I have custom Klingbeils with Gold Seals. I previously had Graf Edmonton Specials with MK Gold Stars - those boots were very problematic for me. Prior to that I just had some used things off eBay that were too small and made my feet numb, and some cheap vinyl ones (also off eBay) that wore out super-fast. Each pair lasted less than a month...but they were only about $20 or so, so what do you expect?

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

Gam ultra 95's and coronation Aces.
I hate these boots with a passion as they are as stiff as hell and give me so much grief. I have on order a pair of Wifa Synchro deluxe, in tan and intend to re-use the blades as they are fab. In truth it's my own fault for buying 'too much boot' for my level of skating. I am starting jumps and spins and really didn't need concrete boots, but you live and learn!!! 80+ hours skating and they are no more comfortable than the day I bought them. Hope my Wifas are ready soon.......

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Level one Field Moves......PASSED 05.06.08
Level one Free dance.....PASSED 02.10.08

GOALS FOR 2009

• Level One Compulsary dances.......PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Elements.....................PASSED 10.07.09
• Level Two Free dance.................PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Free...........................
• Level Two compulsory dances.......

Loving it, Loving it, Loving it!!!!!

I'm surprised I never responded to this thread!

I have custom Klingbeils with Phantom blades. I lurve them.

I tie my laces straight for the first four hooks, then half-knot, then around the outside hook, then half-knot, bow, and I double knot the bow. My right boot has a small lace loop that I pull over the outside hooks. This was a quick and dirty solution to stop the tongue from folding down too far when I bend.

I have Graf Richmond Specials which I love! They have a good level of support and padding and were comfortable from the first wearing and easy to break in. I have John Wilson Pattern 99 blades which I like too! The big toe big seems to give me lots of stability on toe jumps and I like feeling close to the ice. I have heard that these blades are not good for spinning though and wonder what spinning on other blades would feel like.

I have SP Teri Super Teri boots with Coronation Ace blades.
I love my skates

I have Risport Super Diamants and Coronation Comet blades. I love the boots and the blades have served me well although I'm considering a switch the next time I need new blades (but that won't be for a while yet) - not sure to what and I might just stick with the Comets, we'll see when the time comes, I guess.

Risport Super Dimantes and Coronation Ace blades... Still as good as ever from 11 years back now I've got their suppleness back and hopefully will serve me for a while yet.

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If you want the best seat in the house, you'll have to move the cat!

This is an old thread, but I'll update my info.

White custom Klingbeils with JW Gold Seal blades.

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Updating my info, too: Like my last pair, I'm in Jackson 2700 with MK Pro blades. I LOVE my skates. This pair is a split width: AA heel and C ball. (Previous pair were A heel and B ball.) This pair feels even better than my last pair--my toes really have enough room--no punching was needed--and my heels are really held in place.

The odd thing is that the blades on this pair are 1/4" longer than on the previous pair (9 1/4 vs 9) even though the size of the boot is the same. I've heard there can be some variation from boot to boot even for boots of the same size, so it must be that....

It feels like these have taken less time to break in--I was in them about 3 weeks before freestyle started to feel really comfortable. The previous pair took about 2 months to feel broken in, probably because the elements I was doing then were less advanced (my highest jump at that time was the sal and I was on prebronze moves; now I'm doing all singles except axel, in combination with loop, and I'm starting to learn the silver moves).

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

Updating my info... I got TASHAKAT'S BOOTS!!! (Well, not exactly HER boots but one like it...) I finally skated well and long enough to know that I'm staying in the sport for the long haul. I have pronating problems and skinny ankles, which is impacting my lower back. (All those years of high impact aerobics 4 days a week plus running finally caught up with me when I tried to do bigger jumps.) Soooooo... with my secondary coach's suggestion, I got my PURPLE custom Harlicks with orthotics and a slightly shorter MK Pro blades (they're now 9-1/2's, instead of 9-3/2.) Of course, she would have recommended Coronation Aces, but I'm happy with my MK Pros so far and don't see the point of switching Coronation Aces.

I was half tempted to get the gold bling MK Gold Star blades, but I just haven't gotten to the point in my skating where I can justify spending an extra $200 for them. Besides, according to my boot guy, MK Pros will last well into doubles, are made with very good material, and will last thru many sharpenings! It's more economical in the long run, I think.

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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!!!

Mikawendy, how much more did it cost to get the C ball AA heel split width? Did you have to get customs?

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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

I think it depends on how much of an angle there is in the heel part of the sole - the more it was sanded down during production the shorter the length of the bottom of the sole will be. But perhaps the old blades just didn't go all the way to the back of the heel? They can be a bit shorter...I think the most common configuration is to leave a 1/4" or so gap between the back of the heel plate and back of the heel.

Do you notice any difference in the blade performance? My current blades are 3/4" shorter than my last ones - and now if I try to skate in my old skates I can't really, but I think that may just be because the boots are very different.

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

Wifa Diamond boots and Phantom special blades.

I have Graf Richmond Special boots and John Watts Evolution blades. I LOVE them both!

I have Jackson Elite Plus (Suede) and Gold Seals!!!! Unless I find a better blade, (highly unlikely) I will never use anything else but Gold Seals.

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Proud to be one of the few black men out on the ice

Goals
Pass my Silver Moves Test
Finish Choreography for Silver Program
Land a Clean Double Toe and Double Lutz
Work on Double Axel and Rockers
Speed up back Camel

I just got my new Jackson Freestyles with Mark IV blades, which are considered to be slightly too recreational for my level, but ah wellllll.

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Wear 'em out, Wannabes8r! That's how I ended up buying Klingbeil's - I kept breaking down my mid-level stock Riedell's. LOL

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Jackson Competitor with the stock mirage blade.

These are my first serious (as in blades-not-permanently-attached-to-the-boots) skates.

Love, love, love.

I skate in Graf Edmonton Specials with turqouise paramount 440 blades...most comfortable skate ive ever worn- the first time i wore them it was like i had them for years! unfortunatly, Ive only had the grafs for 4 months and ive already trashed them. Anyone ever have a graf rebuilt?

I also teach in pink sp-teri pro teri's (which i despise) with pink paramount 420's. maybe ill just plop a pair of blades on my ugg boots.

You were way smarter than me, I didn't think (or was too embarassed) to ask something so simple. )

I don't know that I really need custom Klingbeil's but I live all of 2 miles from the place, and they are very comfy. The star treatment is a blast.

-Liz

I skate in S.P. Teri's with Pattern 99 blades and I absolutely love them. I still wear gel socks in my skates, and pre-gel socks, they were difficult to break in. Previously, I wore Gam's and Risport when I was little. I have to say, I couldn't imagine not wearing S.P.Teri's now that I have been in them for so long.

I skate in custom SP Teri boots and MK Vision blades. I have had this particular pair for 10 years! I trained regularly for 2 years in them and then skated sporadically (once a week or less) until about 6 months ago when I started training for AN. Luckily I was able to get all my doubles back even though they are broken down. I hope to get new boots/blades this summer, but it seems like things have changed so much in the past ten years! I don't know if I should stay with the same or try something that might help me jump higher/spin faster (like all the ads proclaim)...

I'm really interested in this also. I'm currently in Riedell Silver Stars with a MK Professional blade. I have very narrow heels and every since I started skating 3 years ago I have had trouble with them moving/lifting up especially when I spin. My boots are a B ball, A heel width (do Silver Stars just come that way?) and I have already had the heels punched IN once. I've had the boots for 14 month and when I hit the one year mark my heels started moving again. I also wear bunga pads to help with this. Other that that, I ADORE my Silver Stars - they haven't broken down yet. I'm working on the last 1/4" rotation on the axel and landing a 2sal.

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Working on:
NOVICE! MIF
Juvenile FS
Bronze Dances

I have custom Klingbeil with MK Professional blades. The Klingbeils were made for someone else who then decided she didn't want them, so they sat around at the rink's shop for over a year. When I went in with my size-11 foot, the Klingbeils were the only skates (in stock) in my size! So, I was really lucky that they fit, and I got 1/2 off the price I've had the boots for almost 2 years, very comfortable and no problems. I started with Excel blades (yuck), but quickly moved to the MK Pro parabolic, which I love.

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The skating may not sparkle, but my dress sure does!

Just passed: Pre-Bronze MIF & Freeskate. Next goal: Bronze tests in July.

updated.
since the last entry I now skate in Wifa Synchro deluxes, with Coronation Ace blades. These were comparitively comfortable compared to my old boots and I've been lucky enough not to have had any problems whatsoever with them. I'm still breaking them in really but they have made a huge difference to my skating

__________________
Level one Field Moves......PASSED 05.06.08
Level one Free dance.....PASSED 02.10.08

GOALS FOR 2009

• Level One Compulsary dances.......PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Elements.....................PASSED 10.07.09
• Level Two Free dance.................PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Free...........................
• Level Two compulsory dances.......

Loving it, Loving it, Loving it!!!!!