Ice skating is a great pastime. Moreover, this activity is liked not only by children, but also by many adults. Figure skating competitions or the hockey championship often bring together the whole family in front of the TV. Tough men's sport or elegant female dance leaves no one indifferent. The desire to ride appears for everyone who likes this sport. Picking up comfortable clothes and buying skates, you can go to the rink.
And then the question arises about how to tie skates. After all, the convenience of skiing depends on this. It is impossible for the leg to move freely in the ridge, but pulling the laces is also not very desirable. Calluses may appear, or your legs will quickly tire. Then the desire to ride for a long time will disappear.
Basic Rules
How to tie skates? Now we will tell. First you need to learn a few simple rules.
- Skates should be chosen strictly according to the size of the legs, so that they last longer. Before buying, be sure to try on socks in which you plan to ride.
- The shoe model and its stiffness are also very important. It depends on the sport (figure skating or hockey) and the level of training. If skates are needed only for walking, then inexpensive and soft models are bought.
- It is better to choose shoes that have hooks (blocks) in the upper part. They are more comfortable to put on and take off faster. Therefore, you can often untie so that your leg rests or your fingers are warm.
- Particular attention should be paid to shoelaces. Ideally, they should be nylon and stretch a little, but they can also be simple, not very thick. If the laces are bought separately, be sure to pay attention to their length.
- Lace up shoes only while sitting and before protective covers are removed.
Figure skates
For skating to be comfortable, you should know how to properly tie figure skates.
- Loosen the entire lacing so that the foot comes in and moves normally inside the boot.
- Extend your leg, relax your fingers.
- Start lacing with the toe, while the fingers should fit snugly on the insole. But tighten not too tight so that they do not go numb.
- The direction of the lacing is from the bottom up and from the outside inward so that the cross lies on the tongue of the boot. This will provide a better fit to the foot and stability in riding.
- During lacing, constantly check how comfortable the foot is in the boot. The ankle joint should move normally and painlessly. Nevertheless, the tightest lacing is needed precisely in the ankle area.
- Above the ankle joint, you can tie your skates a little weaker. The distance between the hooks should be at least 2 cm.
- In the upper part of the boot, the lace is first thrown over the hook, and then brought underneath underneath and again brought up to the next. Formed loop helps lacing hold on tight.
- The ends are best secured with a double knot. To do this, bend them in the form of loops and tie them together. The laces must be securely fastened. Otherwise, do not avoid injury on the ice.
- If the lacing is applied correctly, it will not be possible to slip the little finger under it.
Hockey skates
Men, of course, are more interested in the question of how to tie hockey skates correctly. After all, the speed of movement in the game depends on the quality of the lacing. And this is very important. Such skates are also tied according to all the above rules, but with one difference - the section from the toe to the bend of the leg needs to be laced more tightly and it is imperative to fix this part with a simple knot with a cross.
Knowing how to tie skates properly can help prevent injuries to the ankle joint. And also teach your children how to lace up such shoes correctly.
Trainers advise to tie and untie skates several times after the purchase before and during skiing. This contributes to their better and denser fit on the foot. And for the first few trainings, the upper hooks on the skates should not be laced at all. This way it will be easier to bend the leg until the muscles get used to the load.
Advice
Each novice skater should know not only how to tie skates correctly, but also how to transport and store them. You need to think about this in advance so that there is no unnecessary trouble. It is recommended to keep skates in soft cases, and transport them in hard cases to avoid injuries and damage to other things in the bag. A rugged backpack is best suited for such purposes.
It can be purchased at any sports store or sew it yourself from a dense material. In addition to the backpack, you will also need boot covers. They protect the laces and leather surface of the skates from scratches and dirt.
Conclusion
Now you know how to tie skates correctly. Having carefully read all the recommendations, it remains only to put the acquired knowledge into practice. Learning how to deal with shoelaces once and for all, you can achieve the automatism of the skill and enjoy a skate ride or a game of hockey.