Just thought I would throw my thoughts in after reading this!
I was also cautious when I first started Skate UK lessons and bought a cheap pair at £60 - 5 months later, one of the lame plastic lace hooks has broken and the heel is starting to split from the base of the boot!

I have now just bought some Riedell gold medallion 300. (I requested this make especially) I went and got them fitted properly (I have quite large feet for a girl UK size 8 - so US size 10!) Can't say too much about them yet as not broken them in, so still quite uncomfortable but I appreciate the greater quality and hope that once I'm used to them they will last me a long time!

My advice if possible go to someone who knows skates, especially if like the person I went to they can help you with fit and choice, and also he had a gadget that expanded the boot slightly around the toes, just stretched the material slightly as I have wide feet. This was a big help!!

I can understand you being cautious and not wanting to pay alot for your first pair, but I think you get what you pay for. If you want good quality then spend a bit more! But you don't need to fork out too much - there are some good quality beginner/recreational skates.

Rental skates are awful!

Just my take on this issue. I started at the same age (though somewhat larger in size) with beginning group lessons, though with the mindset that I was going to stick with it for a while. I bought a used, well broken in, pair of Harlick High testers (afaik) with MK professional blades for $150. They fit pretty well, and lasted me for 9 months through ISI basic levels and beginning freeskate levels until they were totally dead. The blades lasted for another year after that. I really liked having a higher level boot without the pain of breaking in a higher level skate and I think it really helped my progress initially. Of course I sprained my ankle right before I got my new boots, but hey it happens. They were very dead by that point. That being said, if you cant find a decent pair of used skates, start with a low level freestyle boot and a decent blade, not a recreational skate, particularly if you are planning on staying with skating for a while.

If you are not totally sure you'll stick with skating then I'd suggest buying a used pair in a skate sale. The beauty of this method is that you will pay way less than market value for a good pair of broken in skates and when you decide to upgrade you can resell for close to what you paid for them if you've not broken them down too much. With large feet you will have less choice though - unless maybe you are happy to go with men's skates (black) although as fewer boys skate again it limits the choice.

if your local rink has a skate sale you may even be able to try them on on the ice before you buy and if you are lucky the person manning the stall will have some knowledge of skates and fitting. If they arent' so good then sell them on at next skate sale and try something else. My first pair of used skates cost me just £40 including a skate bag and was worth probably around £150 at the time.

Upgrading the blades after a year or so made a huge difference to my skating but by then I was willing to pay the money as I knew I was hooked!

does anyone where/when there are skate sales around orange county, california? i had originally bought a pair of used omnitrade celebrity skates size 7 from this lady for 10 dollars, and when they put them on and laced them they felt fine, but when i went on the ice they hurt sooo bad! esp near my toes, which lead me to think she probablly bought a narrow boot.

For an adult, I wouldn't recommend a jackson below a freestyle (which is a much lower level than the name implies) I'd say it is close to the bronze medallion.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

sooo confused! I know i should go to a skate shop to get fitted but i really want to have in mind a certain skate to get instead of going there and just getting whatever the guy tells me to get and paying alot more than i have to!

Good pro shops do not gouge you for money. I always recommend using a good pro shop to my skating students and I take my own kids to a reliable shop for their skates. I have no vested interest in anyone going to any pro shop; I don't get a commission or any discount as a result.

Here's the cost of buying from a pro shop:

Skate cost, which INCLUDES: measuring, recommending, fitting, 1st sharpening, adjustments, and an ongoing relationship with the store.
Heat molding of appropriate skates, with supervision to ensure correct process.
Some pro shops offer discounts on future services for skates purchased at their store.
My regular shop stretches my kids' skates for free and gives us discounts on sharpenings.
They've also replaced damaged eyelets and hooks for my students, at no charge, and with a sympathetic smile for the Dad who closed the trunk lid on the skates.


Here's the cost of buying over the internet:

Skate cost PLUS:
YOU have to decide what to buy without trying the skates on
YOU have to figure out what size to buy and you need to get it right the 1st time.
YOU have to bake your skates in order to get them heat-molded, or pay the local pro shop for the service.
shipping and handling
Additional shipping and handling for adjustments/corrections (if allowed)
1st sharpening is often an additional charge or you have to pay the local pro shop for the service.
Future services are charged as needed, plus shipping and handling.

I've priced out my kids' skates every year and the pro shop choice is always within $10 total of the mail order/internet option. It saves me a lot of hassles and aggravation - I've had to have blades adjusted, defects corrected, skates exchanged, eyelets/hooks replaced, and skates stretched. It's much easier to walk into the pro shop and talk to a friendly businessman/businesswoman than it is to spend hours on the phone telling my tale of woe to three different people and boxing skates to be mailed back for corrections.

Go to the pro shop and at least try on some skates. See what they recommend, let them measure you, and make a note of the size and width. It's a good starting point at the least.

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do they made new models of skates every year? and if they do does anyone know how i can find out when the 2008's come out? thanks!

They already have, the skate season starts around september-ish (at least, that's when the stores stock the new skates around here).

But generally, no, new models aren't made every year (at least, not in every strength). For example, Risport's Super Cristallo from 12 years ago or so is the Risport RF2 or RF3 nowadays, without many changes. The Risport Laser from back then is the RF4, and frankly I'm not seeing any difference with RF4 except for a different color heel.
So in 12 years' time, they changed their skate like once, and that was mostly re-naming it and dying some things an other color.

And sure, almost every skate brand will introduce a new model every year, or a new type, or a new color, but that will often be not the skate you need.


I think it's best to go to the shop with an open mind, find out what they advise, and then specifically ask if that would be a good skate for you
there's just too many brands out there, with too many models. and every brand has their own specific form of foot they are meant for!

There's a good skate shop very near Anaheim Ice. I can't remember the name of it (I visited there during a competition and was very impressed by the staff's interest in customer service). If you call Anaheim Ice and ask the skating school director I'm sure s/he can tell you the name of the place. It's literally within walking distance of the rink. They seemed to have a wide variety of brands and different types available in each model, as well as most sizes in most of those brands and skate models.

I don't want this to sound condescending, but since you're new to skating, I think you would be better off telling someone who knows more about skates and the different brands and models within each brand what you want to accomplish and let them decide what skate would work best for you and YOUR feet. If you go in deciding you want for example Jackson Mystiques... you're likely to walk out with that... and not know if there are other options that might suit you better. If I were you, I would say you're just getting into skating, aren't sure you will stick with it and say what you would like to be able to accomplish (i.e. want to eventually jump or dance or just stroke around forwards and backwards), have a budget of "about $XXX) and then let the fitter measure your fit and tell you what would probably suit your needs. And just because they fit you THAT day, doesn't mean you have to buy them. You can take your time, since this is a big investment not only financially, but also in your skating potential. After all, skates and blades are really the only equipment you need to start skating.

Have you taken any group lessons? If so, you could talk with your instructor and say you think you're going to stick with the sport and are considering buying your own skates. Then see what the coach recommends. They've seen lots of people who come in just wanting to try skating, and either decide it's not for them or being infected with the skating bug and later can't imagine life without ice.

Oh, and generally speaking bootmakers update their models when there are new improvements to be made, not on a calendar basis like cars.

Good luck!

Oh, I just remembered: the name of the skate shop is USASkates.

Yes, everyone I know down in OC says good things about USA Skates! And I agree that you probably won't get gouged by buying the boot the pro shop recommends. Unlike car salesmen, skate shop pros tend to sell you the boot that is appropriate for your foot shape and level of skating because they know you will be in pain otherwise, and they depend on their reputation and repeat business.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

besides jacksons and riedells, are there any other name brands i should look out for when shopping for my first pair?

There are lots of other good name brands- but I have never heard of entry level skates in these brands. But lots of skaters like SP Teri, Harlick, Graf. I'm sure there are others as well.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

The best skate fitters have been skaters themselves and know exactly what to recommend. As you are a beginner, they will make sure they sell you a suitable boot and blade for your level. The brand is pretty much irrelevant. After all, they want you to enjoy skating so much that you'll carry on buying boots and blades from them after your first pair has worn out!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

An entry level Graf is the Graf Davos (definately don't go for the Bolero, that's for the occasional lake skater only) also immensely popular at our rink, almost everybody's had it, but this boot has very bad blades, and don't offer enough support to *really* jump seriously. You can do a few salchows and toeloops on it, but you should really upgrade once you get to that. Also for the price of the Graf Davos you can get a better Jacksons boot, at least, with better blades.

If you're skating at a level that you can't really go backwards yet, can't do crossovers and have trouble stopping, you might get a Graf Davos, even a used pair. Also the Libra and the ProStar aren't that bad if you're at a REALLY low skating level right now. Just keep in mind that you will need to upgrade as soon as you start spinning and jumping.

Edea, Graf, Sp Teri, Risport, Wifa, Harlick

very excited to get my first pair of skates!!! just trying to find a way to get the money though!

Night shifts..

HAHAHAHA! As a nurse I totally understand that one. Working 1AM-7AM on a friday or saturday definitely pays off!!!

As for saving up for skates...work a little extra if you can, save all your extra change, and maybe ask for an early christmas/holiday present from family!

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jackson freestyle or riedells bronze medallion?

Both are good- it's going to depend on which feels better on your foot!

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

LOL I used to have a job taking inventory (well, technically I still do as it's freelance, but right now I don't want to work for several reasons) where you'd start like at 3 or 4 in the morning on the saturday-sunday night, and work till late evening on that sunday. 3 days like that paid my 500+ dollar skates.

when skating, do you always wear tights? or do you only wear tights if you have a dress on? cause i usually skate in pants and wear socks. and is there any way i can make my own practice dresses ?

I actually skate barefoot, so I usually don't wear tights at all since I skate in pants. If I wear a dress, then I wear footless tights. Thin socks is a norm for many-(some even wear thin socks over tights.) Another option is to wear knee highs with your pants. That way it's the "feel" of tights, but without having to wear tights.

Yse, you can make your own dresses. There are great sewing patterns by Kwik Sew (I have one but haven't tried yet) and Jalie. Also check out specialtysportswear.com if you have some money to burn (gorgeous patterns, kind of expensive IMO- probably worth it though).

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

No, I usually wear VERY stretch jeans (stretch enough to pull my foot over my head) with underneath them off-the-rack normal tights or leggins, when I go right after class. Most of the adult skaters at our rink skate in yoga/jazz ballet pants with tights underneath, in running tights or slacks. My mom skates in bicycle tights because of the extra padding on the bum.

For beginners, at our rink acceptable skating wear means:
- looks civil
- not restrictive of your natural flexibility (most jeans will be unacceptable for this reason, I only stopped getting remarks for my jeans once I proved they were very stretch).
- not too wide (wide shirts, pullovers, pants aren't acceptable because then the coach can't see what your body is doing)
- no wide pants or too long pants so you don't catch your blades in your pants, safety reason
- no skirts over knee length, no tight skirts (actually this one isn't in the rules but people who come dressed like that change before skating)

If you're interested in sewing, check out my page: www.geocities.com/sessy_liz/bootcovers
it's simple but I add things over time.

If you're not feeling up for making a whole skating dress just yet, buy one off-the-rack (or even a shirt and shirt) and put hotpants under it in a matching color.