Changing the blades he attaches to his figure skating boots made all the difference for Shoma Uno, who is aiming to go one better than his Pyeongchang Olympic silver medal at the upcoming Beijing Winter Games.
Since he started using the made-in-Japan "Kozuka Blades" in recent years, the 24-year-old has seen a significant improvement in performance which has given him the extra boost of confidence he needed to include five quadruple jumps in his free skate this season.
Like most sporting equipment, figure skates are designed to cater to a range of skill levels, with a skater who attempts triple and quad jumps needing something very different compared to a recreational skater. Elite-level skaters know an investment in quality boots and blades pays big dividends under the bright lights.