Q: Who should use Fastrax?
A: Skate sharpeners, Hockey players, Figure skaters, Speed skaters, Ringette players, Lugers and bobsledders, Alpine and Nordic skiers, Snow boarders, Sled hockey players. Basically anyone on skates should be using Fastrax on their blades to make them glide easier and therefore skate faster
Q: What are the effects of Fastrax?
A: Fastrax decreases the amount of friction between the blade that has been applied and the surface it is sliding across. For skaters this means that less water is beading on the blade and thus will slide longer with less effort.
Click the thumbnail picture to see a larger version.
Q: When should I use Fastrax?
A: Fastrax should always be applied to the hot blade just after sharpening. A hot blade will produce the best bonding conditions. Note however that Fastrax should also be applied between sharpenings - just before and just after you skate. This is dramatically increase the life of the skating surface of the blade.
Q: Will this treatment last for ever?
A: The same factors which causes you to loose your edge will also determine how long this treatment will last. For example, the hardness of the water which is used to make the ice, the amount of dirt brought to the ice surface by the Zamboni, the dressing room floors, and the maintenance of the players benches.
Q: Why in between sharpening?
A: Fastrax can help to prolong the life of your blade and edges. Before or after you go on the ice surface simply dry and wipe the blade with a clean cloth, squeeze sufficient Fastrax directly from the bottle to cover the entire blade surface and also down the sides of the blade.

Once the blade surface is covered, begin by gently stroking the blade with the leather pad provided from toe to heal. After about 4 or five strokes gradually increase the pressure with each subsequent stroke for a maximum of 10-15 strokes. Finally polish the sides with the leather pad. This will achieve 2 effects.

It will help to maintain the surface finish on the gliding surface at its optimum thickness.

The application to the sides will help to protect the metal from moisture, the cause of rust, therefore prolonging the life of your blade and edges.
Q: How do I apply Fastrax? (click here for a video)
A: After shaking the bottle thoroughly. They are four steps to follow.

Place the neck of the bottle slightly above the blade.

Squeeze sufficient Fastrax directly from the bottle to cover the entire blade surface, anywhere from 5-10 drops. Your blade length will determine the exact number of drops. The liquid will deposit the Fastrax particles as it flows down the centre of the blade.

Once the blade surface is covered, begin by gently stroking the blade with the leather pad provided from toe to heal. After about 4 or five strokes gradually increase the pressure with each subsequent stroke for a maximum of 10-15 strokes.

Finally with a dry rag, wipe the blade to remove the excess liquid.

Lastly, depending on the quality of steel, you may need to repeat steps 1 to 4

Q: How does Fastrax minimize rusting?
A: The Fastrax particles adhere to the blade and provide a buffer coating between the steel and the elements. This prevents oxygen from reacting with the metals and forming rust. In the image below there is a pair of skates (click the image to see a larger version). One blade treated while the other not. You can see the formation of rust over the course of a single winter on the untreated blade. The application of Fastrax kept the treated blade looking like new.