I visited Sp-Teri yesterday, without my skater so she couldn't defend herself in our discussion. They reiterated how stiff her current Jackson Debut Fusion boots are. Jackson has updated their recommendations, and for her weight the Debuts are rated for doubles now. Sp-Teri is recommending that she stay in them another year. She, of course, disagrees and wants to move up to the Premiere. Whether it's a ploy or not (she is 11) when I ask about whether she feels that her current boots can take her through doubles she demurs. She says she doesn't think they're going to hold up much past what she's working on now (2S, 2T, 2Lo and started 2F last week) insisting that they'd never hold her on 2Lz or 2A. It could be that I just don't know what questions to ask to get at the truth, but I ask about support and ankles and knees. She's been in them almost a year and there's not a mark or sign of break down at all. All the techs I've communicated with say that until she breaks a pair down they're fine.
I guess the question is, if she's just not confident in them (even if the reality is that they're fine) is that more important than any of the specs, recommendations, opinions etc.? I don't skate, and it didn't dawn on me until talking with her last night when I told her what they had recommended and she just started to cry a bit that maybe she just doesn't trust them. Sp-Teri is not a fan of really stiff boots for young skaters, and frankly at our rink we've had some injuries (stress fractures) and those skaters were all in Edea boots (Ice Fly). Anecdata I know, coincidence probably, but the old school philosophy (Harlick, Sp-Teri) is that overbooting is still bad for younger skaters, but the "new market philosophy" is light and stiff. Seems I'm caught between and don't know which way to err. Coach is not a fan of stiff either having been in Sp-Teri's since she was 8. At this point I'm leaning towards having a mildly(from 45/50 - 65 rating) overbooted but confident skater, especially as she progresses to 2A.
I guess the question is, if she's just not confident in them (even if the reality is that they're fine) is that more important than any of the specs, recommendations, opinions etc.? I don't skate, and it didn't dawn on me until talking with her last night when I told her what they had recommended and she just started to cry a bit that maybe she just doesn't trust them. Sp-Teri is not a fan of really stiff boots for young skaters, and frankly at our rink we've had some injuries (stress fractures) and those skaters were all in Edea boots (Ice Fly). Anecdata I know, coincidence probably, but the old school philosophy (Harlick, Sp-Teri) is that overbooting is still bad for younger skaters, but the "new market philosophy" is light and stiff. Seems I'm caught between and don't know which way to err. Coach is not a fan of stiff either having been in Sp-Teri's since she was 8. At this point I'm leaning towards having a mildly(from 45/50 - 65 rating) overbooted but confident skater, especially as she progresses to 2A.