▁boot ▁in ▁two ▁places ▁once ▁at ▁the ▁he el ▁and ▁the ▁other ▁right ▁behind ▁the ▁ball ▁of ▁the ▁foot . ▁Long ▁track ▁sk ates , ▁also ▁called ▁cla p ▁sk ates , ▁attach ▁firm ly ▁to ▁the ▁boot ▁only ▁at ▁the ▁front . ▁The ▁he el ▁of ▁the ▁boot ▁det aches ▁from ▁the ▁bla de ▁on ▁every ▁stroke , ▁through ▁a ▁spring ▁mechanism ▁located ▁at ▁the ▁front ▁conne ctor . ▁Speed ▁sk ates ▁are ▁manually ▁sh ar pen ed ▁using ▁a ▁j ig ▁to ▁hold ▁them ▁in ▁place . ▁ ▁Short ▁track ▁All ▁short ▁track ▁sk aters ▁must ▁have ▁speed ▁sk ates , ▁a ▁span dex ▁skin ▁suit , ▁protect ive ▁hel met , ▁specific ▁cut ▁proof ▁sk ating ▁glo ves , ▁kne e ▁p ads ▁and ▁sh in ▁p ads ▁( in ▁suit ), ▁neck ▁guard ▁( bib ▁style ) ▁and ▁an k le ▁protection . ▁Prote ct ive ▁eye we ar ▁is ▁mand atory . ▁Many ▁sk aters ▁wear ▁smooth ▁cer am ic ▁or ▁carbon ▁fi ber ▁tips ▁on ▁the ▁left ▁hand ▁glo ve ▁to ▁reduce ▁fr iction ▁when ▁their ▁hand ▁is ▁on ▁the ▁ice ▁at ▁corners . ▁All ▁sk aters ▁who ▁race ▁at ▁a ▁national ▁level ▁must ▁wear ▁a ▁cut proof ▁ke v lar ▁suit ▁to ▁protect ▁against ▁being ▁cut ▁from ▁another ▁sk ater ' s ▁bla de . ▁ ▁' Long ▁track ▁For ▁long ▁track ▁sk aters ▁the ▁same ▁equipment ▁should ▁be ▁worn ▁as ▁short ▁track ▁rac ers ▁but ▁with ▁the ▁exception ▁of ▁a ▁hel met , ▁sh in