A method of manufacturing an ice skate for enclosing a human foot when in
use, the foot having a heel, an ankle with a medial malleolus and a
lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes.
The method comprises (a) providing a sheet of thermoformable material;
(b) thermoforming the sheet of thermoformable material to form an outer
shell comprising (i) a heel portion for receiving the heel of the foot;
(ii) an ankle portion for receiving the ankle; (iii) medial and lateral
side portions for facing the medial and lateral sides of the foot
respectively, the medial and lateral side portions extending forwardly
from the heel portion and the ankle portion, one of the medial and
lateral side portions comprising a skirt portion being integrally formed
therewith; (c) folding the skirt portion to form a sole having an upper
surface for facing the plantar surface of the foot and a bottom surface;
and (d) mounting an ice skate blade holder to the bottom surface of the
sole.