What skates do the top skaters wear?

[Aussie Willy]

This question has probably been asked before, but no harm to ask it again.

So what skate boots and blades do the top skates use?

[Sk8Bunny]

Well, i know one of my coaches( a team usa member and a national's and world's competitior) uses Grafs edmonton special. goes through 3 pairs a year!

[dbny]

Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes both wear Klingbeil boots.

[icedancer2]

I'm curious to know what kinds of dance blades the top skaters wear -- so if anyone has any inside info on that -- spill!!

[luna_skater]

From pics I've seen of Dubreil and Lauzon, it looks like they wear Ultimas.

[CanAmSk8ter]

A handful of the top dancers wear Ultimas, but I think the majority of them use MK Dance. I can't think off the top of my head of any dancers who don't wear one of those two.

Edited to add, all the medalists at US Nationals last year got a free pair of the new Jackson boots, and I think maybe Ultima blades too, from the company. I'm sure not all of them are actually using them, but some probably are.

[skatepixie]

None kept using the boot. Im not sure about the blades. But, Jackson boots are that bad.

Sasha has Klingbeil customs with a Gold Seal blade.

Angela, Kristi, Tara, and G&G have all used harlicks (so did Peggy Flemming, I think), althogh Katya has switched to Graf.

Timmy wears SP Teri.

[Aussie Willy]

Skatepixie - is it because Jackson boots don't suit the skaters or that they are not a good boot because I am considering buying a pair for my next skates (and I am only a recreational skater who does single jumps and a few spins).

[dbny]

A lot of Europeans and Asians wear Grafs. You can tell by the dark mark on the back over the Achilles area.

[skatepixie]

so thats what that ugly thing on the back of Julia's boots that I was trying to figure out was...

On jackson, the fact that 18 ppl (3 ladies, 3 men, 6 pairs skater, and 6 dancers) tried the boots for free and none of them are using them tells me that something is wrong...just me tho.

[becca]

Lots of people (including me) have Jacksons on love them. We have had several international competitors with Jacksons from my club and section. It really depends on the shape of your foot though. I have found them much better for me the WIFA, SP Teri, Harlick, and GRAF all of which I've tried. I broke my GRAFs down in less than 2 months which is why I changed.

[bcskater]

jacksons ALL THE WAY!!! :D

[x_peacegirl_x]

i wear wifa's!

[mousey]

i think some top skaters use riedells too... i have jacksons, b/c i have wider feet, and those are the widest fitting boot available here.

[mousey]

and i found this on the graf site:

Ben Ferreira
Edmonton Special
Brian Boitano
Edmonton Special
Brian Orser
Edmonton Special
Chantal Lefebvre
Edmonton Special
Dan Hollander
Edmonton Special
David Pelletier
Edmonton Special
Ekaterina Gordeeva
Edmonton Special
Elvis Stojko
Edmonton Special
Emanuel Shandu
Edmonton Special
Eugeni Plushenko
Edmonton Special
Galit Chait
Edmonton Special
Ilia Kulik
Edmonton Special
Johnny Steigler
Edmonton Special
Josee Chiounard
Edmonton Special
Lee Harris
Edmonton Special
Lu Chen
Edmonton Special
Michael Weiss
Edmonton Special
Michelle Currie
Edmonton Special
Michelle Kwan
Edmonton Special
Nicole Watt
Edmonton Special
Oksana Baiul
Edmonton Special
Patrice Lauzon
Edmonton Special
Scott Davis
Edmonton Special
Steven Cousins
Edmonton Special
Takeshi Honda
Edmonton Special
Tiffany Chin
Edmonton Special
Tiffany Steigler
Edmonton Special
Todd Eldredge
Edmonton Special
Victor Petrenko
Edmonton Special
Yuka Sato
Edmonton Special

[CanAmSk8ter]

Originally posted by skatepixie
so thats what that ugly thing on the back of Julia's boots that I was trying to figure out was...

On jackson, the fact that 18 ppl (3 ladies, 3 men, 6 pairs skater, and 6 dancers) tried the boots for free and none of them are using them tells me that something is wrong...just me tho.

It was more than 18 skaters. The junior medalists got them too, and I'm pretty sure even the novice medalists did- and I know of at least a couple of skaters who are still using them.

[Steffi]

Jamie Salé wears Riedells.

[triple twist]

Does anyone know Jamie Sale's blade?

[icekat]

I know people who use JacKsons and love them. Plushy is promoting Jacksons, so he is probably wearing them. Jacksons are utilizing the latest technology in boot design and are heat moldable. High level skaters are less likely to switch from what got them there. They are used to their boots, and who wants to waste time getting used to new boots unless absolutely necessary, so it is not surprising skaters might not want to switch. I know someone who wanted to use Jackson's, but her coach made her wear Kingbeils. She was going to wear Reidells as an alternative because a pro shop owner told her it was crazy to go from lightweight Jacksons to heavy Klingbeils, but her coach said it was probably because he was a Reidell dealer. Another coach made their students switch from the new Jacksons to the new Reidells saying the Jacksons were too heavy(they're not, they're lightweight). Also, Timothy had a pair of Klingbeils made because he was having problems with his SP Teris. Harlicks, according to many I have talked to, have the most complaints from skaters against boot manufacturers. Each boot brand fits differently, so there is not one brand that is the best for all skaters. You have to watch who you are to talking to when buying boots. Pro shops promote the skates they are affiliated with. Coaches, also, can receive freebies for pushing certain boots. Make sure you research the kind of boots that are right for your feet, not their pocketbooks.;)

[LynRose]

My daughter wears Jacksons. She was a die hard Risport skate wearer until Risport redesigned their skates. Both she and I were skeptical about changing brands. And guess what? She loves the Jacksons! The skates were customized to fit her feet, which are really wide and have HUGE bunions on them.

She would highly recommend them to anyone especially those who have wide feet or odd shaped feet or bunions.

Oh yeah...and they didn't cost that much more than if we had bought them off the shelf:)

[Sing_Alto]

Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski, Nancy Kerrigan and Pasha all wear Harlicks.

[rinsk]

Hmm... I wonder how many other high level skaters' Jackson donated boots to. I've got a pair I bought 2nd hand that supposedly Jamie Sale wore for less than a week (and I know she finished the season in another make of boot).

I love the Jacksons. They fit my shape of foot well and give me the support that I need while giving me a lot of ankle bend an toe point. Skates are hard though because so much depends on your foot shape (I've tried on pairs of skates in pro shops that I probably wouldn't wear even if I was given them for free - and they're good makes but the boots wouldn't work for me).

[who]

Jacksons offered boots to everyone who competed in Worlds last year.

[AshBugg44]

Originally posted by dbny
Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes both wear Klingbeil boots.

Yes, the same lady that does my Klingbeils does Sasha's as well :D I have seen her skates in person!

[Kemy]

Don't most elite skaters avoid switching boot makers/types unless something's wrong? That might be the reason the seniors didn't continue using them and the juniors did. That doesn't mean that they're bad.

[Skatingsarah]

Thats true Kemy, skates are really a preference and after having one type for along time it is hard to all of a sudden change. They are so expensive and some skates are totally different to break in.

As for the Jacksons a while a couple years back I never heard much of them but they have improved the models and more skaters are using them that I know of. As for world Champs using them if you were in lets say grafs and have won like 3 world championships, do you want to change to a different skate.Be it Jackson, Sp or Gam etc, if one brand works why change?

[blurrysarah]

I have no idea why the elite skaters don't wear their Jackson's, but as was said, it's probably because they've become adjusted to a certain brand and would rather not change in case it hinders their performance. A lot of people at my rink are moving to Jacksons (mainly the 3500 or synchro), and they've fallen in love. I simply do not believe you can claim any boot brand "sucks" and deter people away from it, because while it may not suit your foot, you may be turning someone away from a brand that would have worked for them perfectly.

However, I agree with what was previously said about the new Risport designs. I have recently broken in a new pair of RF3's, and while they are nice and wide enough for my foot, and the ankle support is stiff as hell (which I do like as I have floppy ankles), they just don't feel like home. I used an old model Super Diamant boot before, and before the ankle support broke down, it molded beautifully to my foot. I also find that the new models are sized a lot bigger, I probably should have dropped a size. Too late now.

[rinsk]

Until recently, Jackson just made low level figure skating boots (decent boot-and-blade combinations that probably weren't made for anyone working on more than single jumps). The high level skates are a new development and they're still breaking into the market (hence all the give-aways at high level competitions). If a senior-level skater already has a make of boot that they like and don't want to change (by the time you're senior level, chances are you've been through enough pairs of boots to find something that works for you and if it works, why change it?).

I just got my Jacksons because a nice newly new pair of second hand ones happened to be available in my size. Otherwise, I probably never would have tried them. I'm the only skater in my rink wearing Jacksons but I've gotten a lot of "Hey! Cool! Those are Jacksons! Do you like them?" attention from coaches and higher level skaters so I guess the boots are getting some good attention.

[Aussie Willy]

Thanks for all the information and feedback. Very interesting and good discussion.

BTW - I can echo the comments that others have made here about Risport. I loved my Super Diamonts and they lasted for years, but when I went to the RF2 Super I have been skating in pain for the last 3 years. I will not be getting Risport again. They are just uncomfortable and really hurt my instep.