Skate profiling is a transformative way to enhance your skates' performance on the ice. The right blade profile can completely change your edge control, speed, and stability, whether you’re chasing faster transitions, carving deep turns as a defenseman, or chasing breakaways. Your blade profile determines how your skate works with you-or against you.
Profiling is the art of shaping your skate blade’s contour-or “rocker.” The rocker defines how much of your blade contacts the ice, influencing acceleration, stability, and agility. Most stock skates come with a generic profile that doesn’t match your skating style or body mechanics. Profiling allows us to customize that shape precisely to you.
In essence, this is a profile that feels alive under your feet-smooth, natural, and built for the modern game. Let's explore the world of performance profiles.
There have been many performance profile formulas tried over the years, from CAG and Prosharp to Elite. Finding the performance profile that feels right for your game and skating style is worth it.
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Most profile combinations fit into two broad categories that share common characteristics:
- Heel Glides: Flatter toward the heel (to enhance glide, stability, and speed) and more curved toward the toe (for agility and acceleration). The balance point is a bit front of center.
- Center Glide profiles: Flatten an area under the middle of the blade to provide more contact with the ice surface, while the toe and heel sections are comparatively more rockered. The balance point is in the middle of the blade.
We recommend our performance profile combinations but understand that some players are more comfortable with a stock blade.
Elite Blade Profile Ranking System
All our performance profiles are ranked according to expert on-ice testing related to four attributes: acceleration, agility, speed and stability. All rankings are relative to a baseline profile: the 10’ mono.
Elite Performance Technology Profiles are evaluated based on expert on-ice testing across four key attributes: acceleration, agility, speed, and stability. These rankings are then compared to a baseline profile: the 10’ single-profile.
In the example below you can see that compared to the 10’ mono, the Polaris has more acceleration, more ability and a huge boost in both speed and stability. For maximum power and balance, go with the Polaris profile. For maximum agility and acceleration, go with the SCS.1.
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Make sure to use the Elite Blade Profile Ranking System Chart to compare all of the profiles side by side.
Common Hockey Skate Blade Profiles
Here’s a look at some common types of hockey skate blade profiles:
- 10′ MONO: Stock, out of the box blade.
- Combining two radius curves, the duos are some of the earliest performance profiles. And they are popular with some top players. With a shorter radius curve in the front and a longer curve in the heel, the duos have a good balance of agility and stability. This is close to a stock blade.
The standard line of ELITE Goalie Profile templates includes both Monos and Performance Duos. The goalie duos have a shorter radius curve in the front to add more agility in the front with same stability in the back. These are a standard stock goalie blade.
The quads have four different radius curves, with a more gradual transition between curves than the duos and triples, and provide an excellent balance of speed, power, agility, and stability. EL4.1 QUAD(6’-9’-11’-13’) Large, Standard(5’-8’-10’-12’) JuniorFast, powerful, solid. Smooth transitions. Slight forward pitch feel. EL4.2 QUAD(7’-10’-13’-16’) Large, StandardA little less agile feeling than the 4.1, with good balance. A good mix of power and agility.
Named to acknowledge the Northern roots of its Finnish creator, Petri Hirvelä, the Polaris is the evolution of the Quad, and the newest profile in our collection. A very agile profile, the Polaris also provides exceptional power and stability, with very smooth transitions. Compared to the other Quads, the Polaris is significantly lighter in the back which gives it extra agility. The Polaris is quickly becoming a favourite in our collection.
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A proprietary profile with a rockered heel and toe perfectly blends agility, power and speed. Whichever profile you choose, you'll be enhancing your game with a tailored performance edge.
EL3.1 TRIPLE(6’-12’-16’) Large, Standard(5’-10’-13’) JuniorLight, agile toe, with a very slight forward pitch feel. Flatter heel provides good stability. Good mix of agility, power, and stability.
These are ELITE’s proprietary family of Center Glide profiles, with a sequence of flatter radius curves under the middle of the foot, and comparatively rockered toe and heel sections. The SCS is a much higher performing evolution of the Center Flat design.
The Center Flats are Elite’s version of the CAG profiles, which have an actual flat section at or near the middle of a 10’ mono blade. They come in a variety of lengths of flat section, and also in neutral and more forward-pitched configurations. The flat section adds speed and stability but with a loss of agility, especially in the longer lengths. As well, the transitions onto and off of the flat section are not smooth in the longer lengths.
Here are the specific Elite profile types:
- POLARIS QUAD: Large, Standard, JuniorThe newest Quad in our collection, the Polaris is very agile with exceptional power and stability. Extremely smooth transitions.
- SCS-1: Large, Standard, JuniorFour radius curves, flattest in the center of the blade. Very powerful and smooth-skating profile, with high top-end speed and powerful turns while preserving agility and explosiveness. The ultimate blend of agility, power, and speed.
SCS.1 - Maximum Agility and Explosive PowerThis profile features four radius curves with a flatter center, providing powerful and smooth skating, high top-end speed, and powerful turns while maintaining agility.
SCS.2 - Enhanced Power and Reliable StabilityWith the same mid-foot flatter radius but with a less rockered heel and toe than the SCS.1, it focuses on more stability with slightly less acceleration and agility.
Features a light, agile toe with a very slight forward pitch, complemented by a flatter heel for stability. It offers a good mix of agility, power, and stability, ideal for versatile skating styles. This profile is excellent for those who need quick transitions and solid performance across different aspects of their game.
Quad.1 - Fast, Agile and Effortless SmoothIt features a slight forward pitch and the lightest feel among the Quads, making it ideal for skaters who prioritize agility. This profile is a great balance of speed and stability, perfect for quick, agile movements on the ice.
Quad.2 - Balanced Power and Rock-Solid StabilityIt has a slightly less agile feel compared to the Quad.1, making it suitable for those who value stability and control. This profile is perfect for skaters who need a dependable, balanced performance.
The latest Quad profile in the lineup provides exceptional speed and stability with excellent agility and acceleration. It boasts extremely smooth transition zones and feels much more agile in the heel for better maneuverability.
Once you have settled on a specific profile, the last part is to select the correct profile size. The Elite Performance Profiles come in three sizes: Small (SM), Medium (MD) and Large (LG). Each one is tailored to the specific skate or blade size to ensure the best performance for players of all sizes.
Other Hockey Skate Profile Options
We currently offer a range of hockey skate profiles to help skaters achieve their goals, from simple single-radius options to advanced, multi-zone geometries used by top-level athletes.
Single Radius Profiles
- 9′ Radius - Designed for players seeking maximum agility. Offers fast edge transitions and tight cornering, ideal for smaller or lighter skaters and offensive players who rely on quick direction changes.
- 10′ Radius - Provides balanced performance. Slightly more glide and stability than a 9′, perfect for well-rounded skaters who want consistent performance across all situations.
Split Radius Profiles
- 9.5′ / 10.5′ Split Radius - Blends quick front-foot acceleration with smooth, stable glide on the back half of the blade. Excellent for players who want agility up front and control through long strides.
- 10′ / 13′ Split Radius - Adds power and glide. Popular among larger players and those who generate speed through powerful strides.
Split profiles create a “progressive rocker,” meaning your weight naturally transitions between radii during stride for fluid, balanced skating.
SSM Natural Curve Series: Born from Swedish Innovation
We’re proud to offer SSM’s Natural Curve Quick 10 Profiles, developed through collaboration with the Swedish Hockey Institute. These proprietary profiles were designed from extensive biomechanical studies of elite European players, emphasizing natural skating motion and efficient energy transfer.
The “Natural Curve” philosophy was built on one key idea: your blades should complement the way your body naturally moves, not fight against it. The Quick 10 profile provides a dynamic, responsive feel that promotes effortless stride transitions and superior balance-particularly beneficial for developing players or those fine-tuning their edge efficiency.
Quad Profiles
The Quad Series, designed by ProSharp, is one of the most advanced profiling systems available today. Each Quad profile combines four distinct radii to match every phase of skating: acceleration, glide, control, and stability.
Each transition point is engineered to mimic a skater’s natural stride cycle-making these profiles feel intuitive and consistent across every stride.
The Quad concept was first introduced by ProSharp after analyzing data from NHL and SHL players, identifying how pressure points move across the blade during skating. The result? A multi-radius setup that reduces friction and optimizes power transfer.
Here's a breakdown of the Quad profiles:
| Quad Model | Radii (Front → Rear) | Ideal Skater Type |
|---|---|---|
| Quad XS | 6′-9′-11′-13′ | Smaller or youth players need a rapid response and a light feel. |
| Quad 0 | 6′-9′-11′-13′ | Agile players seeking fast turns with balanced glide (common for forwards). |
| Quad 1 | 7′-10′-13′-16′ | Intermediate to advanced players who want a perfect blend of power and control. |
| Quad 2 | 8′-11′-14′-17′ | Larger or stronger skaters focused on stride efficiency and top-speed glide. |
Why You Should Consider Profiling
Profiling isn’t just for professionals-it’s for anyone serious about getting the most out of their skates. Benefits include:
- Improved Balance - A tailored rocker helps you feel more stable on your edges.
- Better Acceleration - Optimized contact points translate to faster starts and stronger strides.
- Enhanced Control - Fine-tuned transitions allow for smoother turns and quicker pivots.
- Consistency Between Sharpenings - A precise profile ensures your skates perform predictably every time you step on the ice.
Technical Aspects of Skate Profiling
When it comes to skate profiling, technical aspects such as the blade’s radius of hollow (ROH) and the radius of contour (ROC) play significant roles. The ROH refers to the depth of the groove cut into the blade, which impacts how much bite the blade has on the ice-deeper hollows provide more grip, while shallower hollows offer better glide. The ROC refers to how much of the blade is in contact with the ice at any given time, impacting balance and maneuverability. Understanding these elements is essential to choosing the correct profile for your playing style.
Notable Players' Profiles: A Closer Look
These profiles highlight how professional players optimize their skates for their specific needs and playing styles, giving them an edge during games.
- Sidney Crosby: Uses a quad profile to balance his exceptional agility with the ability to make sharp cuts.
- Auston Matthews: Prefers a dual-radius profile for better acceleration and powerful shooting.
- Victor Hedman: Opts for a single-radius profile to maximize stability on the ice as a defenseman.
- Connor McDavid: Uses a custom triple-radius profile to ensure explosive speed and smooth transitions.
Finding Your Perfect Profile
Every skater’s needs are unique-your height, stride length, playing style, and position all factor into the right setup. Whether you’re experimenting with your first custom profile or refining your edge feel for elite play, SchwendiSharpens is here to help.
If you have questions or are looking for a specific profile not listed here, please reach out to us directly.