Ice Types and Preference?

[pegasus99]

I had to skate at an entirely new rink this weekend due to *all three* local rinks having their ice shows on *the same weekend.* So I drove far, far away to someplace new, and when I stepped on their ice it was so bizarre. I'd heard this place had soft ice, but it was like skating on margarine.

Someone I knew stopped me and said, "Isn't this great? It's so soft!!"

I hated every second of it! I took a jump and skidded what felt like three feet before I caught an edge. I was seriously thinking I needed a sharpening, but I skated at Home this morning and was fine.

So I guess I prefer harder ice to margarine. Is there a general consensus on what is better, or is it just personal preference?

[AgnesNitt]

It's usually called 'hockey ice'.
If it's what you're used to skating on, then you'll find the softer 'figure skating ice' initially disconcerting.
However, figure skating ice doesn't break under hammer toe lutz's and your edges will be more secure.

I've only skated on it a couple of times, it's very nice, but you need to know what to expect.

If I'm on figure skating ice, my skate tech changes my sharpening to a different ROH.

[Loops]

I skate on hockey ice now, and while its fine, I much prefer figures ice.  I grew up with that though- my home rink was technically open-air back in the day (it was in a building, but there were openings where the roof joined onto the walls of the arena-bit.  Ice quality did fluctuate with outside temperatures, but by and large it was good ice.  When major competitions were held in the area, they'd have some practice ice there, and skaters always commented on how good our ice was.  I do miss that ice.  As AgnesNitt says, the softer ice is better for holding edges, and nicer on the toes for jumps/landings.  Not much nicer to fall onto though lol.

[sonoko]

I believe it is a personal preference. I have skated on both hard and soft ice and have not experienced any problems with either. Personally, I like the soft ice. It has a better "feel." With the softer ice, I can get deeper edges and I haven't experienced any of the issues you had when you tried it.

[icedancer]

I like soft ice - figures ice as Loops called it - figure ice on test day quality!!

I skate at two rinks - a hockey rink with hard ice - harder to skate on for sure -

Love the buttery softness... mmmmmm

[fsk8r]

I skate at a rink which does speed as well as hockey and figure skating. Speed ice is colder and harder than hockey ice so if you're not used to it, it can feel like skating on glass. We're used to it, but I hear people complaining when they first skate on it and we all find that in going to another rink, the ice feels "funny" but that our jumps become bigger.
I've heard it say you're more likely to land an axel on figure ice, so I'm trying to work out the best local rink to go start practicing it.

[pegasus99]

Maybe it's just something I need to get used to. I'm sure once I start testing/competing I'll have to skate on ice that I'm not entirely comfortable on...

:/

[littlerain]

Maybe it's just something I need to get used to. I'm sure once I start testing/competing I'll have to skate on ice that I'm not entirely comfortable on...

:/

That's a good point! I'm pretty sure I've been skating on hockey ice lately and I'm not sure i remember the difference!

[Meli]

My home rink has one figure sheet and one hockey sheet.  I'm used to switching back and forth, but prefer the feel of the figure ice and generally hold better edges on it.  The only problem is that the figure sheet is more temperamental when the weather changes, so sometimes it almost feels mushy, or will break strangely.

[PinkLaces]

When I was regularly skating at 2 rinks, one had hard ice and one had softer ice. It usually took me a couple minutes to adjust to the differences. I'm not sure which I like better. They are just a bit different.

[Doubletoe]

I looooove soft ice!  I hold my spin entry edges much better on soft ice and it's also less scary to jump on soft ice because my takeoff edges feel more secure and the landings (and falls) aren't as hard and jarring.  The only time I prefer hard ice (hockey ice) is when I've just gotten my blades sharpened and they're a little too sharp.  Sharp blades make hard ice feel like soft ice!

[Loops]

Sharp blades make hard ice feel like soft ice!

Hmmmm....maybe that's why I've become so compulsive about keeping mine sharp.  Never thought about it that way! 

[Christy]

Around here it's all hockey ice, even on the sheets mainly used by the figure skating clubs, however there are different qualities based on the age of the rink and I prefer the rinks with the harder ice.

[dlbritton]

There is only one sheet at my home rink and I think they keep it set for hockey but it doesn't feel too hard. Several weeks ago just before a hockey tournament they must have lowered the temperature because the ice felt bullet proof. No edge grip at all, but by the next night it was back to normal.

[Neverdull44]

I have two rinks that have to be made for hockey ice.  I hammer toe the hell out of it on my flip and lutz jumps.  I try to be softer on takeoff, but it will just shear off.  I am also always filling in my craters!