Slippery blade or bad habit?

[Hannah]

My new skates feel great, except for my outside edge on my left foot. I'm not exactly to the point where I can skate on my outside edge on purpose, but I did notice that it felt more slippery than everything else.

I also tend to drag on my toepick and push with my toepick on my left foot (I have to concentrate to make my left foot behave...). Could my "slippery" edge have anything to do with a bad habit, or should I find a sharpener to go over my blades?

[Isk8NYC]

If the blades haven't been sharpened yet, find a good sharpener ASAP.
Many places say the skates come "factory sharpened" but it's always best to start with a good professional sharpening.

I guess you could be "slipping" and causing the toe to catch, but that's probably just a habit. Concentrate on turning your foot out (flexed)when you push.

[doubletoe]

I agree. First take them to a highly recommended sharpener, and then if it's still happening, get help on your stroking technique.

[Hannah]

Yep, factory edges. :o I'll find a sharpener...

[gt20001]

When i first started skating i thought sure my skates werent sharpened properly becuase i was slipping on alot of my edges as well i had the skates checked and resharpened and i was still slipping becuase i wasnt getting over to the edge good enough. So it could either be a bad habit or sharpening try sharpening them and then you can be sure they are sharp if it still happens then you probably need to work on getting on your edges better.

[Isk8NYC]

Oddly enough, I had a new student this weekend who was wearing rentals. She mentioned that she got her own skates for Christmas but they "didn't work right." After talking to her about it, I concluded that the skates were never sharpened. When a student says the rentals are better than her own skates, I know they're either really bad skates or really dull! LOL

[dbny]

When a student says the rentals are better than her own skates, I know they're either really bad skates or really dull! LOL

Or don't fit right! I have a Basic 1 student who was struggling in rentals because they were too big. I took 20 minutes afterwards and got her fitted properly and had her mom write down the number. Last week she showed up in her own brand new skates....at least a size and a half too large :x. If I had known they were going to buy from the local pro shop, I would have warned them about that, since that shop is notorious for sizing skates too big!
She did improve anyway, but could be doing much better.

[Isk8NYC]

DBNY: Excellent point about buying the right size.

Too often, parents buy kids skates that they can "grow into" so they can save some money by having the kids wear the skates longer. The kids feel uncomfortable skating, struggle, blame themselves, and lose interest in the sport. I guess the parents save money in the long run since the kids stop skating, but it's such a loss and gives the kid a bad impression of the sport.

It's better to buy skates that fit and have them stretched when they get tight on the skater. Most pro shops include this for free on skates they've sold.

[CanAmSk8ter]

Or don't fit right! I have a Basic 1 student who was struggling in rentals because they were too big. I took 20 minutes afterwards and got her fitted properly and had her mom write down the number. Last week she showed up in her own brand new skates....at least a size and a half too large :x. If I had known they were going to buy from the local pro shop, I would have warned them about that, since that shop is notorious for sizing skates too big!
She did improve anyway, but could be doing much better.

:frus: I feel your pain. We have a Play-It-Again Sports near the rink where I teach, and they actually have decent (new) low-end Jacksons and Softecs. However, they don't seem to know how to fit the skates, nor do they seem to know that a factory sharpening is not sufficient to skate on. I had a little boy a few weeks ago sliding all over the place. I could feel some edge on the skate, but when he still couldn't stay up for more than a few seconds at a time, I told the mother to get them sharpened anyway. Next week, much better.

My true wish is that more of the parents would consult an instructor before going out and buying skates. So many times kids come in with skates that are actually inferior to the rentals they were using (my rink actually has pretty good rentals, Softec-types, only five years old, and they do a halfway decent job taking care of them). As far as skates go, I find teaching the hockey kids much easier because, even though the skates often belonged to an older sibling first, the dads usually know enough to go to a pro shop and get decent skates, and they usually understand that they shouldn't be fitted "to grow into".

[Isk8NYC]

My true wish is that more of the parents would consult an instructor before going out and buying skates. So many times kids come in with skates that are actually inferior to the rentals they were using (my rink actually has pretty good rentals, Softec-types, only five years old, and they do a halfway decent job taking care of them). As far as skates go, I find teaching the hockey kids much easier because, even though the skates often belonged to an older sibling first, the dads usually know enough to go to a pro shop and get decent skates, and they usually understand that they shouldn't be fitted "to grow into".I've had many parents ask me for advice and then IGNORE same. I'll go through the "make sure they fit NOW, have support, get them sharpened" spiel and recommended the pro shop. In one ear and out the other - I swear they think I get a kickback. (Absolutely untrue.)

These parents are always so proud of how they saved money by buying low-end skates from a sporting goods store. The $30 they save by being cheap gets spent on sharpenings, pain/blisters, and frustration. They lose all the niceties of the pro shop service: sharpenings, punch outs, adjustments, and (my fav) stretchings! Usually, they're too embarrassed to take the skates purchased elsewhere into the pro shop, so they go to the lesser-quality shop where no one knows them. Grrrr.

[Rant over]You're right, CanAmSk8ter, when hockey guys know what to buy, the kid makes out better. Figure skates are a mystery to many people, mainly because of the price tag.

[Hannah]

I wasn't originally sure how to buy skates, so when I asked at my rink and was told that the skating director did fittings, I was happy to let her walk me through the process of picking out a good set-up for me. I spent more than I thought I was going to, but I think that's because I just didn't have a realistic idea of what skates cost. The boots are more capable than I am, and I was worried about break-in misery because of that, but so far they have been fantastic (except above slipperyness, getting them sharpened today).

Edit: I forgot to add... Kids must be really patient, because I can't imagine trying to skate in boots that are too big...

And unless I get caught in a comic-book style nuclear accident, my feet are done growing. :)

[Isk8NYC]

And unless I get caught in a comic-book style nuclear accident, my feet are done growing. :)That's what I thought. Then I had twins! LOL

Did the Director measure your daughter or accompany her to the pro shop?

[beachbabe]

well, trouble holding edges or slipping off of an edge is the biggest sign of a bad sharpening. Besides, if you get them sharpened and still have the same problem thats the only way you'll know for sure. But for me, edges are usually my frist clue as to whether my blades are still sharp enough. Definately get them sharpened.

[Hannah]

That's what I thought. Then I had twins! LOL

Did the Director measure your daughter or accompany her to the pro shop?

Hehe... none of those chil'uns in the works for me!

Were you talking to me with the daughter question or... ? :?? I'm talking about my own feet and skates... The skating director measured my feet and ordered the skates from Reidell via the "proshop" (aka the back desk at the ice rink).

[gt20001]

i didnt know anything when i got my first pair of skates and i went into the pro shop at a local rink i was in california at the time and they fitted me i knew nothing about skates at all and they sold me the skates, heat molded them. I skated in them about a month i was having so much problems and so much pain and my toes were actually going numb. I told my coach that i was going to get new skates the frist ones were only 100 dollars so i didnt feel too much loss our local pro shop in ohio sucks i always hear them telling kids to get a bigger size i wanted jacksons so i decided to go to canada to get them and found a good boot fitter up there that did a wonderful job. (needless to say he couldnt believe i bought my skates i showed up there with at a pro shop and not online considering how bad they fit) they were too long and too narrow. i was told i had a size ee foot and needed a 4.5. i was originally in a riedell 6 med. Once i got my new skates it was a total transformation as soon as i hit the ice (except wanting to fall backwards some due to the shortness of boot and blade) i was totally amazed at how bad an actuall pro shop at a rink could be and i went through alot of pain because of it i actually thought something was wrong with my foot and havent had that pain since. It is amazing what a good boot and fitting can do for you.

[Isk8NYC]

Were you talking to me with the daughter question or... ? :?? I'm talking about my own feet and skates... The skating director measured my feet and ordered the skates from Reidell via the "proshop" (aka the back desk at the ice rink).Yes, I was talking to you. I misread your post, sorry. Measuring is the best way to figure out the size for Riedells. Riedells have their very own, proprietary measuring device. That's probably why we all say "Riedells run narrow." Which means you can't use the size you come up with to buy Jacksons! Back desk at the ice rink...it's probably easier and most cost-effective than having a full-blown pro shop with inventory, huh?

[Isk8NYC]

i didnt know anything when i got my first pair of skates ... <snip> ... i was totally amazed at how bad an actuall pro shop at a rink could be and i went through alot of pain because of it i actually thought something was wrong with my foot and havent had that pain since. It is amazing what a good boot and fitting can do for you. Could I ask you to please use punctuation and capitalization in your posts? I find them very hard to read. I'm not asking as a moderator, I'm asking as a reader who really wants understand your posts. Thank you.

Wrong size skates are usually the norm when people buy off the web or by mail order without any measuring or try ons. Many people on this board have posted about bad fittings from pro shops. When you buy skates, you should always make an appointment for a fitting, rather than walking in off the street and taking a gamble on getting someone knowledgeable. Ask for the FIGURE SKATING fitter when you call.

There are pro shops that allow the parents to choose the size (room for two pairs of socks) or don't want to lose the sale to another store by suggesting ordering when they don't have the right size in stock. That's when they just sell the next size up that they have in stock.

As you learned, there are really good pro shops out there for figure skating. It's a specialty that takes real knowledge to do well, and the fitters are specialists in their profession. Not every rink's pro shop is interested in that specialty, or even in satisfied customers, which gives everyone in that profession a bad reputation.

You should probably let the pro shop know that you were sized incorrectly. It might help others in the future.

[LauraLa]

I'm in the process of breaking in my first pair of real skates. I got fitted at my local rink's shop for a pair of Riedell Blue Ribbons. They didn't have my size, so I didn't buy them. A day or so later, I went to Riedell's web site and saw they had a page about measuring and choosing sizes. So I followed their instructions very carefully -- and came up with the same size that the pro shop said I should wear. That gave me a lot of confidence, so I called around to see if anyone had my size and everyone told me they were backordered at the factory. I had to wait a month for them, but now they are here, size 6 1/2 wide, which happens to be the same size as my Bloch ballet slippers (so now I won't forget). Anyway the first time I skated in them I was happily amazed. They felt very very snug, but the snugness was evenly distributed and there were no spots that hurt more than the others or rubbed. I was worried that maybe they were too small because they were so snug, but then I came here and read some old threads about other newbies with their new skates and decided I was fine. I was so nervous about getting my first skates, but I knew I couldn't skate in rentals any longer!!

[Hannah]

It was the blades. I skated for an hour today at a public session and felt 100x more steady. Also my knees don't hurt- I think I was straining my knee muscles just to keep my feet from sliding around. :roll:

I got all the way around one time on a two foot spin (not counting the pivot to start me going around). 8-)