Sharpening
Every sharpening brings your child one step closer to regular skates.
Balance Blades are designed to grow with your child. They follow the same learning path as traditional skates, with one important difference—your child builds confidence first.
As your child's skating improves, normal sharpening gradually transitions the blade until it performs just like a traditional skate.
It's a natural progression, similar to removing training wheels from a bicycle.
Ready for Their First Glide
Pre-sharpened and ready to skate.
Every pair of Balance Blades arrives professionally sharpened and ready for the ice.
There's no need to sharpen them before your child's first skate, and frequent sharpening isn't necessary during the early learning stages.
A Gradual Transition
Confidence comes first. Sharpening comes later.
Rather than changing the blade all at once, each sharpening gradually transitions your child toward a traditional skating experience.
As confidence grows, so does the blade.
Sharpening Timeline
First Skate
No sharpening required.
Your skates arrive pre-sharpened and ready to use.
After the First Season
When your child is skating forward confidently without relying on training aids:
- Lightly sharpen the front and middle of the blade.
After the Second Season
When your child is skating independently:
- Lightly sharpen the entire blade.
- Keep the rear indentations for as long as possible to continue helping prevent rear falls.
Third Season and Beyond
Sharpen as needed, just like any traditional skate.
Important Tip
Don't rush the transition.
Avoid removing too much material from the middle of the blade too early.
Over-sharpening can cause the front and rear traction points to contact the ice sooner than intended, reducing the stability Balance Blades are designed to provide.
For the best results, we recommend using a professional skate sharpener. Every pair includes a detailed sharpening guide to share with your sharpener.
Designed for Beginners
Blade Profile
A 13-inch profile provides additional stability and control during the early stages of learning.
Radius of Hollow
A 5/8-inch Radius of Hollow (RoH) offers an excellent balance of grip and glide for beginner skaters, helping reduce fatigue while supporting confidence and stability.
Printable Sharpening Guide
Download a printable guide to keep with your skates or share with your local skate sharpener.