Unlike the Holland blacksmiths the Friesland ones did not give much attention to the looks of their ice skates. They merely were interested in the results that could be attained with their products. This was because in Friesland there have been always emphasize on speed skating. Knowledge about the first organized contests go back as far as the 18th century. Speed skating then was done in two straight side by side laying lanes of 80 meters. When longer distances had to be skated the riders had to turn at the end and continue in the lane alongside. It concerned an elimination system and as these races were very popular they could last a whole day or even two. The winner, however, was very good rewarded.
This style of skating required an almost running way of skating. Most of the forward power had to come from the forefeet and therefore short but strong blades and platforms were necessary.
Around 1900, when speed skating became an international sport, these common ice skates were at first provided with longer blades that extended until the end of the platforms. Around 1920 the blades were made thinner and extended even farther. The ice skates got 'tails' to support these blades as to prevent them from bending. All these improvements increased their ability to glide and make longer strokes.
 Friesland skates with short runner blades |
 Friesland skates with extended runner blades |
 Friesland speed skates with tail supported runner blades |
For safety reasons the prows of the skates were made lower and lower and at last the platform became as functional as at all possible. This development has been important for the Dutch ice skating industry as it resulted in relatively cheap ice skates for skating distances at high speed. In good winters hundreds of thousands were sold all over the country. In the beginning of the 20th century these skates were referred to as 'Stheeman skates' after the name of their designer. But when the Norwegian tube skates began their victory they were called 'wooden Norwegians' because the mounting part for the blades looked very much like the metal tubes of the Norwegian speed skates. One manufacturer (J. Nooitgedagt at Ylst) designed a hybrid ice skate and called it Combi Skate. It is said that they have been the best wooden ice skates ever made but unfortunately they could not cope with the success of the tube skates and thus the production ceased after a few years.
 Stheemann skates or wooden Norwegians |
 combi skates |
After the Second World War the economy grew and the price of tube skates formed less by less a hinder to their acceptation. The competition became heavier and finally most manufacturers of wooden ice skates closed their doors in the sixties of the 20th century; the very last in 1990.
Norwegian
tube skates
Contrary to wood metal has the advantage of form firmness. Therefore already at the end of the 19th century speed skates with metal platforms
became available. Since the runner blades of speed skates are long and narrow they must be supported along the full length. After some experiments it worked out that this could be done best by soldering the blades into tubes.
Tubes are both strong and light.
Tube skates were first developed in Norway and therefore they are also
known as Norwegian speed skates. However, they were very expensive at that time. And as skating in the Netherlands was a people's sport the much cheaper wooden ice skates stood up until in the sixties of the 20th century
when tube skates became the standard for both amateurs and professionals.
Scientific influences
Speed skating reached high in the second half of the 20th century when 400 meter indoor ovals were opened in all traditional speed skating countries as to eliminate the natural factor of uncertain climatic conditions. Science gave attention to matters like physiological elements, training methods, clothing, ice
conditions and
many other issues which resulted in lots of improvements like clap skates, blades of ceramic material, bending of the blades, warming them or grinding them to unbelievable narrowness. New
world records seem to exist only for challenging new generations to adjust
them again and again...