Correct Answers in Blue
1. What country distinguished skating on outside and inside edges and perfected the iron blade?
a) Germany
b) Netherlands
c) England
2. For National and International Figure Skating Competitions what is the optimal ice surface temperature?
a) -1 °C
b) -3 °C
c) -5 °C
d) -7 °C
3. When determining the correct boot length, what is an acceptable clearance between the end of the boot insole and the skater's longest toe?
a) 5mm
b) 10mm
c) 15mm
d) Depends on width
4. The Encyclopedia Britannica acknowledged figure skating in 1783 and described it as:
a) A form of transportation
b) A form of dancing
c) A form of elegant amusement
5. When sharpening skates, the desired blade root should be determined based on the skater's:
a) Skill level
b) Skating style
c) Ice temperature
d) Blade thickness
e) Weight
f) All of the above
Bonus Questions!
6. What are toe picks primarily used for?
a) Jumping and footwork
b) Stroking
c) Spinning
d) Fashion
7. What is pattern grinding?
a) Special grinding technique used only for Pattern Dance
b) A technique of sharpening that uses a master pattern to guide the grinding wheel (similar to how precise a key cutter is). The master patterns are identical to the blade manufacturer's specifications and results in consistent sharpening. Once a skater has found their favourite sharpening it can be replicated everytime!
c) Another name for free hand sharpening
8. The smaller a blade's root radius the sharper the edges.
a) True
b) False
9. When mounting blades onto the sole of a figure skating boot the blade plates never match the contour of the sole of the boot. This fact is true even with companies that manufacture both the boots and the blades. If the blades are just screwed to the sole of the boot what often happens?
a) The blades are under tension. This increases the likelihood that the blades will move, create inconsistent spring, and eventually develop stress fractures.
b) The blades are twisted and not straight. This results with the skater having to put more energy into controlling, maintaining, and changing their edges.
c) a and b
c) The blades are fine since the skater will just adapt to however the blades are mounted.
10. What needs to be considered when positioning a blade on a figure skating boot?
a) The skater's old blade position and the skater's "Line of Power"
b) If the skater pronates, supinates, or has a neutral foot alignment
c) The length of the blade and the boot sole
d) a, b, and c
e) Where the toe seam of the boot is
11. What can you do to help kill bacteria and reduce the smell in your skating boots?
a) Use a hair dryer to dry the inside of the boots
b) Put an air freshener in each boot
c) Leave them out in the rink
d) Use a timed boot dryer with a UV light
12. A 150 pound male figure skater can land a jump with the force of how many pounds?
a) 200 pounds
b) Double his weight
b) About 500 pounds
c) Over 1000 pounds
13. How many jumps are currently identified in figure skating?
a) Four - two toe jumps and two edge jumps
b) Eight - five toe jumps and three edge jumps
c) Six jumps - three toe jumps and three edge jumps
d) There is only one jump - the axel
** The six most common jumps in competitive figure skating are:
- These Three Toe Jumps: the Toe Loop, the Flip, and the Lutz
- These Three Edge Jumps: the Salchow, the Loop, and the Axel
14. What kind of blade is the most difficult blade to sharpen accurately and consistently?
a) Parallel Blades (such as Standard Pattern 99 and Coronation Ace)
b) Tapered Blades (such as Standard Gold Seal and Phantom)
c) Hollow Ground Blades (such as Standard Gold Seal and Phantom)
d) Narrow Edge Blades (such as MK Dance)
e) Carrier Blades (such as Matrix, Revolution, or Paramount)
15. When was figure skating first included in the Olympic Games?
a) 1908 Summer Olympics
b) 1920 Summer Olympics
c) 1924 Winter Olympics
d) 1948 Winter Olympics
**It is interesting to note that the first two Olympic Games that figure skating was included in were Summer Olympics (1908 and 1920). The first Winter Olympics that figure skating was a part of was 1924.