Speed skaters have used skates with longer blades on them for many years. However, in the 1984/85 speed skating season a speed skate called the clap skate was introduced to increase speed. The skates are also known as slap skates which comes from the Dutch word klapschaats. Unlike traditional skates where the blade is fixed to the boot, the blades in clap skates are attached to the boot by a springed hinge at the front. This mechanism allows for a more natural stride and an increased stride length. The skates got their name from the clapping sound they made when the blades reconnected with the metal base. The blades are made of high-tempered carbon steel which is one millimeter wide and they range from 16.5 inches to 18.1 inches in length. Clap skates were developed in the Netherlands and although the idea for them had been around for decades they weren’t really taken seriously until the 1990s. After the Dutch female team achieved great success with the skates in the mid 90s, the rest of the speed skating world started wearing clap skates. Make sure your skates fit you properly and are comfortable. Speed skates come in various sizes, styles and materials.
