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ice skating
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Quick Summary

The blade of an ice skate is a metal runner attached to the bottom of a boot. In figure skating, the blade is about 3/16 inch thick and hollow-ground, creating two edges. The front of the blade features serrations called toe picks, which help skaters with jumps and pivots for spins. Ice dancers use shorter blades with looser padding to allow for quick footwork. Speed skating blades are longer and thinner than those used in figure skating or hockey, designed for straight-line speed. Hockey skates have short, curved blades for agility and quick turns. The evolution of skates includes the development of all-steel blades and the addition of toe picks for figure skating.123

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. figure skating - Boots and blades
  2. ice skating
  3. speed skating

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