Speed skates Speed skates differ greatly from hockey skates and figure skates. Unlike hockey skates and figure skates, speed skates cut off at the ankle and are built more like a shoe than a boot to allow for more ankle compression. The blades range in length from 30 to 45 cm depending on the age and height of the skater. Short track blades are fixed to the boot in two places once at the heel and the other right behind the ball of the foot. Long track skates, also called clap skates, attach firmly to the boot only at the front. The heel of the boot detaches from the blade on every stroke, through a spring mechanism located at the front connector. Speed skates are manually sharpened using a jig to hold them in place.