How often should I sharpen figure skates?

Plan for every 30–40 hours of ice time. Adjust sooner for rough ice or if you walk off-ice without guards. Consistent, light maintenance keeps performance stable.

What are the clearest signs my blades are dull?

You slip on edges you normally hold, stops drift, and spins travel. If feel drops compared to your last good session—and you're at ~30–40 hours—book a sharpen.

Could a bad sharpen feel like dull blades?

Yes. A rough or scaly finish, a flattened rocker, or rounded toe pick/tail can make skates feel inconsistent. These are technician issues and should be corrected properly.

What hollow should I use for figure skating?

Most skaters do well on a 7/16" hollow for balance between grip and glide. Finish quality and consistency from one sharpen to the next are just as important as the number.

Signs Your Figure Skates Need Sharpening | The Boot & Blade

Consistency is the goal. After a good sharpen there’s no break-in period — your blades should feel like a cleaner, more controlled version of your last session. If the feel changes drastically or you’re fighting the ice, something’s off. Here’s how to spot when it’s time to sharpen (and when the problem is actually a bad sharpen).

Quick checklist (accurate, safe tests)

Hours skated: You’re past 30–40 hours since your last sharpen. Time alone is the most reliable trigger.
Grip vs. glide: You need noticeably more pressure to hold an edge or to stop cleanly; crossovers “wash out”.
Consistency drop: Skates don’t feel like your previous session (with the same hollow). That’s a red flag.
Finish quality: The edges feel “scratchy” on the ice or sound raspy — a sign of a rough/scaly finish, not true sharpness.
Visual nicks/rust: Any visible damage on the edges will kill performance and needs addressing before skating.
Tip: If you lightly set your thumbnail against the edge (perpendicular, never along the blade), a healthy edge will catch. If it skates across, it’s losing bite. If you’re not confident doing this, leave it to your tech.

What “needs sharpening” feels like on the ice

Slipping on edges you usually hold — brackets, counters, rockers feel vague rather than precise.
Stops drift more than they should, or take more effort to bite.
Spins travel even with good posture — you’re chasing centre you normally hit.

If you’re experiencing the above and you’re at ~30–40 hours, book a sharpen.

When the problem isn’t dullness (it’s a bad sharpen)

These are technician errors that sharpening alone won’t fix unless corrected properly:

Flattened rocker: The natural curve underfoot has been ground away. Feels like you’ve lost your pivot point; turns feel ungainly and skids appear out of nowhere.
Rounded toe pick: You lose purchase on toe steps/jumps. (Toe picks aren’t “sharpened” during a proper service — if they’re rounded, they were mishandled.)
Rounded tail: Rear stability disappears; exits feel squirrelly.
Rough/scaly finish: Feels “grabby then slippy” and sounds scratchy. A well-finished 7/16" (typical figure hollow) will skate better than a poorly finished 1/2".

If you suspect any of the above, ask for an inspection rather than “another quick pass”. At The Boot and Blade we inspect mount alignment, existing condition, and edge finish before we touch the steel, and we record your preferred setup for repeatability.

How often should you get your blades sharpened?

Plan for every 30–40 hours of ice. Adjust if:

You skate public/rough ice → sharpen sooner.
You walk off-ice without guards → sharpen sooner (and fix the habit).
You like more bite (deeper hollow) → edges may feel tired earlier.

Regular, light maintenance removes less steel each visit and keeps feel consistent across sessions.

About hollows (why “feel” can fool you)

Most figure skaters sit well on 7/16" for a balance of grip and glide.
Shallower (e.g., 1/2") = more glide, less bite.
Deeper = more bite, can feel catchy for some skaters.

Finish quality changes perception: a rough 1/2" can feel “sharper” (worse) than a clean 7/16". Communicate how your last session felt; we’ll adjust within your comfort zone.

Make your sharpen last longer

Use hard guards whenever you’re off the ice.
Dry blades thoroughly after each session; store in soakers (not hard guards).
Keep your sharpening on schedule — don’t wait until performance nosedives.

More questions? Check out our Blade Sharpening FAQ

How to Tell When Your Figure Skates Need Sharpening (The Expert Way)