As a fan of the winter Olympics I would have to say ice skating is one of my favorite events to watch. I have been ice skating before and skating alone is difficult enough, let alone all the twists and turns that the professional ice skaters do. One of the most important items for an ice skater is their skates. They have to be in top-notch shape with the sharpest blades as it has an effect on whether they receive a place on the podium. That's why when you see ice skaters get off the ice; they place their blade protectors on immediately.