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Often referred to as the profile, rocker, or contour of your skate blade, these terms all refer to the curvature of your skate blade from heel to toe. Similar to the radius of hollow on the bottom of your skate blade, the profile is measured by radius as well, however this radius is significantly larger and measured in feet instead of fractions of an inch. For example hockey player skate profiles can range from 7′ to 13′ rockers with the most popular being 9′ and 11′, while goalie skates are usually around a 28′ rocker. Typically only 60% of the blade is profiled, centered around the balance point of the skate, which can be placed in the center of the blade or also altered towards the toe or heel of the blade as well for different skating styles. The very front 20% of the skate blade on the toe and very back 20% on the heel are much more rounded to allow for proper starts, stops, and full skating stride extension.

A smaller profile (7′) will make less contact with the ice than a larger profile (13′). Less ice contact (7′) allows for greater maneuverability and acceleration, but also digs into the ice more than a larger profile (13′), which means slower top speeds and increased fatigue. More ice contact (13′) provides increased top speed and stability, but decreased agility and maneuverability. Similar to the radius of hollow on your skate blade, there is no right or wrong profile, it all comes down to personal preference and skating style.

NEW BLADES / MEASURING PROFILES

Brand new skates or brand new blades are going to have some sort of generic profile right from the factory.  Different brands use different standard profiles for their blades, but 9′ and 11′ are the most common.  Accuracy of these factory blades however can vary depending on the blade manufacturing process.  Roofdaddy’s is equipped with the latest Prosharp technology to correct inconsistencies that exist on factory blades, and can also determine your current radius and help identify what changes are best for you.