Blades I wanted are out of stock, need advice: CA or Legacy 7's?

[drenj]

I recently ordered Edea Overture boots with Coronation Ace blades, but I’ve been informed that the Coronation Ace blades are currently out of stock in my size. I have two options: wait for them to arrive (estimated mid-June) or switch to Legacy 7 blades instead.

The boots themselves will be arriving in about a week, and I’m really eager to upgrade since I’m currently skating in Jackson Mystiques. However, I don’t want to make a short-term decision and end up regretting it if the Coronation Ace blades would have been a better long-term choice.

What would you recommend?

 

[Diana Delafield]

I recently ordered Edea Overture boots with Coronation Ace blades, but I’ve been informed that the Coronation Ace blades are currently out of stock in my size. I have two options: wait for them to arrive (estimated mid-June) or switch to Legacy 7 blades instead.

The boots themselves will be arriving in about a week, and I’m really eager to upgrade since I’m currently skating in Jackson Mystiques. However, I don’t want to make a short-term decision and end up regretting it if the Coronation Ace blades would have been a better long-term choice.

What would you recommend?

I don't know anything about the Legacy 7 blades, not knowing anyone who uses them. But it's the end of May now. Your new boots will arrive, apparently, in the first week in June, and then may have to be moulded, etc, taking more time to get them comfortable. I'd just then wait another week, if all goes as scheduled, for the Coronation Ace blades. I get that you're eager to use your new skates, but to commit to different blades, just to gain a week? And even then you might buy the Legacy 7s and have to go back once or twice to have them reset at your skate shop before you can really use them -- and in the meanwhile the CAs might have arrived. I can understand if the delays were measured in months, but a couple of weeks go by so quickly, for equipment that you'll then use for a year or two, or more?

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Wait for the CA's or if not, are MK Pro's an option there?

 

[IceM]

If you were on Coro Ace before, wait. If you had whatever the Mystiques came with that's not Coro Ace, go with the Legacy 7.

 

[Query]

Have you looked at other suppliers? Sometimes pro shops keep blades in stock. If you find one, maybe your supplier would let you cancel the blades part of the order.

 

[drenj]

Thank you so much to everyone who replied! I've decided to wait for the CAs, since it's only a few weeks longer than I was expecting, and they'll last me longer than the Legacy 7s. The Legacy 7s are really pretty, but I’ve decided to go with the more financially sensible option lol.

Have you looked at other suppliers? Sometimes pro shops keep blades in stock. If you find one, maybe your supplier would let you cancel the blades part of the order.

Some other pro shops in my country do have them in stock, but the prices are significantly higher.

Wait for the CA's or if not, are MK Pro's an option there?

I had initially asked about the CAs and MK Pros, but the advice I got from the pro shop was to go with either the CAs or the Legacy 7s, and not the MK Pros, since I’m not jumping yet.

Thanks again!

 

[tstop4me]

I had initially asked about the CAs and MK Pros, but the advice I got from the pro shop was to go with either the CAs or the Legacy 7s, and not the MK Pros, since I’m not jumping yet.

Haven't seen that come up before. Usually the discussion focusses primarily on the spin rocker profile. Did the staff at the pro shop say why the MK Pro is not recommended if you're not jumping yet?

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Thank you so much to everyone who replied! I've decided to wait for the CAs, since it's only a few weeks longer than I was expecting, and they'll last me longer than the Legacy 7s. The Legacy 7s are really pretty, but I’ve decided to go with the more financially sensible option lol.

Some other pro shops in my country do have them in stock, but the prices are significantly higher.


I had initially asked about the CAs and MK Pros, but the advice I got from the pro shop was to go with either the CAs or the Legacy 7s, and not the MK Pros, since I’m not jumping yet.

Thanks again!

Glad you are waiting on the CA's. Though the MK Pro is almost the same blade (rocker is a bit different but not enough to notice), they are interchangeable blades at your level and you can definitely jump in them. The Legacy 7 OTOH are flatter in the rocker and not the best choice IMEO.

 

[drenj]

Haven't seen that come up before. Usually the discussion focusses primarily on the spin rocker profile. Did the staff at the pro shop say why the MK Pro is not recommended if you're not jumping yet?

She said that the MK Pro is more for people who are ambitious jumpers, and if I am not focusing on jumps yet the CA will be more enjoyable and an easier blade to learn elements on (i'm currently in skate school, so mostly crossovers and edges, etc.). Idk, I'm quite new to figure skating so don't know that much about equipment lol

 

[drenj]

Glad you are waiting on the CA's. Though the MK Pro is almost the same blade (rocker is a bit different but not enough to notice), they are interchangeable blades at your level and you can definitely jump in them. The Legacy 7 OTOH are flatter in the rocker and not the best choice IMEO.

Thank you for the info. I'm really glad I went with the CAs and not the Legacy 7s now, especially since I want to focus on improving my spins. I've been finding it hard to get many rotations with my current Jackson Mark II blades, so I’m hoping the switch will make a difference. Also, just out of curiosity, how exactly is the rocker different between the CA and MK Pro? I came across a few mentions of that while researching them, but I couldn’t find anything that clearly explained what the actual difference is. Do you think I should ask if they have the MK Pros in my size?

 

[Diana Delafield]

Thank you for the info. I'm really glad I went with the CAs and not the Legacy 7s now, especially since I want to focus on improving my spins. I've been finding it hard to get many rotations with my current Jackson Mark II blades, so I’m hoping the switch will make a difference. Also, just out of curiosity, how exactly is the rocker different between the CA and MK Pro? I came across a few mentions of that while researching them, but I couldn’t find anything that clearly explained what the actual difference is. Do you think I should ask if they have the MK Pros in my size?

The MK Pro has a 7' rocker, making it slightly more curved than the CA which has an 8' rocker. Others here are better equipped than I to explain what the descriptive term actually means -- I learned the terms when I was 5 and never asked" 7' or 8' what?"

The MK Pro is usually seen as better for spins and footwork, the CA for stability in jump landings, being somewhat flatter, but the difference is so slight as to not matter at the beginner stage. I've used MK blades my whole career, including triple throws as a pairs skater, their Pros up to the senior level in competition because there didn't used to be as much choice in blade models. Now I use the MK Phantoms which have a longer pick that gives more elevation in jumps. I've tried CA blades, but the 8' rocker made them feel clunkier, as if there was too much blade getting in the way in turns and spins . But you won't feel that if you learn on them from the start, just as I learned everything on the MK Pros.

I hope that doesn't confuse you and make you feel you shouldn't get the CA blades after all. Just trying to answer your question as to how the two blades differ. Good luck!

 

[SK4T3]

The MK Pro has a 7' rocker, making it slightly more curved than the CA which has an 8' rocker. Others here are better equipped than I to explain what the descriptive term actually means -- I learned the terms when I was 5 and never asked" 7' or 8' what?"

Both MK Pro and JW CA have 7' rockers.

Have both seen in store 10,00 brand new in box; the drag pick looks different and the MK Pro CrossCut looks more Aggressive.

Have both 11,25 on skates; but the MK Pro are brand new and de JW CA in good used condition, so hard to compare.

 

[tstop4me]

The MK Pro has a 7' rocker, making it slightly more curved than the CA which has an 8' rocker. Others here are better equipped than I to explain what the descriptive term actually means -- I learned the terms when I was 5 and never asked" 7' or 8' what?"

As @SK4T3 wrote above, both the MK Pro and the JW CA have 7' rockers:

Both MK Pro and JW CA have 7' rockers.

More specifically, they both have 7' main rockers: i.e., the radius of curvature of the main rocker is 7'. The main rocker excludes the spin rocker (and a transition zone, in some instances, depending on how you specify the blade geometry). Very approximately, the main rocker comprises the rear-most 3/4 portion of the blade.

 

[Diana Delafield]

As @SK4T3 wrote above, both the MK Pro and the JW CA have 7' rockers:



More specifically, they both have 7' main rockers: i.e., the radius of curvature of the main rocker is 7'. The main rocker excludes the spin rocker (and a transition zone, in some instances, depending on how you specify the blade geometry). Very approximately, the main rocker comprises the rear-most 3/4 portion of the blade.

Thanks for correcting me. Somewhere I got the idea fixed in my head that the Coronation Ace blades were the 8' rocker ones. So now I wonder which JW blades I experimented with years ago and didn't like? Gold Seal? Pattern 99? I just remember being told it was the rocker that made it feel different to my usual MK Pros.

Note to the OP: Ignore what I said.

 

[tstop4me]

Thank you for the info. I'm really glad I went with the CAs and not the Legacy 7s now, especially since I want to focus on improving my spins. I've been finding it hard to get many rotations with my current Jackson Mark II blades, so I’m hoping the switch will make a difference. Also, just out of curiosity, how exactly is the rocker different between the CA and MK Pro? I came across a few mentions of that while researching them, but I couldn’t find anything that clearly explained what the actual difference is. Do you think I should ask if they have the MK Pros in my size?

* Blade manufacturers typically do not release detailed specs for their blades. So there are no primary sources to refer to.

* My tech tells me he finds significant variations (for new blades that he receives and sharpens) among the spin rocker profiles of JW and MK blades. So keep that in mind.

* Paramount did their analysis of various blade profiles. Google "paramount sk8s figure skate blade profiles video". As far as I can tell, many other websites have regurgitated their results without attribution. Caveat: Paramount doesn't state their sample size (i.e., how many units of each blade were measured, and what the variation was). Their measurements were done with a 3-pt radius gauge.

* If you really want to get into the weeds (deep, deep into the weeds), Google "Bill_S comparison between mk pro vs ace". This analysis was performed by a mechanical engineer, using more detailed measurements and analysis. Results differ from that of Paramount. But the same caveat: measurements were done on only a single sample of each. It's a long read, but contains comparisons of other features (beyond the rocker profiles), as well as a functional, on-ice comparison (again, valid for this one skater).

 

[tstop4me]

Thanks for correcting me. Somewhere I got the idea fixed in my head that the Coronation Ace blades were the 8' rocker ones. So now I wonder which JW blades I experimented with years ago and didn't like? Gold Seal? Pattern 99? I just remember being told it was the rocker that made it feel different to my usual MK Pros.

Note to the OP: Ignore what I said.

There previously was a JW intermediate blade (same level as the CA) called the Coronation Comet (discontinued). JW advertised the main rocker radius as 8.5'.

 

[drenj]

* Blade manufacturers typically do not release detailed specs for their blades. So there are no primary sources to refer to.

* My tech tells me he finds significant variations (for new blades that he receives and sharpens) among the spin rocker profiles of JW and MK blades. So keep that in mind.

* Paramount did their analysis of various blade profiles. Google "paramount sk8s figure skate blade profiles video". As far as I can tell, many other websites have regurgitated their results without attribution. Caveat: Paramount doesn't state their sample size (i.e., how many units of each blade were measured, and what the variation was). Their measurements were done with a 3-pt radius gauge.

* If you really want to get into the weeds (deep, deep into the weeds), Google "Bill_S comparison between mk pro vs ace". This analysis was performed by a mechanical engineer, using more detailed measurements and analysis. Results differ from that of Paramount. But the same caveat: measurements were done on only a single sample of each. It's a long read, but contains comparisons of other features (beyond the rocker profiles), as well as a functional, on-ice comparison (again, valid for this one skater).

The shop has offered me the CA Lite or MK Pro Lite as an alternative at no extra cost. How different are these "Lite" versions from the originals? Will they be just as durable? I know that the CA and MK Pro blades can support up to double jumps, but will the Lite versions offer the same level of performance? I know I'm only doing basic skills at the moment so it probably won't matter right now, but I’d like the blades to last as long as possible as I progress.

 

[tstop4me]

The shop has offered me the CA Lite or MK Pro Lite as an alternative at no extra cost. How different are these "Lite" versions from the originals? Will they be just as durable? I know that the CA and MK Pro blades can support up to double jumps, but will the Lite versions offer the same level of performance? I know I'm only doing basic skills at the moment so it probably won't matter right now, but I’d like the blades to last as long as possible as I progress.

I personally have no experience with the Lite versions. There are other members on this forum who do and are qualified to answer this question. So I will defer to them. Stay tuned.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

The shop has offered me the CA Lite or MK Pro Lite as an alternative at no extra cost. How different are these "Lite" versions from the originals? Will they be just as durable? I know that the CA and MK Pro blades can support up to double jumps, but will the Lite versions offer the same level of performance? I know I'm only doing basic skills at the moment so it probably won't matter right now, but I’d like the blades to last as long as possible as I progress.

You are basic skills. You do not want the lite or rev versions of blades. You only need the traditional and I usually specify this in all posts I make about blades.

 

[IceM]

The shop has offered me the CA Lite or MK Pro Lite as an alternative at no extra cost. How different are these "Lite" versions from the originals? Will they be just as durable? I know that the CA and MK Pro blades can support up to double jumps, but will the Lite versions offer the same level of performance? I know I'm only doing basic skills at the moment so it probably won't matter right now, but I’d like the blades to last as long as possible as I progress.

Lites have very different profiles and shouldn't even have the names attached that they do, as they are completely different blades. So just go with the traditional versions.