free skating advice or skates' assessment?

    e-mail: skate1st@outlook.com
        
currently we try to outsource (flyers print), pls. tell us if you could optimize
the layout for as many flyers, as could be printed on an A4.

skates' assessments done for pros, cannot be published, sorry.

for figure skating, yes, s.p. and c.c.s. are applicable too;
(further details, only by e-mail).

2nd new concept: "critical contact surface" (ice & roller skating)

the "critical contact surface" is the 2nd new concept introduced, as intended & written (2/7/13)
(c.c.s. - conceptual approach, through cross industry knowledge)
it represents the blades'/rollers' minimal total surface area, in full contact with the
skating surface, at a certain moment during skating, beyond which the skater looses.
grip (slips & might fall) and eventually traction (often just partially).

attn: (r.s.) consider replacing the rollers on your skates, right away, if their surface appears
                pitted by craters (mm wide), particularly in speed skating, downhills and/or if you
                are overweight.
                from now on, we will call the rollers, with this type of wear: "pitted"
                (not the same as "pitting" - localized craters on a metal surface, associated always
                with corrosion.)
 the analogy for roller skating (not done 2/7/13), is to be added (using c.c.s.) here below:
 
               

overweight, but want to skate?

first, to all of you, trying to reduce weight this way: respect!
this post is exclusively dedicated to you.
is your body dynamics influenced by overweight? yes.
(here below, comparison overweight/normalweight would be more relevant, if made
between approximately same height & same sex individuals).

how could you avoid skating associated accidents &/or incidents, as much as a normalweight?
simple enough! ex.:
does the kinetic energy (at any given moment) of skaters skating
(overweight and/or normalweight), depend on their body mass & velocity? yes it does.
if your body mass is over your normal value (overweight), for a comparable
kinetic energy (to that of a normalweight), when skating, what would you
control &/or decrease first? (to keep yourself, in the same "risk zone" as a normalweight)
certainly, your speed!
- would you try to skate slower? 
- if you're a skater with a speed addiction, could you become an ex-addict?
  (at least until you reach your normalweight.)

would analogy reveal the unexpected & lead you, to the same outcome, for:
- rotational kinetic (turns, etc.),
- potential (downhills, jumps, etc.),
energies? :)

1st new concept: "secondary play" (ice & roller skating)

"secondary play" is the 1st new concept introduced, as intended & written (2/7/13)
(s.p. - conceptual approach, through cross industry knowledge)
it represents the axial and/or radial play of the:
(i. s.) - grinding wheel, relative to the shaft it is mounted on;
           (could appear when the grinding wheel is/becomes loose, or is fixed/becomes
           decentered, on its rotating shaft; dangerous, as the grinding wheel rotates at high speeds;
           serious injuries may occur, by flying grinding wheel pieces, if this breaks while
           rotating, due to this type of  play; always keep in safe distance  from a sharpening
           machine in operation.
           the grinding wheel's secondary play (axial and/or radial), even taken without any
           abnormal values of the axial and/or radial play of its shaft bearings, could mean damages,
           even beyond repair, to the ice skates' blades.
(r. s.) - rollers, relative to the bearings they are mounted on
            the rollers' secondary play (axial and/or radial), even taken without any abnormal
            values of the axial and/or radial play of  their respective bearings, could mean serious
            crashes, particulary in speed skating, downhill, etc....

bearings' axial and/or radial play, became so much more important in ice & roller skating
competitions, of any kind.

secondary play, as a new concept, for the first time defined, might only add up as information
for the casual skater; but in terms of competition & performance in skating, plays a role & has
to be dealt with, accordingly.

is bearing axial & radial play increasing your drag? (ice & roller skating)

adjusting your position, clothing and equipment, to reduce your drag, so that you get the most out of the power you're putting in - is this the idea? yes it is.

here, at this stage, we will only refer to:
- ice & roller skates (equipment),
- used (more or less) bearings - with a play (a &/or r), out of the manufacturer imposed limits.
the analogy (unusual) between ice s. & roller s., will be made on grounds of this play (a &/or r).

bearings are assembled with a slight amount of looseness between the balls and the raceways.
for further research related to bearings' axial & radial play, please take your time & visit:
JESA, Swiss bearings manufacturer.

schematic analogy r.s. - i.s.:
r.s.: a &/or r play (if any), of the rollers' bearings -
i.s.: a & or r play (if any), of  the grinding wheel shaft's bearings - when sharpening the skates -
could increase your drag & alter your intended trajectories, when (r. respectively i.) skating?
unfortunately yes.

suggestions welcomed...

we:
- would like to thank all those that gave a thought & visited this blog.
- also, take this opportunity and let you know, that we will offer free advice and support -
   couching one would be skater in Vienna, Austria, aged 10 - 14 - (humble beginnings -
   nonetheless gifted). please just let us know. (austrian residents - please do not insist
   otherwise).

our thanks also, to those companies, that brought (in all confidence) adverts to this blog.

suggestions welcomed...

... "sharp" enough with your skate sharpener (s.s.)? (ice skating)

the following text will give you some generic insight into how one should interact with his / her s.s.,

a. the ability to analyze what your s.s. says, helps you gain insight into his attitudes.
b. interact more with your s.s.., ex:
    - ask questions.
    - explain him what are you after (speed, crowd skating, competition, etc.).
c. try to "monitor" his craft:
    1.  visually check your newly sharpened skates (hollow, etc.), after each sharpening.  
    2.  mentally compare with past sharpenings, in terms of gliding, breaking capabilities, etc...
         (very relevant , if done repeteadly on the same ice surface)
    3.  interpret your "feet feedback".

optimal correlation: c1 visual check - c2 mental comparison - c3 feet feedback - ice surface,
will make you break through present limitations, in ice skating.

(analogy for roller skating, comin' up,... :) )  

you might be surprised to find out also, that among the best s.s. , in your area, some (the very best), take the initiative first & ask you a lot of questions, about your skates & skating style, etc. even before starting to sharpen them. (the s.s. tries to be consistent in what he does for you, so we think, his attitude should oblige).

we will introduce later, other concepts, related to the geometry of the skates' blades (but not only), slightly different from what you already may know.
this knowledge, never before published, which might fill in some engineering gaps, surely would enhance your skating capabilities & experience.