Figure skate
Footwear
Cold trick
From 1900 figure skating gradually became more popular in the Netherlands. The first riding skates were made of wood and fastened to the foot with straps. That was not very practical, because all those sharp turns and jumps made the skate loosen up. Modern figure skates therefore have a hard shoe for optimal support. They are specially designed to move gracefully on the ice. The irons are rounder than, for example, ice hockey skates and have serrated teeth at the front, to be able to take off. Seemingly effortlessly, professional figure skaters make the most graceful glides, figures and smooth jumps on the ice, a magical sight!
Image: © Nijdam
