On average most skaters can get around 10-20 hours worth of skating between grinds. This, however, is determined by factors of the individual. Body weight, aggression, style, and time spent on the ice can all have a different effect on how quickly their skates will lose their edge. Ice quality and how soft or hard the ice is will have another big effect on blade wear. We advise hockey players to get their edges done more frequently than this to ensure peak performance.

Before we go into choosing the best hollow we need to know how skates are sharpened. Each ice skate, be it recreational, hire, figure, dance or Hockey has a metal blade or runner under the boot that needs sharpening. Once sharpened the blades has two edges, the inside and outside edge.

To start with, there is no right or wrong depth for skates.

-- Shallower grinds are better for speed, ease of stopping and smoother turns.

-- Deeper grinds are better for grip on the ice, quick stops and quick turns at slower speeds.

For this reason, it’s best to find a balance between speed and grip that you’re comfortable with. If you’re completely unsure where to start though, here’s a quick guide for beginners, hockey players and figure skaters.

Sharpening is an art and anyone who tells you otherwise is likely to make mistakes when sharpening your skates. An inexperienced sharpening technician may encounter some of the following problems at some point during their career.

Here at Willies we offer ice skate sharpening on a while you wait basis in store at our address Unit 4, Challenge Business Park, Challenge Close, Coventry CV1 5JG. We also offer a Mail In Service for those unable to visit our store.