Profiling and Radius Sharpening

The exact way skates are sharpened depends largely on playing style and preference. When talking about profiling and radius Sharpening, we are referring to a basic sharpening of the blade that involves shaping the blade according to a predetermined template. These templates come in a variety of designs and radii, which give different characteristics on the ice. This means that the template and the blade itself become rounded and do not have a flat surface. As a result, the part of the blade in contact with the ice remains the same for the player in both forward and backward positions. Today, there are several types of templates available with different radii, including templates with multiple radii in the same template, known as combination radii.

These provide unique characteristics depending on how you position yourself on the ice. For children, a standard template (known as a Single Profile) is usually sufficient. However, as players become more experienced, many switch to a specific profile and often a combination radius, as these offer certain advantages.

Single profiles are important for children as they provide better balance when learning to skate. A longer single profile is preferred to achieve this.