New boots and blades

[Ice Z]

Hi, I'm currently trying to land my Axel and going into double jumps.
I'm currently using Jackson freestyle with Aspire XP blades. I've had them for 2 years now and come to realise they were fitted too big and have had to tie the tongue of the skate at my toes tight, so it doesn't slip down when I jump. I'm female, 157cm (5'2) and about 50kg. I'm looking to get Risport, Rf3 pro boots but I'm unsure of what blades to get. I had a look at MK professionals and John Wilson Coronation ace, but I'm unsure of the 7ft rocker on both. My instructor recommended Pattern 99, but I'm unsure of the straight cut toe pick and the price for them. I prefer jumping over spinning, I'm not sure if that helps. I tend to hit my toe pick early on spins. I also have a problem staying on an outside edge on my backspin, I'm not sure if that's a blade problem.
I also struggle to do deep outside edges and smooth turns, that's probably just a technique problem though.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Hi, I'm currently trying to land my Axel and going into double jumps.
I'm currently using Jackson freestyle with Aspire XP blades. I've had them for 2 years now and come to realise they were fitted too big and have had to tie the tongue of the skate at my toes tight, so it doesn't slip down when I jump. I'm female, 157cm (5'2) and about 50kg. I'm looking to get Risport, Rf3 pro boots but I'm unsure of what blades to get. I had a look at MK professionals and John Wilson Coronation ace, but I'm unsure of the 7ft rocker on both. My instructor recommended Pattern 99, but I'm unsure of the straight cut toe pick and the price for them. I prefer jumping over spinning, I'm not sure if that helps. I tend to hit my toe pick early on spins. I also have a problem staying on an outside edge on my backspin, I'm not sure if that's a blade problem.
I also struggle to do deep outside edges and smooth turns, that's probably just a technique problem though.

Welcome ! I used MK Pro blades all through my competitive career into seniors (in pairs) and did all the triples on them. There wasn't as big a choice of blades in my day, and I learned everything on them, so never had a problem with them. Now I've switched to MK Phantoms, but still with the 7' rocker. I've experimented with 8' ones, but although there's not supposed to be much difference, I spin and turn much more easily on the 7. Maybe it's just a matter of what feeling you're used to.

I definitely prefer the Phantoms for jumping, but it depends on your style. The longer pick supposedly favours skaters who jump up rather than out (like the take-off of a spacecraft as opposed to a plane). I didn't find it got in the way of spins, apart from a few stumbles on the flying camel as I adjusted to the difference.

But others on GS know a wider range of blades than I've ever used. And I'd agree that struggles are more likely to be a technique problem that will improve as you practise, rather than the fault of the equipment. Good luck!

 

[IceM]

Don't worry about toepick patterns, they make no real difference.

I wouldn't be worried about moving to a 7ft rocker, either.

Hitting your toepick on spins might just be an issue with the flat blade in a boot that's too big, so you don't really have the sweet spot where you need it.

Legacy 8 in a correct size boot would probably be the best for you. I would move you to a Gold Seal instead of P99, but that's even more expensive.

 

[Ice Z]

Don't worry about toepick patterns, they make no real difference.

I wouldn't be worried about moving to a 7ft rocker, either.

Hitting your toepick on spins might just be an issue with the flat blade in a boot that's too big, so you don't really have the sweet spot where you need it.

Legacy 8 in a correct size boot would probably be the best for you. I would move you to a Gold Seal instead of P99, but that's even more expensive.

I was wondering why you would move me to Gold Seal instead of P99.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I was wondering why you would move me to Gold Seal instead of P99.

Probably b/c of the way the blade is designed and also b/c you stated you hit your toepick early on spins.

Is this what you were thinking @IceM ?

 

[Ice Z]

Probably b/c of the way the blade is designed and also b/c you stated you hit your toepick early on spins.

Is this what you were thinking @IceM ?

Thank you!
On the website it says P99 is for hitting your toe pick early. Is that wrong?

 

[tstop4me]

On the website it says P99 is for hitting your toe pick early. Is that wrong?

We need to clarify your original post:

I tend to hit my toe pick early on spins.

By this, I believe many of us are interpreting you to say that with your current blades (Aspire XP) you are hitting your toe pick too early (earlier than you would like) on spins and would prefer a blade in which you can raise your heel more and rock forward more before you hit the toe pick. Is that correct? If so, you want a blade with a rounder spin rocker profile and higher heel lift.

When Wilson says:

"If deciding between this [Pattern 99] or a Gold Seal, please take into account your skating tendencies; particulary [sic] with knee bend and how quickly you prefer to hit your toe picks.

If you want to hit your picks quicker, this blade is your best option. If you want to hit them later, head over to the Gold Seal page to learn more!"

they mean that the Pattern 99 is more suited for skaters who prefer to hit the toe pick early (flatter spin rocker/lower heel lift). So please clarify your preference. Are you happy with the spin rocker on your Aspire XP, or do you want something rounder?

 

[Ice Z]

We need to clarify your original post:



By this, I believe many of us are interpreting you to say that with your current blades (Aspire XP) you are hitting your toe pick too early (earlier than you would like) on spins and would prefer a blade in which you can raise your heel more and rock forward more before you hit the toe pick. Is that correct? If so, you want a blade with a rounder spin rocker profile and higher heel lift.

When Wilson says:

"If deciding between this [Pattern 99] or a Gold Seal, please take into account your skating tendencies; particulary [sic] with knee bend and how quickly you prefer to hit your toe picks.

If you want to hit your picks quicker, this blade is your best option. If you want to hit them later, head over to the Gold Seal page to learn more!"

they mean that the Pattern 99 is more suited for skaters who prefer to hit the toe pick early (flatter spin rocker/lower heel lift). So please clarify your preference. Are you happy with the spin rocker on your Aspire XP, or do you want something rounder?

I've never tried anything rounder, so I'm not sure. I don't usually like to hold my entrance long, I think that's just become a habit now that never got mentioned when I started spinning.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Also what do you mean by rounder?
(Like 7ft rocker or the Sanchion height, or the secondary rocker)

 

[IceM]

Probably b/c of the way the blade is designed and also b/c you stated you hit your toepick early on spins.

Is this what you were thinking @IceM ?

Yep, exactly so.

Thank you!
On the website it says P99 is for hitting your toe pick early. Is that wrong?

The website is not wrong (although about the particularly forgiving sweetspot during spins; it's not so simple, and Gold Seal really is more forgiving, although the difference is not dramatic). I just understood that you tend to hit toepicks sooner than you wish/should. On P99 the toepicks indeed come at you quicker, so if that's what you're actually looking for, then go for that. But it sounded like you would benefit from something like the Gold Seal more instead.

 

[Ice Z]

Yep, exactly so.



The website is not wrong (although about the particularly forgiving sweetspot during spins; it's not so simple, and Gold Seal really is more forgiving, although the difference is not dramatic). I just understood that you tend to hit toepicks sooner than you wish/should. On P99 the toepicks indeed come at you quicker, so if that's what you're actually looking for, then go for that. But it sounded like you would benefit from something like the Gold Seal more instead.

I've been told I hit my toe pick too early, by other couchs but it's never been a major problem or gotten mentioned by my instructor.
Thank you for the suggestion, I'll look into Gold Seal

I was wondering in terms of Jumps, is there a difference in the two blades?

 

[tstop4me]

Also what do you mean by rounder?
(Like 7ft rocker or the Sanchion height, or the secondary rocker)

In my post above, I specifically referred to the spin rocker. Spin rocker = secondary rocker.

they mean that the Pattern 99 is more suited for skaters who prefer to hit the toe pick early (flatter spin rocker/lower heel lift). So please clarify your preference. Are you happy with the spin rocker on your Aspire XP, or do you want something rounder? <<Italics added>>

 

[IceM]

I've been told I hit my toe pick too early, by other couchs but it's never been a major problem or gotten mentioned by my instructor.
Thank you for the suggestion, I'll look into Gold Seal

I was wondering in terms of Jumps, is there a difference in the two blades?

In terms of performance, not really, both are used by elite skaters with just different preferences.

P99 is often touted as more of a "jumping blade" and Gold Seal as a "spinning blade", but those are oversimplified labels. Both blades are excellent at both, just with different feels and mechanics.

The P99's lower stanchions has you stand closer to the ice, coupled with the parallel blade, this gives a very stable, connected feel to the ice, which many skaters interpret as being more balanced and responsive, particularly on takeoffs and edges.

The Gold Seal, on the other hand, has a longer tail (good for landings) and a more aggressive front profile. Combined with its higher stanchions, the delayed toepick engagement can change leverage at the ankle, which for some skaters allows for more powerful or "explosive" jumps.

 

[Diana Delafield]

The Gold Seal, on the other hand, has a longer tail (good for landings) and a more aggressive front profile. Combined with its higher stanchions, the delayed toepick engagement can change leverage at the ankle, which for some skaters allows for more powerful or "explosive" jumps.

My pairs partner has that jumping style and has used the Gold Seal blades for years. He tried the Pattern 99s once, but not for long. He said because of being closer to the ice he felt as if he was spinning and landing jumps on his boot soles, and was hitting his bottom pick too often.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I've been told I hit my toe pick too early, by other couchs but it's never been a major problem or gotten mentioned by my instructor.
Thank you for the suggestion, I'll look into Gold Seal

I was wondering in terms of Jumps, is there a difference in the two blades?

Yes. I've worn pretty much every blade there is or tested them. The Gold Seal has a higher back stanchion, and has the more rounded feel. P99 is flatter(parallel), it's still a great blade and what I use for when I skate freestyle (I competed on them for years and loved them for jumps-it made them even more explosive). They were great all around and yes they are closer to the ice.
I've also worn Gold Seals and loved those--it was all in what I needed at the time with my competitive career.
I understood what you originally said just like the others here: That you hit the picks early and want to.

I would also suggest Gold Seal to you, or you could also look at MK Gold Star. MK Gold Star has similar profile to Gold Seal but it has a 7ft rocker and I feel like that and the toepick would be better for you.

Whatever blade you choose---look at the standard(traditional) version. No need for lite or rev blades.

Good luck!