beginner wants to buy skates... HELP!

[ouijaouija]

Hi,

Well I've always wanted to ice skate, this week I went twice, and well, the boots kill my feet (i tried many sizes), and I really want to make a of this, so I am thinking of buying some skates but have no idea what is good, and whethe I should buy hockey skates or the figure style ones? I figure I am more into the figure skating so I should get some of those?

Well my budget I think would be $100/£60 this would be my first pair, is that enough to buy something decent for a novice?

Thanks people!

[VegasGirl]

$100 should be enough as long as you're just planning on skating recreationally or are willing to upgrade once you advance in skill level.

[ouijaouija]

well for some reason, everything her ein england is overpriced compared with the usa.


e.g. I was looking at bauer pantera, a hockey skate and it is $100 retail in uk but in usa it is under $50, the lowest Ifound was $39.95

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But yeh, I would not mind buying another pair soon, i dunno, you guys tlak about grading, i have no idea how that happens etc!

[NickiT]

Are you looking into buying figure skates of hockey skates? What sort of skating are you intending to do? If you plan to figure skate, there's no point in buying hockey skates!

Nicki

[sarahg]

Are you based in the UK or the US? I bought a pair of Risports (Etoiles I think) for £65 and they have been great for me (I have only skated for 10 weeks or so). I have found them easy to break in, really comfortable and with a sensible amount of support. Other novices I know have bought Risports RF4s which are roughly £80 and have more support for novice skaters and they are happy with them, although they weren't good for me as I have wide feet :roll:

I believe that hockey skates are slightly cheaper, but obviously not much use if you want to take up figure skating.

I'm expecting to have to upgrade the boot at some point in the future, but I didn't want to spend too much on my first boot in case I didn't stick at it. However I thought £60 was pretty reasonable and given it costs £1.50 to hire boots at my rink, I've already nearly recouped the cost of them.

[Mrs Redboots]

well for some reason, everything her ein england is overpriced compared with the usa.


e.g. I was looking at bauer pantera, a hockey skate and it is $100 retail in uk but in usa it is under $50, the lowest Ifound was $39.95

==

But yeh, I would not mind buying another pair soon, i dunno, you guys tlak about grading, i have no idea how that happens etc!But blades are cheaper over here - well, I don't know about hockey blades, but figure skating blades are!

If you're just starting out learning to skate, it doesn't matter which you go for (the basic skills you will need are identical, whichever sort of boot you wear), but I think figure skates are preferable as it's easier to downgrade to hockey boots than to upgrade to figure boots. The shop at the rink will happily supply you with a basic cheap figure boot-and-blade combination which will see you through most of the skate-UK tests. By the time you have decided which particular discipline you wish to specialise in, if any - you might well decide you want to do both, loads of people do - your teachers will tell you what level of boot you need.

As for sizing, our shoe sizes here are very different from American ones, so advice given to American skaters doesn't apply. You will need to get the shop to measure your feet to find out what size you need, and the skate should feel tight at first, or it won't do its job properly.

[ouijaouija]

Thanks you for the advice everyone! I'm in UK

Well, I want to figure skate, its just that when I was looking on the net the hockey skates seem to come up a lot.

Yeh, figure skates are what I want. I am not sure if you all take or took lessons? Well I was thinking of doing it, but obviously that costs extra money, is it worth taking one-on-one lessons from the start, because that is all that is available right now at my rink (bristol ice rink).

But yes, I have always dreamt of skating (literally), this week I dreamt of skating two days in a row and that very same morning I went to the ice rink and had a go!

Thanks for the tip on risports, i'll look out for it tomorrow, as I am going to buy a pair at the rink shop.

they all seem to be white, is there no black? ekkk

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are there any beginner threads, forums, sites etc, it all seems very hard to read up on

[flo]

Also, look into local rinks and lists for used skates. You can get some, particularly at the lower levels, which are lightly used and for sale.
I started in used skates, and then when I knew I'd be in it for a while, bought new ones.

[ouijaouija]

from all the posts i am reading i am scared of all the painful falls, i mean the ones when you hit your head etc, it is common to get hurt real bad?

yeh the only shop i know of is the rink shop, another one doesn't sell figure skates

[techskater]

It's not uncommon to fall. If you aren't falling, you aren't learning is a motto of my coach. It IS uncommon to do serious damage that requires paramedics. You must learn to fall correctly (yes, there is a correct way to fall). You will likely have bruises and swelling from time to time. I don't think I've seen skin color on one of my knees for 6 months...

[sarahg]

Yeh, figure skates are what I want. I am not sure if you all take or took lessons? Well I was thinking of doing it, but obviously that costs extra money, is it worth taking one-on-one lessons from the start, because that is all that is available right now at my rink (bristol ice rink).

I would definitely take lessons if you can, but they are expensive. Is there really no group lessons available? I have group and private lessons, and I learn so much in the private lessons. Ultimately I would like to do ice dance, and so technique is important. I was always wary of learning bad technique if I taught myself. Perhaps that is just me, but I didn't fancy having to unlearn stuff and then relearn it. A lesson once a week - or even once a fortnight would be invaluable I think.

[Mrs Redboots]

Yeh, figure skates are what I want. I am not sure if you all take or took lessons? Well I was thinking of doing it, but obviously that costs extra money, is it worth taking one-on-one lessons from the start, because that is all that is available right now at my rink (bristol ice rink). Bristol's a nice place - I'm looking forward to competing there again in September. It might be worthwhile asking whether they will do learn-to-skate courses in the Autumn, many rinks don't offer them at this time of year as people are going to be away and are reluctant to commit to six weeks' worth of lessons.

Meantime, it's definitely worth getting a few lessons if you're going to skate this summer - ask at reception, and they'll find you someone you can try out with.

[ouijaouija]

hi, yeh there is a lady i am going to phone for one to one lessons, new group lessons start this autumn so yeh, well see how it goes!

goodl uck, i might go watch this bristol thing, when is it?

thanks!

[flo]

Falling is part of skating, once you get use to it, you'll be fine. I've done combination overhead lifts, doubles, and yet my worst skating injury was from an off ice warm up!
Get some pads, and give it a try.

[doubletoe]

Group lessons are a great bargain if you can find them somewhere.
Also, learning proper stroking technique and posture will prevent 90% of bad falls, so lessons will be a worthwhile investment.

[ouijaouija]

hello,

i bought a pair of belati classics about 1 hour ago,they seem cool! cost 75£ = 135 dollars.

its the same as this but just the boots. http://www.specialistskatingservices.com/product_info.php?products_id=5&language=en&osCsid=13726d21bdc3de27aec9ad4f7df531e1

shop does not sharpen them, so have to get someone else to do it, they seem cool though!

Yeh, i will be taing lessons, once a week i expect for half hour, hopefully ill get the gist of it then!

thanks all!

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*************
Is there anything else I need apart from skates, like maintenance etc? thanks!! e.g. gloves etc

[Mrs Redboots]

Hi, there.

The Bristol Open Dance competition is on Sunday 3 September. Don't know what time as yet - it depends on the number of entries, and the closing date isn't for another month!

As well as skates, you'll need everything listed in the "starter kit" that you linked to - hard guards, soakers and a skate towel (an old face-flannel will do) at a bare minimum! Your feet will be more comfortable in thinner socks, and while you're getting used to your new boots you may well want foot cream and blister plasters, too!

Most people like to at least have a pair of gloves in their skate bag - your hands can get very cold when you're on the ice. Which reminds me, wear layers, and don't wear jeans - trackie bums or leggings are much better as (a) they move with you and (b) they don't get nearly so clammy when wet.

Happy skating!

[SalchowChick]

I'm not sure about skates in the UK, but here in the US lots of beginning skaters get Reidells.