Breaking in skates

[isakswings]

What is the average time frame for breaking in a new pair of skates? Does it vary from skater to skater or is there a certain amount of time I can expect it to take before dd is 100% in her new skates? Her coach had mentioned having her skate in her old skates for the comp in a few weeks, but dd seems to be doing OK in her new skates. Her coach hasn't seen dd skate in the new skates since she is out of town until next week. Dd has skated in them 4 times now and has worn them for probably close to 6 hours. She'll skate in them again tonight and probably again this weekend. We've been putting a lot of time in so she can get used to them. She's gotten 1 blister so far and I am hoping to have the skates heat molded on Saturday.

Thanks!

[londonicechamp]

Hi

Your dd should skate in whatever skates she is comfortable in. It is normally not recommended that your dd skates in her new skates during competition. However, if your dd is fine with the new skates, then I suppose that that is fine too. You will have to talk to your dd's coach about it.

For breaking in new skates, it does vary from person to person, it can take anything from 1 week up to months. You can ask your dd to put on the new skates at home, and then wear the blade guards, so that she can break into them much easier. Or else, you can pour some hot water into the skates, tear the newspapers into pieces, and stuff them into the new skates. That was the method suggested by my coach when I got my new skates.

I have also heard something from another skating forum's members, about putting the whole skates into microwave. However, I have not tried them. :giveup::o

londonicechamp

[aussieskater]

I have also heard something from another skating forum's members, about putting the whole skates into microwave. However, I have not tried them. :giveup::o

londonicechamp

Not the microwave! The convection oven! (Hairdryers work too.)

[fsk8r]

What is the average time frame for breaking in a new pair of skates? Does it vary from skater to skater or is there a certain amount of time I can expect it to take before dd is 100% in her new skates? Her coach had mentioned having her skate in her old skates for the comp in a few weeks, but dd seems to be doing OK in her new skates. Her coach hasn't seen dd skate in the new skates since she is out of town until next week. Dd has skated in them 4 times now and has worn them for probably close to 6 hours. She'll skate in them again tonight and probably again this weekend. We've been putting a lot of time in so she can get used to them. She's gotten 1 blister so far and I am hoping to have the skates heat molded on Saturday.

Thanks!

I'd be aware that there's a competition coming up, but if she's OK in the new boots, keep wearing them, because it's hours of feet in boots (and skating time) that help break them in. I'd wait until you see her coach before making the final decision. Whilst some of her skating skills maybe struggling because of the new boots, all practice is good practice and will be helping her prepare for the competition and there's still time to switch back temporarily to the old boots.
Given that the old boots were too small, your DD might be a lot happier in the new boots just because her feet don't hurt and that will be helping her skating. But do get them heat molded.
Not sure where you are and what the weather is like, but I've left boots in the trunk of the car during the day (when I'm at work) and they've come out nice and toasty in the warm summer weather, which is effectively heat molding them if you've got a teatime / evening skate session. That might be a way of molding them without having to go to the hassle of visiting the pro shop.

[sk8tmum]

If she's switching back and forth that can be a problem. It's hard to get used to a new boot size, blade size, whatever differences there are between the rocker, if she's having to practice in both. Jumps, spins, etc all work differently in two different boots ... Ask your coach what to do ... generally, unless it's a dire situation, we've stayed in the old boots without touching the new ones, and switched up immediately after the competition.

As for how long? It really varies. When we've changed brands or models, it's taken a week or two; with changed blades, anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks. To break them in completely, it depends on the stiffness of the boot: anywhere from no break in time in deliberately underbooted custom Klingbeils, to 3 weeks in Riedell GoldStars ... it also depends on the skater, of course.

As for the heat molding issue: Yes, there are people who have successfully heat molded them with an oven and/or hair dryer. If you search the threads in history, you'll find a great deal of information and debate on the subject. However, if you've got a pro shop, I'd have them do it; they've got the right ovens etc for doing it, and they can finesse it better. As an example, my DD used to have a problem when she wore Jacksons, as she has a "high" heel. Just heat moulding them didn't do it; the fitter had to press them and mould them to change the shape at the back of the boots to prevent pressure on her Achilles. I wouldn't want to attempt that myself.

[cazzie]

My daughter ended up in new skates just over a week before a competition. Not ideal - but - took hers in to be sharpened and the sharpener/fitter was horrified how broken down they were. (He asked her if her ankles gave way and she told him - yes - whenever I do jump landings.... not sure why she didn't tell me that! Typical kid embarrassing a parent).

She was fine doing competition in just about new boots. Hydroglide and possibly even sit spin weren't as low as she normally goes but she was fine.

[isakswings]

Hi

Your dd should skate in whatever skates she is comfortable in. It is normally not recommended that your dd skates in her new skates during competition. However, if your dd is fine with the new skates, then I suppose that that is fine too. You will have to talk to your dd's coach about it.

For breaking in new skates, it does vary from person to person, it can take anything from 1 week up to months. You can ask your dd to put on the new skates at home, and then wear the blade guards, so that she can break into them much easier. Or else, you can pour some hot water into the skates, tear the newspapers into pieces, and stuff them into the new skates. That was the method suggested by my coach when I got my new skates.

londonicechamp

I'd be aware that there's a competition coming up, but if she's OK in the new boots, keep wearing them, because it's hours of feet in boots (and skating time) that help break them in. I'd wait until you see her coach before making the final decision. Whilst some of her skating skills maybe struggling because of the new boots, all practice is good practice and will be helping her prepare for the competition and there's still time to switch back temporarily to the old boots.
Given that the old boots were too small, your DD might be a lot happier in the new boots just because her feet don't hurt and that will be helping her skating. But do get them heat molded.
Not sure where you are and what the weather is like, but I've left boots in the trunk of the car during the day (when I'm at work) and they've come out nice and toasty in the warm summer weather, which is effectively heat molding them if you've got a teatime / evening skate session. That might be a way of molding them without having to go to the hassle of visiting the pro shop.

Thank you! She's been doing pretty well in them. We still have her old skates and plan to keep them until dd's coach gives us the "all clear". Her next competition is the 2nd week in July and then she skates a month later. Originally, her coach wanted her in her old skates for competition, but I don't know if dd will go back to her old skates! She tried to skate in them on Monday after wearing the new boots and immediately asked to switch back to her new skates! She said her entire foot started to hurt in the old skates. ACK.

Dd had some trouble with MIF stuff at her LTS lesson last night, BUT that's because they are brand new boots and the full knee bend isn't there just yet. She can jump and spin in her new skates,they aren't her best but they aren't her worst spins/jumps either. She's already commented on how this new boot is nice for her spins. She said she feels like the stiffer boot is helping to support her more during spins.

We're going out of town this weekend(3 states away, in fact!) and as luck would have it, the ice rink up the street from my grandparents house, has a guy at their pro shop who can heat mold skates. We're going to have it done on Saturday morning. I'm also hoping she can skate in them for about an hour that day too. We'll see!

[isakswings]

If she's switching back and forth that can be a problem. It's hard to get used to a new boot size, blade size, whatever differences there are between the rocker, if she's having to practice in both. Jumps, spins, etc all work differently in two different boots ... Ask your coach what to do ... generally, unless it's a dire situation, we've stayed in the old boots without touching the new ones, and switched up immediately after the competition. .

Oops. I let her skate in the new skates when we got them Friday. She was switching back until she decided she didn't want to do that any more. She said her whole foot hurt in the old skates after she wore the new skates. Maybe I should have waited for her coach to return before I let her skate in the new boots. ACK.

As for how long? It really varies. When we've changed brands or models, it's taken a week or two; with changed blades, anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks. To break them in completely, it depends on the stiffness of the boot: anywhere from no break in time in deliberately underbooted custom Klingbeils, to 3 weeks in Riedell GoldStars ... it also depends on the skater, of course.

She was in a Riedell Gold Medallion boot and last year the break in period was next to nothing for those boots. They aren't overly stiff, so I am sure that is why. She is now in a pair of Jackson Freestyle skates. She has said she likes her new skates and has not complained much about them since Monday! This is amazing for my daughter considering she has gotten blisters from them too. I've praised her for being a trooper the last couple days!

As for the heat molding issue: Yes, there are people who have successfully heat molded them with an oven and/or hair dryer. If you search the threads in history, you'll find a great deal of information and debate on the subject. However, if you've got a pro shop, I'd have them do it; they've got the right ovens etc for doing it, and they can finesse it better. As an example, my DD used to have a problem when she wore Jacksons, as she has a "high" heel. Just heat moulding them didn't do it; the fitter had to press them and mould them to change the shape at the back of the boots to prevent pressure on her Achilles. I wouldn't want to attempt that myself.

I'm too afraid to try and do any heat molding myself. I'd be the one to accidently ruin her skates. We're going to a pro shop to heat mold them. Hopefully this will help the break in time too. Thanks!

My daughter ended up in new skates just over a week before a competition. Not ideal - but - took hers in to be sharpened and the sharpener/fitter was horrified how broken down they were. (He asked her if her ankles gave way and she told him - yes - whenever I do jump landings.... not sure why she didn't tell me that! Typical kid embarrassing a parent).

She was fine doing competition in just about new boots. Hydroglide and possibly even sit spin weren't as low as she normally goes but she was fine.

Good to know! She will have been in her skates for 3 weeks by the next competition. Her coach willhave the final say about what skates dd uses, but I am hoping we will have broken these in enough for her to use them for her comp. I'm going to try to get her to the rink as much as possible. :D

[fsk8r]

She was in a Riedell Gold Medallion boot and last year the break in period was next to nothing for those boots. They aren't overly stiff, so I am sure that is why. She is now in a pair of Jackson Freestyle skates. She has said she likes her new skates and has not complained much about them since Monday! This is amazing for my daughter considering she has gotten blisters from them too. I've praised her for being a trooper the last couple days!



Not sure if you already know this, but you can get some really good blister plasters these days which are like a second skin and can take all the pain away instantly. In the UK I buy a brand called Compeed and I believe they also exist in the US as I'm sure I saw them in Walgreens. They're not cheap but they work really well (I even keep them in my skate bag now). The only time I had trouble with them, was when it was middle of summer so my feet were a little too sweaty and I was wearing tights which rubbed inside my boots so rubbed the plaster off (I've since ditched the tights because they'd stretched too much around the foot and were causing the blisters).

Hopefully with seeing the pro-shop he'll be able to punch the boots out around the places they're rubbing and creating the blisters, or that she'll have worn them in enough to stop the blisters anyway.

[SkatEn]

Good to know! She will have been in her skates for 3 weeks by the next competition. Her coach willhave the final say about what skates dd uses, but I am hoping we will have broken these in enough for her to use them for her comp. I'm going to try to get her to the rink as much as possible. :D

While it's good to have the coach do the recommendation, remember to listen to your daughter! You mentioned her feet hurting after switching back right? You should probably highlight that should the coach recommend that (don't want your daughter to limp out to the center and grimace through the program). :)

Good luck! But it certainly sounds like she's adapting well! Is she back to the level of jumps and spins she did before the switch?

[isakswings]

Not sure if you already know this, but you can get some really good blister plasters these days which are like a second skin and can take all the pain away instantly. In the UK I buy a brand called Compeed and I believe they also exist in the US as I'm sure I saw them in Walgreens. They're not cheap but they work really well (I even keep them in my skate bag now). The only time I had trouble with them, was when it was middle of summer so my feet were a little too sweaty and I was wearing tights which rubbed inside my boots so rubbed the plaster off (I've since ditched the tights because they'd stretched too much around the foot and were causing the blisters).

Hopefully with seeing the pro-shop he'll be able to punch the boots out around the places they're rubbing and creating the blisters, or that she'll have worn them in enough to stop the blisters anyway.

Thanks! I also have seen come blister ampules and thought those might be good too. Hmmm.... might be good to keep something like that in herskating bag. My problem is, I bought her Bunga ankle sleeves and Bunga gel disks and she doesn't like the bulkiness of them so she refuses to wear them! Don't know if I can sell those or not to someone who will use them. *sigh* Anyway, so I hesitate to get more stuff in case she chooses not to use it. OY. Silly girl!

[isakswings]

While it's good to have the coach do the recommendation, remember to listen to your daughter! You mentioned her feet hurting after switching back right? You should probably highlight that should the coach recommend that (don't want your daughter to limp out to the center and grimace through the program). :)

Good luck! But it certainly sounds like she's adapting well! Is she back to the level of jumps and spins she did before the switch?

Thanks! I am sure dd will tell her coach how she feels too. Her coach won't want her hurting, so hopefully she'll be good with dd staying in her new skates.

She's not quite back to where she was before the switch, but she's doing better and might be there in a couple of weeks. She's just going to have to skate a lot to do it!

[fsk8r]

Thanks! I also have seen come blister ampules and thought those might be good too. Hmmm.... might be good to keep something like that in herskating bag. My problem is, I bought her Bunga ankle sleeves and Bunga gel disks and she doesn't like the bulkiness of them so she refuses to wear them! Don't know if I can sell those or not to someone who will use them. *sigh* Anyway, so I hesitate to get more stuff in case she chooses not to use it. OY. Silly girl!

The blister plasters are good because the whole family can use them if she chooses not to (I've got them in my handbag and have even doled them out in the office to people!). I wear more for non-skating related blisters than ever for skating ones (managed to get one going for a hike the other week) and so find the plasters really useful. They're not too bulky if you do put them on (probably about double the thickness of a normal plaster) so she might not complain so much about wearing them.
And personally I agree with her about the bulkiness of the Bunga pads, but I prefer to wear my gel sleeves than have no skin above my ankle. I suppose that might be an age thing, as I no longer care about the look and the bulkiness over comfort...

[isakswings]

The blister plasters are good because the whole family can use them if she chooses not to (I've got them in my handbag and have even doled them out in the office to people!). I wear more for non-skating related blisters than ever for skating ones (managed to get one going for a hike the other week) and so find the plasters really useful. They're not too bulky if you do put them on (probably about double the thickness of a normal plaster) so she might not complain so much about wearing them.
And personally I agree with her about the bulkiness of the Bunga pads, but I prefer to wear my gel sleeves than have no skin above my ankle. I suppose that might be an age thing, as I no longer care about the look and the bulkiness over comfort...

Thanks! That's a good point about the blister care stuff!

Oh and as for the gel sleeves, she's just extremely picky about bulkiness. I don't think it is a matter of looks either, she just doesn't lie how it feels. LOL!

[isakswings]

So far so good with the break in! Se has one bad blister, but hopefully that will go away soon. The other foot has one too, but I think her right foot is worse. She's jumping in these skates and landing. She's spinning in them and doing her edges and so forth in them. The edges still aren't what they used to be, but she's improving. Sometimes she doesn't have the height she had before on her jumps, but they are coming a long. She'll be competing in them next week...so we'll see how that goes!

[londonicechamp]

Hi isakswings

Good luck with your dd's competition next week. What level (freestyle- I am assuming that it is freestyle) is she competing at?

Do let us know how it goes.

londonicechamp

[isakswings]

Hi isakswings

Good luck with your dd's competition next week. What level (freestyle- I am assuming that it is freestyle) is she competing at?

Do let us know how it goes.

londonicechamp

She's competing in Freeskate 1. :) She's currently taking LTS Freeskate 3(USFSA) and will be competing at a higher level when she competes in September. We were going to Vegas, but recent circumstances made it impossible for us to do that. :( Hopefully she'll be in Freeskate 3 for the competition in September. :) Oh and thanks for the good luck wishes!

[FigureSk8Dad]

We were going to Vegas, but recent circumstances made it impossible for us to do that.

That's too bad, we'll miss you.

Hope she gets those blisters taken care of. My dd is in new skates and blades too. She got one blister on the inside ankle. I had our boot tech punch it out just a little and no more blister. Her biggest issue is that she went up a full size in boot and half an inch in length on the blade. It seems to have affected her higher jumps some.

Good luck with the competition this week! We just competed on the weekend of June 13, another just yesterday and Silverstate coming in August. It's going to be a busy summer!

[isakswings]

That's too bad, we'll miss you.

Hope she gets those blisters taken care of. My dd is in new skates and blades too. She got one blister on the inside ankle. I had our boot tech punch it out just a little and no more blister. Her biggest issue is that she went up a full size in boot and half an inch in length on the blade. It seems to have affected her higher jumps some.

Good luck with the competition this week! We just competed on the weekend of June 13, another just yesterday and Silverstate coming in August. It's going to be a busy summer!

Up until last week, we were totally planning on going. I know about 6 or so other girls of dd's coaches kids, who are going. But, due to circumstances beyond my control, I can't go. Perhaps if this situation changes this week, we can make it work. BUT I doubt it. Dd is disappointed. We've been talking about it for 2 months and I was so excited to take her! So, after this competition, she will compete in September. There is another local comp the same weekend as Silverstate, but I didn't have time to get all the paperwork notarized before it was due. Plus, I need to find a coach who will be able to put her on the ice since hers will be in Vegas. I think I will have dd's coach work on moves with her and improving her backspin so she can do it well enough in competition. :)

I saw a recent video of your daughter and she is competing at USFSA, pre-pre right? That is the group my daughter's friend is competing in. :)

[FigureSk8Dad]

I saw a recent video of your daughter and she is competing at USFSA, pre-pre right? That is the group my daughter's friend is competing in. :)

Yes, and thank you for the nice comment. She has a long way to go as evidenced by her competition yesterday. Her biggest weakness is in footwork. I think that is one of the major issues in switching over from ISI where they have a rigid dance step sequence as opposed to the freestyle footwork that USFSA compete's with. She has alot of work ahead.

Dd's home club has an USFS open competition September 25-27 also, another option if your/her heart was still set on Vegas.

[isakswings]

Yes, and thank you for the nice comment. She has a long way to go as evidenced by her competition yesterday. Her biggest weakness is in footwork. I think that is one of the major issues in switching over from ISI where they have a rigid dance step sequence as opposed to the freestyle footwork that USFSA compete's with. She has alot of work ahead.

Dd's home club has an USFS open competition September 25-27 also, another option if your/her heart was still set on Vegas.

I bet your daughter will do a great job! My daughter is just learning footwork/MIF type stuff now. Her coach was teaching her something new the other day and dd's been working on that whenever we are at the rink. It's kond of fun to watch! My daughter won't be pre-pre for awhile yet, so hopefully she'll have some more footwork down by then.

I don't know if I could get dd's coach to go to Vegas again so soon, but it is an option to consider and I bet it will be a bit cooler then too. LOL! Anyway... good luck as your daughter makes her transition!