Ice dance blades

[SmallFairy]

Me and a fellow training mate will try out some basic ice dance for fun. I was wondering if someone can tell me more about the difference between ice dance blades and ordinary freestyle blades. I know the ice dance blades are a little shorter in the back, but are they sharpened differently? Are the edges somewhat different? The rocker?
The boots are also a little lower, right?

Of course we'll be fine with today's equipment, but my partner is a bit of a geek (a good one) when it comes to these things, and have just bought figure blades (and new boots) for our figure lessons once a week, and it would be great to know more about the dance blades too.

Thanks all!

 

[MacMadame]

Dance blades have more of rocker. For turns and such. You sharpen them the same. I loved mine back when I was skating.

 

[overedge]

The rocker depends on the blade and the manufacturer. Freeskate blades have different rockers too - that's not specific to ice dance blades.

 

[purple skates]

Dance blades have smaller toe picks, are shorter, and (at least mine as compared to my freestyle blades) are thinner. It took a bit of getting used to when I switched. I lost my spinning ability for a while, for example.

I’m not in dance boots, but generally the back will have a scoop out for easier toe pointing, and higher heels.

I didn’t switch to dance blades until I was taking my pre-silver dances, and only did so because I decided I no longer wanted to jump. People have passed their golds in freestyle blades.

 

[briancoogaert]

Ice Dance blades are thinner and shorter.
It's so much easier for turns like Mohawks or Choctaws since you are supposed to have close, very close feet while doing them.
Boots are lower on the heel, so it's better for the leg lines.
You can ice dance with freestyle boots and blades, as long as you are being careful while doing mohawks or choctaws (or the blades of your partner ! lol)

 

[SmallFairy]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I guess I will stick to my normal blades, as it seems too big an effort to adjust back and forth (loosing spinning ability...) when I will do most of my skating freestyle. But who knows what might happen? We'll for sure be careful not to hook our blades together.

 

[purple skates]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I guess I will stick to my normal blades, as it seems too big an effort to adjust back and forth (loosing spinning ability...) when I will do most of my skating freestyle. But who knows what might happen? We'll for sure be careful not to hook our blades together.

It’s likely you won’t notice any issues until the pre-silvers. I stepped on the back of my freestyle blade on the Foxtrot mohawk and down I went. I still have problems with that mohawk in that dance because of it, even though I’ve been on dance blades for years now.

 

[taz'smum]

I didn't know quite where to put this?

If the UK's last remaining steel works is shutting down this month, will that not be a problem for skaters, as many skaters use UK blades??

British steel works to close next month

 

[livetoskate]

I didn't know quite where to put this?

If the UK's last remaining steel works is shutting down this month, will that not be a problem for skaters, as many skaters use UK blades??

British steel works to close next month

I have use MK blades for decades. So I wonder what will happen to MK? Such sad news!