1st pair of skates?

[kittyskate]

Hi everyone. I was wondering at what point most skaters actually buy their first pair of skates. I am very new to skating and have only had two classes.

I'm considering getting skates already mainly because I have a blister that developed when I first started skating and hasn't healed, probably because it gets aggravated everytime I skate (even with cushions and bandaids and stuff). The rental skates at my rink are pretty bad (the ones with the plastic cover and clicky straps), and I don't know if they are causing the blisters or if I was just skating wrong when I first started. I don't really like that there are only two straps so it's hard to get them feeling just right, but I've been managing fine, except for the blistering.

On one hand I think it'd be good to have a good pair of skates so that I can start getting used to how my feet are really supposed to feel while skating, but on the other hand I don't know how far I'm going with this. I'm really enjoying myself and can see myself sticking with this for a long time, but college keeps me pretty busy (and is already quite a drain on my finances). If I stopped skating, it wouldn't be the first time I tried something I thought would be fun and then stopped.

So, too early to buy skates or no?

[Isk8NYC]

If you really like skating, think about how often you'll use the skates if you owned them. For example, some people live in cold climates so they go pond skating in the winter. Well, there's no rentals there -- you have own or borrow a pair.

Which is actually my next suggestion: if you're not sure that you'll stick with the sport, could you borrow a pair that don't give you blisters from someone? Ask if the rink has a skate exchange, a pro shop trade-in program, or check out Play it Again sports, to pick up a pair on the cheap. (You have to get lucky on the size, but the cost is much better than new.) Check out www.freecycle.com (http://www.freecycle.com) or www.Craigslist.com (http://www.Craigslist.com) to find free/cheap skates.

If you are going to buy your own, I would say to get the best skates you can. Spend the extra $30 and go to a really good pro shop that specializes in ice skating. The skates are better than the sporting goods stores carry. Don't be deluded by the cheap price and appearance. The pro shop can measure you properly, preventing pain and injury, make adjustments to the boots (search for "punch outs" for more info) and the blade alignments. They usually throw in a free initial sharpening, and sometimes some guards. In the end, it costs the same amount as the discount stores.

Signs of quality to look for in skates are: tops that don't bend over easily; blades attached with screws instead of rivets; boots come up over your ankle but not up your calf too far; and ability to tie the skates and still bend your ankle.

Which brings me full circle: you're getting blisters and pain because the latching boots don't have enough give to let you bend your knees. They're also rubbing or pressing in spots as you skate. Since they only have two latch-straps, they can't be adjusted to fit your whole foot properly. Clean the wound well and apply a blister patch from the drug store - they work wonders.

[DallasSkater]

Hi kitty...we have those same style of "ski boot" rental skates at my rink. When I started I used the rental ones as I was also uncertain if I would like it well enough to invest. The rental skates were just so brutal to my feet. I would have problems with my toes feeling bruised and blisters would occur on my ankles and feet. I was in agony but having a blast.

I knew I was hooked so I did invest in quality custom boots but had to wait quite a while through fittings and for them to actually be made. In the meantime, I decided to buy some cheap skates at a local sporting good store that worked very well for my beginning classes. I went the rest of the way through beginners and then did advanced class in those skates. I remember learning a T-stop and the instructor saying..."I have never heard a blade make that noise" as it worked but the blades were cheap. giggle. My good skates arrived when I was ready to start freestyle classes.

If you are not certain you will be continuing yet..I would recommend the cheap ones first. They are just fine for learning really basic things and much more comfortable than the foot torture chamber the rental boots became. They were 59 dollars but on sale for 29 big bucks...what a deal! lol. You may want to look at used skates in your area or even on ebay to start in as that is an economical option as well.

Good luck to you!

[Easton-Skater]

HELLO KITTY (hahahahahahaha!!! couldn't resist that one hehehe) .....

Actually ... if you're planning to skate regularly, then get your own skates as soon as you can. Rental boots don't always fit well, and the blades on rental skates can be so dull and bad that it's hardly worth to skate on. Actually, even good skaters can feel completely useless in some rental skates that have very dull blades (ie not sharp).

And robocop type rental skates can be very heavy and doesn't provide much forward flexing, so that it doesn't even feel right to skate in them. Although, there was one time when I was using robocop type rentals and I had to loosen the straps up top just so that I could bend knees and get some forward flex. But when you do that, you have to be careful about ankle safety.

[WannabeS8r]

HELLO KITTY (hahahahahahaha!!! couldn't resist that one hehehe) .....

Actually ... if you're planning to skate regularly, then get your own skates as soon as you can. Rental boots don't always fit well, and the blades on rental skates can be so dull and bad that it's hardly worth to skate on. Actually, even good skaters can feel completely useless in some rental skates that have very dull blades (ie not sharp).



I totally support that! Plus I bought my skates right after the first time I went on ice because I understood that this wonderful sport is for me. (and I will be regulary going to the rink) Also it is a lot cheaper+comfortable if you buy new, good skates online for $60 (trust me, that price is real!) than paying 6 bucks everytime you go for a skate. ... Go figure.

[Isk8NYC]

$60 online skates are real, no one's challenging that fact. Add on $10 shipping, plus the cost of the initial or corrective sharpening ($6-10), and the aggravation of getting the wrong size because you weren't measured for the skate. Plus, the pain of blisters from poor-fitting skates and misaligned blades (very common on beginner skate sets from Riedell.) The pro shop you'd need to use after buying the bargain skates would be happy to adjust them (if possible) for about $10-20. Hmmm. Those $60 online skates now tally up to about $90-100.

A good pro shop will put you in better skates, measure accurately, provide a good initial sharpening for free (may be a local custom), adjust the blades, and punch out trouble spots. When they get a bit tight for my always-growing kids, they stretch them a bit for free so I get a few extra months out of each pair.

The family that runs ours is really a hockey family, but they come to the figure skating competitions and shows and they cheer on all the kids and adults. They keep an eye out for bargains and sales, and really are very knowledgeable people. I had a great discussion with him today about mixed-width skates. The husband-owner has a pair of hockey skates with an "A" heel and a "C" front and HE KNEW that you could order figure skates like that.

In addition, they are local businesspeople in your community. They're your neighbors! I think of Modell's (and internet stores) as the Walmart of skate shops - cheap, decent quality, but don't ask for help when you've got a blister on the heel from rubbing.

When you add it up, the pro shop isn't that much more out-of-pocket up front and it's a lot less aggravating in the long run.

[ouijaouija]

therental skagtes sqaushed my feet width ways, I couldn't skate for more than 20 minutes at a time. in the same week I started i boguht apair form the skate shop and they are real comfortable, Id reccomend you buy some they will make the experience a lot less painful. Trust me!

Does usa have a lot of pro skate shops?In my town which is fairly big 450 000 there isno real specialist shops, just a small rink shop and they didn't offer any of the fitting services etc, they don't even sharpen your boots for you, you have to do that from another person.

[Isk8NYC]

Many municipal rinks don't have pro shops, but most of the private rinks in the US rent out the pro shop space to professionals. Their success or failure depends on the service they provide. Every pro shop has modestly priced beginner skates for sale.

I remember that C&L was at South Mountain Arena in NJ for years, until they lost the lease. The owners that came in focused on hockey, and they said they really didn't stock figure skating equipment, etc. When I asked what happened to the old owners, they told me that were now in a strip mall store across the street and many figure skaters (including me) went there instead of the one inside the arena. The new pro shop staff didn't mind losing business across the street, I guess because they only knew hockey. One less thing to manage, right?

Suprisingly, there are some areas with poor or no pro shops. It's a real business opportunity if you can learn the trade and there are enough skaters to make it worthwhile. It's a specialty, as is hockey. Getting someone who knows both really well is rare.

Just today, I taught a little girl who has Modell-sold knockoffs of the Jackson Softec skate. The kid struggles with those skates, even though she has good technique. I was thrilled when the grandmother told me that she would be getting her new skates soon and that she was going to use the pro shop this time. I'm sure it'll improve her skating.

The internet is great if you know what you're looking for: size, brand, and model. If you're new to skating, it'll take you a while to acquire the knowledge of what to buy and it's very easy to get ripped off.

I bought a pair of Riedell Gold Star boots on eBay once. I forgot to ask how OLD the skates were. They were at least 12 years old, dried out, and had no support. Looked good in the picture, though.

Didn't we have a funny eBay "I got ripped off; join the club" post not too long ago? It wasn't me - I used the skates as expensive decorations on my front porch until some idiots stole them by cutting off the laces. Joke's on them: someone's dog had wet on them once and they were left out in all weather, so they were rusted and moldy.

[WannabeS8r]

$60 online skates are real, no one's challenging that fact. Add on $10 shipping, plus the cost of the initial or corrective sharpening ($6-10), and the aggravation of getting the wrong size because you weren't measured for the skate. Plus, the pain of blisters from poor-fitting skates and misaligned blades (very common on beginner skate sets from Riedell.) The pro shop you'd need to use after buying the bargain skates would be happy to adjust them (if possible) for about $10-20. Hmmm. Those $60 online skates now tally up to about $90-100.

A good pro shop will put you in better skates, measure accurately, provide a good initial sharpening for free (may be a local custom), adjust the blades, and punch out trouble spots. When they get a bit tight for my always-growing kids, they stretch them a bit for free so I get a few extra months out of each pair.

The family that runs ours is really a hockey family, but they come to the figure skating competitions and shows and they cheer on all the kids and adults. They keep an eye out for bargains and sales, and really are very knowledgeable people. I had a great discussion with him today about mixed-width skates. The husband-owner has a pair of hockey skates with an "A" heel and a "C" front and HE KNEW that you could order figure skates like that.

In addition, they are local businesspeople in your community. They're your neighbors! I think of Modell's (and internet stores) as the Walmart of skate shops - cheap, decent quality, but don't ask for help when you've got a blister on the heel from rubbing.

When you add it up, the pro shop isn't that much more out-of-pocket up front and it's a lot less aggravating in the long run.

I absolutly agree with that but the thing is I bought my Riedell skates online for about 60-70 bucks (WITH the shipping and handeling!) and they fit me perfectly. No blisters. Plus, when you just start to skate a $250 pair isn't exactly nessesary. ; )

[mikawendy]

No, but Riedell makes some good beginner models that are more along the lines of $120, $150, or $170 with blades included. My first pair was $170 and lasted 1.5 years.

[kittyskate]

Thanks so much for all the helpful suggestions everyone. I decided that I just could not keep skating in the horrible rental skates and found a cheap used pair at a Play It Again. I know they are not the best quality but they feel a lot better and will probably take me through the beginner classes. When I do decide to get a good quality pair I will definitely go to the pro shop in town as I don't feel comfortable ordering them without trying them on first (not to mention getting in-person support and advice on fit).

I hope that one day I will actually be good enough to justify buying that better pair! Right now in Adult 1 that seems a very far way off and I can't even really do backward swizzles (my forward swizzles are laughable) or skate backwards at all. :( However, I know it is way too early to expect too much.