, not only be taught.
So firstly I write my theory.




I’ve been using Blademaster’s contouring system, Custom Radius.
When I was Elementary school student, I used Fleming Gray’s contour machine but now I can’t search their differences from other machines.

To do things with Blademaster machine is 5kinds.

• To choose a radius of straight line
• To decide and mark 3points, thenar (ball of the foot), center and heel points
• To change center point
• To change the pitch
• To contour not straight line edge

1. To choose a radius of straight line

This is the first purpose of contouring.
If you are not a goalie, we often selectable 9, 10, 11 and 13’ for straight line.
These numbers mean big circle like this.

If change the radius to bigger, we can achieve more stability but lose ability for small turning.
But please note that I don’t connect this factor and hardly kicking or skating.
I think it is coursed by the 5th head.

By the way, I’m using 13’.

This topic thinking about contouring though I write about the hollow either.
If you choose small radius for example 9’, you need deep hollow because contact length with the ice will decrease.
If you choose large radius for example 13’, we can contact with the ice with shallower hollow enoughly.
So I’m using the shallowest (smallest?) BFD.

2. To decide and mark 3points, thenar (ball of the foot), center and heel points

In Custom Radius system, Blademaster makes “CRBG” gauge for marking the points.
This system measure the 3points from out size of your boots.

It mostly shows us correct marking points but even not completely correct.
Generally it makes gap about +/-5mm especially for center point because it doesn’t consider about actually fitting of my feet into the boots or differences of each boots’ shape.

These thenar, center, heel point are needed for contouring.

3. To change center point

Center point is very important for skating especially when we glide or cross over.
This tuning would be needed especially we install custom insole like Graff’s Superfeet because we would be not able to slide our feet in the boots.
Custom insole support our foot arch but it means we can’t change foot position back and forth as same as when we use genuine, paperlike insole.
While we used such genuine insoles, we could adjust our foot to boots’ center unconsciously.
After we chose custom insole, we have to give the true setting of center point as we used to by our ownself.

I’ve used 3kinds skates for these 10 years, CCM, Bauer and now VH.
I changed their center point CCM 5mm back, Bauer 2~3mm back and VH not change (0 point) or 1~2mm forward.
It completely matched with their heel shapes.
CCM is most straight and VH is most rounded form.
This is one of a proof that center point would be change too lightly by outform of the boots.

We can achieve ideal balance from correct center point for each person.
It may help transmission of force and lead to decreasing of injury.

4. To change the pitch

We can give some pitches to the edge.

I think it’s better to keep pitch numbers under +/-2 because probably the edges would be shape too unbalance.
If you want more pitches, I suggest you to use heel (or toe) lift shims.

Pitch is just your feeling, I think.
By the way, now I’m using 3mm heel lift shim and +1~2 pitch.

Please note that if you change the pitch, you may adjust center point again.
This pic is unreal but certainly cause similar thing very little when you change the pitch.

5. To contour not straight line edge

This is very important for smooth skating.
Slightly I wrote this on 1st head.

I’m not good at English sorry…
But this pic explain all the things.



When we walk or running on normal floor, we can do that very smoothly.
Though our foot bend only 1point.
It’s thenar ball point.
We can exercise smoothly if only bend 1point under the feet.
On the other hand, how do you feel if you have to walk with skis?

So I thought it would be solved if I contour the toe area edge after thenar point as same as I walk on the floor.
In actually we don’t skate straightly as walk so the curve would be more gently.

In my case, I’m contouring the the toe area tracing Tuuk’s holder shape.
Definitely I think this is not scientific explain though at least I can skate very well with that curve.
But someday I want to figure out best theoretical curve according to these theory.

[forbs02 20]

Regarding your last point and illustration, skating is not the same motion as walking, so you don't need to have that same curve. By taking that much toe off the blade you are minimizing how much blade is in contact with the ice when you are up on your toes accelerating. If you take that steel off, you will have to lean too far forward to get bite in the ice and your skating will suffer. Also backwards skating will be more difficult for the same reason. The lack of toe will cause you to lean too far foward, and there won't be enough bite for backwards crossovers.

I may be missing your point, but those are just my thoughts about your last section.

[Mimizk 114]

Hello forbs02,

Regarding your last point and illustration, skating is not the same motion as walking, so you don't need to have that same curve.

I agree.
And I wrote that point but perhaps I used wrong English, sorry.

So I thought it would be solved if I contour the toe area edge after thenar point as same as I walk on the floor.
In actually we don’t skate straightly as walk so the curve would be more gently.

So the last pic drawing gently curve.
If really we want top move the skate boots as walking and smoothly, need to contour the toe edge like this (left).

Sorry for the lazy pic!
I didn't use scanner but taken by cell phone camera.

And also this is just a image.

I've not been drawing exactly illustrations.

Actually Tuuk holder's curve is very gently.

The most important thing I want to say for this point is to begin toe area curve or to finish bottom straight line right under the thenar point.