Ice skating has come a long way since the sport was first invented. Due to the fact that ice skates themselves have improved dramatically over the years, they are now used for a lot more purposes. Some people skate casually for pleasure, others do it as a profession, there is also ice hockey, speed skating, figure skating and much more.

Due to the increase in the number of activities that are available on the ice there has been a sudden rise in the different types of ice skates that are available. For example, a figure skater would need completely different ice skates to someone who just does it for fun because they need to do turns, jumps and other acrobatics. For this reason, if you are interested in this sport you should choose ice skates with a small heel and steel, hollow ground blades that carry on about an inch past the back of the boot. If you are serious about figure skating then it is recommended that you get skates custom made so that you can ensure the best, most comfortable fit.

You can also get recreational ice skates which are similar to figure skates except they are not as well made because not as much demand is placed on them. These skates are suitable for people who like to go to ice rinks and skate for fun every once in a while.

Speed skates are completely different from any other type of ice skates. The wearers of them need to be able to move forwards very fast as opposed to moving in all sorts of different directions. This means that the blades are much longer than the boot and are flat in order to aid forward skating. A relatively new concept is the slap blade which is a skate blade that detaches from the heel during races. This helps the skater to move faster which increases their chances of winning the race. Another obvious difference between speed skates and any other type of skates is the fact that they are more lightweight, durable and flexible to help the skater move around easier.

Hockey skates are another variation of ice skates that you can find. These have a boot that angles the foot forward, are very durable and hard wearing as they go through a lot. They are also padded and designed like running shoes as the players have to be able to move very fast.