Hello everyone! I desperately need advice on buying new skates. My first skates, which are the ones I currently skate in, are Blue Ribbon Riedells with some unknown recreational blades - they also appear to be missing a part of the toe pick on each, thanks to the idiot who sharpened them a while ago. My coach said that the slight hole in the blade is the cause of most of the problems with my spins and some toe jumps, and that I have to get new skates that suite my level immediately (my current Riedells don't let you just screw off and change the blade).

So, I've been wondering; what skates should I get - Riedells or Jacksons? And also, what are the best blades for my skating level (I am working on my single lutz, camel, and back sit)? Any advice and skate suggestions/feedback would be greatly appreciated!

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I can't imagine real jumps and camels in Riedell Blue Ribbons! Those are just a few steps above entry level recreational skates.

There is no one right skate for everyone because everyone's feet are different. In general, Jacksons are wider than Riedells. You should go to a good pro shop and get fitted. The stiffness of the boot you get will depend on your skill level, athleticism (do you attack your jumps, and do many in one session, or do you go at it more slowly and cautiously?), and weight. A stiffer boot is needed for more doubles, more athletic skaters, and heavier skaters. Examples of boots good for the average skater doing singles are the Jackson Freestyle and the Riedell Bronze Star. Since you are doing single jumps and spinning, you do need a freestyle blade. You will almost certainly have to buy boots and blades separately. The Wilson Coronation Ace is a versatile blade that can take you through your Axel and into doubles. It's also a fairly high quality blade and worth the price, IMO.

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I went to my rink's pro shop, but they don't have any skates my size (I am size 9; haha, I guess I have big feet for a 12-year-old ). They said that I had to request a certain brand of skates and blades my size, and then do the fitting there. Oh, yeah, and my mom says my feet are wide, but my Riedells are mostly OK on me (sometimes they leave slight blisters though). I am not very sure about which boot to get - I have wide feet, I'm like 110 lbs, and I'm a pretty athletic skater... I guess I should get a mix of Jackson and Riedell boots, ha. The guy at the pro shop recommended some Wilson Excel blade, is that one a good choice with Jackson Freestyles?

Thanks for all the info, dbny.

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Run away and find a better place to get new boots and blades if you have to special order just to try on. Ask someone else at the rink where they go.

Absolutely!!! Also, do not go with the Wilson Excel. It would be an improvement from what you have now, but it won't last as long as you might want and it is an all purpose blade, not a freestyle blade. Basically a waste of $, IMO.

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DO NOT get the Wilson Excel blades. Those are beginner all-purpose blades that do not have a good rocker or big toepick you will need for Axel and doubles (after you get your Lutz) and for more complicated spins. I highly recommend the MK Professional - my coach recommends it to everyone, and I know several skaters who use them and love them, as do I. As for boots, I've only had custom Klingbeil (I have a large foot myself), and they are great but expensive. I noticed other people have given you suggestions for boots, so good luck!

MK Pros are what I have and I LOVE them!! My coach recommends these to her students usually as a step up from the Club 2000 blade. I know right now she has students using MK Professionals and working on landing everything from single loops through doubles. Usually after the 2sal and 2toe she likes to switch her skaters to the Pattern 99 blades.
As an example I skate Pre-Prelim Freestyle, working on landing axel and 2sal, I can do laybacks, camels, combo spins and working on a good flying camel. I absolutly love these blades.

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Working on:
NOVICE! MIF
Juvenile FS
Bronze Dances

My rink's skating director told me to get these "MK IV" blades; is that the same thing as MK Professionals? It costs $185 all together with Jackson Freestyle boots...

Also, my parents want to buy skates that are as cheap as possible (though obviously appropriate as well...) - so the price of the boots & blades together can't exceed $300.

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Since you have a goal of landing an axel this summer, I would get the Jackson Freestyle boots and upgrade the blade to an MK Professional. The Mark IV blades are a good all-around blade, but the MK Pro is better for a skater of your level.


ETA:
Boots and blades are the only equipment you really NEED to buy in this sport.
(Although hard guards are a close second.)
You don't have to buy spin trainers, cutesy soft guards, or fancy skate bags - they're just nice to have.
It makes no sense to pay for lessons and ice time, but cheap out on the equipment.

Anyway you could offer to pay for (or work off) the extra money for the better blade?

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I third the vote on MK Pros. You're WAAAAY beyond Wilson Excels, if you're doing lutz, axels and back sit.

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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!!!

Yes, get a better, more experienced boot fitter. Also, make sure you ask if you have "mixed width" feet. My feet are wide in the front but narrow in the heel and I went through two pairs of boots before I realized why my heel kept slipping up in my boots during sitspins and catching the back of my blade in the ice! As for the blades, either the MK Professional or Coronation Ace would be perfect for the level you're at now, as well as axels and doubles.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

How much do MK Pros normally cost? My parents won't let me get any blades that cost more than $100 or so...

By the way, I am not exactly working on THE axel; I'm just doing the prep work such as waltz/backspin, waltz/loop, etc. I'm to scared to try the jump!

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Riedell lists them for $208 but I want to say I paid a little less through my skate fitter...maybe $150 or so?
If you need a size 10 3/4 " blade I have a very good condition pair of MK pros to sell cheap. Only used for a year. My feet shrunk and I had to get new ones!

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Working on:
NOVICE! MIF
Juvenile FS
Bronze Dances

For that price and level, I noticed that the Gam 50 with G3 blade works. Anyone have experience with them?

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Me, on skating. Me, on me.
"It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness." ~ Tolstoy, via JWeir.
"I am not a pretty girl. That is not what I do." ~ Ani DiFranco

I have Mark IV's which came with my current boots, and I am finding them fantastic. In fact, my coach actually asked me a few weeks ago what blade they were and had I bought them separately as they were really nice ones and had a really nice large toe pick.

I was quite flattered I finally got something right! I really recommend them, although I am not doing jumps or spins on them just yet. I have them with Risport RF4s.

My first pair was a new but an old-model of Jackson Competitor which came with MK Mark IV blades. The whole set was a good bargain of under $90 (4 years ago). They walked me nicely for 8 months from ISI Pre-Alpha to Delta. My pre-alpha group instructor, an Olympic ice dance medalist, complimented on the blades once. Until I progressed to FS1/2, I started feeling the boots are not secure enough and went ahead to buy Riedell Gold Star with Coronation Ace. From your post, you may want to have something suit your level well and have enough support to avoid injuries. MK Pro or Coronation Ace are nice freestyle blades. Many people can testify them. If money is an issue, try to find older model boots and lightly used high-end blades. New boots/blades price is pretty fixed and less negotiable on the market.

Luna

I recently bought a pair of these for my 9 year old daughter who is working on her single jumps, waltz, toe-loop, salchow.

I think the boots are excellent value for money, I would compare them favourably to Jackson Freestyle, possibly even competitors. Most of the skaters here working around the axel level are in Competitors and MK Pros or similar.

The blurb for the GAM G3 says the blades are suitable for doubles. The toe-pick cluster isn't all that different looking to the MK Pros, however I intend changing my daughter up to the Pros before she gets to axels.

However, I like big toe-picks, so I guess it's a personal preference thing.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

Thank you for the info, everyone! Today I've finally requested Jackson Freestyles with Mark IV blades ($185 all together with sharpening). My parents don't believe I am good enough for MK Pros.

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My boots and blades that I have now that should last me through the axel and the first doubles were $450 together. I can't imagine that you can get a good quality boot and blad for only 200. My blade alone was $200! But I guess you'll have to live with what your parents allow you to have. Let me know how they work out for you.

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It occurs to me that MK should change the name of their Professional model. For every person who buys them thinking they must be getting really good to warrant professional standard blades, there must be at least 2 who think they are not worthy of anything called professional.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am