About Us
The pursuit of excellence has been a hallmark of the Stoery family for generations, and has converged with a love of figure skating for over 60 years. What first began as an interest in skate sharpening grew into Samuel Stoery's apprenticeship with Olympic Champion Pierre Brunet to learn the art of skate sharpening. Those skills and techniques have been passed down to Jess Stoery, who continues to provide the Distinctive Edge difference.
About Jess Stoery and Distinctive Edge
It all started with Jess Stoery's mother, Marianne, a talented and dedicated skater, and father, Samuel, whose interest skating grew into a successful career. The family's love of skating soon appeared in her daughters Debbie and Jodi, and son Jess. Jess Stoery's sister Debbie began coaching while at Glenbrook North, later taking a leave of absence from Northwestern University to understudy with Olympic Champion, and coach of Olympic Champions, Pierre Brunet.
An engineering degree enabled Mr. Brunet to undertake the design of blades and a sharpening machine and technique that remain unrivaled today. Noticing that his daughter Debbie was driving her students' skates almost eight hours each way to meet Pierre for a weekend of sharpening, Samuel Stoery enthusiastically coupled his own retirement with the retirement of Mr. Brunet, and purchased this unique equipment after an apprenticeship to establish a new career.
The business quickly outgrew the Stoery basement as the family passion's involved a trip to London to study the procedures at the blade factory. With the success of sisters Debbie and Jodi, the raves form the John Curry Company and other professional show skaters, their reputation grew.
Jess, a former Glenbrook North, collegiate hockey player, and Saddle & Cycle team captain, was recruited to assist his dad, and Distinctive Edge was incorporated to provide first class services in boot fitting, sharpening and mounting blades for all figure skaters.
Since incorporating Distinctive Edge, Jess has worked with Champions on Ice, Disney on Ice, as well as with national and international skaters.
Jess and Samuel at Lake Placid, February 1980
