Buying new skates fo daughter?

HI,





My daughter(9 y/o) has been skating for a year now(we did take the summer off). She just passed on to Basic 5 and will begin that class in about 1 1/2 weeks. She is currently wearing a pair of Riedell 21 skates. They have served her well and it has been suggested to me that we keep her in the same boot. I was thinking I should upgrade her boot and blade, but I was told since she skates 1-2 times a week, that her current boot/blade will be fine. The reason I am looking to replace her skates is because she is begining to outgrow her current skates. We have not started private lessons and I am not sure if we will just yet. She loves skating, but I%26#039;m not sure we are ready for private lessons just yet. Oh, her current boot is not creased in any way, which is another reason I was told she could stay in her current boot. My concern is if we should decide to put her in private lessons this year. Would her current boot be sufficient? OR would upgrading slightly be a good idea?

Buying new skates fo daughter?
I think the suggestion to keep her in the same model sounds about right for her skill level and the amount she is skating.





The time to upgrade to the next model boot may be when she gets into jumping . . . when she will need better supporting boots. Remember, the next Riedell boot model will be stiffer . . . for basic skills this is not necessary just yet.





Blue Ribbon is sold as a skate set that comes with a %26quot;standard%26quot; blade - which is fine too for basic skills. You probably have the option to upgrade the blade with a higher %26quot;standard%26quot; blade . . . depends on where you get your skates from - it%26#039;s not necessary, but going for the highest level blade available for that skate is fine too. Skate sets generally have boots with PVC (plastic) soles/heel . . . to upgrade to an %26quot;advanced%26quot; blade, you need a higher level boot (meaning with leather soles/heel) in case adjustments need to be made (which really can%26#039;t be done with PVC bottom boots). But she doesn%26#039;t need that now.





It%26#039;s possible that she may outgrow these next boot/blades soon enough too . . . so for now it seems the current model is totally fine. Even if she were to start private lessons, she would still be learning all the same basic skill moves as she would in a group class - so she%26#039;d be ok.





Riedell has a great boot recommendation chart so you have something to refer to:


http://www.riedellskates.com/fit/boots.h...


And a blade recommendation chart


http://www.riedellskates.com/fit/blades....





Hope that helps!
Reply:I skate competitively and I moved on to Risport Laser boots, they%26#039;re one of the BEST makes in the UK and they%26#039;re really padded which is incredibly comfortable. Well the blades come with the boot, and they will just need sharpening when you first buy them and every 4-6 weeks. The blade that comes with the Risport Laser boots is compeltely fine. as I use that boot with that blade and it%26#039;s really comfortable.


Like every boot, you have to break them in. You can do this by bending your knees and pressing down firmly onto the top of the skate, which stretches it to break it in (it%26#039;s good). And where them about at home (with the guards on) so she can get used to them and so they will be broken in.





Hope I have helped and good luck.
Reply:My daughter has been skating competitively since she was 5 (she%26#039;s 13 now). You want to change her boots just like you would change her shoes - when her feet grow. That said, leading up to major or important competitions, we have at times changed boots a bit early (letting her grow into them); slightly in advance to allow her to break in the boots.





As far as the blades are concerned, as long as they%26#039;re the proper length for the boot and can still be sharpened they should be fine.
Reply:If she needs new skates anyways, then you might want to upgrade a step or two, but b/c she%26#039;s 9 and not in private lessons, that investment might not be worth it. You could probably just get a bigger sized boot, and stick wiht the same type. Congrats to your daughter on moving up.


♥
Reply:I HAVE TAUGHT SKIING FOR 25 WINTERS AND PLAYED SOCIAL ICE HOCKEY IN AMERICA, SO I HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD EQUIPMENT. I THINK ITS GREAT THAT YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER HAVING THE RIGHT STUFF.


IF THE BOOT FITS HER AND IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GET HER STARTED IN HER LESSONS , THEN I RECOMEND YOU CONTINUE USING IT UNTIL SHE GROWS OUT OF IT OR THE INSTRUCTOR RECCOMENDS CHANGE. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE PRIVATE LESSON INSTRUCTOR WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE RIGHT ADVICE IN RELATION TO ALL THIS. START LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT INSTRUCTOR (SOMEONE WHO IS FUN, CARING AND GETS RESULTS ) AND TRY IT OUT.


IT MIGHT BE A HUGE SUCCESS AND AFTER THE FIRST LESSON YOU CAN ASK THEM WHAT THEY THINK OF HER SKATES.


I WOULD RATHER HAVE GOOD TECHNIQUE THAN GOOD EQUIPMENT. GOOD LUCK



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