When I skated roller everyone used elbow/knee pads because of something called "wood burn." When we fell on the wood (or cement) floor, it would (sometimes) rip our skin off.... So almost all of us wore pads, no matter what level. When I got to ice I was suprised that no one wore them. When I brought it up to a coach she kind of smiled and said that it encourages the girls (there were all girls at that rink), to think about their technique and stand up. She also mentioned that if they got used to pads they wouldn't be able to preform without them. Humm.. we didn't seem to have that problem on roller....:think:
Also, I think it may be a "macho" thing with the kids on ice.....
Anyways, my pads have saved me from a ton of injuries. I know there's a lot of stuff out there (some of it very expensive) and if you find something that works for you, (that isn't too bulky), great....
You will laugh, but my pads are bubblewrap. Yep, that's right. And they really do work! They also are light and bend so they don't bug me while I skate. Use the small bubble kind. (Big bubbles are too bulky), and cut it in a square to fit over your entire knee cap. Then tape it on both sides (top, middle, and bottom of each side) with waterproof medical tape onto your stocking (under your 2nd pair of tights (if you wear a dress) or under your pants. It needs to be on the inside stocking with something (over the boot tight or pants) over it. Underneath, the pad will get sweaty, but you don't notice that when you're skating. When you're done, just untape them and throw them away. (Don't try to reuse. Yuch!)
Elbow pads: I cut a square of "sweatpant" material and sewed 2 layers of bubblewrap into it to make a square the size of my elbow. Then got a pair of microfiber, (stretchy nylon kind) of sock and cut off the toe. Use the sock over your arm to secure the pads. (Put sock on arm, put square pad at elbow and pull rest of sock over.) Pads will pretty much stay in place.
*This idea doesn't work as well with the knee pads because they take a harder beating and all the bubles will bust in a matter of a few days. The elbow pads usually last 4-6 months.I am not kidding about this. It really works! (I have no health insurance, so you can imagine how important the pads are to me.) Now if I could only figure out how to wrap my head and still jump.....
Also, I think it may be a "macho" thing with the kids on ice.....
Anyways, my pads have saved me from a ton of injuries. I know there's a lot of stuff out there (some of it very expensive) and if you find something that works for you, (that isn't too bulky), great....
You will laugh, but my pads are bubblewrap. Yep, that's right. And they really do work! They also are light and bend so they don't bug me while I skate. Use the small bubble kind. (Big bubbles are too bulky), and cut it in a square to fit over your entire knee cap. Then tape it on both sides (top, middle, and bottom of each side) with waterproof medical tape onto your stocking (under your 2nd pair of tights (if you wear a dress) or under your pants. It needs to be on the inside stocking with something (over the boot tight or pants) over it. Underneath, the pad will get sweaty, but you don't notice that when you're skating. When you're done, just untape them and throw them away. (Don't try to reuse. Yuch!)
Elbow pads: I cut a square of "sweatpant" material and sewed 2 layers of bubblewrap into it to make a square the size of my elbow. Then got a pair of microfiber, (stretchy nylon kind) of sock and cut off the toe. Use the sock over your arm to secure the pads. (Put sock on arm, put square pad at elbow and pull rest of sock over.) Pads will pretty much stay in place.
*This idea doesn't work as well with the knee pads because they take a harder beating and all the bubles will bust in a matter of a few days. The elbow pads usually last 4-6 months.I am not kidding about this. It really works! (I have no health insurance, so you can imagine how important the pads are to me.) Now if I could only figure out how to wrap my head and still jump.....
Last edited: