Hey guys. I just signed up an hour ago after looking for some reviews. Im a 13 year old male that is currently ice skating. At the moment i got moved up to grade 10 which is the last grade. Then it goes onto bronze silver and gold. Im thinking of doing figure skating for those 3 things i stated. Im in nottingham if that helps. Im thinking of getting the Risport RF4 for £130 or the Edea Overture for £140. This is my own money so nx parents aren't worried. However i have read the tips and so on. But everyone says dont use the rink sharpener. I dont know but my rink is the only place where i can sharpen ice skates. If anyone in the uk knows anywhere that is expert sharpening and accept postage that would be fine. Im looking for reviews on the two skates i mentioned. The Edea Overture and the Risport RF4. If anyone can recommend any other skates then that is fine. I can buy online. One last question. If i were to send my skates in the post would i send then in a padded parcel with insurance post or could i ask for a courier. And any extra tips for caring about my ice skates. Also does weight play a factor in the life of skates because i am overweight and dont want to spend money on nothing. Thank you so much for your help. This forum is great. Also any tips on to increase my flexibility or to lose weight and how to jump higher. Sorry if those have been answered or this isn't the place. Thanks.
Yui
Edit: if anyone can recommend me any skates or boots and blades if its just a boot. Limit will be around £200 altogether. Thanks

Welcome to the forums! I'm a skater in the UK but skate in the south. I started out in Risports and they are a decent boot for someone of your level, but they do come up quite narrow so if you have wide feet, they may not be the best bet. The Edea is becoming a popular boot but having never skated in them myself I can't really advise. However if you think you are going to stick with skating, it may be worth you being correctly fitted with skates by a professional skate fitter such as John Turner. That way you will be fitted with boots appropriate to your weight and level of skating which will fit properly.

As for sharpening, when people say never get the guys at the rink to do them, they generally mean the skate stewards as that is what happens at our rink. You need to find a professional sharpener who deals with figure skating blades. I suggest you ask one of the coaches at Nottingham to recommend a sharpener, or some of the regular skaters up there, as there will be someone that they all use for blade sharpening who can do a good job.

As for the weight issue, I think that as long as you eat sensibly, you will no doubt find the skating will really help you to lose it. I certainly wouldn't worry too much as I've seen it so often in people your age who fill out a bit before shooting up! The key is to ensure you eat a balanced diet and get plenty of exercise which you will do with the skating!

I hope this helps a little.

Nicki

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Thanks so much Nicki. At my arena they use a machine. Also my feet are a bit wide and the arena i skate at is the national ice arena in nottingham. it is part of the national ice skating association. the sharpening is done by a machine and thanks for the name of that company or person. ill check it out. any other brands you can recommend though? thanks

I'd recommend talking to the coaches at the rink and asking them about where they get their skates sharpened or where they recommend their skaters go. Some of the rinks in the UK have a professional sharpener come visit. I don't know about Nottingham but you might be able to spot a sign somewhere at the rink or find someone to advise.
With regards to boots, it's important to try the boots on to make sure you get a good fit (like all shoes and boots in that sense). I've not visited Nottingham so don't know if there is a rink shop where they could measure you and let you try both the boots you are interested in, but I believe there are other skate shops if you investigate near Nottingham (although you may have to ask your parents to drive you to them).
I started in Risports and now skate in Jacksons. I know other people who are in Riedells. I think for the level that you are at, any boot similar to the RF4 will be suitable for you. You don't want to buy "too much" boot as it will be too stiff and hard to break in. I think for the price you are willing to spend you shouldn't have too many problems. Also are your feet still growing? if they are you may want to enquire at the rink and see about buying second hand boots. Quite often they're broken in and not broken down, because people grow out of them quickly, but as you're a guy you might have difficulty finding black boots as there's normally more white available.
Good luck in finding boots, and I hope you continue to enjoy skating.

Hi, Yui. As the others have said, talk to your coach or group instructor (if she's called Vivienne or Kathy, say hi to her from me, please!) and ask where to get them done.

Either boot will be fine, depending on which fits your feet better; if I were you, I'd go for Coronation Ace or MK Pro blades, as these are a good all-round blade for anybody from the top end of Skate UK right up to beginning double jumps. But again, your teacher will know, and will tell you how to be measured. Also, they will know if there are any 2nd-hand ones in your size going cheap. If they are white, you can always dye them black, or wear boot covers!

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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!

Thanks guys. Ill look at those blades you mentioned. Also i am allowed to try the skates on. When i restart my courses ill speak to a coach. Mrs redboots who should i say hi from if i find them. Also do you know there second names? Are those blades expensive and if i get them what boot should i get with them. Ill ask my group coach and i think i've had a coach called kathy. I will be spending a max of 200 or so. Also redboots do you know where i can watch figure skating championships. And if you know do england host any championships for advanced people and if so how would you participate in them. I think im leaning towards the rf4 as most people have said risport are good. I checked the websites of edea and risport and they both have around the ran stiffness. Im overweight and 150 or something pounds. Any tips are welcome to help me jump higher or spin more. Also what would be suitable. At this moment i year casual while doing my grades. A boot name would be nice that would work with that blade you suggested. My rink uses a machine to sharpen and i bought my hockey skates from their. They let you try them on and walk. Would i have to wear hard guards when at the ice arena but off ice. The floors are padded at the rink. If i buy the blade seperately can i take it to my rink to to put it together? Any inspirational videos would be nice.

There are lots of Open competitions going on around the rinks during the course of the year, mostly in the summer; I expect Nottingham has one. When you have passed your Gold Passport, you will be eligible to enter at the lowest level, providing you have a qualified coach (you can't enter without).

The main championships are held in December, usually at Sheffield or Nottingham (they were at Nottingham last time, when they were in late January), which is the time to watch the cream of British skating. There are also what's called IJS events, which are for high-level skaters; usually three or four a year. Look on the NISA website to find the calendar of events.

If you want to get good enough to compete and so on, you will probably need to take private lessons, although I have a feeling the system at Nottingham may be a little different. Talk to the group instructor about this. As for boots, you said yourself either Risport or Edea - basically, an entry-level boot in whatever brand best fits your feet. Again, ask your instructor whether there are any outgrown boots in your size - second-hand is fine at your level. You can always dye them if they are a "girly" colour!

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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!

well, any sites on where to buy boots on their own. also would it be advisable to get the edea's instead since my feet are kinda wide. however i have searched up the blades and they seem fine. ill ask my group coach next time i go skating which will be in may since its the ice arena holiday. no sessions. also any links to coaches in advance? ill ask my group coach about second hand skates. but im not expecting them for free am i? and ill check the NISA calender see if i can attend any championships near me. quite inspiring. thanks RedBoots

Hi and welcome to the forum!

For inspirational videos, just go to YouTube and search for figure skating. Also, if you have a favorite skater, do a search for him or her and you're sure to get tons of vids.