If you think about it, the way your skate fits on your foot will definitely be affected by the kind of socks you wear. If a sock is too tightly fitted, it will accentuate any tears a lot more. There is a lot to think about when picking out hockey gear, and socks are one tiny detail that can get overlooked. The ice re-surfacer cuts off far more then it puts down. Random Archive Submit a post Ask me anything. 3.8 cm) as an industry accepted standard. Arena Guide is the most comprehensive directory of arenas, indoor and outdoor rinks in Canada and the US. Hockey ice is slightly harder than figure skating ice to withstand impact but still soft enough for agile stops and turns. The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength − clear blue to black ice is strongest, and likely the deepest. ... Only when the ice is a half-inch thick do the Zambonis come out, depositing more 1/32″ layers and scraping uneven patches level. Sliding: Some players who have attempted to skate without socks have said that they could feel their foot sliding around inside of it, making for less control. Dozens of people brought out their winter gear this weekend, walking, skating and playing ice hockey at Pike Creek Park in Lakeshore, Ont. On the other hand, thick ice is inefficient because it increases the energy requirements of the refrigeration system. It’s important to wear the socks you plan to wear on the ice when you fit your skates. Others will wear something as thin as dress socks, preferring the lighter, cooler feel of them. How It's Made video of the process in making the ice for a hockey rink. Whether you are wearing socks made specifically for skating or just a pair of your every day socks, your comfort is essential to your decision. When you bake your skates, you put them on after they are heated so that they form around your feet. A blog devoted to the friendly ogling of hockey players' thighs (and their butts as well, they're right there). How thick is hockey ice? This could result in less control over your movements while you’re skating. How thick is hockey ice? SNC recommends that ice should be at least 15 to 20 cm thick for skating, walking, or pond hockey, and even thicker for snowmobiles. Temperatures are rising in the Midwest and Northeast, making frozen ponds and lakes more dangerous. As the chart above shows, ice needs to be at least 8 inches thick to hold a small pickup ruck. see full image. The Science of Hockey Ice. It really depends on what works best for you on the ice. Absorption: Socks will soak up your sweat, keeping it out of your skates. If you’re not wearing the socks that you plan to skate in during this process, the baking won’t be as successful. Others will wear something as thin as dress socks, preferring the lighter, cooler feel of them. There are some hockey players that are the polar opposite of the advocates of going barefoot and decide to wear as many socks as You should only skate on ice that is 20+ cm thick. You can use tape to better secure your sock if you need to. Optimization of ice and concrete slab thickness, RFABC. Continue the Learning Journey. With the right fit, a hockey player can completely change his game and provide more speed,... link to How to Choose and Fit Hockey Skates: Complete Guide. This size depends on how tall you are, as they coordinate with the length of the sock from top to bottom. They promote better blood flow throughout your leg and foot while you’re playing, keeping your leg feeling better and your toes from going numb. Remember, you will be wearing thick hockey socks during play. Also, don’t drive in a group. The thicker the ice and concrete, the harder it is for the refrigeration system to maintain a desired ice surface temperature. they can possibly manage. For some people, they prefer socks because it keeps their feet warm while they play. This is an area that is entirely up to you and what kind of feel you like. There are arguments that wearing more than one pair of socks is greater protection against blisters. Use a measuring tape to measure from the floor or your ankle up to the halfway point between your knee and your hip. No one way is right or wrong. If you wear a super thin sock – even as thin as panty hose – under a thicker sock, it will distribute friction between the layers of fabric. If you’re still on the fence about it, we’ve given a few examples of these arguments for both sides. Grey ice indicates the presence of water and is unsafe to stand on. If your reading is at least four inches, proceed with caution. What these sizes are called from place to place can change. There is less of a chance of blisters when you have this barrier between your skin and the skate. Depending on the environment you’re in, you could end up with overheated feet if they are wrapped up in a thick pair of socks. "The related to the NHL internet site says that the ice on a hockey rink is approximately 3/4" thick. 3.8 cm) as an industry accepted standard. An ice surface that is too thick requires more energy to keep frozen and is prone to getting soft on the top. These socks are made from thinner, more durable materials for greater comfort and protection on the ice. Vigorous skating during a typical hockey practice will damage ice that is too thin. Pond Hockey: Skating on Thick Ice By Michael Turton, Reporter | January 28, 2018. Overall, it depends on what you like best for your feet. Compression socks will also help to keep the sock in place so that it’s not moving around on your foot in your skate. Park cars at least 50 feet apart or more and move every couple hours. It also leaves less room for your feet to breathe, which could result in more sweat. Some players enjoy the way that more than one pair of socks provides an even tighter fit to their foot. This can prevent you from making turns quite as sharply. Aug 2, 2020. It may help you make up your mind to see what might come along with them. Arena Guide currently lists over 4,500 ice arenas, indoor and outdoor ice rinks near you and all across Canada and the USA. How thick a sock you wear can change the fit and feel of your skate. You can feel the ice much better without, which means you can move with more accuracy. A surface that is too thin is also dangerous because skaters risk cutting straight through the ice. As the name implies, these are the socks you wear underneath your socks that cover your feet. If only the ice was as thick as their skull. The lack of such a snug fit puts some players off of the idea of wearing socks. Your hockey skates should be tighter to enhance stability on the ice and minimize abrasion and chafing. If you’re going to wear very thick socks, or more than one pair, there will be less room for your foot in your skate. If you prefer socks that leave your ankle out of the equation, more power to you. Some hockey players go with wool socks, giving them much more padding and warmth in their skate. Each additional 1 inch (25.4 mm) of ice adds approximately 10,000 kWh/yr to the required energy to maintain the ice surface. Also feel free to suggest players you aren't seeing enough of on the blog, and I'll see if I can dig up some pictures. You should keep in mind that knit socks are going to have a couple of inches of stretch to them beyond the measurement given, while new style socks will hardly stretch at all due to their method of construction. Over the years, the cost of hockey skates has risen... How to Choose and Fit Hockey Skates: Complete Guide. © 2018-2020 Copyright Arena Guide - All rights reserved. Some socks are made to be moisture wicking like a lot of other sports gear, helping your feet feel drier while you play. Ice hockey is a sport that is played by two teams on ice. 44.6k. How thick is hockey ice? 3.2 cm – 3.8 cm) is optimal. You could go with short socks that only come up as far as your ankle and stay hidden inside your skate. Or you could go with socks that go all the way up to your knee. The only real debates when it comes to hockey socks are what sort of hockey socks to wear and whether to wear them over the top of your boot or tucked into it. Location Ice thickness is never consistent. You could wear socks that come up to the top of your skate and no further. They are held up either by a garter or by velcro tabs which attach them to your under shorts. This is especially true if you don’t fully dry your skates between wears. For those hockey players that deal with certain medical issues, a good pair of compression socks is the way to go. It typically measures about 80 to 85mm in diameter and 25 to 30 mm in thickness. How many pairs of socks do you The thicker the ice, the softer and slower the ice becomes for skaters -- and hockey players don't want that! This is one big reason why you should never go barefoot in brand new skates. Sometimes heavier fabric is used over the shin with lighter, stretchier fabric around the thigh. It is used to judge icing. For players, a ‘Zen-like’ experience. hide. When deciding on a height of sock, it really just depends on you. If you like the idea of skating without socks but don’t want to go around barefoot in your skates, there are products like Thinees from Amazon. Comfort: A big reason so many players choose to wear socks is simply that it pads their foot in the skate. Few groups that have thrived for decades go unnamed, but don’t tell that to a loose-knit band of Philipstown skaters who share an intense passion for pond hockey. If you end up changing socks between fitting and skating, the way that the skates fit on your feet is going to change. There are hockey players that prefer thin socks and those that prefer thick or even multiple pairs of socks. The lines, logos, and markings show through and remain protected by the last layer of ice. When it comes to choosing a pair of socks – if you decide to wear any at all – there are a few things to consider: Each of these options can provide different benefits for you on the ice. Tom Ptacek, 60, has been chasing the puck locally for 20 years and … The ice resurfacer because of its design cannot cut tight to the boards. Keeping the ice between 1 1/4” to 1 1/2” (apx. What kind of socks you wear on the ice requires just as much thought as any other piece of gear. https://www.quora.com/How-thick-is-the-ice-in-a-standard-ice-hockey-rink If you aren’t worried about that or want a very tight fitting sock, you should measure from your ankle bone up. 5.7 cm) and now is at 1 1/4” (apx. It depends on how thick a sock you are wearing, of course. Heat: Just as they provide warmth, sometimes wearing socks can make your feet too warm. If your measurement falls between sizes, you should always go with the larger size. The construction of these socks differs greatly from their knit counterparts, which are just one continuous tube of material. Control: The people who choose not to wear socks claim that the difference in control is noticeable. Tape can be used to help secure the sock during games. If you were wondering if socks were absolutely necessary to play ice hockey, the answer is no. The industry standard is 1½” and if you have heavy programming, you should carry 2″ of ice. The centre line divides the ice in half crosswise. You should also wear your preferred socks if you’re planning to have your skates baked. Posted by 25 days ago. They are more susceptible to rips and tears than the more durable fabrics of other hockey socks. There are arguments for both sides when it comes to wearing socks or not in ice hockey. Other skaters also needed help after falling through thin ice. the hockey markings and the advertisements that you see on (or more correctly "in") the ice. (0.115 inches). Ice thickness is not usually uniform and can vary depending on outside temperatures, water current and flows, and snow cover. You could choose socks that come up to mid-calf in height. Because of their material and construction, knit socks will also shrink the first time they are washed. It also provides even more padding inside of the skate. It will also require more resurfacings. However, hockey socks are a different story entirely. stays in place from September to May. First off the concrete slab, with 8 or 9 miles of fine plastic tubing embedded is brought down to ~ 16 F or -10 C by circulating cold brine or liquid ammonia through the tubing. Ice Hockey and Her. Warmth: Ice hockey is, of course, played on the ice. They also help to wick away moisture so that you’re left with a sockless feeling while skipping all of the sweat involved. 10,000 kWh of electricity if the ice was 2 1/4” (apx. "Last year the ice hockey session was organised till February 10. The thicker the ice, the softer and slower the ice will become for skaters -- and hockey gamers do no longer want that!" It may also be used to judge two-line pass violations in leagues that use such a rule. Hockey ice is approximately 2.5 to 3 centimetres thick, and its ideal temperature is −5° C to −7° C at Canada Hockey Place and −6° C to −7.5 ° C at UBC Thunderbird Arena. Blisters: Because the skate is directly against your skin, the friction as you play can cause blisters to form. Usually, this just means wearing two pairs of socks. It’s entirely up to you and your personal preference when it comes to what socks you wear in your skates, or if you wear any socks at all. Hockey socks are considered part of your uniform and are not optional. Fit: Not having socks on means you will have more room for your foot in the skate. There are some socks that are thin enough not to make much of a difference at all. Others give them names such as mite, youth, and adult. Less Control: Having socks on can give you extra padding, but also decrease how well you can feel the ice under your feet. Submissions for any team, league, or player are welcome! Close. What we have been discussing so far is the preference of wearing or not wearing skate socks. Of course, there are arguments for all sides. Air Flow: Some players choose not to wear socks because it keeps their feet cooler in their skates. This process is recommended for higher end skates so that they fit more comfortably on your foot without you having to spend the time breaking them in the old fashioned way. 3.2 cm). 3.2 cm) to 1 1/2” (apx. Ice and the concrete act as insulators, resisting the transfer of heat to the refrigeration system. Ask a family member to write down three whole numbers between 1 and 100. This requires significantly more maintenance using a specially designed tool to cut the ice away. It really depends on what works best for you on the ice. When it comes to deciding whether or not to wear socks in your skates, there is really no right or wrong answer. ice on a hockey rink is approximately 3/4" thick. But these upgrades offer more protection as the materials resist tears and cuts much better. He sprays on 16 layers. The exact location of the Empire Ice Thickness Challenge will be announced at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, on the Empire Arts Center Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. These hockey socks can also wear out faster and need replacing.