Hello all, My name is Ekaterina, I am 35 years old and I just started skating a week ago. I took lessons when I was 8 or something, now after some health problems, and financial ones, I am able to start skating again.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what boots and blades to purchase?

I heard Reidell was good to start and MK Blades, but I also heard Pattern 99 was better for beginners.

Welcome! - Dobro pozhalovat', bud'te kak doma! (Am I right to assume you can speak Russian?)

I think most of people here would aree that there are no "best skates" but in general the rule is that they: a. must fit; b. mustn't be too advanced for your level;

Myself, I've got Edea Overture with MK blades, but since they are my first and only skates, I can't tell if something else would be worse or better. On the esthetics side, I love their pearl colour and "no seam" streamlined look, but then they are covered with overboot tights most of the time anyway! The only trouble with them was that they took ages to break in - my first crease appeared when I started landing my waltzes and toe loops!

Also I didn't know that they're supposed to be worn over really thin socks and tights so I might have picked a pair 1/2 size too big for me, which some say might become a problem.

Yet I'm pretty happy with where they got me so far.

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My other car is a Zamboni

I have Riedell boots too and I love them but Pattern 99's are not for begginers!!!

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SKATING: It's the feeling you get at the end of a hard practice when you pushed yourself to the limit. It's a part of YOU, something you LOVE and HATE. A bond that NO ONE ELSE understands, but that's okay, because every time you get out on the ice it isn't just you; it's all the friends and coaches, all the practices, the pain, the tears, the memories,the laughter, the "off" competitions. It may seem, skating is really a team sport, it's more than just a sport. IT'S A WAY OF LIFE."

Thanks for the welcome, it looks like a good crowd in here.

I was born here in USA, unfortunately due to family problems I was given up by my Russian mother at an early age, and was raised by an american folks.
So I never got to speak Russian :-(

Anyway, thats another story.

I have been practicing waltz jumps, toe loops, and salchow on the ground. I feel so silly practicing it in my dining room area. Any advice on off ice jumping, I would appriciate it. How do I get more height and distance?


Also, what is the difference between the brown skates and the white skates?

Are they for advanced skaters?

Welcome!

In general (and this is only a generalization, there are always exceptions)...
White skates are usually worn by women (though not all women wear white skates). I've mainly seen women wear tan colored skates (some synchronized skating teams require that their skateres wear tan boots). Sometimes rental skates for all are also tan/brown. I've mainly seen men wear black skates. But I've also seen some women wear black skates, and there are some people who wear purple boots or red boots (you know who you are )

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(BTW: I wore black skates before I got the purple ones...needless to say, the coaches around here insists that over the boot tights are in my wardrobe...)

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Purple and Red skates? Ive got to see this

My skates...



Red skates would be Mrs. Redboots, but her boots isn't really red, it's just she has red boot covers...

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Me! me! Unfortunately I can't put a pic of them up at the moment because they block photobucket here but they look very much like jp's

Anyway ... I just wanted to say 'hi' and welcome. I love your name, Ekaterina is so beautiful as a name

I have Harlick boots and Gold Seal blades for Free skating and Wifa Diamonds with MK Dance blades for Dance. I prefer the Harlicks though the Wifas are good for dance. If you were to look at Wifa, though, the Diamonds would be too stiff to start with (I actually prefer the Super Goldstar). Harlicks are absolutely beautiful but are a 'bit' expensive so it would depend on what you would want to spend.

All the best


x

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The best whisper is a click

Here's a picture of your boots, TK! (Are they beautiful or what!?!?!!) (This picture is the inspiration for me getting my own purple skates.)

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Mine aren't red, just boot covers! Actually, I have several pairs of bootcovers - 2 pairs of black, 2 of red (1 crimson, 1 scarlet - the latter kindly given me by DBNY in 2001), 2 green, 2 turquoise (1 dark, 1 light), 1 navy, 1 royal blue, 1 gold/flesh coloured, 1 white, 1 shocking pink and 1 sort of psychedelic multicoloured! Those are the conventional lycra ones; I have also several pairs of knitted ones for winter use in various colours, plus at least three pairs I've knitted for various competitions, one looking like knee-socks and sandals, one like lace-up boots and stripy socks and one (the most recent) like trainers (sneakers, gym shoes) with socks!!

All started years ago when I first began skating, and I'd bought a pair of red boot covers (not either of the pairs I have now; this pair sadly got lost). So I decided to wear them all the time, as I decided I'd really rather the people at the rink, until they learnt my name, thought of me as "the woman with the red bootcovers" rather than as "that fat woman who can't skate". And it sort of snowballed.....

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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!

ha ha, Well you certainly aint that anymore Annabel, on both counts.

Cheers
Grace

Pattern 99 blades are defintely for a more advanced skarer. They are designed for high doubles (thinkdouble axel) and triples. You are best off ina lower model blade (also much less $$$$$). Advanced blades way beyond your skill level will never be cost effective and may hinder advancement (the same way too much boot can be a hindrance). I would suggest first getting a recommendation from your coach and second getting a recommendation for a boot fitter. While a coach can make suggestions, many people on this board will tell you that to each his/her own when it comes to boot family that works best. Good luck

Sorry about that! I posted last night, then on my way to work this morning it occurred to me that I had made a mistake!

There's a woman at one rink I skate at who has sparkly blue/purple cloth soakers for her blades. I've never seen soakers like those before, and they're really neato!

__________________
Ask me about becoming a bone marrow donor.
http://www.marrow.org
http://www.nmdp.org

Speaking of which... Annabel, you should post some more recent photos of yourself in your new well-earned slim figure on your website!!!

From a gal who has gained back a few pounds and needs to slim back down again for Skate SF... GRRRR!!!

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

For some reason, I can't seem to see any pictures, assuming they're posted of course, because by the language, it would seem like hte pictures of purple skates was posted. Is there something wrong with me?

I can see the pictures. Which browser are you using? If it's IE 6.0, you should be able to see it.

Anyone else have trouble? Or can you see the pictures?

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

----------

I'm using Netscape, not sure which type. Lemme try to go under IE, and see if that works.

Edit: Under IE, I can see the pictures. Nice purple skates. I'm thinking it might be the forum isn't set up to work with netscape?

I really don't like tights over the boots. What do you think?

I put up with it! I've always been the odd lady skater simply b/c I just don't like conventional white. I could wear synch tan colors, but some of those shades of synch tan colors I surely would not want.

My coaches are sympathetic of my cause, but they don't want to risk the negative consequences of my outfit with the judges. I don't wear over the boot tights when I'm practicing though. Of course, I found out a couple of years ago that I could wear black boots to competitions. The skating judge says "with black tights, it'll provide a very nice line..."

Also, I have to keep in mind of the overall outfit. If I'm wearing something very bright RED, I certainly wouldn't want to clash with my purple skates. (I bought black b/c I had a lot of dark clothing and black boots matches with all those outfits...)

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

For a beginner, Jackson boots are a good value for the price. I think mine were just $100 or so. (But if your feet are wide in the toes like mine are, you might have to go up half a size or else they will pinch your toes.) Your coach and boot fitter can recommend blades. You will probably want to go with a blade that has a 7' rocker, so that it's good for spinning but also has enough stability for jump landings.

Thank you much