I%26#039;m getting my first pair of figure skating skates this week, and I have a lo of questions! I%26#039;m in Beta and I use rental skates. But sometimes the blades are dull, and stuff, and I can%26#039;t really skate as well. So, I have a lot of questions about my first pair!
1. What%26#039;s the best kind of ice skate to get?
2. What size do I get? I get size 7 in rentals, but can I get a size 8 so my feet can grow into them?
3. Do I need an ice skating bag to carry my skates in? Or Is it okay to fling them over my shoulders when I go to the rink?
4. Do I need to get soakers for them? I know it%26#039;s neccesary to get blade guards, so I%26#039;m getting them.
5. How long will it take me to break into them?
6. When do I know to sharpen hem?
7. How do I care for my ice skate?
I know they%26#039;re a lot of questions, but if you could take some time to answer a few questions it%26#039;ll be great! Thanks!
My First Pair Of Skates?
That%26#039;s great that you%26#039;re getting your own skates! I%26#039;m sure you%26#039;ll be very proud of them. :)
1. Usually for beginning skaters, I recommend Riedells. A lot of skaters like them and Riedells have skates for all levels at fairly reasonable prices. As their usage chart suggests (riedellskates.com), for your level, I%26#039;d get either the gold or bronze medallions. They%26#039;re rated for Beta and a few levels after that. They should provide enough support and come with a decent blade for what you%26#039;re trying to do.
2. For sizing purposes, I would go to your nearest skate shop and get professionally fitted. Skates do not run true to shoe sizes. Some run big, some small, some wide, some narrow. It all depends on the brand. Plus, if you%26#039;re like me, I%26#039;d have no idea what width to order, so a trained professional should be able to help you get the right size. You%26#039;d hate to get your new skates and have them not fit! If your feet are still growing, you can usually go up a 1/2 size....maybe a size. More than that might make skating difficult. Also, some shops sell used skates, which are a great idea for skaters with growing feet!
3. I%26#039;d suggest getting some sort of bag, backpack or something to carry your skates in. Skaters seem to end up with a lot of junk to carry around.....books, CD%26#039;s, towels, gloves, legwarmers, guards, extra tights, Kleenx and more. Any bag will work just fine.
4. I would recommend getting soakers to protect your blades. They%26#039;re great for when you%26#039;re not using your skates. Be sure that you do not store your skates with the hard plastic guards on. This can cause your blades to rust....quickly! Only use the plastic guards for walking off ice. When you%26#039;re done skating, wipe your blades and boots down with a towel and put on your soakers. Once you get home, it%26#039;s a good idea to take your skates out of the bag, take your soakers off and let your skates dry out. This prevents rusting on your blades, allows the moisture to evaporate from your heels/soles and allows the inside of your skates to dry out -- preventing stinky skates. :)
5. Break-in time depends on how much you skate. Usually I suggest to skaters to wear their skates at home while watching TV with their plastic guards on. This allows the boot to form to your foot. Walk in them a little at home. When they%26#039;re new, maybe don%26#039;t lace them up all the way to the top. Leave the top hook unlaced until you have them broken in a little and you feel comfortable in your boots. On ice, do a lot of back crossovers, swizzles, waltz jumps and get into your ankles. If you%26#039;re finding you have specific areas that are hurting, you can have those areas %26quot;punched out%26quot; at the skate shop (they have a metal tool that pushes areas of the boot out to relieve pressure areas). Or round makeup sponges work well to protect sore ankles and other areas that hurt in skates. I don%26#039;t think the Riedells will take you very long to break in, but they%26#039;ll be as different as night and day compared to your rentals.
6. Get your blades sharpened before you use your skates for the first time. New blades do not come sharpened. How often you need them sharpened depends on how much you skate. The general rule I have heard is every 20 hours on the ice.....but you%26#039;ll find each skater has their own preference. To check if you need them sharpened, drag a fingernail over one of the edges. If it scrapes off some of your nail, they%26#039;re probably okay....no scrapings, they need to be sharpened. Your coach should also be able to let you know.
7. I touched on this a little earlier. Allow you boots/blades to dry out regularily. Get your blades sharpened as often as you feel comfortable and don%26#039;t leave plastic guards on your blades when they%26#039;re not being used.
Whew, I know that%26#039;s a lot. Good luck with your new skates! :)
Reply:reidel
get the size that feels the best when you try them on
yes, get a bag, you dont want to scratch the leather, etc.
yes, you need soakers. they sell them cheap on ebay
I wore mine around the house for a week before they were broken in enough
sharpen them as much as you like--personally I like a semi-dull blade. some girls I know sharpen them before every practice!
keep the boots dry, the blades dry and you%26#039;ll be fine.
Reply:HI I have second hand skates. I use soakers on them but I%26#039;m a bit naughty and don%26#039;t have blade guards. They%26#039;d only get nicked at my rink anyhow as I%26#039;ve nowhere to put them while I%26#039;m on the ice. I just use a strong nylon shoebag to cart them around in and yes lots of other junk finds its way in to that too.
Reply:OK if you are just going for fun then you don%26#039;t really need to worry about the type they are or a bag to carry them. when you are done skating clean off the blade and get them sharp-end, don%26#039;t get a size to big. and yess get guards
Reply:Never get a size 2 big.
I did that [only half a size bigger] and I couldnt skate, it was horrible. DONT TRY IT!
Reply:Since you are a beginner I%26#039;d suggest going with a Riedell Bronze or Silver Medallion or Jackson Classique. I%26#039;d suggest the Riedell%26#039;s for a beginner, they seem to be usually better, more comfortable skates, but I%26#039;d suggest trying some on so you know what feels best on your feet.
Go ahead and go to your pro shop to be sized for skates before you decide what pair of skates are best for you, skates that are too big or too small can cause a lot of problems like blisters, and other problems so being sized for skates by your pro shop is very important. If you would like a skating bag then go ahead and get one, but if you don%26#039;t feel you need one then don%26#039;t worry about it.
You certainly need soakers for your skates, they help prevent rusting along with a good wipe off with a soft rag after each time you skate. The hard blade guards aren%26#039;t nessecary, but they are good to have, just make sure you don%26#039;t leave them on your skates because this can promote rusting.
The time required to break in your skates will depend on how often you skate, and what skate model you get. The break in period can range from a few weeks of skating to a few months, and anywhere from about 5-15 hours on the ice.
You will know you need to sharpen your ice skates because you will often feel like you are sliding around on the ice. Most skaters start with sharpening their skates about every 20 hours on the ice, which the skater usually learns to adjust according to their liking of sharper or slighly duller blades.
As far as caring for your skates you will need to make sure that they dry out well after skating, and that you dry off the blades and the skates from any moisure that may have gotten on the outside, and then place your soakers on when you aren%26#039;t wearing your skates. Good luck and have fun skating!
Reply:1] I think hockey skates are best as they give you way more room than figure skates. As for brand, it differs on the person so id just look for the best ones when you get to the store
2] If your feet are still growing, then yes get a size 8 or even 7 1/2 %26#039;s
3] No you dont need a skating bag, but i%26#039;d recommend getting one if you are going to go skating alot.
4] Sorry i have no idea what soakers are but definitely get bladeguards
5] It will take probably 3 or 4 times skating to break them in completely
6] Sharpen them every season or if the blade starts slowing down or making you fall or just look at it; if its dull sharpening should be good.
7] All you really need to do is keep them in a safe place, sharpen them at least once a season %26amp; if you really want to; wax them. Oh make sure you wipe them off after you%26#039;re done skating.
Hope it helps :D
Reply:1. I would have to say that Riedells or Don Jacksons would be your best bet since you%26#039;re in Beta.
2. I think you can always get 7 1/2, but I%26#039;d say stick to the eight. You can always buy the insoles for figure skates that are too big.
3. Get an ice skating bag that%26#039;s cheap. I bought mine for $10 haha! =D You don%26#039;t need those zuca bags as they are kind of expensive and personally I don%26#039;t like them, although everyone at my rink has one =p You need an ice skating bag because not only do the skates should go in, but stuff like guards and soakers, gloves etc. Even a simple bookbag would do.
4. Soakers are even more important than the blade guards. That way your skates won%26#039;t rust. Haha I hardly use my blade guards =]
5. Hmm it depends on what kind of skates you get. It can take anywhere from 1-10 days to break them in.
6. Oh believe me, you will feel it. And remember that the more you keep them unsharpened, the worse they will get. I didn%26#039;t sharpen mine for so long, when I finally got them sharpened, I couldn%26#039;t even make a basic stop for like 5 days. Stupid man sharpened them too much ^_^%26#039;
7. I would say care for the blades and the boot, you can always polish and clean the boot when it gets dirty. As for the blade keep the SOAKERS on! =D That way you won%26#039;t have rusted skates.
This is the site where I got my first skates on which I still skate in:
http://www.skate-buys.com/enlefisk.html
That%26#039;s also where you can get the blade guards, soakers etc.
Good Luck! =]
Reply:1. idk
2. Um if you get a size 7 then you should probably try on a 8 or 7 1/2. that way you can see if they fit. You dod not want skates taht r to tight or to lose.
3. Um you do not need i skate bag to carry them in. It is your choice. I just fling them over my shoulder or walk out in them.
4. Yes you need soakers. The blade guards are for walking around in the rink, you do not want to talk off you skates when you need to go to the bathroom so you just get off the ice and put on the guards so the blade do not get ruined. You put the soakers on when you take your skates offf and when you are done skating for the time. When your skates are sitting at home you make sure they have them on, not the guards. the guards will rust the blades.
5. It will probably take about a week. You might want to walk around in them in your house (with guards) so that you break into them.
6. You should sharpen them about every two weeks, when the blade looks a bit rusty or you can always ask your coach.
7. You care for them by when getting off the ice you put guards on to walk, when skates are off, you put on soakers. you also can clean the blade with a paper towel. very simple. to take care of them.
Reply:1. ok if you want to do figure skating DO NOT buy hockey skates ... they are made differently as ice hockey and figure skating are 2 very different sport and we skate differently.
2. umm ... im pretty sure if u buy figure skates u cant just buy size 7s or 8s ... have a person who sells figure skates and knows what they are talking about to have your feet measured and they should be able to give u tips on what kind of skates will be relevant for your level of skating and what size etc.
i would suggest you visit a pro shop... there should be sumone who can answer your questions about skates there. =]
3. it doesnt matter wat kind of bag u have. lol ... but i wld advise u take one ... wether its a backpack or a trolley bag ... watever ... but i think its easier if u have a bag. that way you can put all your skating needs (eg. skates gloves towel guards etc) in one place and not have to carry those things everywhere or lose them.
4. umm ... u dnt really need soakers. they r just used to soak up the wats left of the water on your blades so they dnt rust as quickly ... but u can EASILY make your own... they are a cinch! lol .. and yea guards are a good idea to wear when your not on the ice so your blades dnt get blunt.
5. it depends on what type of skate you are buying. they are all different and have different stiffness levels. the person at the pro shop will tell you all about this if u ask him. they should sell you the preffered ice skate for your level
6. you will notice it on the ice when you need to sharpen your blades. when they start to get blunt you will feel your self kind of drift side ways on your blades across the ice. when this starts it means your blades are gettin blunt bcoz the edges are getting rounder. you can check this by scraping the surface of your blade on the ball of your blade (as this is the part that gets used most) and if the blade %26quot;shaves%26quot; bits of your nail off then this means they are still reletavely sharp. but when you feel that u are drifting sideways on the ice .. this is when you should start thinkin of gettin them sharpened.
7. the best way to care for them is:
a. always wipe your blades thoroughly so they dont rust.
b. if your doing alot of drags and stuff, you should think about wearing over the boot stockings or skate covers so you dont ruin the leather of your boot as it scrapes off. taping them with hockey tape will also protect them
c. wear guards when your not on the ice so your blades dont get blunt ....
i think that about covers it ... if u need any more tips just ask your coach or someone who works in a pro shop.
good luck =]
visual arts uk
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