I just recently got my first pair of dance boots. I purchased a custom Harlick 2 piece construction and w/ a dance backstay and all that stuff. I got the MK dance blades so far they are nice they have a much tighter radius, different from my pattern 99's. So far so good.

I switched to the SuperDance 99s about 7 years ago when I was working on Bronze Dance test. They have taken me through the compulsory tests up through Blues, the Junior Free Dance test (standard), and I am now working on Novice moves. (Or I was up until 8 weeks ago, when I got injured off-ice!) I do not foresee ever needing/wanting another type of blade; they have served me well!!!!!! I am 51.

This "tight radius" is something I have a little trouble with in the MKs -- plus the picks are so little and so smooth -- I had trouble doing synchro in them last year when we did little waltz jumps and toe-thingys where we had to use the picks. But I also just realized that it had as much to do with my foot stability in (especially) my right foot in my old boots from somewhat unstable ankles (from spraining it a few years ago and a few years before that) as the picks themselves...

Well, I am almost 51 and not as advanced as you -- compulsories through Blues, no free dances and only Pre-Bronze Moves -- so the Super Dance 99 might be a good blade for me, too.

I keep obsessing about the picks and wondering if they are just a little bigger and maybe not so smooth as the ones on the MKs -- I wish I knew someone who had this blade so I could put my hands on them!! I saw them at Nationals, but didn't think to just plain compare it to the pair of MKs on the same table -- arrgghh!! It would be nice to live near a place where I could see these blades and then decide...

I am leaning towards them, though. Also Parabolic. What the hell? The skaters I've talked to here in Portland really, really, really like them!!

thanks for the input, you guys. I really appreciate it.

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

You know, after skating on a dance blade for so long, you might find that if you had the bigger toepick again that you might dislike it! I think MK and Super Dance 99's both have similar picks... I for one was glad to get rid of that big pointy thing! Nothing to trip over anymore!!!! I met Marika Humphries and her partner Vasily from England last year, and they both had parabolics and loved them. They probably would look great on anything they used, tho! Good luck in whatever you decide. Let us know how it works out.

The original Ultima Ascend had a much lower larger toepick than the MK Dance blades I used for many years.

I really didn't notice the toepick when I changed to the Ascends. (I was working on USFS Silvers/Pre-Golds at the time.)

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

Maybe Ascends would be good for Icedancer2 if she wants a bigger toepick? Do they still make them that way? Are they the thinner blades like MK Dance and Super Dance 99?

The current Ultima Ascend dance blade is the same as the one I got about 20 months ago. Ultima has a newer "Ultima Dance" blade that I believe has a smaller toepick (from what I saw of the pair my dance coach bought).

The width of the blade isn't as extreme as the slimline on the MK dance blade (in other words, it's a bit wider). I haven't worn regular freestyle blades in years to compare the width of the Ultima Ascend to that of most freestyle blades.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

You guys are so cute to be discussing my current blade quandry!!

The problem is, I want to see all of the blades and then decide!! Plus they keep changing them, and so you never know what you might be getting...

We're having a dance weekend next weekend here in Portland (y'all come ?) -- I am going to snoop around and see what blades everyone has and then decide!!

I don't want MUCH more of a toe-pick, just a little more (the picks on the MKs are very small and also smooth along the sides so that unless you put your pick in right, you will just slide right off -- it's like the opposite of a K-Pick. I also like the idea of a little less rocker and so both the SuperDance 99 and the Ultimas with their 8' rocker sounds good to me.

The Ultimas are a teeny-weeny bit cheaper, but once you're spending that much money, what's a little more? (Hence the parabolics...).

Sk8ndancr, do you know anyone else that has SuperDance 99 -- oh, Marika Humphries and her partner? They have them?

And, oh, does Wilson still make Dance 99? (Like the Super-Dance 99 but without the slimline?)

Questions, questions.

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

No, Marika has parabolics. I know one dance coach that has the Wilsons; he likes them, too, he has also had MKs previously, and I don't know if he noticed a huge difference. I know one other dancer who has them, (the Wilsons), she liked them a lot, too. My skate fitter had told me that they were a little faster because with an 8' rocker there is a touch more blade on the ice. I had gone straight to them from Coronation Ace, so I noticed a HUGE difference back then...I just loved them right away. Most of the dancers I know have MKs. No, I can't come to Portland, I am on the opposite coast, but thanks for asking!

Oh, and no, they don't make the Dance 99's anymore, as far as I know. Those were the thicker blade.

Well, could you ask him???

Well, it's good to know that others have tried them as well. I can't seem to find anyone else around here that has even tried this blade -- and it is just like me to try something other than what everyone else is using... --

But then again, I think I am "ultra-blade-sensitive". Boots can be pretty much anything, but the BLADE is what seems important to me...

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

Depending on how long ago Wilson stopped making the Dance 99, you might be able to find a brand-new pair collecting dust somewhere...

My coach skated on MK dance blades for years, and changed to Ultima Ascend a couple months before me, and he really likes them (he put the new Ultima dance blades on his new boots).

OTOH, I know of a skater/coach who tried the Ultima blades and couldn't stand them, and went back to Wilson Super Dance 99s.

I loved my first pair of MK dance blades, and tolerated the 2nd. Never liked the 2nd pair as much as the previous pair.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

Ultima's entry level freestyle blade (Mirage) still has chrome plating flaking issue. I know this through personal experience. My fitter knew this ahead of time & made me aware of the issue. As you say, it doesn't affect the performance, and for the money (about $50.00) it is a good buy for a first freestyle blade

I don't know about their more expensive blades, but at $150 to $300, I hope they don't flake!

I was warned about the flaking when I got the Ultima Synchro blade in 2000. I never had a problem. I am in their newer synchro blade now, and haven't had any problems either. The rep I spoke to when I ordered the new pair said that changes were made the manufacturing of the blades when the company moved from the US to Ontario.

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