School me on Nordic ice skates

[XXX-er]

my bike/ ski/ skate buddy and a true technician who sold the blades to me said " it doesn't matter just use any xc ski binding " so I supose YMMV but even using an old pair of SNS bindings from used kids XC skis which have to be the most flaccid bumper available I didn't find a probelm with heel return,

Skate blades with more rocker turn faster, my russian buddy the figure skating coach showed me his skates for ice dancing whichare rockered with only 5" of blade on the ice

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

OT-ish: somebody want to learn me on sizing and fitting for “hockey” skates? Wife and I are very causally looking (used skates of course). Intend is for cruising on pond ice and at the free rink up the hill. Would love it for the kids, too, but their feet are growing too fast and we currently go too infrequently to consider purchasing.

there are some adjustable ice skates. We had them from K2. Plaspic heel and toes slide about 3 sizes I think, inside that is a soft boot.

[alive]

First day out on the blades this year. It’s been super warm this fall, but with a little cold snap the last three days, found a little alpine Lake at the local ski resort that was solid enough for a little session.



Missed the question last year about the different blades. I ended up getting a couple of different Isvidda blades five years ago. Pretty sure one is 48 cm and the other 55 cm. Always preferred the longer ones as they are faster and smoother. If you are stuck with a tiny pond, that would be the only reason to go shorter. I have used NNN BC and skate boots. Unless you plan on expeditions, skate boots are ideal for normal use. Light, stiff and warm enough.
Ended up getting a pair of Zandstra blades last year and absolutely love the platform. Just a better steel that requires less sharpening. Highly recommended!




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[riff]

I was surprised to find the small lakes above 7k ft are ready to go here- medium and large lakes not yet. It’s a haul to get to them so I will have to circle back a bit later, but glad to see it!


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[XXX-er]

I think riff is right about steel, keep in mind harder steel stays sharp longer but can be more challenging to sharpen.

I'm no expert, but in the handful I've seen the amount of rocker also varies. I imagine more rocker is better for shittier ice.

I inherited a pair of lundhags and on good black ice they fucking haul. Fun times. You need a lot more space than hockey skates though.

I think you might find a you tube on sharpening nordic blades but consider the blade is 1/2 the width of a hockey blade is not hollow grind and the blade angles are 90 degree so I think they can be sharpened by making a jig out of 2x4 and using a sharpening stone

I knew kid who raced short track and she was constantly sharpening her skates in a special jig but she was leaned over 45degrees making turns in a hockey rink

I have never sharpened my nordic blades

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

I think you might find a you tube on sharpening nordic blades but consider the blade is 1/2 the width of a hockey blade is not hollow grind and the blade angles are 90 degree so I think they can be sharpened by making a jig out of 2x4 and using a sharpening stone

I knew kid who raced short track and she was constantly sharpening her skates in a special jig but she was leaned over 45degrees making turns in a hockey rink

I have never sharpened my nordic blades

Regular speed skates (not short track) use a very simple jig that clamps both skates at the same time, then you use a large flat stone resting on both to sharpen both at the same time. This is what creates the 90 degree edges.
So, yes, should be easy to make.

Here is the Nordic blade version:


https://zandstrasport.nl/producten/n...ijptafel-7129/

[XXX-er]

yeah I'm pretty sure a nordic blade user could figure some thing out without having to spring for the jig but yeah kid had a very specific jig for speed skates so she would be running the sharpening stone over the 2 edges at the same time

the last town I lived in was somewhat of a speed skating hotbed, there was of course the shortrack club, but also after i left they built a long track speed skating oval,

when i was there I knew a couple of guys with ties to a speedskating past who were very into doing laps on a 1 km oval, they were like forget the nordic blades and get real clap skates which i never did

so we would borrow my GF's quad with a blade plow out a 1km oval on a lake out side of town, blast a reefer and go skating