- This is the main element of equipment for a professional hockey player. A correctly chosen model determines the comfort, safety and technical nuances of the game. Purchasing skates for professional sports– the process is not easy. The model is always selected according to the individual characteristics of the hockey player: the anatomical specificity of the leg, the preferred style of play, the role of the athlete in the team (forward, defender, goalkeeper). The purpose of our article is to simply and clearly tell about all important nuances related to the choice of hockey skates.
About the design features of hockey skates
Despite the external similarity with their counterparts, for example, figure skates or recreational skates, hockey equipment is a separate class of sports equipment that has fundamental differences. The skate design consists of three basic elements: boot, blade and glass (stand).
Hockey model blades made of high-strength steel, have an arched shape with rounded ends, without teeth on the front; They can be replaceable or monolithic. The length of the blades of hockey skates is equal to the length of the boot.
Glass (stand)- called the plastic holder in which the blade is attached. This important element, connecting the boot and the metal sheet, largely determines the riding qualities of the skates. In particular, it is on the characteristics of the glass that such important characteristic like heel height. Models with a raised heel have high maneuverability and speed, for which they are valued by attacking players. Low ones are more suitable for defenders. Some modern models use technology to change the height of the heel. By adjusting the depth of the blade in one of three positions, you can experiment with different combinations and customize the skates to suit you.
The importance of every little thing
The design is designed for a dynamic driving style, with fast acceleration and sudden stops. Hockey equipment has thoughtful protection. It provides safe ankle support and enhanced body protection. The boots themselves are made of durable, wear-resistant materials.
The developers of hockey shoes took care of numerous nuances. Modern models They feature improved ventilation, they use materials that allow the boot to take the exact shape of the player’s foot, the skates are equipped with anatomical and water-repellent insoles - all these and other solutions make hockey equipment as comfortable, safe and effective as possible in the game.
For forwards, defenders and goalkeepers
Professional hockey skates have an internal classification. Depending on the playing functions of the athlete, the team distinguishes attacking, defensive and goalkeeper models.
Attack skates- These are lightweight options that are characterized by increased maneuverability and provide advantages in speed. They have a balanced weight-protection ratio.
Skates for defenders- this is the so-called power models. They are less maneuverable, but have better body protection designed to protect the player's foot from impacts from pucks and sticks.
Goalkeeper models– skates with reinforcement in areas that are most frequently impacted. In them, the main emphasis is on protective qualities.
Anatomy of a hockey boot
The boots of modern skates are made from a variety of materials: nylon reinforced with reinforcing mesh, synthetic leather, composites, etc. Typically, several materials are used in a model. So, places that are especially vulnerable to impacts and cuts - the top, toe, heel - are made of high-strength nylon or special composites. To provide additional lateral rigidity, boots must have sealing inserts. It is important to understand that professional-grade skates are designed for playing in an indoor skating rink. The materials used in such models are not adapted to sub-zero temperatures. The exception is special frost-resistant models.
The inner part of the boot of the vast majority of professional skates is made of special thermoformable materials, which, when heated, can perfectly accurately take the anatomical shape of the leg. The essence of this thermal molding is to heat the boot in a special oven. After putting it on the foot and wearing it for a short time, the material adapts to the shape of the foot, providing a perfect fit from heel to toe.
Thermoformed insoles work on a similar principle. Their task is to reduce unused space inside the shoe, increase the area of contact between the foot and the sole and improve balance. All this ensures the speed, rigidity and strength of the athlete’s movements. Modern insoles have an antimicrobial effect, wick away moisture well and are anti-slip.
The tongue of the boot is another important element hockey equipment, which is worth paying attention to when choosing a model. It must also have an anatomical design (repeat the bend of the leg) and be equipped with a stiffening insert. The task of the latter is not only to protect the foot from impacts, but also to evenly distribute the pressure of the laces.
Skate blades: types and principles of sharpening
The blades are the most important element of hockey skates, determining their playing characteristics: acceleration, control, turning patterns, maneuverability. All professional grade blades are made from high quality stainless steel. Moreover, the metal itself differs in the degree of hardening. The higher it is, the higher the characteristics of the blade: it holds its edge longer, has a longer service life and can withstand multiple sharpening cycles.
Depending on the model and class of hockey equipment, the blades can be replaceable or form a monolithic structure with the skate body. Most professional options are equipped with a replaceable system. The blade is easily installed in a plastic cup (stand) and fixed with clamping mechanisms. In this matter, each manufacturer offers its own technology. For some, the replacement process is quite complicated and involves the use of special keys, screws and rivets. More advanced systems allow you to rearrange the blades in literally a matter of seconds without the use of any additional tools. For ordinary hockey players who routinely replace blades as they wear out, this option is useless. But players of a higher professional class may find it useful. With different sets of blades that can be easily changed in a few seconds, a hockey player will be able to use different sharpening options for different types of ice surface or change his game strategy by installing the appropriate set of runners.
On the question of sharpening. When playing professional hockey, the blades are subjected to a colossal load, as a result of which they quickly lose their sharpness. Sharpening the blade is a mandatory and systematic procedure, which directly affects the performance of the equipment. Some athletes prefer to sharpen their equipment almost after every workout.
The blade of a hockey skate has a groove shape with two sharp edges. This is the classic and most popular sharpening option. It works on the following principle: when sliding, friction arises, which melts the ice and forms the so-called “slipper” in the groove of the blade. water cushion, which helps reduce friction. Due to this, the sliding speed increases significantly.
The depth of the groove determines the coefficient of adhesion to ice; By adjusting it during sharpening, you can control the sliding characteristics of the skate, choosing the best option. Hockey blades are sharpened on special machines. Self service Without knowledge of special skills, it can irreparably damage the blade of expensive skates.
How to choose the right size?
To begin with, hockey skates have their own sizing system, and it does not correspond to the markings of ordinary shoes. Each manufacturer of sports products offers its own correspondence table. Using it, you can easily choose the right skates if you know the size of your everyday shoes.
As an example, let's present a size correspondence table from GRAF.
When choosing the appropriate skate option, it is important to consider not only their length, but also their fullness. This parameter refers to the width of the boot. There is much less confusion on this issue, because... Most manufacturers offer only three width standards for hockey skates: C (narrow), D (standard), EE (wide).
The correct choice of size ensures a tight and comfortable fit of the boot, this in turn is the key to effective and safe training. To make sure that the hockey skates are selected correctly, use the following diagram as a guide.
1. Loosen the top two-thirds of the lacing, fold back the tongue, and insert your foot into the boot. The leg should feel natural and comfortable. In a properly selected boot, it completely fills the internal space, firmly rests the heel on the heel and lightly touches the front with the toes. The instep and toe area should not be left empty.
2. Before lacing, sharply move your foot back so that your heel rests as tightly as possible on the heel. In a laced boot it should be completely fixed. If the heel moves freely inside the boot, then the skates are incorrectly selected in length or fullness.
3. Standing straight with your skates laced, your toes should be just slightly in contact with the front of the boot. When performing riding movements, they will rest against the toe more strongly, but this should not be associated with any discomfort. While skating, the heel should not slide down or “walk” from side to side.
Thermal boot molding, which we mentioned above, is an important technology that opens up many advantages for professional hockey players. But it is not a magic wand. If the skates are not fitted correctly to begin with, the molding will not provide a perfect fit. Moreover, even after such a procedure, it takes a certain time to break in the skates so that they not only fit perfectly on the foot, but also bend under it while skating.
The selection of skates is made according to the socks in which you will train. It is desirable that they be as thin as possible, in this case the boot will be molded faster and better to the specifics of your foot, ensuring an accurate anatomical fit.
The choice of size is another important issue with which there are many difficulties. Taking into account rapid growth the child's feet, many parents want to save money and buy a model for growth. This strategy is acceptable, but the maximum stock should not exceed one size. Otherwise, a boot that is too large will complicate your skating technique and increase the likelihood of injury.
Lacing hockey skates
Separately, it is worth paying attention to the principles of lacing hockey boots. It is carried out according to the following scheme:
The lower third of the lacing (the first 3-4 holes) is not tightened too much;
In the instep area - the middle of the lacing - the laces are tightened more tightly to ensure rigid fixation of the heel;
In the upper third, the tightening is again slightly loosened so that the shin is not too pinched.
This lacing pattern provides the most correct fixation of the foot, ensuring its safety and proper function while riding.
Skates
Skates- this is sports or recreational equipment, which is a set of specialized boots and a system of movable or fixed blades attached to them. Used to move on flat, hard ice surfaces. The boots are made of composite materials, leather or plastic, and the blade is metal. Most sports skates have a blade that is removable and replaceable, while children's and recreational skates have a blade that is factory-attached to the boot and is a non-removable element. For sports skates with a removable blade, the definition of the skates as the actual blades mounted on the boots is valid, since the boots can be used as a universal base for mounting both skate blades and roller skate platforms.
Story
Medieval bone skates
It is generally accepted, judging by the testimony of ancient historians, that the most ancient skaters were the Cimmerians, who skated on bone skates on the surface of the frozen Dnieper estuary. Bone skates were used several centuries later, so in the 12th century the monk Stephanius, author of the Chronicle of the Noble City of London, wrote: “When the large swamp washing the city rampart from the north at Moorfield freezes, whole groups of young people go there. Some, walking as wide as possible, simply glide quickly. Others, more experienced in playing on ice, tie the tibia bones of animals to their legs and, holding sticks with sharp tips in their hands, from time to time push off from the ice with them and rush as fast as a bird in the air or a spear launched from a ballista ... "
In the technology of making skates in the 13th century in Holland and Iceland, animal bones were replaced by wooden blocks into which sharpened metal strips were inserted, which can be considered the prototype of modern skates. From the beginning of the 18th century, wooden blocks began to be replaced with steel tubes.
One of the problems was attaching the skate to the shoe. Historical chronicles tell about Tsar Peter I, who amazed the Dutch with his extraordinary decision: he screwed skates directly to his boots and dashingly glided to the shipyard where he was doing his internship. Upon returning to Russia, he ordered the production of skates to be established in Tula. With the death of Peter, the passion for skating faded away, however, a hundred years later, Pushkin noted “how fun it is, shod with sharp iron on your feet, to glide along the mirror of standing, flat rivers.”
However, “standing, level rivers” still created inconvenience for skaters, the most common of which was uneven surfaces. In 1842, Londoner Henry Kirk filled the first skating rink.
Types of skates
Figure skates
There are different types of skates:
Figure skating skates
The so-called “figure skates” are used in figure skating. Distinctive feature These skates have a convex blade shape and special teeth at the front end that help skaters perform difficult elements.
Hockey skates
Walking skates
Hockey skates are skates for playing ice hockey or bandy. They are divided into skates with a removable blade and a cast blade. The removable blade means it can be replaced or adjusted accordingly. Blades are usually made of nickel-plated or chrome-plated steel. They are the same length as the boot. They are also divided according to the degree of protection and maneuverability of the skate according to its intended use for players or goalkeepers.
Walking skates
Recreational skates are skates that resemble figure skates or hockey models. The difference between these skates is that they are more comfortable. Men's recreational skates are similar to hockey skates, while women's recreational skates are similar to figure skates. Used for amateur play or simple skating.
speed skating
Speed skating skates - speed skating skates, "flaps" - are a low boot made of multi-layer carbon fiber (carbon) or fiberglass, trimmed with thin leather, to which is attached a removable blade system with a hinge in the front and a free spring-loaded rear. They differ from other types of skates by having a longer blade, a larger radius of rounding of the blade, and most importantly, by the fact that these are the only skates with a movable blade. The skates received their official name “clap skate” for the characteristic sound that the blade makes when, after the athlete’s push, the spring returns it back to the boot.
Until the mid-90s of the last century, speed skating skates had a blade rigidly fixed to the boot, just like all other skates. Nowadays such skates are used only for teaching children younger age basics of skating movement, or as museum exhibits.
Short track skates
Short track speed skates – skates for competition in short track speed skating, a related sport speed skating. Unlike “flap” speed skating skates, these skates have a fixed, rigidly fixed shorter blade mounted on the boot with some offset to the side, for faster turning on a small circle. The material of the boot itself on short track skates is often identical to the “flaps”, but the shape is very different and is designed for more aggressive cornering.
Walking skates for tourism
Walking skates for tourism
Pleasure skates for tourism - a kind of hybrid sports equipment, widely used in northern European countries. They are a wide, replaceable blade without a boot with an integrated top part blades with a regular mount ski boot(most often the standard “SNS Profile” for skis). Thus, a tourist can safely travel on skis, and if desired, remove the skis and install skate blades on the same boots and move on along the frozen canal bed or lake. It also allows tourists to have one universal boots with the “SNS Profile” for hiking and walking along natural bodies of water, without the need to change shoes and carry additional skates.
Blade steel types
The following types of steel are used to make skate blades: alloy, stainless, carbon and high-carbon.
- Alloy steel is steel to which various elements are added to impart strength and other characteristics. Alloying makes it possible to increase corrosion resistance and increase hardness. The main alloying elements in blade steels are chromium (chrome steel) and nickel, manganese (to increase hardness).
- Stainless steel is steel with the addition of chromium, which significantly increases the steel's resistance to corrosion. But it is worth noting that the addition of elements that impart strong anti-corrosion properties reduces the hardness of the blade.
- Carbon steel is steel with a small carbon content. In general, carbon is always contained in steel. The only difference is its quantity. The more carbon, the higher the hardness of the blade.
- High carbon steel is steel with a high carbon content. The increased carbon content in steel gives it a high degree of hardness.
Skate sharpening
Figure skate blades for single skating as a rule, they are sharpened with a radius of 11 to 15 mm “under the groove” (this is the name for the notch that goes from one edge of the runner to the other). It creates two clear ribs - internal and external. Without this, the blade of the skate will always fall to the side, the skater will not be able to push off well and will not be sure that he is maintaining his balance correctly. Therefore, sharpening skates consists not only of sharpening the sides of the blade, but also of restoring the groove, which is leveled out during training. Figure skates have a shallow groove due to the wide blade, while hockey and dance blades have a slightly deeper groove.
Running "flap" skates and short track skates are sharpened by hand on special machines in which both skates are secured with the blades up parallel to each other. Sharpening is done first with one wide whetstone in order to form a smooth edge with an angle of 90°, and then with a thinner whetstone to polish the plane of the blades to a mirror-like state. No burrs, uneven edges, or any suspicion of a groove in the blade are allowed, as this leads to a sharp increase in resistance when the skate blade moves across the ice.
See also
- Skating
Notes
Links
The oldest reference to the term "horse" is found in the English-Dutch Dictionary. The word “skates” came into international sports from the Russian language. Usually, the front of the runners was decorated with a wooden horse's head. That's what they called it - “skates”.
But of course, skates are not the first device for moving on ice. Through archaeological excavations and ancient literature, scientists have discovered that the first such devices were made from animal bones. By the way, skates are one of the most ancient inventions of man. When there was ice on the ground, ancient people carved skates from wood or bone and attached them to their boots. Residents of Siberia rode on ice on walrus tusks, and the Chinese rode on bamboo trunks. The British Museum displays bone skates that were used for skating almost two thousand years ago. And they were found only in the last century. Only in 1967, on the banks of the Southern Bug River near Odessa, archaeologists unearthed the oldest skates ever found. They belonged to the Cimmerians, who lived in the Northern Black Sea region 3200 years ago.
Ancient skates
Emergence figure skating
Scientists are delving into the very distant past to search for the first facts of the emergence of figure skating. Most historians believe that the birthplace of figure skating is Holland. After all, it was in this country that the first iron ice skates were created in the 13th - 14th centuries. In the Dutch book “The Life of Lidvina” you can even see what the horse with the iron blade was like. In the engraving depicting a group of skaters near the city wall, we see skates of that time.
"St. Lidvina, who fell on the ice" (1498)
Many do not agree with the primacy of Holland and believe that it is difficult to name a pioneer, because skating began at approximately the same time in different countries. The creation of a new type of skates made it possible for the development of figure skating as a whole. But at that time it was different from the sport that we know today.
Initially, figure skating was the ability to draw various intricate figures and patterns on the ice, and at the same time try to maintain a beautiful pose. This is what attracted many people of art. In particular, the great German writer J. W. Goethe was a passionate fan of skates. Even paintings have been preserved that depict the poet on ice, gliding in an elegant pose. In general, not a single sport that exists to this day is devoted to so many paintings, engravings, drawings and even caricatures as speed skating and figure skating.
Fun on the ice in front of the gates of Saint-Geri in Antwerp (Halle, 1553)
The first rules for skating were first published in England in 1772. English artillery lieutenant Robert Jones wrote a “Treatise on Skating,” which described all the basic patterns known at that time. Since all the required figures were described in Great Britain, it was in this country that the first skating clubs were created and the first rules for competitions in this sport were drawn up
Ice skating in New York's Central Park in winter, in a painting from 1862
Development of figure skating
In 1882, the first international competition in Europe was held in the city of Vienna.
Austrian figure skaters, representatives Norwegian school, as well as Swedish, German, English and American.
The popularity of figure skating in Europe and Russia, according to historians, became possible thanks to a figure skater from America. American Jackson Haynes (in another transcription Heinz; 1840-1875), a dancer and speed skater, combined both of his skills and got his own style of skating: riding to music, dance movements and “spinning tops” on ice. Skates, attached with straps to shoes, were not could withstand such loads, then Haynes was one of the first to screw them tightly to the boots. However, this style was not accepted in Puritan America, and in the 60s of the 19th century the artist went on tour to Europe.
Jackson Haynes
When the artist toured European skating rinks, he aroused the admiration of skating fans. Historians call him the founder of the modern style of figure skating.
February 1890 was marked by the 25th anniversary of the St. Petersburg Yusupov skating rink and it was organized sports competition. Skaters from Europe and America were invited to this competition. Considering the scale and composition of the participants, this could actually be called the first unofficial world championship. For three days, 8 participants competed to determine the best of them, and in all types of skating the winner was Alexey Pavlovich Lebedev, a talented Russian figure skater.
The success of the completed competition in St. Petersburg accelerated the organization of the first European and world championships, and also greatly contributed to the creation of the International Skating Union (ISU) in 1892
In 1896, for the first time, the International Skating Union announced its intention to hold a world championship. To honor Russia's achievements in this sport, the first official international championship was held in St. Petersburg. Only 4 participants skated their programs on the ice: Austrian G. Hugel, German G. Fuchs and 2 Russian skaters G. Sanders and N. Poduskov. The German won that competition.
Participants of the First World Championship in St. Petersburg, 1896.
At the dawn of the twentieth century, famous and talented skaters tried to invent their own unique and beautiful jumps on ice. Masters such as Salchow, Lutz, Rittberger, Axel Paulsen came up with their own original jumping techniques, which to this day bear names derived from their names and surnames.
In the 1960s - after a half-century break - Russia reappeared on the world stage. Lyudmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov were the first to write their names in the annals of history. However, Soviet books preferred to remain silent about their merits - in 1979 they became “defectors”. Irina Rodnina (with two different partners) became a 10-time world champion and 3-time Olympic champion.
The end of the 20th century passed under the complete dominance of the USSR and Russia in figure skating. IN pair skating Russia was generally out of competition, receiving gold in all Olympic Games ah from 1964 to 2006. However, having a huge advantage over the rest in pairs and dance skating and strong men, the USSR never won a single gold medal in women's skating. Kira Ivanova came closest to the coveted title (silver at the World Championships, bronze at the Olympic Games). Already in post-Soviet Russia, the women's world championship was won by Maria Butyrskaya and Irina Slutskaya.
And among men, Alexey Urmanov, Alexey Yagudin and Evgeniy Plushenko became Olympic champions, world and European champions.
History of speed skating
Speed skating has a very ancient history. Information about the first Dutch skating races on the frozen canals of the country dates back to the 13th century.
In the middle of the 16th century, ice skating competitions began to be held in the Scandinavian countries.
As a sport, speed skating developed in the second half of the 19th century. In 1867, the first official speed skating competitions were held in Norway, organized by the Christiania Skate Club. This sport became widespread in various European countries; in the 70s of the 19th century, national championships began to be held.
Norwegian speed skaters A. PAULSEN and K. WERNER designed tubular racing skates in 1880. The front and rear metal platforms were screwed to the sole of the boot with six and four screws, respectively. This was a revolution in speed skating.
A great contribution to the development of the shape of the skates was made by a Russian walker, an employee of the Nikolaevskaya railway, Alexander Nikitovich Panshin (1863-1904). In 1887, he made elongated skates based on his own model - all-metal, long skates with a narrow blade and a slightly curved toe - the prototype of today's running skates. For many decades, the model of tubular running skates has not undergone fundamental changes.
Alexander Nikitovich Panshin
In 1889, the first (unofficial) World Speed Skating Championships took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its winner was A.N. Panshin.
In 1892 it was formed International Union ISU speed skaters - ISU He declared the competitions held in 1889 in Amsterdam professional and held the first official championship world, which was won by Jaap Eden from the Netherlands.
Dutch speed skater Jaap Eden on the ice. 1890-1900.
Even in those days, the program of such competitions included four distances that became classics in this sport for many years - 500, 1500, 5000 and 10,000 m. However, the conditions for winning the title of world champion then differed from the rules of classical all-around that were adopted later. Until 1908, in order to receive the title of world champion, you had to win competitions in at least three out of four distances. Due to such rules, in 1894, 1902, 1903, 1906 and 1907, the winners of the world championships were not identified.
Speed skating competitions were, and are now, held on a closed track consisting of two straight lines and two turns. The classic length of such a track is 400 m. Skaters participating in the competition run in pairs.
Dutch athletes Lijkle Poepjes and B. van derZee at the start of a speed race in Leeuwarden (Netherlands)
Among the strongest in this sport in the first and second decades of the 20th century, the Norwegian Oscar Mathiesen achieved the greatest success. He won the world championships five times - in 1908, 1909, 1912, 1913 and 1914. Twice - in 1910 and 1911 - the Russian speed skater Nikolai Strunnikov became the world champion.
Strunnikov Nikolai Vasiliskovich (1886-1940)
Since 1926, a system was introduced according to which the champion and the holders of all subsequent places were determined by the sum of all-around points awarded to each skater at each of the four distances, depending on the results shown by him.
Since 1936, the world speed skating championships began to be held not only among men, but also among women. Their all-around championship was determined by the sum of points scored by each athlete in competitions at four distances - 500, 1000, 1500 and 3000 m. The first world champion was US speed skater Kitty Klein. Then on women's championships The world championship was won by the Norwegian Laila Shaw-Nielsen in 1937 and 1938, and the Finnish athlete Verne Lesche in 1939 and 1947.
In 1956, Soviet speed skaters took to the start line for the first time VII Winter Olympics and won 7 medals. The first Soviet world champion was Maria Isakova, she won the world championship three times in a row and won three Olympic medals.
Maria Isakova
In 1957, at the XV Women's World Championships, held in Imatra (Finland), Soviet athletes won 13 prizes out of a possible 15.
In the capital of the 1964 Olympics, Innsbruck, Lidia Skoblikova won all four distances, setting world records in three of them, and as of 2010 she is the only 6-time Olympic champion in the history of speed skating.
Lidia Skoblikova
In the mid-1980s, the first fully indoor speed skating rinks appeared.
In 1997, a new type of skates began to be used en masse - clap skates, which made it possible to increase running speeds.
Clap skates
Variants of this type of skate have been known since 1900. In modern competitions, it has been used periodically by various athletes since 1984, but without much success, and was viewed with skepticism, until in the 1996/1997 season the Dutch women's team, competing in this model, beat everyone like they were standing. Starting next year, all athletes gradually began to switch to “klap” skates. Today, all athletes in all top-level competitions compete only in “klap” skates. The classic model with a fixed blade is used for running by beginner athletes and at sprint distances.
History of ice hockey
The history of ice hockey is one of the most contested of all sports. Traditionally, Montreal is considered the birthplace of hockey, although more recent studies point to the primacy of Kingston (Ontario) or Windsor (Nova Scotia).
There is evidence that games reminiscent of hockey (more precisely, field hockey) have existed since ancient times. Some believe that such a game originated in Persia, where polo once appeared. According to other sources, the ancient Greeks also had a game reminiscent of hockey, which was even included in the program of the Olympic Games. She was called "Freyninda". In Athens, the bas-reliefs of the famous Wall of Themistocles, which is more than 2,400 years old, depict young men playing what closely resembles modern field hockey. A similar game was played in the 16th-17th centuries in England and France. In the 16th century, a game with a ball on ice, “bandy,” appeared in Holland.
Scene on Ice (Henrik Averkamp, early 17th century)
Then, similar games appeared in Scandinavia, where they later transformed into ice hockey in the 19th century. They also knew such a game in China, five and a half centuries ago. The ancient Indians were also fond of hockey matches. Evidence of this is the frescoes exhibited at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. They depict athletes playing a small ball with curved sticks. Some sources claim that the birth of ice hockey is connected with the life of the Indians far north America, who competed on the ice in the game with sticks.
And if you resort to the help of linguists, you can find out that the word “hockey” is of French origin. "Hoke" is the French name for a shepherd's crook with a curved handle.
But despite this, Canada is still considered the birthplace of modern ice hockey.
There are many versions of the origins of hockey in Canada. One of them is that field hockey appeared in Europe first. When Great Britain recaptured Canada from France in 1763, English riflemen brought it to Halifax, whose residents became fascinated new game. Since Canadian winters are very harsh and long, this area has always welcomed winter views sports By attaching cheese cutters to their boots, English- and French-speaking Canadians played the game on frozen rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. At first they played not with a puck, but with a heavy ball, and the number of teams reached 50 or more players on each side. In Nova Scotia and Virginia, there are old paintings of people playing hockey.
The first formal game was played in 1855 in Kingston, Ontario, by teams drawn from the Royal Canadian Fusiliers of the Imperial Army. And the first official match took place on March 3, 1875 in Montreal at the Victoria skating rink, information about which was recorded in the Montreal newspaper "Montreal Gazette". Each team consisted of nine people. They played with a wooden puck, and protective equipment borrowed from baseball. For the first time, hockey goals were installed on the ice.
1st hockey team McGill University
In the 1870s. Ice hockey in Canada was a compulsory game for everyone sports holidays. In 1877, several students at Montreal's McGill University invented the first seven rules of hockey. In 1879, a rubber washer was proposed for the game. After some time, the game became so popular that in 1883 it was presented at the annual Montreal Winter Carnival. In 1885, the Amateur Hockey Association was founded in Montreal.
Hockey at the McGill University rink, 1884.
The first official rules of the game of ice hockey were published in 1886, which have been preserved as much as possible to this day. According to them, the number of field players was reduced from nine to seven, on the ice there was a goalkeeper, front and back defenders, a center and two forwards, and in front across the entire width of the field there was a rover - the strongest hockey player who was the best at throwing pucks. The team played the entire match with the same lineup, and by the end of the game the athletes were literally crawling on the ice from fatigue, because only the player who was injured was allowed to be replaced (and then in the last period and only with the consent of the opponents). The author of the new code of rules was Canadian R. Smith. In 1886, the first international meeting was held between Canadian and English teams.
In 1890, the province of Ontario held a championship for four teams. Indoor skating rinks with natural ice soon appeared. To prevent it from melting, narrow slits were cut in the walls and roofs to allow cold air to enter. In 1899, the world's first indoor hockey stadium with an artificial ice rink was built in Montreal, designed for an unprecedented number of spectators - 10,000 people. In the same year, the Canadian Amateur was founded. hockey league.
Montreal team won the Stanley Cup in 1894
The game of hockey became so popular that in 1893, the Governor General of Canada, Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley, purchased a cup, similar to an inverted pyramid of silver rings, for 10 guineas to present to the national champion. This is how the legendary trophy appeared - the Stanley Cup. At first, amateurs fought for it, and since 1910, professionals too.
Montreal Victoria team 1896
In 1900, a net appeared on the gate, made for the first time from fishing net, it made it possible to accurately determine whether a goal was scored against the team. After this, disputes about scoring a puck, which sometimes led to team fights, stopped, and it became much more convenient for referees and hockey players to monitor goals being scored. Then they began to hang a metal net on the gate. It was durable, but after being hit the puck would fly back and sometimes injure the goalie or a player near the goal. This deficiency was corrected by using a second rope net stretched inside the gate to soften the blow. Today's network combines these two networks. The referee's metal whistle, which stuck to his lips from the cold, was replaced with a bell, and soon, with a plastic whistle. At the same time, a puck throw-in was introduced (previously, the referee used to move the opponents’ sticks towards the puck lying on the ice with his hands and, having blown the whistle, moved to the side so as not to get hit with the stick).
The first professional hockey team was created in Canada in 1904. In the same year, hockey players switched to new system games - "six on six". Has been installed standard size the grounds are 56 x 26 m, which has remained almost unchanged since then. After four seasons, there was a complete division into professionals and amateurs. For the latter, the Allan Cup was established, which has been played since 1908. Its owners subsequently represented Canada at the World Championships.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Europeans became interested in Canadian hockey. The First Congress, held on May 15-16, 1908 in Paris, founded the International Ice Hockey Federation (LIHG), which initially united four countries - France, Great Britain, Switzerland and Belgium. From the birth of the game, until 1903, Europeans played natural ice First artificial ice appeared in London, after which the improvement of skating rinks and the construction of new ones began. And soon Great Britain was able to develop hockey to a professional level, but not for long... The war on hockey, like all other sports, had a great negative impact...
To increase the entertainment and speed of the game, the replacement of athletes was allowed in 1910. In the same year, the National Hockey Association (NHA) arose, the successor of which was the famous National Hockey League (NHL), which appeared in 1917
Hockey match, 1922
In 1911, the LIHG officially adopted the Canadian rules of the game of hockey.
In 1920, the first meeting took place in an official tournament - at the Olympic Games, which were also considered the world championships - between teams from the Old and New Worlds. The Canadians confirmed their fame as the strongest hockey power in the world. Canadians also won at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic tournaments. In 1936 Great Britain won the title Olympic champion, taking it away from the Canadians, who had owned it for 16 years.
Many innovations belong to the hockey players brothers Patrick - Frank and Lester (the latter became a famous hockey figure). On their initiative, each player was assigned a number, points began to be awarded not only for goals, but also for assists (the “goal + pass” system), hockey players were allowed to pass the puck forward, and goalkeepers were allowed to take their skates off the ice. The game has since started to last three periods of 20 minutes each.
Goalkeepers did not wear masks until 1929, when Clint Benedict, who played for Canadian club The Montreal Maroons took to the ice for the first time, but it was not officially approved immediately. In 1934, the penalty throw - the shootout - was legalized. In 1945, multi-colored lights were installed behind the goal to more accurately count goals scored (“red” means a goal, “green” means no goal was scored). In the same year, triple refereeing was introduced: a chief referee and two assistants (linesmen). In 1946, a system of referee gestures for specific violations of the rules was legalized.
In 1952, the USSR was accepted as a member of the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) and from that moment until 1991, the USSR national hockey team was the strongest in the world. She took part in 30 world championships, winning 19 of them. Became a participant in 9 Winter Olympics hockey tournaments, 7 of which she won. It is the only team in the world that has never returned from the World Championships and Olympic Games without a set of medals.
After the collapse Soviet Union, the baton from the USSR national team was taken over by the Russian national team, which did not have such success as its predecessor. Having performed at 5 Olympic tournaments, the team only once became a silver and bronze medalist, without ever winning the tournament. Participating in 21 World Championships, they won 4 championship titles and the team was a medalist 4 more times. But in recent years Russian hockey players revive the glory of Soviet hockey, becoming world champions 3 times over the past 5 years.
Ice skating has always been one of my favorites winter activities in our country. Boys immediately after school run to the skating rink (often an improvised one, the role of which is some nearby frozen pond) and cross sticks in hockey battles. Girls spin in ice dance and hone their skills, dreaming of a career as figure skaters. However, in recent years there has been an increase in interest in active recreation skating not only among children, but also among young people and older people. This is largely due to the growing number of equipped skating rinks, where it is pleasant to spend an evening after work with your significant other or have fun on the weekend in the company of friends.
Most people, once out on the ice and feeling the freedom that skating gives, receive a charge of incredible energy and good mood, subsequently return to this activity regularly. Therefore, they are interested in tips and recommendations on how to choose skates for beginners, because it is always better to have your own pair in which you are comfortable than to rent boots that hundreds of people have already worn before you. In addition, small ice rinks may not have skate rentals or may not have the size you need. In the end, if you visit skating rinks frequently, the purchase will be even more profitable, because good boots you can wear it for more than one year.
What types of skates are there?
Surely everyone who is even slightly interested in winter sports has noticed that the shoes of speed skaters are different from those used by hockey players, and the skates of the latter, in turn, are completely different from those of figure skaters. This is due to different types of load, requiring the use of slightly different blade shapes, sharpening nuances and appearance shoes
Traditionally, skates are divided into three key groups:
- hockey;
- speed skating;
- for figure skating.
In addition, we can also distinguish amateur (or recreational) and children's skates, which also have their own characteristics. Therefore, before choosing skates for beginners, it is necessary to clearly determine for what purposes they will be used and what sport their future owner plans to engage in.
Features of choosing hockey skates
Hockey is a very aggressive sport and is associated with the risk of injury, therefore, in skates, special emphasis is placed on high-quality protection. Shoes should prevent negative consequences from impacts with a stick, puck and, most importantly, from direct collisions with the opponent’s skates. Therefore, sometimes they even partially sacrifice convenience for the sake of safety. However, this does not mean that you can choose shoes in which a novice hockey player will be downright uncomfortable. Uncomfortable shoes will not only become an obstacle to improving your skills, but can also cause injury.
Hockey shoes should be fairly rigid, with rigid inserts in those areas that are most exposed and susceptible to damage. You should also pay attention to the fact that the toe is reinforced with high-quality, high-strength plastic. The boot should support the foot and ankle well and fix the leg in the correct position.
The game of hockey requires high speed and excellent maneuverability, so skates must meet these qualities. That is why their blades have an arched shape and are devoid of teeth - this allows you to easily make even very sharp turns.
When choosing skates for beginner hockey players, you need to consider the following points:
- if the game is planned for amateurs and not professional level, then do not buy shoes for the pros. This is due not only to its high cost, but also to its absolute inability to play in open areas, since it is designed only for temperatures not lower than -5 degrees. It is much wiser to give preference to semi-professional skates, which have insulation inside and can easily withstand frosts down to -20 degrees;
- Choose shoes according to your size so that they fit snugly on your feet and allow free movement of the foot, especially in the heel area. Even for a child, you should not buy excessively large boots “for growth”, as they can cause dislocations and other troubles. The maximum you can afford is one size larger;
- pay special attention to the strength of materials, the quality of seams, the reliability of protective inserts, since hockey is an unusually dynamic game and the skates must be able to withstand high level loads
In general, hockey skates can hardly be called the best choice for those who take their first steps on ice, since they are not very stable and without experience it will be difficult to maintain balance. Therefore, for those who are interested in how to choose skates for beginners, advice and recommendations are usually suggested to try less extreme options. However, if you plan not just to enjoy ice skating, but to play hockey, then it is best to start with specialized skates.
What to consider when choosing figure skating skates
Compared to hockey skates, this type of skate has longer and straighter blades that protrude several centimeters beyond the heel.
Thanks to this, higher stability on ice is achieved, which is especially important for beginners. In the front of the blades there are teeth, which are needed to perform various complex figures and pirouettes.
However, they can cause trouble for beginners, especially those who skate on street skating rinks with insufficient smooth ice, to which these teeth will cling. But, with the exception of this drawback, figure skates are otherwise excellent for beginners.
When choosing, consider the following:
- boots should fit snugly on the foot and match its size as closely as possible. It is important to pay attention not only to the length, but also to the width of the shoes, so that they do not dangle and cause an increase in injuries. In addition, boots that fit properly will last longer;
- When trying on, you should wear the socks in which you plan to ride, so that later the shoes do not sting or, conversely, are not too big. If skating will take place not only on indoor areas, but also on open ones, then it is best to wear special thermal insulating socks that will reliably protect your feet from the cold, since figure skates for the most part do not have insulation;
- for beginners, it is advisable to choose low boots, since they are more comfortable and do not interfere with ankle flexion when squatting;
- no need to chase too expensive professional skate models. For beginners, high-quality and comfortable skates from the middle price category will be enough.
Should I buy speed skating skates for beginners?
A special type of skates are speed skating, designed for races on high speeds along the track. These are exclusively professional shoes with their own specific features, the main one of which is the absence of rigid fastening of the blades to the boots.
Thanks to the hinge joint located in the front part, as well as the spring-loaded rear part, the blades are in motion in relation to the sole. As a result, an additional take-off length appears, thereby increasing the speed of movement.
Another distinctive feature of running skates is that the blades are much thinner compared to hockey and figure skates and are made of first-class high-carbon steel. Their thickness is only a millimeter or a little more, so maintaining balance on them is not so easy without sufficient experience.
In general, speed skating skates are not the best best choice for beginners. If you are just learning to take your first steps on ice, it would be much wiser to do it in a different type of skate.
Walking skates - the best choice
For those who want to learn to skate just for fun and do not plan to conquer the heights of sports, ordinary amateur skates, also called recreational skates, are quite suitable. This is an extremely broad category of skating shoes, including a variety of models, some of which may have common features with hockey shoes, while others will clearly resemble figure skates. Most models are well insulated and can withstand significant frosts, so they are great for skating on outdoor skating rinks.
When choosing recreational skates, you must first pay attention to the following key points:
- hardness level. Boots should be rigid enough to prevent movement of the ankle relative to the rest of the leg. To strengthen the shoes, a special material is used, laid between the outer layer (leather or synthetics) and the inner lining. Thick leather or steel plates can be used as a seal - the level of rigidity depends on this. When choosing boots, keep in mind that children have less strong muscles and more elastic ligaments, so they need shoes with sufficient rigidity to minimize the risk of sprains. In general, for beginners, boots of medium rigidity are most suitable; they provide good ankle support, but do not impede movement or cause discomfort;
- fixation on the leg. Today there are several in various ways, allowing you to securely fix the boot on your foot, but traditional lacing is still considered the best of them. Unlike Velcro or clips, which are attached only at individual points, laces encircle the entire leg, providing high-quality and reliable fixation. The quick lacing system minimizes the time spent getting ready and also prevents pinching of the foot. Children will be comfortable with boot models that have several Velcro strips on top of the lacing, thanks to which they can independently adjust the fixation force while skating;
- material of manufacture. Traditionally, boots were made of leather, but with the development of technology, a variety of artificial materials began to be used more and more. which are not inferior. High-quality synthetics in most cases are not inferior, and in a number of parameters even superior to natural leather. Of course, with proper care, leather boots will last longer, they reliably protect from cold weather, short time fit according to the shape of the leg. At the same time, artificial materials are lighter, do not get wet and retain their original appearance for a long time. There are also plastic skates, but they can hardly be called a worthy choice, since they will not fit the leg tightly enough, and the level of comfort and safety when skating in them will be low;
- blades. You should choose skates with runners made of high-quality stainless steel with a high degree of hardening. Sign good quality The blades have a matte shine. These skates do not require frequent sharpening and still provide excellent gliding. Expensive models have removable runners, which will be beneficial for those who ride a lot often. With intensive use, the blades wear out faster than the boots themselves, so the ability to replace them will be very useful.
When choosing skates, it is best to go to the store and try on three or four different models, taking into account the above nuances and listening to your personal feelings. You need to choose boots that will be comfortable for you to stand and move in, because the slightest discomfort on ice will most likely increase significantly. At the same time, you should not buy shoes that are too soft, because their main task is to support the ankle and prevent injuries, so they should be moderately hard.
Skates (see figure), depending on the purpose, can be used for teaching children, speed running, figure skating, or playing hockey.
Rice. Skates: 1- two-slide; 2 - hockey; 3 - for figure skating
Skates consist of a runner, sole, heel and racks. The runner can be stamped at the same time as the posts, or it can be soldered into a hollow tube, such as in running and hockey skates. In this case, to connect the sole of the skate to the tube, in addition to the posts, hollow conical cups are used.
Skates with plastic bodies are in great demand. These skates are much lighter than steel ones. They are more technologically advanced in production. The runner of such skates is made of tool steel high quality followed by hardening. It can be tightly connected to the skates or be replaceable. Skates are usually nickel or chrome plated to protect against corrosion. Skate sizes correspond to shoe sizes.
Double skates "Snowball" are designed for children preschool age. They are characterized by good stability and versatility. The width between the runners can be 20 and 46 mm.
Skates "Snow Maiden" are intended for young children. They are distinguished by a strongly curved toe and thickened runner (4 mm). They can be used both for skating on packed snow and on ice. For attachment to boots, the heel of the skate has a protruding pin, and the sole is equipped with cheeks that compress the welt of the boot.
Hockey skates for playing with the puck have a runner soldered into a hollow tube or inserted into a molded plastic case. The skate runner is made with a curved profile with round bevels at the toe and heel. The thickness of the runner is 2.8 mm, length - up to 350 mm. The sole and heel of the skates are greatly raised above the tube. This design promotes fast and maneuverable play. The back of skates for playing hockey must have a safety plastic protector. The skates are attached to the boots with rivets, for which there are holes in the sole and heel platforms.
Hockey goalie skates have a stamped runner connected by posts to the sole and heel. On the runner between the sole posts and between the sole and the heel there are protrusions that are necessary to hold the puck.
Hockey skates for playing with the ball have a straight runner and a lower height. There are serrated teeth on the toe of the runner. The length of the skate runners is 275-350 mm.
Hockey workshop skates differ from mass-produced skates in that the runner of these skates is made of high-carbon tool steel U10A, while those of mass skates are made of U8A steel (less hard, which requires more frequent sharpening).
Cross-country skates are designed for high-speed running over various distances. They are similar in design to hockey ones and differ from them in the longer runner length (up to 450 mm). The thickness of the runner of running skates is 1.2 mm. These skates glide better and are more stable when pushing off.
Figure skating skates consist of a runner stamped together with posts to which the sole and heel are attached. To reduce the weight of the skates, an oval hole was cut out in the sole. The runner of figure skates is curved, has teeth in the toe part and a grooved sharpening of the blade. There are skates for mandatory performance, free program and for sports dances.
Skates, as a rule, go on sale hot-molded to boots.
