Rrecommendations for beginner skater coming off of rentals??

[Diana Delafield]

I see! thanks for this information! i think if jacksons is the brand for me I'll either get the newer black debuts or the newer white premieres

on a side note, on the shop's product catalogue I noticed that there were a lot of blades that were around the similar price point as the coronation aces and mk pros like the matrix legacies and the apex blades (supreme, freestyle, elite)

to be honest i was particularly swayed by the colors on the matrix legacy blades(), and was wondering whether they are considered a good beginner blade? As for the apex blades, they r around 25usd more expensive than the mk pros and coronation blades, and I was wondering whether i should get one of those instead if they are a better blade?

Quick notes:
1. The Matrix blades can't be sharpened on the regular machinery used for most blades. You'd have to make sure that whoever would be sharpening your skates has the right equipment reserved just for those blades, and knows how to use it proficiently. And choosing a blade because you like its colour is not recommended! Blades have a wide variety of shapes and pick configurations that are far more important to you being able to skate on them at all.

2. The Apex blades have been described to me by my own coach (just in ordinary conversation -- I have no interest in using them myself) as having "aggressive" toe picks which would not be good at all for a beginner trying to learn to stroke and master the basic turns. To put it simply, a beginner would be constantly tripping on the picks and doing a face-plant. Not safe at that technical level.

Stick with the basic MK Pros or Coronation Aces. Leave the flashy stuff until you've reached an advanced level. And by then there will be even more varieties of blades available, but you'll understand why you need certain features and want to stay away from others.

 

[square4]

Quick notes:
1. The Matrix blades can't be sharpened on the regular machinery used for most blades. You'd have to make sure that whoever would be sharpening your skates has the right equipment reserved just for those blades, and knows how to use it proficiently. And choosing a blade because you like its colour is not recommended! Blades have a wide variety of shapes and pick configurations that are far more important to you being able to skate on them at all.

2. The Apex blades have been described to me by my own coach (just in ordinary conversation -- I have no interest in using them myself) as having "aggressive" toe picks which would not be good at all for a beginner trying to learn to stroke and master the basic turns. To put it simply, a beginner would be constantly tripping on the picks and doing a face-plant. Not safe at that technical level.

Stick with the basic MK Pros or Coronation Aces. Leave the flashy stuff until you've reached an advanced level. And by then there will be even more varieties of blades available, but you'll understand why you need certain features and want to stay away from others.

alright, thanks for ur advice!

the shop let me know that they did have the jigs for the matrix blades, so sharpening shouldn't be an issue. Other than that, is there a certain reason why it is less recommended than the MK pros or the coronation aces?

i will make sure to stay away from the apex blades for now! I do not want to fall on my face lol

 

[tstop4me]

the shop let me know that they did have the jigs for the matrix blades, so sharpening shouldn't be an issue. Other than that, is there a certain reason why it is less recommended than the MK pros or the coronation aces?

The Matrix Legacy is fabricated from a stainless-steel runner mounted on an aluminum chassis. The Pros & Aces are fabricated from chrome-plated, plain-carbon steel. The major plus of the Legacy is that the runner is much less prone to rust. The major minus of the Legacy is that it has a flatter spin rocker (which won't really concern you until you advance to spins). Also note that the Matrix version of the Legacy is available only with an 8-ft radius main rocker vs the 7-ft of the Pros & Aces. The standard version of the Legacy is available in both 7 ft and 8 ft.

There are further technical pluses and minuses. I won't get into the weeds because your main attraction to the Matrix is the availability of colors. But note that the color is produced by a coating on the aluminum chassis. The coating is not all that robust (especially compared to chrome). The Matrix will look pretty when new and you gaze upon it fondly. But after you skate with it for a while, it will look ratty; and you might be hit with buyer's remorse every time you pull your skates out of your kit bag.

 

[square4]

The Matrix Legacy is fabricated from a stainless-steel runner mounted on an aluminum chassis. The Pros & Aces are fabricated from chrome-plated, plain-carbon steel. The major plus of the Legacy is that the runner is much less prone to rust. The major minus of the Legacy is that it has a flatter spin rocker (which won't really concern you until you advance to spins). Also note that the Matrix version of the Legacy is available only with an 8-ft radius main rocker vs the 7-ft of the Pros & Aces. The standard version of the Legacy is available in both 7 ft and 8 ft.

There are further technical pluses and minuses. I won't get into the weeds because your main attraction to the Matrix is the availability of colors. But note that the color is produced by a coating on the aluminum chassis. The coating is not all that robust (especially compared to chrome). The Matrix will look pretty when new and you gaze upon it fondly. But after you skate with it for a while, it will look ratty; and you might be hit with buyer's remorse every time you pull your skates out of your kit bag.

oh goodness i didn't even consider rust!! HK is so humid all year round (especially now)... are the coronation aces/MK Pros especially prone to rusting? Or is that only an issue if I dont wipe them down + get soakers? (i already ordered soakers + hard guards)

 

[Diana Delafield]

alright, thanks for ur advice!

the shop let me know that they did have the jigs for the matrix blades, so sharpening shouldn't be an issue. Other than that, is there a certain reason why it is less recommended than the MK pros or the coronation aces?

i will make sure to stay away from the apex blades for now! I do not want to fall on my face lol

Like the Apex and other advanced blades, the Matrix have "aggressive" pick configurations and rocker profiles that are designed for triple/quad jumps and other very advanced moves. Those features are not only not needed by beginners, they would actively hamper learning the basic elements and lead to frequent and quite nasty falls. Please don't even think of buying them.

 

[tstop4me]

oh goodness i didn't even consider rust!! HK is so humid all year round (especially now)... are the coronation aces/MK Pros especially prone to rusting? Or is that only an issue if I dont wipe them down + get soakers? (i already ordered soakers + hard guards)

Plain-carbon steel is inherently prone to rust under prolonged humid conditions. Tips to prevent rust:

* Cover the blades with hard guards only when your boots are on your feet, and you plan to walk around off-ice. Never store (short term or long term) the skates with hard guards on. Hard guards trap moisture and promote rust.

* When you get off the ice, don't use the soakers to wipe off slush and water from the blades. Always use a separate towel to wipe off slush and water from the blades and boots.

* If you're in a high-dewpoint ambient, the blades can be cold enough for moisture to re-condense on the blades. I use a two-towel/two-soaker method. At the rink, I dry off the blades with Towel 1 and put on Soakers 1. When I get home, I remove Soakers 1, dry the blades with Towel 2, and put on Soakers 2. Some skaters prefer not to store their skates with soakers on. But I do, because the soakers also provide mechanical protection: keeps the blades from banging into each other or banging into other surfaces (protects the blades or the other surfaces from damage).

* I transport my skates in my car (has air conditioning when needed), and my home is air conditioned during hot, muggy weather. The above steps are enough.

* If your skates are exposed to prolonged high humidity during transport or home storage, use WD-40 to protect the blades against rust. The standard spray can is too messy and bulky. The applicator pen is neat to use and compact to carry in your kit bag. If you need to protect the blades during transport, then apply WD-40 at the rink after you've dried the blades with Towel 1; then slip on Soakers 1. At home, remove Soakers 1, and wipe the blades down with Towel 2. If your home is humid, apply WD-40 a second time, and then put on Soakers 2. Note that you need to apply WD-40 only on the portions of the blade that are not chrome plated; these areas are the edges, the hollow, and the sides of the blade adjacent to the edges in the chrome relief (the chrome relief is obvious: not shiny and looks rougher than chrome-plated areas).

 

[Diana Delafield]

oh goodness i didn't even consider rust!! HK is so humid all year round (especially now)... are the coronation aces/MK Pros especially prone to rusting? Or is that only an issue if I dont wipe them down + get soakers? (i already ordered soakers + hard guards)

All blades will rust if not thoroughly dried after every time you use them. Not just the sharp edge of the blade -- make sure the plates attached to your boot soles are also allowed to completely dry in open air after you get home and remove the soakers temporarily. If rust gets under the plates, the screws will rust and you risk having a blade come loose while you skate. This is not a fun feeling, and can lead to spectacular falls. (I've seen a teenage boy careless with his equipment have a blade break off his boot as he landed a jump. The resulting compound leg fracture and concussion kept him off the ice for a year.)

 

[Query]

tstop4me, why do you prefer leather. I'm not disagreeing, just wondering.

As to second hand boots - some kids grow so fast, that they sometimes only use boots for a few weeks. I wouldn't hesitate - but remember that the boots may have been stretched or heat molded to fit them, not you. Also, it seems that many modern boots have a fairly finite lifetime. So if they are years old, that might be a no no.

But boots that already have creases near where they bend are likely starting to break down.

Also it is possible that boots bought for someone growing that fast might not be very durable, on the assumption they don't need to last long. I once bought a pair of used Risport boots which happened to fit me, and showed literally no signs of wear - and it broke down completely within a month or so. I should have guessed - they were just a single layer of leather, not two layers with a stiffening element in between.

The blades on second hand boots may also have been mounted off center to match the skater's anatomy - and might need to be remounted for you, even if they are still good. Some skate techs can do that well (it often involves filling in the old holes, especially if the desired new and old hole positions overlap, with something appropriate), and some skate techs don't know how to do that.

Many skate techs charge more to deal with boots bought from other people than with boots you buy directly from them.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

thanks for ur reply!!

would the electras be ok for my level or should i be looking straight at the RF3 pros?

No. Electra is not stiff enough for you, hence why I did not suggest them.

 

[square4]

No. Electra is not stiff enough for you, hence why I did not suggest them.

Alright, thanks for ur advice!

 

[square4]

Plain-carbon steel is inherently prone to rust under prolonged humid conditions. Tips to prevent rust:

* Cover the blades with hard guards only when your boots are on your feet, and you plan to walk around off-ice. Never store (short term or long term) the skates with hard guards on. Hard guards trap moisture and promote rust.

* When you get off the ice, don't use the soakers to wipe off slush and water from the blades. Always use a separate towel to wipe off slush and water from the blades and boots.

* If you're in a high-dewpoint ambient, the blades can be cold enough for moisture to re-condense on the blades. I use a two-towel/two-soaker method. At the rink, I dry off the blades with Towel 1 and put on Soakers 1. When I get home, I remove Soakers 1, dry the blades with Towel 2, and put on Soakers 2. Some skaters prefer not to store their skates with soakers on. But I do, because the soakers also provide mechanical protection: keeps the blades from banging into each other or banging into other surfaces (protects the blades or the other surfaces from damage).

* I transport my skates in my car (has air conditioning when needed), and my home is air conditioned during hot, muggy weather. The above steps are enough.

* If your skates are exposed to prolonged high humidity during transport or home storage, use WD-40 to protect the blades against rust. The standard spray can is too messy and bulky. The applicator pen is neat to use and compact to carry in your kit bag. If you need to protect the blades during transport, then apply WD-40 at the rink after you've dried the blades with Towel 1; then slip on Soakers 1. At home, remove Soakers 1, and wipe the blades down with Towel 2. If your home is humid, apply WD-40 a second time, and then put on Soakers 2. Note that you need to apply WD-40 only on the portions of the blade that are not chrome plated; these areas are the edges, the hollow, and the sides of the blade adjacent to the edges in the chrome relief (the chrome relief is obvious: not shiny and looks rougher than chrome-plated areas).

Alright thanks so much for your detailed review!! ordering another pair soakers now lol!

also, I recently bought a new dehumidifier, and probably placing the skates near the dehumidifier to dry probably helps?

Anyways, I think I'm ready for my appointment(s) tomorrow!! Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[tstop4me]

Alright thanks so much for your detailed review!! ordering another pair soakers now lol!

also, I recently bought a new dehumidifier, and probably placing the skates near the dehumidifier to dry probably helps?

Anyways, I think I'm ready for my appointment(s) tomorrow!! Thanks again for everyone's help!

Storing the skates in a room with a dehumidifier would definitely be beneficial.

 

[sy916]

On the other hand, I believe that one poster here originally thought she had really wide feet; but when she went to get fitted, it turned out she didn't.

That may have been me - feet are triangle to D shaped, Roman-ish/Orient-ish, with very narrow heels, and every dress shoe and running shoe I've worn the last ~20 years has been a wide. But when I got to the shop and was measured earlier this year, my fitter put me in a regular width boot (stretching out a boot for the wider forefoot), I think in large part because of my heel width (or lack thereof). Coincidentally, it is the 2550 Debut boot.

 

[Query]

also, I recently bought a new dehumidifier, and probably placing the skates near the dehumidifier to dry probably helps?

Of course it shouldn't be so close to the dehumidifier that if it leaks, water could land on the boots or blades.

Also, dehumidifiers sometimes get a bit hot. Perhaps it is best to have the boots at least a foot or two away? And likewise, not put it too close to a heater, refrigerator or freezer. Or potentially leaky plumbing.

I once left my skates on the floor, against a wall. We had a minor flood, that made the floor there somewhat wet. The blades rusted very badly - and they were a good grade stainless steel. (Even stainless steel can rust if you push it too far.) You probably won't run into that problem, but if you might, take care.

But I guess those things are pretty obvious. Skates are somewhat expensive - and you have put a lot of time into getting the right ones. They are worth protecting. Just like it is worth finding a really good skate tech. It would be so annoying to buy yourself new blades, then take them to a second rate fitter who messes them up in a single sharpening. A lot of people in these and other forums have done just that.

Incidentally, some brands of dehumidifier last several times or more longer than others. With a significant cost appliance like that, I like to search the Internet for comments from professional repair people or other knowledgeable people on what lasts longest and is the most trouble free. But that has nothing to do with what type of boots or blades you should buy.

 

[Query]

Interesting. Near where I live, Matrix Legacy would be about $100 more than MK Pro, or than non-Matrix Legacy blades. That would be enough to pay for several private 30 minute figure skating lessons. At your skating level, I wonder if private lessons would do you more good. (Anyone have opinions on that?) Sure you have to keep the non-stainless steel dry, but maybe it would worth it?

But I'm not sufficiently appearance oriented to fully appreciate the advantages of colored blades.

 

[square4]

hello everyone!!! a small update:

I tried on the jacksons! I tried on the freestyles first, they fit fine(?). I'm not sure how exactly to describe it, but I could feel my feet slipping and moving the entire time. I dont think they fit terrible, but I could feel my feet slipping down into the front, if that makes sense. I tried both the white and black ones, and tried multiple sizes. They also had a pair of premieres that were luckily my size, and I thought it felt better than the freestyles, but I could definitely still feel my foot moving around.

I still asked them how long it would take to get a pair of debuts/premieres ordered, and they said it would take 2 months. I'm not gonna lie, I really didn't want to wait 2 months... I don't think my feet can take it haha

Then, I went to the other skate shop and tried on Edeas and Risport. As expected, the Edeas were an immediate no. However, I guess my feet aren't as wide as I thought? Because when I tried the Risport RF3 (in the normal width too!) it felt pretty good! My foot wasn't moving around, and there weren't any odd pains. the shop owner recommended that as an adult that it would probably be better to get a separate boot rather than the boots with attached blades, which was as expected. During my conversation with the owner, he also mentioned MK flight as a possible option for beginner blades.

From my understanding, the MK flights are cheaper and have a 8ft rocker, and the 8ft rocker is more stable (?). To be honest, a more stable blade sounds pretty appealing to me lol

so i guess my question is, would getting the MK flight be a good decision? I've become a little more reluctant abt the MK Pros/Coronation aces bc the RF3s are more expensive than the Jackson Debuts/premieres, and I also like the sound of extra stability, as I assume the blade profiles would feel more similar to the rental skates as well, so it's less of an adjustment period.

 

[Diana Delafield]

hello everyone!!! a small update:

I tried on the jacksons! I tried on the freestyles first, they fit fine(?). I'm not sure how exactly to describe it, but I could feel my feet slipping and moving the entire time. I dont think they fit terrible, but I could feel my feet slipping down into the front, if that makes sense. I tried both the white and black ones, and tried multiple sizes. They also had a pair of premieres that were luckily my size, and I thought it felt better than the freestyles, but I could definitely still feel my foot moving around.

I still asked them how long it would take to get a pair of debuts/premieres ordered, and they said it would take 2 months. I'm not gonna lie, I really didn't want to wait 2 months... I don't think my feet can take it haha

Then, I went to the other skate shop and tried on Edeas and Risport. As expected, the Edeas were an immediate no. However, I guess my feet aren't as wide as I thought? Because when I tried the Risport RF3 (in the normal width too!) it felt pretty good! My foot wasn't moving around, and there weren't any odd pains. the shop owner recommended that as an adult that it would probably be better to get a separate boot rather than the boots with attached blades, which was as expected. During my conversation with the owner, he also mentioned MK flight as a possible option for beginner blades.

From my understanding, the MK flights are cheaper and have a 8ft rocker, and the 8ft rocker is more stable (?). To be honest, a more stable blade sounds pretty appealing to me lol

so i guess my question is, would getting the MK flight be a good decision? I've become a little more reluctant abt the MK Pros/Coronation aces bc the RF3s are more expensive than the Jackson Debuts/premieres, and I also like the sound of extra stability, as I assume the blade profiles would feel more similar to the rental skates as well, so it's less of an adjustment period.

I'm not familiar with the MK Flight blades, which my skate shop doesn't carry, but I see on the company website that they're intended for beginners. Perhaps you could stagger the hits to your budget by starting with the Risport RF3 boots and the Flight blades, and then later change to the MK Pro or CA blades at a time when you don't need new boots yet? I doubt you'd feel any difference in stability between blades with 7' or 8' rockers at your current technical level, certainly not to the degree that you seem to be picturing.

As for the waiting period for skates ordered in for you, that's normal unless you happen to live in a skating centre like I do, in Canada. I bought a pair of semi-custom made Graf Edmonton Specials last year and it was considered amazing that I got them in about two months, but usually my shop has in stock the Risport RF1s that I also wear, or are expecting to get my size in soon. Waiting periods for some custom made boots like Harlicks can be, I've heard, as long as two to three years, and other stock boots can be anywhere up to a year depending on the size of the company and where they're located. To get you out of the rental skates, I'd suggest you go with the Risports and those Flight blades, unless someone here on GS knows more about the Flights than I do and doesn't recommend them. Definitely separate boots and blades, with the blades attached where your weight distribution needs them, are better than the sets for ease of learning correctly from the start.

 

[tstop4me]

hello everyone!!! a small update:

I tried on the jacksons! I tried on the freestyles first, they fit fine(?). I'm not sure how exactly to describe it, but I could feel my feet slipping and moving the entire time. I dont think they fit terrible, but I could feel my feet slipping down into the front, if that makes sense. I tried both the white and black ones, and tried multiple sizes. They also had a pair of premieres that were luckily my size, and I thought it felt better than the freestyles, but I could definitely still feel my foot moving around.

I still asked them how long it would take to get a pair of debuts/premieres ordered, and they said it would take 2 months. I'm not gonna lie, I really didn't want to wait 2 months... I don't think my feet can take it haha

Then, I went to the other skate shop and tried on Edeas and Risport. As expected, the Edeas were an immediate no. However, I guess my feet aren't as wide as I thought? Because when I tried the Risport RF3 (in the normal width too!) it felt pretty good! My foot wasn't moving around, and there weren't any odd pains. the shop owner recommended that as an adult that it would probably be better to get a separate boot rather than the boots with attached blades, which was as expected. During my conversation with the owner, he also mentioned MK flight as a possible option for beginner blades.

From my understanding, the MK flights are cheaper and have a 8ft rocker, and the 8ft rocker is more stable (?). To be honest, a more stable blade sounds pretty appealing to me lol

so i guess my question is, would getting the MK flight be a good decision? I've become a little more reluctant abt the MK Pros/Coronation aces bc the RF3s are more expensive than the Jackson Debuts/premieres, and I also like the sound of extra stability, as I assume the blade profiles would feel more similar to the rental skates as well, so it's less of an adjustment period.

* Time to take a pause here. It's difficult for me to see what's going on because the relative HK prices appear to be substantially different from the relative US prices for different gear. [I realize there are differences in duties, tariffs, exchange rates, shipping fees, ....] You were willing to pay for Matrix Legacy blades because of the color options, but you are now hesitating about the MK Pro. Let's back up and consider various issues.

* You started here.

my coach just recommended either edea overture or chorus with mk professionals,

Now, is this a coach that you just happened to chat with, or a coach that you plan on taking private lessons from? Did the coach just say casually, "Oh, just go with the MK Pro," or does the coach strongly recommend them to all their students? Some coaches are well versed with the characteristics of specific blades and teach accordingly. Check whether this is the case.

* Don't worry about which blade will make an easier transition from rentals. The transition will be substantial regardless, and will be mainly dictated by breaking in a proper pair of boots. As for an 8-ft main rocker being more stable than a 7-ft main rocker for a beginner, I don't know. That's certainly been the trend for beginner blades. MK Pro and Wilson Coronation Ace are typically listed as intermediate blades. They are not overblading for beginners; the major negative relative to beginner blades is the extra cost. But note that prior to 2015, both MK and Wilson beginner blades (below the Pro and Ace) all had nominally 7-ft main rockers. And I mean for eons prior to 2015. They then suddenly switched to an 8-ft main rocker. Wilson no longer sells beginner blades. MK still offers the Flight and Galaxy, and posts this explanation on their website:

"The MK Flight was released in 2015 to meet the specific needs of the entry level skater. As skaters’ needs developed and changed over the years, the team at MK set out to create a blade that satisfied the elementary market. Unlike our beginner blades of the past, the Flight’s profile has been flattened to perfectly suit boot/blade combination sets."

Perhaps an experienced coach can chime in here.

* But, regardless of your first blade, your next blade will likely have a 7-ft main rocker. The only mainstream intermediate blade with an 8-ft main rocker currently on the market is the Ultima (traditional) Legacy 8. So one can argue that if you start with a Pro, you can stay with a Pro.

* Another consideration that pops up is whether a cheaper beginner blade actually saves you money in the long run. That depends on the relative frequency of sharpening and the cost of sharpening (I currently pay US$35/sharpening). I don't have a definitive answer for this. I answered in a concurrent thread:

Sorry, I can't help here. This has always been an intriguing question, but even more so post-pandemic, since the prices of figure-skating gear and figure-skating services (such as sharpening) have skyrocketed. But I'm not aware of any studies that have compared the wear rate of different blades under nominally the same actual skating conditions. Paramount did some limited wear-rate studies of a few different steels under test-lab conditions. Anecdotal reports aren't very helpful since there are far too many uncontrolled variables. And as Diana mentioned, there's now a greater variety of blades fabricated from a greater variety of steels than in the olden days in which MK and Wilson (which are now owned by the same parent) were by far the two overwhelmingly dominant blade suppliers (excluding the low-end stuff sold at department stores and sporting-goods stores). If anyone else is aware of field-test data, I'd be interested.

You can look at the other thread for more details.

* If your shop has a Flight and a Pro of the same length in stock for you to play with, then compare the lift angles. See the video "Lift Angles" on the Paramount site: https://www.paramountskates.com/videos. Watch the entire video for your education, but pay particular attention starting at ~1:50 for how to do a simple lift angle comparison at the store. If the lift angles are approximately the same, the spin rockers are close.

* Regardless, I agree with Diana. If you don't want to spend the money on a Pro right now, the priority is to get out of rentals. Then go with the RF3 Pro + Flight and upgrade the blades later (assuming the boots are still OK when you've advanced sufficiently to merit a blade upgrade). Whether this saves you money in the long run is not clear.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

hello everyone!!! a small update:

I tried on the jacksons! I tried on the freestyles first, they fit fine(?). I'm not sure how exactly to describe it, but I could feel my feet slipping and moving the entire time. I dont think they fit terrible, but I could feel my feet slipping down into the front, if that makes sense. I tried both the white and black ones, and tried multiple sizes. They also had a pair of premieres that were luckily my size, and I thought it felt better than the freestyles, but I could definitely still feel my foot moving around.

I still asked them how long it would take to get a pair of debuts/premieres ordered, and they said it would take 2 months. I'm not gonna lie, I really didn't want to wait 2 months... I don't think my feet can take it haha

Then, I went to the other skate shop and tried on Edeas and Risport. As expected, the Edeas were an immediate no. However, I guess my feet aren't as wide as I thought? Because when I tried the Risport RF3 (in the normal width too!) it felt pretty good! My foot wasn't moving around, and there weren't any odd pains. the shop owner recommended that as an adult that it would probably be better to get a separate boot rather than the boots with attached blades, which was as expected. During my conversation with the owner, he also mentioned MK flight as a possible option for beginner blades.

From my understanding, the MK flights are cheaper and have a 8ft rocker, and the 8ft rocker is more stable (?). To be honest, a more stable blade sounds pretty appealing to me lol

so i guess my question is, would getting the MK flight be a good decision? I've become a little more reluctant abt the MK Pros/Coronation aces bc the RF3s are more expensive than the Jackson Debuts/premieres, and I also like the sound of extra stability, as I assume the blade profiles would feel more similar to the rental skates as well, so it's less of an adjustment period.

I'm not shocked your foot fits a Risport RF3, that would be the right boot for a wider foot. It would be the Royal line of Risport that wouldn't work b/c it's like Edea.

 

[Query]

* Time to take a pause here. It's difficult for me to see what's going on because the relative HK prices appear to be substantially different from the relative US prices for different gear. [I realize there are differences in duties, tariffs, exchange rates, shipping fees, ....]

Or maybe the weird pricing structure is because that particular store gets a better deal from Jackson - perhaps because they sell a lot of Jackson blades. (And maybe they sell a lot of Jackson blades because they get a good price break from Jackson...)

I have no idea if that is true. It is just a possibility.

Now ordinarily, you shouldn't go to the cheapest supplier of boots or blades unless you know them to be very competent - because there are so many potential problems handling boots and blades, and a lot of skate techs are not very competent. But Ic3Rabbit is an elite skater and coach. Such people often try to find out who the best skate techs are everywhere they or their students might tour or compete, in case they have an emergency need for one. So it is very likely that the store that Ic3Rabbit recommended has a very good skate tech. So it is likely a good idea to check their prices, not just the store your coach recommended.