Most people that are here for the first time have never heard of blade alignment. Blade alignment is a process where we make sure that the skater has even control of both edges on the ice, and not standing in a pronated or supinated position in their skates. There are many reasons that a skater will not stand straight in their skates, and “weak ankles” is not one of them. The ankle is a hinge joint, which moves forward and backward, and the weak ankle theory is a complete myth. The cause of pronation or supination can be one of many, including bone structure, fallen arches, poorly lasted boots or poorly mounted blades from the factory. Not only will properly aligned blades improve performance, but will also reduce knee strain, groin and abdominal injuries, back problems, reduce fatigue, and will even add life to your skates. This process can be fairly simple for some players, or take up to an hour or so. If you know are in need of alignment, it’s never a bad idea to set up an appointment to shorten your visit. For figure skaters, an appointment is always necessary, as there are limited staff that can properly fit and align figure skates.