Thanks!

Interesting that the USFS is apparently worried about blades that are not sharpened to be flat or with a concave shape, and/or for blades whose width varies by more than a "slight" amount. Perhaps those rules are just there just in case there is an advantage, rather than for any known advantage. Though the first part might be to make edge changes observable.

A bit off topic, but perhaps they need more explicit equipment rules for tests and competitions. Blades with circular picks might make spin and pivots & turns easier. A skater could push a button to extend the toepick or tail, or make the blade wider, only when desired. More elastic boots or insoles or actual mechanisms could store energy for higher jumps, and faster spins and rotations. Audio or augmented reality devices used in tests and competitions could provide guidance and feedback (perhaps even coach feedback) on patterns & program elements. The absence of rules invites their eventual use. Perhaps they are already covertly used.

Some of these ideas would be fun for recreational use!

In my years of assisting with skate sharpening, any non-leather material stinks to high heaven if not taken proper care of. Padding in the boots, the material the boots are made out of, the socks stuffed into the toes to wear again... Yes, your hockey boots will hold more funk than a leather skating boot.

There are, BTW, a variety of rules about the size and nature of markings on blades at the ISU website. I'm not sure to what extent local USFS approved competitions (or Skate Usa competitions) have to conform to ISU rules. I don't know if all hockey blades conform. But I wasn't thinking of using hockey blades for figure skating - just hockey boots.

There are a bunch of products and procedures advertised to prevent or reduce boot odor, e.g., https://thorogoodusa.com/how-to-keep-work-boots-from-stinking (note they suggest treating the feet as well as the boots), https://www.reddit.com/r/Boots/comments/16ow4qr/work_boot_stink_tried_everything/?rdt=54974 (someone suggested vodka!), https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-get-a-bad-stink-out-of-a-pair-of-boots, standard antiperspirants and deodorants (or both), ozone, fungicides, etc.

Do you know if any of them work well for everyone?

I don't understand why leather would stink less than plastic and plastic/fiber composites, since I would think it would absorb sweat more.

If it's because leather makers add "tanning" chemicals like chromium sulfate to leather so it doesn't rapidly decompose, that ought to be possible for non-leather materials too. If it's because leather breathes, which helps get rid of sweat, I'm not sure how true that is of high level figure skating boots, which have stiffening layers. Anyway, many socks wick sweat away.

I've never noticed much of a smell on my skate boots (which admittedly are leather), hockey and speed skating boots (both of which I only used a little), hiking boots (also leather), ski boots, or tennis shoes - but my sense of smell isn't all that great, and my feet don't sweat much. But maybe if I used hockey boots a lot the problem would be worse.

Hi Query,

The only input I have is that in street shoes I can’t stand heels over about an inch maybe inch and a half.  I think my skates have a “normal” heel?  It said custom or special on the order form but was the same as my old pair and a few others I acquired (1 3/4” I believe offhand.)

From what I read some brands pitch skaters forward with a bit more heel to help with jumping?  I’ve seen some interesting YouTube videos of people trying out antique skates, and from books also I saw that in the distant past the heels were a lot lower.  This is circa ‘20s maybe ‘30s.  I’d love to try some if I could.

BTW that shop also fits custom figure skates from Jackson, Riedell, and Edea (he was trained by David Rippon to reshape Edeas); says Jackson custom skates only take 8 weeks (unlike Harlick's 1.5 years) and are cheaper, though they don't customize as much. He could look at my feet later to decide which brands I custom boots I could use.

BTW, Mike doesn't think dropping the raised heel is a good idea. But I have always hated them.

That shop did a truly awful job, about 20 years ago, of fitting my full custom Klingbeil boots. But it is under new management - Mike is the main guy's new name. The skate tech who messed mine up (and at least a dozen other people's that I know of) is long gone.

I've previously discussed these things in more general terms with the guy in charge of the pro shop at Bowie, and may also discuss them with they guy in charge at the pro shop at Ashburn, who has very good reviews.

But I would appreciate any comments you folks have on the reasons for the raised heel and the strong upwards bend, and on the idea of mounting figure blades on hockey boots.

Today I sharpened before skating (skipping the tape,) and it felt really good.  I suppose I went too long although it was less hours than I normally go.