That was my thought too. Gradually increase the ROH from where you are now. A 1/2" ROH is a noticeable change from 7/16", but it's not a major change.

My Coronation Ace blades finally passed their useable life for freestyle. The technician said the sweet spot has shifted back due to multiple sharpening altho the profile is still correct. After the last sharpening I tripped over the toe picks a few times because they are closer to the ice. I ordered new Coronation Ace blades, I am still competing at Adult High Beginner so no higher blade really called for.

I was thinking of using my old blades with my old somewhat broken down Riedell Motion boots and having a dedicated Figures boot/blade combo.

What is a good ROH for Figures alone, or possibly Figures and Ice Dance if that is feasible? I currently use a 7/16 ROH for freestyle and have heard a shallower ROH is better for Figures. I will also talk to the tech about grinding down the toe pick some so I don't catch it.

Thanks for any advice

FWIIW, many skate techs say once every 40 hours on the ice is typical for figure skaters.

But there is a lot of variation.

Not just by skater, but by the type of ice you skate on. Rough ice, and dirty outdoor ice wear out blade edges a lot faster.

I currently sharpen more often, maybe every 8-15 hours, because I love sharp edges, but I use hand tools (mostly Pro-Filer) that remove a lot less metal than powered machine tools, I think because they reshape the steel somewhat more than remove it - the blades still last me for years, and probably well over 100 sharpenings. But about 30 sharpenings seems roughly right for sharpening using powered machines. Maybe worse if you are still having a bit of trouble centering the blade position on the wheel when sharpening.

Is your daughter old and safety oriented enough to learn to sharpen her own skates? It might encourage her to take good care of her blades. (Or not. ) I've watched a lot of kids run off the ice onto the rubber mats surrounding the rink, and out to the lobby or bathroom, with no concern for their blades, secure in the knowledge that their parents will get them sharpened and replaced as needed. Of course, some adults aren't much more careful.

I've also seen some who don't dry their blades after use, leave their blades in blade guards between uses, or store their skate in a closed bag, box or trunk. All of those increase corrosion and shorten edge and blade life. Hopefully your tool experience means you have explained to your daughter what she should do to preserve her blades as much as she can.

I used nothing scientific when I skated. I always went by feel. One thing that I noticed was that the more advanced my skills became over the 23 years that I skated, the more tolerant I became of edges becoming dull.

I would venture a guess that most skaters, except for beginning skaters, can tell when their edges start to slip. That's when it's time for a sharpening. For the inexperienced, they won't have deep edges to worry about and an approximate number like 40 hours will suffice.

Unless there is impact damage, 20 hours seems too short and could impact blade life. A few minor (and inevitable) nicks won't hurt anything, so don't chase perfect edge condition at the expense of blade life.

I've been wondering for a long time how you can test a skate that needs sharpening.
for the moment I'm using the fingernail technique but I don't really like it (and I wouldn't have enough nails!).
Before having my own machine, I didn't ask myself all these questions, it was roughly every 40 hours, but now that I have the machine I do it for my daughter every 20/25 hours).
but I would like to have a serious technique...
And I would love to have your ideas or advice.
Hello to you enthusiasts of the south of France!