Abstract: A skate assembly includes a shell structure and a removable tendon guard. The shell structure includes a heel portion, a lateral ankle portion, and a medial ankle portion. The heel portion is formed to cover a human heel. The lateral ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The medial ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The lateral ankle portion and the medial ankle portion are spaced apart to form a notch extending toward the heel portion. The removable tendon guard is removably attached between the lateral ankle portion and medial ankle portion to cover the notch.

Abstract: A skate boot includes a foot portion configured to receive and secure a foot of a wearer. The skate boot includes a first tendon guard positioned proximal an Achilles tendon of a wearer of the skate boot, the first tendon guard being connected to the foot portion at a first articulation point and adjacent the foot portion along a medial abutment line and a lateral abutment line. The skate boot may optionally include a second tendon guard connected to the foot portion at a second articulation point and to the first tendon guard, the second tendon guard covering the first articulation point. In at least one embodiment, an elastomeric band is connected to the foot portion and to the first tendon guard and configured to bias the first tendon guard to a closed position. In at least one embodiment, an electrical generator is provided to heat an ice skate interconnected to the boot.