Advice on beginner skates

[ammeliaaaaa]

I am currently looking to buy new skates as a 15 year old beginner. I am starting Learn to Skate Basic 6 next week and have grown out of my previous skates, Riedell Emeralds. My skate shop is not really geared towards figure skating and rather towards hockey, and they measured my feet there but didn't really know anything about what boot would be best. I'm about 5'1 and 105 lbs female. I'd like to take ice skating seriously in the long run too.

I was looking at:

1. Edea Wave
2. Edea Motivo
3. Jackson Freestyle
4. Jackson Elle
5. Edea Overture

I had to get the wider foot bed in Riedell, although I thought I had pretty standard width feet. I also have low arches and a Roman toe shape (I think)

Does anybody have any advice on what I should do from experience? I'm open to other options as well!

 

[Diana Delafield]

I am currently looking to buy new skates as a 15 year old beginner. I am starting Learn to Skate Basic 6 next week and have grown out of my previous skates, Riedell Emeralds. My skate shop is not really geared towards figure skating and rather towards hockey, and they measured my feet there but didn't really know anything about what boot would be best. I'm about 5'1 and 105 lbs female. I'd like to take ice skating seriously in the long run too.

I was looking at:

1. Edea Wave
2. Edea Motivo
3. Jackson Freestyle
4. Jackson Elle

I had to get the wider variation in Riedell, although I thought I had pretty standard width feet. I also have low arches and a Roman toe shape (I think)

Does anybody have any advice on what I should do from experience? I'm open to other options as well!

Hello and welcome to the world of figure skating! Thanks for all the physical stats. If you can tell us where you live, someone can point you to the nearest recommended skate shop that will be able to fit you with the most appropriate boots for your foot shape. Good luck!

 

[ammeliaaaaa]

Hello and welcome to the world of figure skating! Thanks for all the physical stats. If you can tell us where you live, someone can point you to the nearest recommended skate shop that will be able to fit you with the most appropriate boots for your foot shape. Good luck!

I’d like to order online if possible, as it is more affordable for me. Do you know if any of the boots I listed are suitable for my level and measurements?

 

[Diana Delafield]

I’d like to order online if possible, as it is more affordable for me. Do you know if any of the boots I listed are suitable for my level and measurements?

Possibly, but you'd need one of the coaches on this forum to advise that. I'm about your size (but a LOT older ), with narrow, high-arched feet and wear Risport or Riedell, but in a more advanced boot level. I'm not familiar with Edea boots, which don't fit my feet at all -- Jacksons are a possibility for you in general but there again I'm not familiar with those specific models.

Ordering online isn't a great idea, especially as often they don't take returns, and definitely don't take returns if you've used the skates, which you really have to do to see if they work for you. What seems to fit well just trying them on away from the ice can turn out to cause pain problems when you actually try skating in them. At the very least you should have someone knowledgeable fit you into the right boots, and then if your budget insists you could go home and order their recommended ones online. But we don't usually advise that here.

What country/city are you in? GS is an international forum, so there will be someone here who knows skate shops and fitters near to you.

 

[ammeliaaaaa]

Thank you! I’m in Naples, FL, USA

 

[Diana Delafield]

Thank you! I’m in Naples, FL, USA

And I hope you're safe this week!

@Ic3Rabbit, any suggestions for skate shops around there? Or anyone else who knows the score in Florida? I'm no help there from the Pacific coast of Canada.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

OP, what is your height/weight?

 

[ammeliaaaaa]

OP, what is your height/weight?

Height: 5'1"
Weight: 105 (ish)

 

[tstop4me]

I’d like to order online if possible, as it is more affordable for me.

* You should check this carefully.

* Sometimes online shops will have select items on sale. Otherwise, they typically charge full list price. Assuming you can return them (e.g., you try them on, they don't fit, and you don't otherwise alter them), you typically need to pay for return shipping and, often, a restocking fee. Check carefully the prices and return policies on the online shops you're considering.

* Consider the total charges. If you order separate boots and blades, you will need to have the blades mounted (first a temp mount, then a permanent mount). If you buy a kit (boots with attached blades), you likely will need to have the blade mount adjusted and the permanent screws installed. The blades (whether separate or attached) will likely need to be sharpened (factory sharpening, even on good blades, tend to be so-so). And, unless you're really lucky, you will likely need the boots heat molded, punched out, and otherwise adjusted. If you buy the boots and blades online, and have a local figure skate tech perform all these services, you will find that the charges add up substantially. Check what your local techs will charge.

* Check what the policies are with your local fitters. The one I go to charges full list price. But if I buy from him, all the services I mentioned above are included at no extra charge. And by the way, my fitter (as well as many other good fitters) will charge you an initial consultation/fitting fee. If you order from him, this fee is waived. If you get the benefit of his expertise and time (he allots 1 hr for a consultation/fitting) but buy elsewhere, you pay. Again, check what the policies are with your local fitters.

* Summary: What you think is a bargain just might turn out to be a lot more expensive. And since you led off with

I'd like to take ice skating seriously in the long run too.

you want to establish a good relationship with a good fitter: you'll be repeating this process many times.

 

[tstop4me]

Thank you! I’m in Naples, FL, USA

I hope you are unharmed from the hurricane.