Boot/Blade Advice Adult Beginner

[ptork66]

Hello. I'm in the UK and am close to finishing their introductory Learn to Skate levels, so it occurred to me that I may need to think about new boots/blades at some point soon.

I'm currently in Risport Antares with Edea Balance blades. I'm 5' 2", 58kg, starting to work on single-foot spins and beginner jumps (the next level teaches waltz jump and/or single salchow). I'm finding the most beginner jump to exist (bunny hop) scary and so am not yet sure if I want to continue with free skating after Learn to Skate or focus just on (solo) ice dance, but I don't want to rule learning more free skating out completely.

From all the reading I've been doing here over the last few days, it seems I should maybe be looking at RF3 (or Electra?) with Coronation Ace (or MK Pro?) next. I've also seen some mention of the MK Dynasty synchro blade, which is under consideration, but since they're more expensive (and not sure they're an intermediate blade?) than the other usual recommended blades, I don't know they'd be worth it unless I'm more sure that I'd prefer to primarily focus on dance.

What do y'all think? And at what point would y'all recommend making the switch?

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

@WednesdayMarch Could you help?

 

[Diana Delafield]

Hello. I'm in the UK and am close to finishing their introductory Learn to Skate levels, so it occurred to me that I may need to think about new boots/blades at some point soon.

I'm currently in Risport Antares with Edea Balance blades. I'm 5' 2", 58kg, starting to work on single-foot spins and beginner jumps (the next level teaches waltz jump and/or single salchow). I'm finding the most beginner jump to exist (bunny hop) scary and so am not yet sure if I want to continue with free skating after Learn to Skate or focus just on (solo) ice dance, but I don't want to rule learning more free skating out completely.

From all the reading I've been doing here over the last few days, it seems I should maybe be looking at RF3 (or Electra?) with Coronation Ace (or MK Pro?) next. I've also seen some mention of the MK Dynasty synchro blade, which is under consideration, but since they're more expensive (and not sure they're an intermediate blade?) than the other usual recommended blades, I don't know they'd be worth it unless I'm more sure that I'd prefer to primarily focus on dance.

What do y'all think? And at what point would y'all recommend making the switch?

I agree with @Ic3Rabbit that @WednesdayMarch is a more authoritative source of advice, but anecdotally, I was just talking to my granddaughter in Aberdeen (on a break during her night shift at the ARI -- no patients were harmed by her making a phone call to me in Canada ) who doesn't compete but does senior level ice dance with her husband, and senior solo dance when he's away on work trips. She says she has Risport Dance boots and MK Dance blades, but only got into them when she was an advanced junior ready to move into senior level. She says getting into advanced equipment when just finishing LTS classes is needless expense and being way overbooted and bladed. And she's found her equipment now has pretty much cut her off from what freeskating she was doing before (up to double jumps). The low-cut boots and shorter blades aren't safe, she says. I'm taking her word for it, but she's always been a cautious person.

She's 5'2" and 45 kg -- not that much different from you, but has been skating for about 20 years, since she was in kindergarten.

 

[ptork66]

I agree with @Ic3Rabbit that @WednesdayMarch is a more authoritative source of advice, but anecdotally, I was just talking to my granddaughter in Aberdeen (on a break during her night shift at the ARI -- no patients were harmed by her making a phone call to me in Canada ) who doesn't compete but does senior level ice dance with her husband, and senior solo dance when he's away on work trips. She says she has Risport Dance boots and MK Dance blades, but only got into them when she was an advanced junior ready to move into senior level. She says getting into advanced equipment when just finishing LTS classes is needless expense and being way overbooted and bladed. And she's found her equipment now has pretty much cut her off from what freeskating she was doing before (up to double jumps). The low-cut boots and shorter blades aren't safe, she says. I'm taking her word for it, but she's always been a cautious person.

She's 5'2" and 45 kg -- not that much different from you, but has been skating for about 20 years, since she was in kindergarten.

Hi! Thank you for your reply. Yes, I definitely don't want to end up in expensive equipment I don't need I'm *hopefully* thinking about this a bit early, as I need time to save haha, but I know there's some debate about whether adults should ever be in Antares, so I thought finishing up LTS would be a good time to revisit whether they're still suitable. I've found them perfectly fine for now, but since they're rated for single jumps (and I think those ratings are generally assuming a child?), I wasn't sure if they'll still be okay for an adult learning single jumps.

Your daughter's comment about her dance boots/blades cutting off free skating is precisely why I want to stay with the 'usual' setup. I do think I'll get over my current hang up with jumping and want to keep trying it - at least through passport! And I've heard that many skaters (who do both) just do dance on the normal boots/blades, so I thought that's what I should do.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Hi! Thank you for your reply. Yes, I definitely don't want to end up in expensive equipment I don't need I'm *hopefully* thinking about this a bit early, as I need time to save haha, but I know there's some debate about whether adults should ever be in Antares, so I thought finishing up LTS would be a good time to revisit whether they're still suitable. I've found them perfectly fine for now, but since they're rated for single jumps (and I think those ratings are generally assuming a child?), I wasn't sure if they'll still be okay for an adult learning single jumps.

Your daughter's comment about her dance boots/blades cutting off free skating is precisely why I want to stay with the 'usual' setup. I do think I'll get over my current hang up with jumping and want to keep trying it - at least through passport! And I've heard that many skaters (who do both) just do dance on the normal boots/blades, so I thought that's what I should do.

Hi. So based on your stats (height/weight/foot type etc) we can suggest if it is safe or not for you to be in antares any longer. And then what boot could be best for you when you go to the fitter. As far as doing dance in singles boots: As long as you aren't pattern dancing with a partner you would be fine. With pattern dancing and partner dancing you run the risk of getting your blades tangled and causing injuries etc.

 

[bostonskaterguy86]

I've seen a few folks on here suggest the Risport Royal Pro as a freestyle boot that also works pretty well for dance!
They're cut slightly lower than average for a freestyle boot, and designed to give some extra freedom of movement in the ankles.

I skate in them myself - and though I haven't done any dance in them (yet!), I love them for freestyle.
It was a bit of an adjustment switching from the Jackson Debut (I was used to the higher cut and the feeling of a snug wrap around the ankle), but within a couple hours I felt totally secure jumping in the Royals.

I will say that the fit of the Royal line is quite different from the RF line, and I'm not sure how the Antares compares to either of them - so you'll of course definitely want to try them on to see how you like them.

 

[WednesdayMarch]

Sorry for the late reply! I'm a bit out of the loop here owing to the acquisition of a new puppy...

I'd recommend visiting either Al's Skate Shop in Blackpool or Everglides in Gosport for a proper fitting and advice.

Boot-wise, if Risport are the fit for you, then Electra or RF3 Pro would be idea, with the Royal Pro as a third option, although stiffer than necessary.

Blade choices would be the usual Coronation Ace or possibly the Legacy 7. I wouldn't be recommending MK Pro if you're not a happy jumper as the slightly longer tail isn't helpful for ice dance. If you decide that you really, really, REALLY don't like jumping and the ice dance route is definitely for you, then Coronation Dance would be a potential choice. I don't think you need a shorter blade at this stage of your journey, even starting pattern and partnered dance, but it's a very personal thing. I tested up to Level 8 on MK Phantoms with the very long tail, but I much prefer a shorter blade now. Don't go down the dance/low cut boot route just yet as it's likely to put you off everything!

Feel free to DM me if you need more help. I get notifications so will pick it up faster than a reply here right now!