I looked at the other recent thread about skates for a very little one, and tried searching through the rest of the site, but I could only find advice about sharpening blades and optimising their life span (helpful although I haven't got to that stage yet).
Anyway, my DD's coach has suggested she get 'Jackson Freestyles'. She's a tiny size and they don't have any second hand (of any brand). The coach gave me a web site adress to get them for a fraction of the pro shop price.
The pro shop lady wasn't very approving of the type of shoe suggested though. She said it was a far more expensive and advanced boot than my beginnner DD could possibly need and she thought coach should have suggested something cheaper. (Although she didn't know we were there to be sized then buy much cheaper online).
I thought I'd ask around here for some feedback before I order anything.
I found a few parents at the rink who'd gotten their kids' boots from the website and they were all really happy.
On the other hand, I've read stories on this forum of people not being 100% happy with fit and going back to their shop and getting them altered and even replaced, which I'm suspecting an online shop may not do.
What do you guys think??
PS: Just looked at the web site and was very surprised to find it's a US-based business!! Anyone used www.rainbosports.com??

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Utterly clueless parent of 5 y/o beginner

... and they're US$40 cheaper at:
http://www.bestbuyfigureskating.com/shopexd.asp?id=55

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Utterly clueless parent of 5 y/o beginner

PS: Coach mentioned buying with growing room because fit won't matter so much for a couple of months doing simple skills then by the time they fit well she'll have the right skates. I gather this will save money in the long run?

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Utterly clueless parent of 5 y/o beginner

Freestyles are way too stiff, she won't be able to skate in them. Especially at a tiny 5 years old! My DS wore them and was able to use them effectively only at age 9 and 5'4" tall with powerful stroking and jumps

Online is only for skating dresses and for an adult buying a model that they have bought before. You don't know what brand or size your DD will wear, and you can't rely on on-line fitting guides and/or her shoe size. If she's beginning to skate, she needs decently fitted skates that are right for her.

Plus, after you get the skates, you need to then have them fitted on the kid. Jacksons are heat moulded; you may need ankles punched; etc. You won't be able to do that yourself, and you're a newbie parent: you likely are not yet able to determine if something fits right, and your kid is a newbie skater who may not be able to tell what is "right" and what is"wrong", add that to her young age... you want a good fitter who will spend time with her.

Growing room is nice, but, frankly, it can be a problem if they are too big. Kids can't skate in skates that are too big. Plus, kids feet do not necessarily grow quickly. My DD, who is tiny like your kid, has been in the same size comfortably for a year. How fast does your kid outgrow sneakers? Mine doesn't, because she's tiny.

Don't try to save money on skates. They are the only important equipment your kid needs, barring, likely, a good helmet.

But, if she can't do the simple skills because they are too big, that will be a waste of time, money and create frustration.

If your looking at Jacksons for a 5yo beginner the Classique would be a far better choice, the Freestyle is way to stiff for a beginning skater. Check several area skate shops for used skates, your better off driving a bit farther a field to get the right skate than compromising on fit. Also ask around the rink there are usually parents with skates that their child has outgrown.

Get them fitted properly at a skate shop or read the following http://www.inneredge.ca/skatefitting.html to understand how to fit properly. NOTE: for a young child you can get away with a full index finger width when fitting without compromising their ability to skate. As they become more accomplished skaters the half finger width rule is better.

One advantage of getting used skates from a parent a the rink is you can try them out on a session and see if your child finds them comfortable. Any good skate shop will also take skates back within the first week or so, ask them.

The Mystiques might also be a good option, or the top-end Glaciers: They are cut on the Jackson last, they are reasonably cost effective, they can be broken in by small people, and the blades do have a toe-pick. Not the SoftSkate, but, I think the model is the 520 - ?

But, that's assuming the child fits Jackson skates ... they were way too wide for my kid, which is why we swapped into Riedells, which were narrower, and, frankly, at the entry level model (115, 117) - were so much lighter and easier to break in (cheaper too!) A good skate fitter will be able to take all of these considerations into account, and make a good recommendation.

My only concern about the 2nd hand skates is that the OP is new to the sport, and may not know what to look for. I've seen way too many kids in badly fitted/inappropriate 2nd hand skates that were chosen because they were available and apparently the right size ... she will need a knowledgeable person to yea/nay the skates, KWIM?

The folks at Rainbo are terrific - they've been fitting our skates for years. But we live close enough that we can go to their store and be fitted in person. I believe that they would work with you via mail order to make sure that you got what you needed. BUT - I agree with the people above who say that you really need to build a relationship with your local fitter if your skater is going to be in this for the long haul. If a good local fitter is not available in your area and mail order is your only choice, I do trust Rainbo. But I'd much rather work with my fitter in person.

I think the Jackson Freestyle recommendation was a mistake. Perhaps the coach/fitter meant a skate that is "good for freestyle skating." It is the lowest-level all-leather boot in the Jackson line.

IMO, the Jackson Artiste would be a more appropriate choice since they have Ultima Mark IV blades. Those are fine beginner and introductory freestyle blades. The boot is leather and can be stretched if they get a little tight. The soles are PVC, not leather, but she'll outgrow them before she needs a blade replacement.

The smallest Jackson Freestyle skates are size 11.
The Jackson Artiste skates start at a toddler size 8, much smaller. BUT, they only come in a "C" (wide) width.

If Riedell is an option, the Bronze/Silver/Gold Medallions are very good, all-leather skates that can be heat-molded. They come with a good beginner and low-level freestyle blade, or you can order an upgraded blade if desired. Since Riedell renamed their skates, the Medallions are on clearance at many stores and online portals.

I didn't think you had pro shops in Australia. Good for you - sounds like the saleswoman knows her stuff.
Ask her to measure your daughter for both Riedell and Jackson skates, length and width. Write it down so you remember when the order comes in, to be sure you receive the correct size.

When you calculate the cost of the pro shop or the website, add in sharpening, fitting, measuring, and shipping.
It probably works out to the same price within a few dollars.

If you do order a little bigger for growth, buy a foam insole at the drugstore and cut it to fit UNDER her existing insole.
That'll fill up the gap a little and help your daughter manage the bigger skate. When her foot grows, take out the insole.

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Sadly, not even close. The Jackson Mystiques here retail at $279 , but if I know the size and can get them online, I can get them shipped for less than half that, including currency exchange. (As a comparison, new Coronation Aces are over $400 in our local shop!) I suppose it goes with the territory - our public sessions are $17 as opposed to $5 in the US!

I wonder if the OP can have her skater borrow a pair from another skater to try out the brand for comfort and fit before actually buying them? I don't know what the common brand/s is/are where she is - down here, the beginners are in Risports (= "narrow feet") or Jacksons (= "wide feet"). Pretty much, there ain't no other option.

My two cents. Little kid's feet are vulnerable. The bones are growing; they are soft and malleable; they are at risk of damage due to misfitted shoes and other footwear. Skates are hard leather boxes. If they are the wrong shape or size, they will win out over the tiny bones in a child's feet. I have seen the damage done to little people's feet due to poorly fitted shoes; it's not pleasant.

I spend as much time having my tiny LTS's skates fitted as I do my older test and competitive track kids. As a result, when her skates come off, there are no red pressure sores; her feet stay where they are supposed to be in her skates; there are no blisters, and no lacebite. When they are outgrown, I trade them in. Her Riedells cost us $110 Canadian, and she is in them because the fitter analyzed her feet, her skating level, and her size.

When our older two kids started skating, we ended up in second hand skates once which were far too stiff; misfitting skates that caused scarring on the feet; skates with mismounted blades; etc. We wanted to save money, but, in the end, it cost us. My son's Achilles tendon is permanently damaged due to pressure on it from mis-fitting boots - we didn't know, we thought that they were supposed to hurt! He has permanent scars as well from infected blisters. My DD ended up in skates that were so stiff that she couldn't bend her knees ... and she was so frustrated that she nearly quit skating.

Once we put ourselves in the hands of a good fitter, we had no problems. We figured out that skimping on skates was simply stupid (and so was assuming that spending more meant better skates ... overbooting causes lots of problems too). We'd rather knock back a lesson or so a month and bank the savings towards new skates (granted, nowadays, it would have to be A LOT of lessons, but, this is back in the day!) - then have the kids in the wrong equipment. Frankly, as well, it saved us cash, as the fitter put them in the right boots, not the most expensive (read: too stiff and overbooted). The time the fitter spent shaping and fitting the kids skates (plus the skating chat and interest in their progress) was invaluable.

Our littlest is now benefitting from our hard won knowledge, and we really wish we had given her older siblings the same advantage back then. It would certainly have saved us in terms of medical and physiotherapy bills.

Skating is expensive. If you need to cut back on stuff, then, cut back on the frills that seem to attach themselves to the sport: Zuca Bags, multiple dresses, etc etc etc. Without skates, there is no skating.

I agree with most of what you said.However there are some of us that MUST buy online. We have for over 7 years, and neither of my skaters has had blisters or any other issues. Maybe we have lucked out, but a phone call, fax tracings of feet ect works as well.Fitters are GREAT if you live near one, but we have nothing in our state and I think the op is from out of the country.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/alaskanmom

Jackson Freestyles are way too stiff for a 5 year old learning to skate. One thing that many new parents into skating don't realize is that you can easily "over-boot" your child. Bending the knees is imperative to skating and with boots too stiff, it's impossible. Your pro-shop is correct..... Another thing, your daughter will probably outgrow any pair of skates before she breaks them down! Therefore, if you over boot her, it will be worse.

I used to order my daughter's skates online - it is cheaper. At the least, you can get fitted for a particular brand, tell your pro-shop you can get those for ____ online and they may work with you on price, if not, then purchasae online. The boots and blades come together in the lower level skates so you won't need mounting...just sharpening!

As far as getting them with room to grow....please don't do that - it'll just inhibit your daughter's progression. Never buy figure skates with room to grow...it's just part of the sport that we all have to deal with.

Here's a link to a website that has these skates as well as other things.

http://www.discountskatewear.com/m-3...tionFilterID=2

But the OP said that she has a local fitter who recommended against the Freestyle boot for her young daughter.

If you're in a situation where there's only one fitter and they charge far more than an online price (all services/shipping considered), you gotta ask why they're so overpriced. They're throwing away customers by overcharging. I've been honest as to my reasons when asked why I don't shop at our pro shop. I'm in a different situation, as is sk8tmum, because I KNOW what I want to buy and I can wait for sales and such online.

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When my son started learn to skate classes (age 5) I initially bought him some really little (girls) skates - second hand. The fitted perfectly. He did a course and then we skipped one (would miss out because of going on holiday). The next course - 2 months later - the original pair were to small.
Because his ankles were/and still are very slim we can't get too big waiting for him to grow as it just doesn't work.

He is still in soft beginner boots (age 7) and working on loop (a type of jump) combinations and various other things. I think at the point where he has a consistent lutz jump (slightly more advanced jump) the coaches will start asking for special blades/???boots. The pair he is currently wearing was the first one I had to buy new. Only because the slightly older boy we always bought from gave up ice-skating. His last ones (I bought second hand) we sold on to one of his friends - only just starting to get a crease when third hand!

They weigh so little at his age that they do get away with much lighter boots!

I agree with all of this. You had a skater who was 5'4" at 9? I thought I was the only one with bean poles!

This is the best advice on this subject. Good skates, good for the skater. That's what matters most.

As a coach, I recommend Reidell Medallion series to my beginning students.

Kay

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