No Fair!

SKATES THAT CLAP

Ice skates have been around since the Stone Age, letting racers slide along on thin blades made of bone or metal. But in 1996, some speed skaters started wearing weird skates. The blade heel wasn’t stuck to the shoe. It lifted up and down with a loud CLACK CLACK. Within three years, nine world records were broken. The record for the 1,000 meter race was broken four times! What’s their secret?

What Makes It Better?

Regular ice skates have a long blade fixed to a boot at the toe and heel. Clap skates are a bit different. They have a hinge that connects only the front of the boot to the blade. When the skater lifts her heel, the heel comes up off the blade. The blade stays flat on the ice. Having the skate stay flat while the skater lifts her heel allows the skater to push with more leg power, and for a bit longer with each glide. These small advantages add up. One study showed skaters wearing