Article: Chill skills: find out how ice's properties give skaters the edge during the Winter Olympic Games.(physical science)(Cover story)

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This February, figure skater Rachael Flatt hopes she'll be showing off her cool moves at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada. "I'm going to work really hard to achieve that goal," says Rachael, one of the highest-ranked skaters in the world. When she takes to the ice, her skates' thin blades glide easily over the slippery surface. And whether the 17-year-old athlete is landing a triple flip or preparing for a spin, ice makes her winning tricks possible.

But how? Read on to find out.

Chill Factor

Just like the ice cubes that cool your lemonade, the slab of ice beneath Rachael's skates is made up of ...

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