Okay, it's been asked 1000 times, but I need help here.

I am 46 yo, I am fat 100kg= 200lbs+ with very wide feet at the ball (bunions).

After 20 years I am returning to the ice. I thought it would be mainly going round and round, but after 4 sessions I have achieved my first landed waltz and toe loop jumps in 20 years, and a 3 rotation spin.

20 years ago I was learning axels and double toe-loops, flying camels, and had all single jumps and basic spins. I doubt I'll get to the doubles this time around, but who knows, right?

But the jackson Mystiques I got cheap on Ebay just don't fit and aren't up to it. I NEED better boots.

I'm thinking GAM, or Graf Galaxy or something like that. I need heaps of support because I'm so fat, but also flexibility to bend ('cos my old knees don't like to) that won't take forever to break in.

My local rink is not the place to go for help, they'd have like 5 sets of boots in stock - all kids and they're only pushing Riedell. Driving myself nuts looking at all the online stores and brand websites, and am still no closer to putting in an order.

Any of you guys out there got suggestions for a middle-aged, fat lady with wide feet?

Karen

Place no limitations on yourself - there's plenty of people out there who'll to do that for you

No,not the rink. Usually (well, here) that pro shop is only good for hockey crap. FInd a good pro shop that carries lots of different types of boots. Ask some of the competitive looking skaters

Mid-range Gams are great - I had them when I was fat, and they lasted several years even when I weighed over 200 lbs*.

But do get them fitted by an expert - ask the teachers at your rink where to go to be fitted, they'll know.

*Down to 147 lbs this morning; I haven't been that low since I gave up smoking in February 1994, so I'm very pleased with myself!

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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!

I was fitted for Jackson Competitors (about $200) when I was topping 190 pounds-not that far from your weight, very far skill-wise though! They come in D width but take 4-8 weeks to arrive.

Many of the women at my rink are switching to Gams. One has gotten the coach Gams for the warmth and extra comfort built in. Another will soon be getting hers. These women are "bigger girls" than your 120-pound woman. One just got hers in and loves them (hers were complete customs-weird feet). The other in eagerly anticipating!

One thing to keep in mind-as the weight comes off-the feet also shrink!

I'm on my 2nd pair of skates in just as many years, down one whole width (from D to a C) and 1/2 in length; and seriously contemplating another purchase because my feet are swimming!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

I know of a few skaters who, from your description, share your build and are in Gams. I'm in Gams myself and think they are wonderful. I see far more skaters in Gams now than I used to. The competitive skaters at my rink are all in Gam, Graf, or Riedell, and I think I've seen one Sp-Teri.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

I don't know where you live, but I would go to Klingbeil. He tends to make a wide boot anyway and he makes custom boots at about the same price at the heat molded Jackson 3500's. You can even call and send your measurements I think.

I think Gams are superb for the larger skater. The only people I've known who've had trouble with them have been much, much thinner.

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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!

I went to go look for the "Poll: Boots and Blades" and found this:
http://skatingforums.com/showthread....1&page=1&pp=25

It looks like the first few pages (with the useful information) is all gone.

The reason for the thread was to have a resource for people to read and see what people their size/height/level/foot type liked...



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I did a search for my username and was able to pull up the entire thread...

http://skatingforums.com/showthread....hlight=tabalie

Hope this helps!

(This board is playing tricks on me!)

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Natalie

http://www.ILoveTaB.com

It's not playing tricks....I split the thread since half the posts were very far off-topic.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
--Thomas Jefferson

www.signingtime.com ~sign language fun for all!

Thanks for the suggestions, sounds like Gam might be a good choice then. Any suggestions on the model? Also, can anyone recommend a really good supplier who deals over the internet?

I live in a really out of the way place in Australia, with one tiny rink in the whole state. So there is no-one who can fit boots here. The rink is it.
I was talking to a coach yesterday, she likes her Gams.

One thing she said about them which I hadn't considered before. We both used to have an Australian brand boot - Altamura, which are no longer made. They had quite high heels, this coach said it took quite some adjusting to get used to lower heels, that it put her centre of balance on the blade off for quite a while. I'm going to run with that as the perfect excuse as to why my balance is all over the place in my Mystiques. It couldn't be me, it must be my equipment!


Karen
Don't place limitations on yourself - there are plenty of people out there who'll do that for you

TaBalie, from the looks of it, the "non-boot non-blade" posts in the thread you started were split off as they were OT, and then the split-off part of the thread was locked by the moderator.

Hey Karen - nice to see another skater down under!! Where are you? Sounds like Hobart!

Hi AussieSkater, yes I live in Hobart. There is only the one rink in Tasmania.
I'm not complaining, at least there is one!

On my skate search: there is a guy selling boots on Ebay, says they're from a closed pro shop. He has Graf Galaxy in my size for $275 US, which sounds like a bargain.

Given what I've said about my size etc, does anyone think it's a bad idea to go for the Grafs?

Speak now, or my feet will have to live with the results

Karen

Beware of "Closed Pro Shop" skates. Sometimes, they're moldy oldies. Sometimes, they're used rental skates. Get a good picture before you buy. Ask specifically about rust, mold, waterproofing. Ask for the measurements of the innersole: length, width at the heel, and width at the ball. Obviously, you should measure your foot and see if these numbers jive.


I would recommend the Jackson Freestyles. My daughter is 5'8" and they provide great support. If you can get a Reidell Medallion skate (bronze, silver, and gold) they're comparable to the Freestyle.

However, I have a pair of hand-me-down Grafs for my kids and they're really nice skates. I think you'll do fine with them.

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Well, I did it, bought the Graf Galaxy boots. Hope they will be what I need.
Thanks again everyone for your suggestions.

Karen

I see a lot are skating in Gams. Has anyone had problems with them rubbing at the spot right above (about an inch or two) the ankle bone on the outside of the legs? My daughter keeps getting abraded there and bunga pads only seem to make it worse.

Would it help to get it punched out?

It's really bothering her and almost keeps her from skating. She's disgusted and all she does is whine, saying she want's new skates (no way-these puppies cost over $400 because they were semi-customs!) I'm afraid these "wounds" might get worse and prevent her from skating in the ice shows.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Skate@Delaware - I had some dried glue on the top edges of my skate (leftover from a rebuild) and now I have lovely abrasion lines. Some were deep and bleeding. Keep the abrasions covered with neosporin or similar and bandages until they heal, especially off-ice. I just bought some of the "scar reduction" patches because it's quite noticeable.

Take a look at the skates - maybe the lining is rough or sharp at the top edge.
I used a suede brush to get rid of the glue drops and haven't had as much of a problem. I also "bent" the tops of the skates outward (they were angled toward my leg) so more padding and less edge touched my leg.


Celiste - Let us know how you like your new skates. Bet you can't wait to try them out!

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Isk8NYC, they are smooth inside but will get a brush and take a whack at it-thanks for the info, esp on the scar patch stuff-I will get some of that stuff (more stuff for my skate bag).

Celiste-I hope you enjoy your new skates....getting skates is so much like Christmas! Very exciting! You will feel like a million bucks once they are broken in!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

ho ho ho! altamuras. I had them, they were death. I had the super elites, talk about concrete. I had them for about 8 years and never broke them down (lots of doubles, etc). I dumped them because they were heavy, too large (very bulky), and the soles rotted out (blades started to fall off). But for the skater that wanted something indestructible, they were the best.

They now live under my bed... if I ever buy quad plates that's what I'll use them for.

I switched to Teris this year after the altamuras, since I'd been off the ice for 4 years I didn't notice much difference.

Yeah, Altamuras sure were clunky. It has worried me that the guy I'm buying from said size 7 wide will fit, when I take a 8.5 to 9 in other brands. And the blade length for the Grafs will be 10 1/4, whereas my old phantoms from my old Altamuras are 10 1/3 - and the Altamuras were too small after 20 years.

I sure hope my new boots will fit. I figure that Altamuras were so big, that the Grafs could be bigger on the inside. Isk8NYC has got me worried about what condition these boots will be in. I sure hope they're in pristine condition.

It'll be a while until I get them. First I have to wait until my credit card is confirmed with Paypal before I can actually pay for them. Then they have to be shipped from USA to Oz.

I can't wait, I am so longing to get on the ice with skates that actually fit, that my feet don't move around in.

Karen

Hey! Well done, that's fantastic

Mmmm ... I wish that meant that I was a 'much, much thinner' skater but unfortunately it doesn't I hated Gams but that only shows why you have to try lots of different makes to see what suits you

The only boots that I've ever got on with are the Wifas (for Dance) and, of course, my all time favourites, Harlicks

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The best whisper is a click

My daughter is in Gams and weighs 145-150 pounds. Except for the abrasion on the sides of her ankle, she has no problems with them. My coach skates in Gams and she weighs about the same. I'm not sure if that's considered light or not (by today's standards!). Several others at my rink wear them also.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Just one question: How do you know what your size is? Skate boots are sized very differently from regular street shoes and width is extremely important as well (both in the ball and the heel, which are sometimes different widths). This is why you need to have your feet measured by a professional fitter. If the Ebay guy will agree--in writing--to refund your money if they don't fit perfectly, then go for it. Otherwise, it could be the most expensive bargain you've ever found.

I absolutely agree about the need for proper fitting. I know this seller won't guarantee fit - they're liquidating stock from a closed pro shop, clearing them out.

Thing is though, when you live in a remote place, sometimes you have to take risks. Okay imagine living in Tasmania - it's a tiny island at the bottom of Australia, population less than 1/2 million. There is one small rink. Next closest major city is Melbourne, that's going to cost in airfares - and they only have one rink too. Believe me, the internet has opened up possibilities that just weren't there before for people in remote areas.

I have owned 4 pairs of skates in my life (3 Altamura), none professionally fitted, the most measuring done was to trace around my feet. The worst fit have been my Ebay Jackson Mystiques.

First of all I made a mistake by working out my size by comparing Australian street shoe size with American, ended up ordering at least half a size too big. The second problem was that they sent me the wrong style - I ordered Classiques (?), not Mystiques, which weren't even leather. They ended up refunding my money including shipping, and letting me keep the boots, so I actually got them for free. At least I had something to hit the ice with. Because they were free, doesn't matter whether I can sell them, or throw them in the rubbish.

This time around I 've done quite a bit of research on the internet, different brands and generalisations about their fit, checking with stores about what size I would need in the different brands. I know that because of my bunions, what I really need is custom made boots , preferably made from those neat casts you can make. Financial reality dictates that I buy stock, and cheap stock at that. I have heard and read that Graf are one of the widest fitting boots. I have asked the seller at least 4 times about the size, based on the length of my foot. I am hoping that heat moulding will take care of any minor problems. So I hope I'll get an acceptable fit. If not, I'll try to re-sell them on Ebay.

The seller has had postive feedback on all their liquidated boots, which include SP Teri and Klingbeil. No-one has complained of damage or them being less than perfect condition.

I have paid for the boots today, so hopefully they will be on their way to me really fast. Then we'll all find out whether they are a bargain or not.

Here's hoping.

Karen

I'm 5'7" and about 130-140lbs and wear the Gam 400s. I've had them since June and skate 5 times a week in them, doing synchro and low freeskate (all single jumps, forward spins). They are holding up great and didn't take long to break in. The only problem I've had with them is some irritation on the inside ankle bone of my landing foot. It comes and goes, so I don't know that it's necessarily the boot, so much as over-use/not being used to jumping. I don't have the lace-bite or heel bump that my old Riedells gave me. I guess my feet are pretty average; I think I got a size 7.5 boot in a B width.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~