Affordable skates for a returning skater

[keilexandra]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting, although I've lurked on the forum for a little while. One of my good friends, who skated "semi-seriously recreational" for two years when she was 13, is starting to get back into figure skating. She just landed an axel again for the first time in a decade+ this week! On rental skates!

However, she's in grad school for the foreseeable future and can't really afford to buy her own skates, although clearly she needs them at this level. She's doing single jumps, axel, sit spin, etc.

I have a good bit more disposable income than her, due to the luck of being employed in a well-paid industry, so I'd like to gift her a pair of figure skates or contribute monetarily toward a pair. My budget doesn't stretch to high-end skates though (I started learning to skate 2 years ago myself and bit the bullet for Harlick customs, because my feet are shaped weirdly). I know she has considered spending $150 on a pair of used Jackson Freestyles... is this a good price for used? Is used even a good idea, fit-wise? I could give her an equal sum for Christmas/her birthday, so let's put the budget around $300.

What would you recommend as the most affordable figure skates for an adult working on the axel?

 

[jiawen2016]

Hi keilexandra,

That's so nice of you buying a pair of new skates for your friend as a Christmas/birthday gift. That's crazy that your friend can land an axel in rental skates! For her level, I would say Jackson Freestyles/Competitors would be right for her. If you can push your budget just a little bit, you can get her a new pair of Jackson Freestyles for $309 pre-tax. I personally have Jackson Elle, which costs $259 pre-tax, and they are great skates for learning single jumps. If your friend can land an axel in rental skates, she can probably do it with the Jackson Elle, but the boots might still be too soft for doing axels, and they might not last for long if she jumps a lot.

 

[Sibelius]

FYI, Jackson will be closing out the old style Freestyles once the new Freestyle Fusions are on the market. You might be able to pick up a pair at a discount shortly.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting, although I've lurked on the forum for a little while. One of my good friends, who skated "semi-seriously recreational" for two years when she was 13, is starting to get back into figure skating. She just landed an axel again for the first time in a decade+ this week! On rental skates!

However, she's in grad school for the foreseeable future and can't really afford to buy her own skates, although clearly she needs them at this level. She's doing single jumps, axel, sit spin, etc.

I have a good bit more disposable income than her, due to the luck of being employed in a well-paid industry, so I'd like to gift her a pair of figure skates or contribute monetarily toward a pair. My budget doesn't stretch to high-end skates though (I started learning to skate 2 years ago myself and bit the bullet for Harlick customs, because my feet are shaped weirdly). I know she has considered spending $150 on a pair of used Jackson Freestyles... is this a good price for used? Is used even a good idea, fit-wise? I could give her an equal sum for Christmas/her birthday, so let's put the budget around $300.

What would you recommend as the most affordable figure skates for an adult working on the axel?

This may sound silly at first but yourself having to have customs you should know that the answer would be "whatever fits her foot properly and gives her the stability she needs." You unfortunately won't be able to just go buy her a pair and wish for the best with them fitting properly and her needs.
My suggestion would to be to go to the fitter with her and have her try some on for fun. If she finds a pair that works for her and fits your budget then gift them to her.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[treesprite]

I wish my friends would buy my skates for me! You are such a nice friend!

 

[davincisoprano]

You are such a nice friend! If you'd like to do that, you could also instead create a "coupon" that says something like "Good for one pair of skates up to $300". And then plan an outing to the rink for her and she can then cash it in. Or see if the local pro shop would have gift certificates that you could gift towards a pair of skates.

 

[keilexandra]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions! If the used Jackson Freestyle's don't work out, I'll plan to take her to our local pro shop, which carries Jackson and Riedell.

 

[tstop4me]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions! If the used Jackson Freestyle's don't work out, I'll plan to take her to our local pro shop, which carries Jackson and Riedell.

.
I recommend that you drop further consideration of used Jackson Freestyles

 

[concorde]

$150 For a used pair of Jackson Freestyles is very pricey especially since you can probably get some discounted brand nee ones for close to that.

Years ago I would get used ones for my daughter off ebay for under $50.