- Joined
- Oct 23, 2022
Hello. I'm an adult beginner who started skating about 6 months ago. I'm F, 46 years old, 5'5" (165cm), 145lbs (65.5kg), and I'm currently in Jackson Artistes with Mark IV blades. I skate 2-4 hours a week, broken up into 2-3 sessions. I'm working on my backward edges right now. My coach is telling me that my current skates are holding me back because I can't rely on the stiffness of the boot to get on the edge; I have to do everything with my foot and ankle. She says I can safely skate in what I have for a few more months, but she wouldn't teach me even a waltz jump in my current skates. She says I don't need the stiffness of Freestyles at this point and advised getting boots a level just below that.
Does boot stiffness help significantly with edge control? My forward edges are great; I can even do them in decently sharpened rentals. I was hoping to get through at least my basic skills in what I have, and then move up to skates that will last me for a few years.
It was a process to get my current skates comfortable and working for me. I'm in a C width, and while the toebox of the Jackson Artistes seemed to have plenty (too much?) of up & down room, they really pinched the sides of my wide feet. I had to get some aggressive punch-outs for them to be comfortable. I also moved the blades back and forth, and finally had shims put in under my inner feet, to deal with my supination problem. Forward 1-foot glide is now great, and, like I said, I can now do alternating forward edges with no problem whatsoever.
I'm just wary of going through this process again with a new pair of boots, and perhaps a pair after that in a short time. But I don't want to get into boots that will be too stiff for me to break in at my skill level, either. Any recommendations appreciated. Would also appreciate recommendations for a good skate fitter. I live in NYC.
Thanks!
Does boot stiffness help significantly with edge control? My forward edges are great; I can even do them in decently sharpened rentals. I was hoping to get through at least my basic skills in what I have, and then move up to skates that will last me for a few years.
It was a process to get my current skates comfortable and working for me. I'm in a C width, and while the toebox of the Jackson Artistes seemed to have plenty (too much?) of up & down room, they really pinched the sides of my wide feet. I had to get some aggressive punch-outs for them to be comfortable. I also moved the blades back and forth, and finally had shims put in under my inner feet, to deal with my supination problem. Forward 1-foot glide is now great, and, like I said, I can now do alternating forward edges with no problem whatsoever.
I'm just wary of going through this process again with a new pair of boots, and perhaps a pair after that in a short time. But I don't want to get into boots that will be too stiff for me to break in at my skill level, either. Any recommendations appreciated. Would also appreciate recommendations for a good skate fitter. I live in NYC.
Thanks!