can't possibly see how you have this problem ! every so called sports shop you go in these days has nothing but flared bottom yoga pants if i want to get proper leggings i have to order them of a dance shop website as its the only place i've ever seen them.

as for my two cents on skirts - i have one that i got for testing which i really like but have yet to wear as i'm not brave enough!! (every adult at our rink wears trousers)

Where are you finding these pants? Every place I have looked in for the past 3 months has had nothing but capri yoga pants (with a flare)! Even the jersey material track pants are crop pants now. Why does no one make full length pants anymore?

(On a side note, I love crop pants for working out, so I guess I get it. But they look weird with a skating boot)

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i have actually seen some of the LTS 13/14ish year olds wearing these capri pants while skating, every time i see thhis it makes me laugh

i don't know where you live and what shops you have but in england places like JJB sports and JD sports seem to have nothing but full length yoga pants. The cropped sports trousers don't seem to be as prevalent at the mo (tis maybe just me not noticing)

I prefer wearing trousers or leggings (warmer, and you don't look an idiot when you're out of the rink so don't have to take something to change into if you plan to go shopping on the way home or if you're going home on public transport), but usually wear a skirt if Husband is around, which he usually is. This is because we have a lift in our free dance and I learnt the hard way that it's easier for both of us if I'm wearing tights, which won't move round my leg if grabbed, rather than trousers, which will!

Here, nobody gives a hoot what you wear, and you'll see everything from shorts over tights through to practice-dresses. I suppose the majority of people wear leggings or trousers of some kind, except the dancers who do tend to wear skirts/practice-dresses.

But it's not important, except that Dance Club like you to wear a skirt, which is one reason I hardly ever go, as you get a bit cold hanging about while higher-level dances are being done.

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Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I did start wearing a dress to practice in as lots of adults at my rink wear them (adn in fact it's the better skaters amongst the adults who regularly wear dresses here) but have reverted to stretchy trousers as I find dresses a hassle to change into and I am lazy (however i do agree i feel more like a real skater when i do wear a dress).

My best buy as far as fitted stretchy trousers goes have to be the kids black school trousers from Tesco (UK). The age 14 ones fit me just fine and they were only £6! full length, stretchy, slight flare at the bottom but not much.

Daughter found several pairs of stretch jersey type trousers in TK MaXX from about £12 (adult sizes)

I usually wear yoga pants during my weekday practices because they are quicker and easier to change into after work. But, if I skate on the weekends (and it's not too cold outside), I'll sometimes wear a practice dress or skirt.

Almost all of the adults in my club wear dresses or skirts from time to time and we even ordered matching practice dresses for all us.

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Adidas makes good ones and they're around $50. If you can afford a little more and want leggings/pants that are snug all the way down and go over your boots, you can get them from Seku:
http://www.sekuskatewear.com/seperates.html

I don't think it matters much what you wear as long as you're comfortable in it, but one thing I do think some skaters need to consider are the people who are in the rink before and after your session and the kind of attention you may attract from them.

A couple years ago we had a very pretty teenager skating on club ice who showed up wearing very small, very tight spandex shorts (I think she said they were part of a swimsuit) and a sports bra. The hockey guys coming in for their practice had a wonderful time ogling her and she couldn't understand why the boys all had to come out of the locker rooms and stand at the boards every time she skated.

In the fall/winter, REI has stretch microfleece leggings for sale, believe they were $65 or so this past season. They're designed for cold weather running but work great for skating, and seem to last well, unless you fall on your backside and catch them on a ridge of ice, but that could be a side effect of anything similar. (The worse part about that fall was that I skated halfway back to the barrier before my coach told me I might want to make sure I pulled my T-shirt down as far as it would go over my backside.)

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I found yoga pants at Old Navy that have a good flared hem. They are just enough to cover the laces of the boots, but not so much that I worry about catching my blade. Also, they are fairly warm and are thick enough to avoid the dreaded "wet undies" issue previously discussed on this thread. I have three or four pairs and I wear them all the time. (The yoga pants, not the wet undies )


I also found that the material of the skirts tends to make me slide further when I fall, which exaggerates the "Human Zamboni" effect.

I own about two pairs of those Old Navy Yoga Pants that you have, both in different colors. (Old Navy blue and greyish purple.)

I'm actually looking for new ones, but they only come in black now and I have PLENTY of black pants now. (These Danskin pants are perfect for dealing with the "wet undies" problem too... but I'm still eyeing for some in different colors other than BLACK though.)

As for skates getting caught in laces, I found that if I wear trouser socks and roll the top of the sock out OVER the laces, it keeps the laces neatly in place too.

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Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Public ice : black pants. I made them so can't point you to a shopping site. They're 4 way stretch fleece that's smooth on one side. Jerry's used to make dresses with it and I got the end of a roll. However, any sort of aerobic/yoga legging over tights would give the same warmth.

Club ice: Mostly I wear a skirt. I had a bad experience on a test day with a fluffy skirt, I kept looking at it in admiration and didn't keep my head up, so I wear a skirt so that I'm used to it. On cold days, up to 3 pairs of tights.

I started wearing dresses after I'd been skating for about a year. I feel like if I'm dressed for the role, I do better. I feel like a skater--and the brain is half the battle for me.

My coach prefers me in a dress--she can see my lines better. And, after three years in them, I just don't feel right in pants. I'm wearing them right now because I just got a tattoo on my thigh, and was told not to wear them for at least a week, and boy does it feel weird.

I get my black Danskin tights at the dance shop. I did buy several dance skirts this way too. I actually have ditched them for the most part of late as they bug me. Personally I like black tights because I don't want to worry about my skirt twisting about or falling off. I have lost my skirt a few times and have been teased about stripping on the ice. =-0!

TashaKat,

Thongs may look good to my husband but they get on my nerves. Besides, like you mentioned their not needed. So seriously, why bother?!

Chico

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Thanks Jazzpants for the links. I have been looking forever for some like the Old Navy pants.

I wear tights under yoga pants (full length, not cropped) during public sessions. I sometimes go back and forth wearing pants or a practice skirt w 2 pair of tights (1 footed for the inside of my skate, 1 pair over the boot).for freestyle or skating club sessions.

Skating in a practice skirt or dress is a lot different than skating in pants. I feel like there is much more mobility and freedom of movement in a skirt.

I remember my first competition. It was the first time I had skated without gloves. I never realized how gloves could feel like such a security blanket. So occasionally I will also practice without gloves on.

My vote is to wear what you want to wear regardless of what someone else may think. It is your hobby (obsession) you get to decide.

I had 3 pairs of flared leg yoga pants, and have taken them in to make them straight legs.

It wasn't a problem until I started working on backspins and keeping my free leg crossed over for jumps like loops and flips.

Practising backspins, as I was coming out of the spin the back of the free leg blade caught in the leg of the skating leg pants. This not only caused me to fall as I couldn't get the blade out, but also ripped the pants. This happened twice, the third time the pants didn't get ripped.

I've learned my lesson, no more flares for me.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

I found this was true for me as well. I wear tights & a skirt (black cotton jersey with attached briefs, awesome) for lessons, which is a pain sometimes because the rink is nearly always freezing cold.

I agree that choice of clothes seems to vary by rink. At my rink, nearly everyone who is serious enough to have her own skates wears a skirt/dress, regardless of age or proficiency.

I like the look of the Seku pants and dresses but i'm wondering if anyone here has actually tried them and skated in them?

What are your opinions? Is it worth the price tag?

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Oh wow, just browsed through that site and no the Seku stuff is just too expensive for my taste, especially concidering it's just practice wear... no way!

I decided to heed my own advice, to go for it. Today I made myself a 1/2skirt that I can wear over leggings, just for practices.

I used some cotton lycra left over from making the leggings to make the panties, which I then cut and inserted a black spiderweb lace full circle+ skirt. Made it a bit longer than my old one, which I used as a pattern, and it looks okay.

I think I will make myself more. Life is too short to worry about what people think of you for wearing a skirt.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

I don't know about this season, but a couple of years ago, I got some nice full-length yoga pants at Target, only a slight flare. (A larger flare looks dumb on me, as I'm so short.) I've been happy with Target's selection in general. You may have to hunt for the less popular kinds (read: full-length), but they usually do have at least a couple of the items that I consider bare-bones basics.

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I'm also overweight, and I much prefer the look of tights, a skirt and turtleneck to skate in. Can't wear the leggings -- ugh to that look -- and the only other pants I have to skate in are rather baggy. Coach can't see my lines. So, I skate in a custom made black skirt, Mondor tights, and a tucked in t-shirt under a loose turtleneck. Definitely as covered as I would be in shorts and a top.

Glad to read that you've decided to go for it.

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You go girl!!!

Around my local, I would say 50/50, it doesn't seem to matter if one is new to skating, or has been at it for some time, or if one is thin, or not so thin.

Seems to be a matter of personal choice.

Good for you in going for it.

Steven

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When I wear pants, I skate in black lululemon "Boogie" pants. They are pricey; lulu pants range from about $79-100. However, I've had them for three years and those things are TOUGH. I got kicked in the leg once by someone who landed very close to me. The other girl's blade sliced right through my skin, and the two pairs of tights I had on UNDER the pants...but not a scratch on the pants. Go figure!

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