- Joined
- May 17, 2011
Skates are not exactly interchangeable all of the time. Each pair, even if made on the same lasts and with the same specifications, might be slightly different. For athletes who depend on the connection between their foot, boot, and blade, switching back and forth between boots can hinder training. So, even if they begin the break in process on a second pair of boots, that doesn't mean that they will be ready right away. Also, boots can take a few months between the time a custom order is placed and being ready. Then you heat mold, get new blades mounted, and try them out. Hopefully everything works. Sometimes it doesn't (see Karen Chen and her 14 pairs of boots at the beginning of the season). Add to this the fact that younger skaters like Polina are still growing, and that custom boots can cost upwards of $650 a pair (I use custom Reidells because I have unusual feet) and blades can cost upwards $550 a set, and that some skaters go through four pairs in a year (others only one), and the costs and variables can be significant. Ordering eight pairs of boots per year could cost more than $10,000.
For a young skater like Polina, especially, I can't see that it would make sense to have more than two pairs at a time, likely your recent pair and the one you are breaking in, because your feet are still growing. It is entirely possible Polina's feet grew this winter and she needed new skates.
Also, given that it can be very difficult to peak more than once per season, it makes sense to me that skaters want to focus on worlds. Peaking for a competition can involve a months-long plan of rest, conditioning, skill training, run-throughs, and tapering, in that order. Even doing a shorter peak schedule of a week of rest, a couple weeks of conditioning, a couple weeks of run-throughs, and a week of tapering takes at least a month and a half. I can see how skaters would find it hard to fit 4CCs into their schedule if the season isn't going perfectly. There are whole books written about peaking for figure skating. Most present a year-long plan to peak for one competition. Elite skaters who need to peak for nationals and worlds already have a tall order in that they need to be at their best twice in a year.
For a young skater like Polina, especially, I can't see that it would make sense to have more than two pairs at a time, likely your recent pair and the one you are breaking in, because your feet are still growing. It is entirely possible Polina's feet grew this winter and she needed new skates.
Also, given that it can be very difficult to peak more than once per season, it makes sense to me that skaters want to focus on worlds. Peaking for a competition can involve a months-long plan of rest, conditioning, skill training, run-throughs, and tapering, in that order. Even doing a shorter peak schedule of a week of rest, a couple weeks of conditioning, a couple weeks of run-throughs, and a week of tapering takes at least a month and a half. I can see how skaters would find it hard to fit 4CCs into their schedule if the season isn't going perfectly. There are whole books written about peaking for figure skating. Most present a year-long plan to peak for one competition. Elite skaters who need to peak for nationals and worlds already have a tall order in that they need to be at their best twice in a year.
