anyone give me names or any skate shops in London? I know Queens & Sobell have them, Queens is closed tonight I think.

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Skate at: Lee Valley
Date started: October 2008
Level: 6 (UK skate levels)

Aiming for Figure club

There's one at Streatham, but I'm not sure when it is open, if ever. I think you have to telephone the owner, and he comes and opens up for you. Don't have the number off-hand, but it's on the door!

There's also a shop called Skate Attack, up in Kentish Town, which isn't at all bad. I think it has someone who specialises in Figure Skates, at least, it used to.

But if you want to be professionally fitted for figure skates, you'll have to go either to Les Westaway in Reading or John Turner in Coventry. Otherwise you may end up being fitted by a hockey boy, which is not a great idea.

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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!

There is also Everglides in Hampshire.

i think JT is in Birmingham (unless he goes to coventry ice rink especially to do fittings??)

I already have skates I'm looking for guards, bags etc

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Skate at: Lee Valley
Date started: October 2008
Level: 6 (UK skate levels)

Aiming for Figure club

try

http://www.lonskate.com/

hth

Not sure if this was the one you meant Mrs Redboots, but there's also a Skate Attack in Southgate, in North London (which is the one I go to). See www.skateattack.com for opening times.

Ah, it's probably moved, then - it was in Kentish Town at one stage, but that was some years ago now!

I stand corrected about JT - thought he was Coventry, but there you go! (At the risk of being lynched: Coventry, Birmingham - same difference; it's all Midlands - I, of course, am a Southron!)

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

hehe

ill forgive u!

I think I'll check out the one at Queens Lonskate after work, I think it's more expensive but I can't see any blade guards at skateattack

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Skate at: Lee Valley
Date started: October 2008
Level: 6 (UK skate levels)

Aiming for Figure club

Sometimes you can get the guards in Decathlon, and you can definitely get them by mail order from Everglides. I bought mine years ago (they do last!) from Go Sport in the Cité Europe in Calais!

In fact, guards for figure blades are probably sold in your rink's shop, if it has one and if you're ever there when it's open - that and bags are one of the things they're good at.

Incidentally, you don't need a "proper" skate bag - in fact, they can be a bore as there's very little room in them for more than your skates; you may be better with, say, a sports rucksack or daybag of some kind, which will have a pocket for your water-bottle, and room for your skating clothes and so on. If Lidl do a winter sports sale equipment (they usually do once each winter and haven't, as far as I know, yet), they usually do ski boot bags, which are ideal.

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

yeah lonskate is the shop at queens. Sobell is closed today Lonskate closes 6.30pm

Decathlon I can't get to during the week.

Thanks for the advice on the bag I'm not really gonna be using for anything other that my stakes, blades etc

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Skate at: Lee Valley
Date started: October 2008
Level: 6 (UK skate levels)

Aiming for Figure club

Bags = £20-29.50.
Guards = £9.50.
Soakers = £9.50-12.50.

Is that about right?

I think it's turning into an expensive hobbie lol

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Skate at: Lee Valley
Date started: October 2008
Level: 6 (UK skate levels)

Aiming for Figure club

I used a gym bag for years, have also used a small roller bag. Now I have one of the over-priced zuca bags, but in some ways the roller/carry-on suitcase worked just as well as the Zuca bag (although the Zuca bag has more personality).

The Zuca bags in the US are like $140 or so for the frame and the bag, whereas a reasonable-priced wheeled carry-on can be had for under $30-40.

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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...

I paid:

£15 for my bag
£8 for blade guards (inc £2 p&p)
£6 for soakers

Well, you'll need a water-bottle, unless you plan on buying expensive soft drinks out of the machine (I wouldn't!), and unless you're happy wandering around central London in trackie-bums, you'll want a change of clothes, too. And room for a pair of gloves (your hands can get very cold, and gloves also protect from injury).

Yes, this is an expensive sport - but maybe you have an old gym bag or daybag that will do for now?

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

can I just say that lonskate (London Skate Shop) is a really wonderful shop with amazing service! lol... I got my skates there. just a little advert. Go there!!!

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A note to those who think a skate bag will be big enough...I thought the same at first. Then I realised I needed space for boot covers, hard guards, skate cloth, soakers, spare soakers, spare hairband, comb, notebook...they soon add up!

Helen, I agree there's no space in a skate bag. I jsut carry guards, cloth, cd etc. in a separate plastic bag. but some stuff goes in a side pocket of the bag..

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And I bought a zuca when I was last in the states as I thought it would have that little bit more space, and it doesn't. Either what I've carried has multiplied over the years, or else my very first german skate bag was still the most spacious bag ever, as I could actually squeeze two pairs of skates in there, or alternatively skates and required bits, plus some food shopping. Unfortunately my shoulders would protest so I've moved over to wheels. The arms protest now, as the rink is down two floors from the entrance and I'm too lazy to wait for the lift.

I second the suggestions though to just make do with a regular bag until you get going. I also use an old freebie flannel from Quantas to dry my skates, so that saved one expense and buy my skate gloves from Primark (2 for £1).

Well I just got a basic skate bag for now and will get one online later on.

__________________
Skate at: Lee Valley
Date started: October 2008
Level: 6 (UK skate levels)

Aiming for Figure club