Novice Skater - Advice Pleeeeezze!!!!!

[clairebear]

Hi - I've just been skating for the first time in about 5 years! ... to take my 3 year old daughter on the ice for the first time!!!! Very emotional experience and she really didn't do too badly at all. My back and feet are now killing me however!!!!

My reason for joining this site - my skates were SO painful!!!! I've had them for many years but they are still in excellent condition and whilst I remember them being anything but slippers in the past, but this time - horrendous!!!!

Am i just being a softie or are there any skates out there that actually feel comfortable - cushioned on the soles of the feet; supported around the ankles but giving enough flexibility to actually skate?!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly move in mine - have never felt great in them to be honest!

Any advice or skates for sale would be most welcomed - I'm about a size 4!

C

[sk8tmum]

I look like the Spaceman on Ice, but, I use the Jackson insulated Softec ones. They're padded, insulated with 3M stuff so they stay warm thru those slow parent and tot skates, have a real-ish blade, and they're indestructible. I wish they weren't silver ... but, I like them. They're also easy on and off, which is a blessing when dealing with a little one who wants ON the ice NOW and OFF the ice NOW and so on.

Here's a link.

http://www.jacksonskates.com/html/frames/frameset-prod.html

(and hey, I just looked, and I guess others didn't like Space Boots, they're not silver anymore! Yay!)

[clairebear]

Hi Sk8tmum - brilliant thanks - they look really robust!!!! But .... there are loads of different ones - which ones is it you have?

Also, as a skating mum perhaps you can help me in another way too!!!! I'm not a great skater - just always loved and always wished I'd been able to train as a child.

My daughter is 3 1/2 and my local rink offer a parent and toddler 6 week course. My little one was obviously all over the place on the ice yesterday and it was as much as I could do to hold her up for a few mins at a time!

Do you think I should wait a couple of years? Not sure what exactly they think they're going to achieve on this course if the child and mum have difficulty even standing up together!!!!!!

I'm desperately trying not to live my dream through my daughter (!!!!!) just want her to see if she loves it as much as I do!!!!

:)

[Clarice]

Hi, clairebear! And welcome to skating! I started much the same way you are, many years ago when my daughter was about 5. The first few times I had to help hold her up, but in no time, it seemed, she was skating by herself and didn't need my help any more. So I started trying the things she was learning on my own, and now, 12 years later, we both still skate and take lessons. She's a Senior level skater now, and I'm Adult Silver.

I teach tot classes at my rink now, and often have students the same age as your daughter. The 3 year olds often take a little longer to get their balance than the 5 year olds do, but by the end of our 8 week course all of them are moving on their own. (The only times that didn't happen, the skater was only 2.) At this beginning stage, the most important thing they're trying to do in the course is let the children have fun with skating. Children who have a good time on the ice will want to try more things and will improve naturally. The skills we teach at that first level include sitting down and standing up on the ice, marching in place, marching while moving, and dips (bending the knees as if sitting on a small chair). I wouldn't expect much more than that in 6 weeks, although it's certainly possible.

I hope you and your daughter both have a great time with your lessons!

[Isk8NYC]

There are rinks that offer childcare for parents taking classes, so look into that option as well. My kids were always begging to go with me, even when they could have stayed home with Daddy.

I've been a skating instructor for over 10 years, including Mommy-and-Me toddler classes.

Here's the test: Off-ice, can your daughter:
° Stand on one foot for 3 seconds?
° Walk on a straight line, switching feet?
° Pay attention to teachers, listen and try to follow instructions?
° Leave you to go to other activities, without constantly looking for Mommy?

If so, she's fine in this class. The last two are really the biggest obstacles.

If you're using rental skates, it's very likely that they were dull - the season's about half over and the skates probably haven't been sharpened recently. Little skates get the most use, so they are usually the most dull. Your own skates are probably either broken down or your feet have gotten larger (often happens when you have kids, although not to everyone.) My feet grew an entire size after I had the twins; I ended up buying new skates.

Skates really should NOT hurt your feet. That said, I know most rentals and those awful ski-boot like skates hurt like ****. If you really like skating, don't buy the most comfortable skate, buy the one that has the proper support and will last longer. Sounds like you're getting AOSS, so start out on the right skate and you'll save time, money and aggravation. I think the Jackson Softecs or Glaciers are decent, as are the Riedell Blue Ribbon or Bronze Medallions for recreational skaters.

I recommend that you, and all the newbies looking for a bargain, simply go to a good pro shop to buy your first pair of skates. Call and make an appointment in advance, so you don't get the kid left behind to mind the store, lol. The pro shop specialist will recommend one or more skates within your budget, measure your feet to get the right size, fit the skates, adjust the boot &/or blade alignment, and sharpen the blades. It's all part of the purchase price: one-stop shopping. Once you add those services and the shipping (both ways if you need adjustments) to the mail-order/internet price, it's the same cost as going to a local shop. Plus, you can try on before you buy at a local place; can't do that over the internet.

One last note: if you try on a skate that feels too tight WIDTH-WISE, but the length is good (just a little room at the toe), ask if the shop has/can order the proper width. Most people don't realize that there are two sizes. Going with a longer (bigger size) skate instead of the proper width is a mistake. You'll struggle with balance issues and constantly trip on the toepicks.

Good luck and welcome to skatingforums.com!

[clairebear]

Wow- what fantastic advice - thanks everyone!!!!

Anyone out there that goes to / coaches at Bracknell or Guildford? They're both my local rinks so would love to hear from anyone!

[clairebear]

Sorry - another question - does anyone know a good supplier local to me - Camberley, Surrey?

Had a brief look in the shop at the Spectrum but seemed to have very limited choice. Haven't had a chance to check out John Nike at Bracknell yet.

[dbny]

In addition to Isk8NYC's excellent advice (I teach tots too, and learned Mommy & Me from Isk8NYC), I would add that whenever you are holding your tot up, she is not learning to balance herself. To learn balance, the skater must support her own weight entirely. A method I use, that works well for me because I am short, is to skate next to the tot (for example, on the tot's left), holding the tot's left hand at her waist height in my left hand. My right hand is gripping the back of tot's jacket to prevent sudden falls and backward falls. (Many tots are more startled by falls than hurt, but that initial startle can put many of them off.) In this way, your tot is supporting herself on the ice, but you are there to steady her as necessary. It is actually not that much of a strain on the back if you are not supporting her weight, but just bending to be at her level.

[frbskate63]

Had a brief look in the shop at the Spectrum but seemed to have very limited choice. Haven't had a chance to check out John Nike at Bracknell yet.

Rink shops in the UK generally have pretty limited choice, and will only carry one or two brands of figure skates, and probably only one or two models within those brands. That's fine if one of them works for you. If it doesn't, your nearest skate specialist is in Reading. Send me a PM if you want his contact details.

Fiona

[LW*]

Had a brief look in the shop at the Spectrum but seemed to have very limited choice. Haven't had a chance to check out John Nike at Bracknell yet.

My other half bought skates from the Bracknell shop last summer and the service was excellent, which was a pleasant surprise to be honest as when I was last in there several years ago it was pretty dire. We'd phoned up in advance to ask about stock as OH had had trouble finding beginners figure skates to fit his big feet and the guy not only found a brand that made big enough beginners skates (Jacksons) but ordered in several sizes in that model so he could try them on. So I'd say the Bracknell shop is definitively worth investigating if you're just looking for a basic set of skates.

Re: your old skates - might be worth giving them a little longer 'breaking in' time. I started skating again last summer after a gap of several years and my skates were horrible for the first couple of weeks but the more I wore them the better they got until they were as comfortable as I remembered them being. Of course, if they never were comfortable in the first place.... :roll:

[LW*]

If it doesn't, your nearest skate specialist is in Reading. Send me a PM if you want his contact details.

Fiona

Hi Fiona, whereabouts do you get skates in Reading nowadays?

[Bunny Hop]

Anyone out there that goes to / coaches at Bracknell or Guildford? They're both my local rinks so would love to hear from anyone!

I skate at Bracknell, and take lessons there, but can only go once a week, so may not be much use in answering any questions you may have. BatikatII and NickiT, who are also both adult skaters there, and involved in the club, should be able to help you with any queries. You may get more answers by posting in the On Ice-Skaters section.

p.s. I have sent you a PM regarding places to purchase skates.

[4wheeler]

The soles of my feet usually hurt after skating at the beginning of a new season. I suppose it's just muscles aching from lots of pressure. I have never been able to do much about it.

[BatikatII]

Hi Clairebear

I skate at Bracknell so feel free to pm me with any questions. You could always try the Bracknell club's second hand skate sale and buy some already broken in skates to learn in. It's a cheap way to do it as when you want to go and buy your own skates you can resell them the same way (club takes 20% I think). The only problem is that I think it may be 3 weeks or so til the next one but if you are in Bracknell check the club noticeboard between the coaches rooms in the boot room or the website
www.bracknell-ice-skating-club.co.uk for the date of the next one.

I had some old size 4 skates but gave them to my sister!

[fsk8r]

I skate at Guildford and there is a second hand skate sale once a month, I think on the first Saturday. You should be able to pick up size 4 boots as they're relatively small (they never have bigger sizes) so that might be a way of getting broken in (but not down) skates for not too much cash while you get yourselves going.
I believe Guildford has a creche if you want to sign up for daytime adult classes without your daughter, and also the mother and tots classes (but I've never had to investigate those so I can't tell you much). They also have an adult course on a Thursday night (perhaps it's easier to get a babysitter). I think they're currently full, and possibly with a waiting list because of dancing on ice, but come the summer there's likely to be places.
Otherwise, I'd just suggest coming down and skating during the week with your daughter. Just getting her on the ice will help improve her balance and she'll be skating in no time. You've just got to get over your fear of letting go of her, will help your back no end. When skating with friends and their young children, I tend to work on the principal of a spare pair of trousers. They're two inches from the ice anyway, let them sit in it, I'd rather not be bent over and being pulled down onto it with them.
I think however that my coach hasn't put her daughter onto the ice yet, as she's only 4 and not quite ready for it, although apparently really wants to get started to be like mum.
Good luck and I hope you have fun skating either at Guildford or Bracknell.

[liz_on_ice]

Welcome back to skating! Did your feet change size with your pregnancy? Mine grew a half size and skating for just a few months in my pre-baby skates did some damage to my feet. I should have gotten new bigger ones right away.

[Skate@Delaware]

My feet changed size because of pregnancy but I wasn't skating then so that wasn't an issue.

I teach tiny (really tiny!) tots my youngest is a back-breaking almost-3 year old and I start by skating behind and holding their jacket just around the shoulder area. This works for the first few sessions, then when they get their "ice legs" they are able to take the ice independently. My bigger kids fall more often than these little ones, plus, these tykes have extra padding (they wear training pants).

[Sessy]

We do these 6 month summer breaks over here, right? So it takes a while before the skates are good to go again, it's like they stiffen up from drying out or something! Helps to spray them in advance of skating, from the inside, once or twice, from one of those vaporizing plant sprays though. Still, both autumns I had to tape my feet up for half of october, it blistered all over.