If you haven't already tried, maybe you can try to use a lace tightener device, which is just a plastic holder with a flip-out hook, so you can use that to tighten your laces. It's called a folding lace hook or something like that. Just use that to try pull things tight around your ankle area. But don't use really extreme force while pulling or else you could damage or warp the metal lace-hole if you pull too tight.

On the other hand.... you could try to order some very strong velcro straps from somewhere...1 inch width straps. Some companies sell these velcro straps with a D shaped ring on one end of the strap. They have to be long enough so you can do a figure of 8 ankle strapping ... that helps to get the heel locked in a bit better to the rear of the skate. But better not strap too tight or else it impedes flexing of your ankles.

If you're a beginner, it also could be because your ankle isn't very strong yet and isn't used to holding you up on thin blades. Skates should definitely be the first thing you look at, but if the sides stand up by themselves when your feet aren't in them, they should be okay.

When I haven't skated in a really really long time, the first thing to get sore is the ligaments/tendons/whatever in front of my ankle, and usually that's within 5 minutes of getting on the ice, LOL. I've had my skates for a very very long time, but when I started on them, they'd wobble also. When my ankles got stronger, I found that I could skate in them even when they were pretty loose. (Of course, I couldn't do anything like jump or spin on loose skates, but I could stroke around okay.)

When I took lessons, my coach recommended that I not tie the top hook, so I could get more knee bend. The first few sessions, my ankles felt really wobbly, but I got used to that and now I can do everything I could do (and probably better, LOL) without the top hook laced.

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Hi, thanks for the replies. I did try the hook tightener. I will try looking for velcro straps. What Anita says is also true, my ankles are still weak. But I showed the skates to my group instructor and she did suggest tightening them up somehow. The skates are essentially brand new so they are still quite stiff. I've used them for about 5 or 6 times. They are bauer supreme 1000. Perhaps they just need to be worked in some more. I assume you should be able to bend forward, which I can do, but there should be no side to side wobble.

Yeah...exactly, side to side wobble might not be the best thing for people that are beginning to develop their skating skills. Some hockey skaters like to leave the last couple of holes loose .... so they can bend their ankles, but that can be also unsafe. It's best to have decent ankle support that's for sure.

I don't know much about hockey skates, but I do know that when they're new, they can actually be more difficult to tighten than figure skates. They're a solid shell with a certain 'springiness' to them (at least, the ones I got for my nephew were), so it's hard to keep them as tight as you can manage to pull them at first.

I don't have any advice beyond what you've been given above. I like the D-ring velcro strap idea--you might be able to 'walk' it tighter and tighter so the boot doesn't spring back while you're getting it just right.

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At the same time that you try not to bend at the ankle to get to the outside edge, maybe think about tilting the entire surface of your foot so that your pinky toe is closer to the ice. Also think about creating pressure on the outside of your ankle (so that the entire boot/foot/leg is leaning and you're not pronating or supinating to get the edge).

It really does sound like you need more supportive skates, though it would be hard for any of us on the boards to tell since we can't see you in action.

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First off. Thanx for taking the time to do this. I appreciate it. This was helpful. What is really interesting is that I was working for several hours on Saturday on cross-overs (obvious ouside edge involvement), as opposed to "just" outside edge work to ensure that I get through the Alpha test in a couple of weeks. I think that that has helped me more than just doing outside edge rotation drills etc. 1 session does not a skill make. But, the majority of my trouble on the cross-overs was mental. Now that is not to say that they are aesthetically good. But .... the crossover is now relatively smooth, no fallovers, no jerkiness ... and I am even starting to get the ...
what do you call it ... the kickout ... which pretty much required that I was on a good edge (not it wasn't a skid). Work progresses .....

Again, thank you for your dilligence.

Joe

I tie my son's hockey skates (he is 9) and once we've got the top tight (I pull really, really hard), his laces are long enough to wrap around the back of the skate, cross, and pull to the front and tie. I tie them really tight.

The nature of hockey skates allows them to bend at the ankle and if you tie them tight, you get enough support laterally. Sometimes it's hard to get them tight enough if you are doing it yourself unless you use a lace puller. If you can't get them tight enough, then you might want to try waxed laces-those puppies get really tight and don't slip.

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Skate@Delaware
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