Klap skates, also called
slap skate and
clap skates are the latest
development in
speed skating, although the concept is quite old
(1930's).
The klap skate consists of a spring loaded hinged toe at the front of
the boot, and a plunger system at the heel. The metal blade of the
skate can now pivot around the hinge, allowing the heel to lift away
from the blade. This construction allows for a longer contact time
between the blade and the ice during the push-off, and thus allows for
an increased power transfer. Also, because of this construction, the
toe will not dig into the ice during the skating movement. The spring
will return the blade back to the boot after push-off, so that the blade
will not drag on the ice. The plunger system at the back guides the
return of the blade, and allows for more stability of the skate.
The klap skate was introduced into competitive speed skating in
1997, and with these skates many skating records were shattered.