Hello all!

I am new to all of this...my daughter want to ice skate. She is 6. She is just completing her first 6 lessons in a Learn to skate series. Her coach has told me to go ahead and move her up to team lessons already! I already signed her up for 6 more weeks of the Learn to Skate and was told that should be good but after that, she will be bored and is ready to move up to Team Excel (if anyone is familiar with the program)

Question...

What is a decent skate to buy for her? Her feet are always cold is her main complaint. I am totally clueless as to anything about this sport , although I do love to watch it on TV! I trust her coach and the rink she is currently practicing at so no problems there (Iceworks in Aston,PA) but I am sure if she sticks with it, I will have plenty of other questions!

Thanks in advance for anyone so kindly as to answer my totally beginner question!

I would recommend asking at the ice rink for someone who does skate fittings there. They can recommend the best skates for your daughter based on her skill level, size and such. They probably know much more than I do. I know the lady that does skates at my rink is incredibly knowledgable!

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- Ashley

Cold feet is pretty common with beginners because, quite frankly, they're just not moving around enough to work up some body heat. Also, if she's wearing cheap plastic rentals ... shiver!

Both Riedell and Jackson make good low level skates. Riedells are notoriously narrow, while Jacksons are notoriously wide. Your best bet is to go to a good skate shop with a good fitter (ask the coach for a recommendation) and have her fit properly. The fitter should ask about her skating level and measure her foot. You should get a boot that comes with the blade screwed on to the sole. Be warned, though. Do not buy "too much" skate for her level. If they try to sell you boots and blades sold seperately, go somewhere else. Boots that are too stiff will discourage her and could prevent her from learning her basic skills properly.

Good luck!

You might also want to ask your daughter's teacher if s/he knows of anybody who has outgrown her boots and whose mother might be willing to sell them on. At your daughter's age, skates are very often outgrown before they are outworn, and a second-hand pair may well do her very nicely indeed. But if you do hear of a pair, again, check with her teacher to make sure they (a) fit and (b) aren't actually broken down.

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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!

I would ask your daughter's coach what is an appropriate skate for her level. She may know of a place or listing of used skates, which are perfectly fine for your daughter's level. New skates won't make her feet warmer, though. The cold feet is more a product of the fact that there is a fair bit of standing around at the Learn-to-Skate level. Don't be afraid to ask the coach questions-that's what he/she is being paid for

I agree with Mrs. Redboots -- used skates may be the best way to go. You get better quality skates for a cheaper price, and, frankly, it can be difficult for a beginner to break in new skates. With used ones, there is a breakin process, but its not nearly as difficult, since the boots are already partially worn. Fruthermore, since she's six, you're not going to be buying boots from someone who's getting new ones because they've over-worn the old ones; you're going to be buying boots from someone who's outgrown the old ones, so they shouldn't be overly broken down. That said, you should probably have someone you trust that knows skating with you when you do this, to make sure the boots haven't been mistreated, and that the people aren't overcharging. My first boots, eleven years ago, were used, and, though I don't remember much, since I was 4, I'm told they were perfectly fine.

Also, on the cold feet note, there used to be this rink around here that couldn't have been more than 20 degrees. I didn't skate there all the time, but when I did, I wore thick over tights and undertights. I don't know if Mondor still makes the thick undertights, but provided they don't make your daughter's feet not fit in the boots, they really help. Also, don't tie her skates too tight -- sometimes cutting off your feet's circulation can make them feel like they're cold.

If you do check out used boots (and it's a perfectly good idea, because even beginner NEW boots will run you 75-100 bucks) be SURE to check the blades- and yeah have someone with you to double check. There can't be too many deep nicks and especially, no rust, or very little. The most common thing I would imagine with little kids is leaving the skateguards on too long (which creates rust), walking around without skateguards (which can drive hard things into the blade and create huge nicks that sharpening may not smooth out), or not drying skates/taking off skateguards at all which will definitely kill the blade. The boot is less likely to be unusable than the blade so be very careful with that! Good luck and yay for your daughter, this is a great sport!! Ask anything you want!

WOW! Thanks for all the great responses!!! I had been considering the used skate route..so thanks for letting me know what to look for. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who could go with me. I really, REALLY am totally new to skating! She wanted to try it, so we went to the rink. I am really just learning my way around.

Thanks for all being so nice and not calling me names

Call you names? Why would anyone do that? You should relax, these people are cool!

this is what i would do. run run run as fast as you can to a differnet sport. do it fast run run run

I agree with other posters, but also would like to give you someplace to start from. First, your daughter should wear tights, not socks. Second, a rule of thumb is that figure skates should be a size smaller than shoe size. Sizing varies from brand to brand, but for the entry level skates, a size smaller is pretty true. Be careful not to get a larger size when the real problem is width. If you are in doubt about the length of the boot, pull out the insole and have her stand on it. Finally, this is hard to describe, but can be important in getting a good fit. Have your daughter put her foot into the boot, then, before lacing it up, have her kick the tail of the blade down onto the floor. This seats the heel as far back as it will go. With her foot still in the kicking position, with the tail of the blade on the floor, and the toe up, lace the bottom of the boot. When you reach the hooks, have her put her foot flat on the floor and bend her knee over her toes. Continue lacing with her leg in that position. This should create enough room at the back of the boot for you to put your thumb in, and will allow her to bend her knees while wearing the skates.

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Not even socks the same weight as skating tights? Why is that?

I have found that the Riedell 21's in kids sizes 11, 12 and 13 are pretty close to street shoe size - according to the insole test anyway and Riedell's measuring guidelines. I never could get my rather small hand down the back of those little skates. My Riedells were 2 sizes smaller though.

Birdlady, I've heard that the hockey guy in the pro shop at Ice Works does a pretty good job fitting beginning figureskaters. It's a bit of a haul for us so I've never checked him out. Do the coaches there not recommend the pro shop?

Thanks all!

Yes, actually, they do recommend the pro shop for fitting and then to buy used ones LOL They have one of those machines that I am guessing is for the heat-molded skates....Those sound interesting! How are they? Probably out of price range for what I would like to spend right now. Will $75 - $100 get me a decent new or used skate appropriate for a beginner?
Thanks also for the tip on lacing the skates!!

I just wanted to get some background so I feel comforatable with any advice I get from them. I don't want to be sold stuff I really don't want or need. Plenty of time for that later..I'm sure

Heat-moulded skates come in a variety of weights - a couple of manufacturers make them like that for ease of wear. New skates can be very uncomfortable just at first - no worse than hired ones, I hasten to add, but they do need to be "worn in" to fit your (your child's) feet. And some manufacturers have stuffing in them which moulds to fit and, once it has done that (after you've skated in them several times) you get them "baked" in shape. Which you can do in a domestic oven - I did my husband's. Or you can leave them as they are.

I don't know prices in the USA, but here you would get a good pair of used skates for the equivalent of the amount you mention. But do ask whether your child may skate in them first, before you definitely decide to buy, and do get either her teacher, or the staff at the shop, to check whether they fit her. It's no good saying that because she will take size X in brand Y, she will also take size X in brand Z, although that will give you a good starting-point.

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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!

It should. I would check out the pro shop at your rink- Ice Works is a great rink (one of my former coaches teaches there now, probably doesn't teach learn-to-skate though), and I would think they'd have someone there who knows what they're doing, at least for a beginner. Most of the better rinks do.

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I would certainly look into second-hand skates at this stage as your daughter is still very young and as others have said, little skates get grown out of before they are worn out. Also brand new skates are very expensive and if your daughter sticks with her skating you will have plenty of years ahead where you will need to buy brand new boots and blades at great expense, so while she is at this young stage, I'd definitely go for used skates. I did with my two until they reached a certain standard.

Nicki

My Riedells are also 2 sizes smaller than my regular shoes. I wear an 8.5 and my skates are a 6.5. However, I have had them for 7 years so I don't know if they still size them the same.

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OK, went to the Proshop, and for her size, they have Reidell's only. $85.00

Are these decent? Should I check out other brands as well? (regarding the reference earlier of narrow vs wider skates) She is skinny so I think her foot tends to be more narrow than wide. How is that price?

Also, after her first 6 lessons, she has been "graduated" to the Team Excel program. She finished all the snowplow sam items except for the 1 foot glide and of course, the stop. I think I am gonna be in trouble....LOL

Thanks!!

The are fine for a starter skater. The fact she is small isnt related to her foot being wide or not,I have a 36lb 5yo who has jacksons.
As fas as skates themselves, I wouldnt worry about it much. She is just starting, she might not want to skate for long, her feet will grow in a few months you will have to buy another pair.All kids have different feet so what she uses now might not be what she uses when she starts doing jumps which will not be for awhile anyway.
have fun !!!

Those sound good.

I bought Jackson's for about that price, but I also tried on some Reidell's. I just went w/the ones that felt best on my feet.

Good luck.

Is this something different than the USFS Basic 8 that follows Snowplow Sam in USFS program? Just curious...my daughter has been in both ISI and USFS programs. I didn't know there was anything else.

http://www.iceworks.net/figure_teamexcel.shtml

Sounds like another program by this coach.

I looked at it, it would be one day of off ice and one day for lessons.Im not sure if I would put a starter child in it and Im not sure about someone telling you your child would be bored in lts classes yet.
I would check more into it ...

I read some more... I think they just have basic basic skating and then they go into the fs or hockey part.... I bet the lts doesnt do basic 1 to 8
Team excel is just the fs part of it.

It's a two part class, 45 minutes ice and 45 minutes off ice....same day- one class follows right after the other. It also includes a half hour Saturday practice time, plus a pass to the weekly public skate. I assume to encourage the kids to skate more that just the formal lesson.

I have watched her in all her lessons and have seen her do everything. She does seem a bit bored. She will be going into a class with 2 coaches for more attention. She says she is bored, too altho she loves to go to the classes! She says, she wished the rink was next to our house so she could go everyday!! LOL!

After going through the website a bit more, I think it is just a bridging type program....I will let you all know! She starts tomorrow !

Be careful because just because your kid loves/is doing well with skating doesn't mean she'll want to do a program like this. If it includes off ice, it's a pretty serious program. Off ice is basically (usually) working out, working on jumps, etc...it's conditioning and muscle building. Kids start taking it when they reach I'd say Juvenile-Intermediate freestyle (double jumps) and need to start building more endurance, muscle, and working on the snap of their double and triple jumps. I don't really think it's something that would benefit a little kid or something they would enjoy doing, but maybe I am wrong. I don't know how old the kid is or what level she has passed (I can't remember so far back as the snowplow sam stuff, if I even took it to begin with), but maybe if she is bored she could stay in LTS and have a weekly/bi-weekly private lesson instead, if funds are available. It seems like that would be more worth your money than this, but that's just my opinion. Again, I have no idea why I'm even awake right now so if it doesn't make sense, feel free to ignore it.

It so depends on the kid, of course - we have a 4-year-old at our rink who has just started the off-ice stretch classes offered by one of the mothers who happens to be a gymnastics/dance/fitness teacher, and she's absolutely loving it. Partly, I suspect, because she gets attention from the older skaters in the class, but also because it's new and different....

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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!