Boot fitting for recreational beginner

[chickenlittle]

hi! i am a teenager who wants to start skating more seriously, but where i'm from (singapore) there isn't a fitting shop i can find.

to start, i have a wide foot, greek toe shape and probably a low/normal arch. i'm 19F, 50kg and have skated on rentals around yearly since i was a kid and also rollerblade, so i'm not a complete newbie.

i'm considering jacksons, but from what i can gather there seems to be mixed reviews about it. ideally i want them to last as long as possible with weekly skating if possible.

and what accessories(?) would be good to have? examples would be blade covers/skate guards or lace straps, or are those unnecessary?

please do help if you have suggestions, thank you!

 

[Diana Delafield]

hi! i am a teenager who wants to start skating more seriously, but where i'm from (singapore) there isn't a fitting shop i can find.

to start, i have a wide foot, greek toe shape and probably a low/normal arch. i'm 19F, 50kg and have skated on rentals around yearly since i was a kid and also rollerblade, so i'm not a complete newbie.

i'm considering jacksons, but from what i can gather there seems to be mixed reviews about it. ideally i want them to last as long as possible with weekly skating if possible.

and what accessories(?) would be good to have? examples would be blade covers/skate guards or lace straps, or are those unnecessary?

please do help if you have suggestions, thank you!

Just dashing out the door, but to quickly answer at least your last question, you very definitely need skate guards off the ice, always! Soft blade covers are good for transporting your skates to and from the rink in your skate bag, to protect the blades from scratches and chips, but don't leave them on all the time when you get them home, to be sure they're perfectly air-dry. Lace straps you don't need at all. Only the high level competitors need them if they worry about laces coming loose during a competition program, when there's pull on them in jumps and some spins. I'm still a senior level who just skates now recreationally and I've never used lace straps. Good luck!

 

[Mimi2789]

Just dashing out the door, but to quickly answer at least your last question, you very definitely need skate guards off the ice, always! Soft blade covers are good for transporting your skates to and from the rink in your skate bag, to protect the blades from scratches and chips, but don't leave them on all the time when you get them home, to be sure they're perfectly air-dry. Lace straps you don't need at all. Only the high level competitors need them if they worry about laces coming loose during a competition program, when there's pull on them in jumps and some spins. I'm still a senior level who just skates now recreationally and I've never used lace straps. Good luck!

Lace straps are typically necessary for Edea wearers, because as an Edea boot ages the collar gets wider and wider. The tension provided by the lace strap helps keep the ankle tighter without the wearer having to crank down the laces (which will only make the problem worse). Now why anyone would want to wear a pair of skates that breaks down this quickly is a question I can’t answer…. but the lace straps are useful for skaters of any level using Edeas.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Lace straps are typically necessary for Edea wearers, because as an Edea boot ages the collar gets wider and wider. The tension provided by the lace strap helps keep the ankle tighter without the wearer having to crank down the laces (which will only make the problem worse). Now why anyone would want to wear a pair of skates that breaks down this quickly is a question I can’t answer…. but the lace straps are useful for skaters of any level using Edeas.

I'd heard that, but I've never worn Edeas myself and the OP didn't mention Edeas, so as I was in a hurry and didn't want to get into detail she may or may not ever need, I didn't go into that. But good point, if she does ever get that brand. I wore Wifa, Harlick and Klingbeil as a kid, Jackson in my teens, and Risport, Riedell and Graf as an adult. None of those brands had that loosening problem at the topline that made a strap necessary.

 

[Mimi2789]

I'd heard that, but I've never worn Edeas myself and the OP didn't mention Edeas, so as I was in a hurry and didn't want to get into detail she may or may not ever need, I didn't go into that. But good point, if she does ever get that brand. I wore Wifa, Harlick and Klingbeil as a kid, Jackson in my teens, and Risport, Riedell and Graf as an adult. None of those brands had that loosening problem at the topline that made a strap necessary.

I was just responding to your statement that “only high level competitors” need lace straps There is no relationship between level and need for lace straps, especially if someone is wearing Edea. Kind of a random thing to gatekeep… Why would a lower level competitor not also have to worry about their laces coming untied during a program?

 

[NanaPat]

From my observation, the Russian high-level skaters who wear Edea don't use lace straps. They wrap wide clear tape (the kind I use on packages for mailing) several times around the top of the skates. I've seen them with huge to cut it off after they skate. It is sometimes distractingly visible during a skate, but usually that's been on black boots.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

From my observation, the Russian high-level skaters who wear Edea don't use lace straps. They wrap wide clear tape (the kind I use on packages for mailing) several times around the top of the skates. I've seen them with huge to cut it off after they skate. It is sometimes distractingly visible during a skate, but usually that's been on black boots.

Yes. This is what many of us do with the tape and I've suggested it to posters in the past here in the Lutz Corner. Lace straps aren't a necessity.

 

[Mimi2789]

Yes. This is what many of us do with the tape and I've suggested it to posters in the past here in the Lutz Corner. Lace straps aren't a necessity.

They wear them in practice. No one (elite or local competitor) is risking the costume violation in competition if one of them pops off. I skate with multiple team USA skaters who wear lace straps in practice. But what do I know….

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

They wear them in practice. No one (elite or local competitor) is risking the costume violation in competition if one of them pops off. I skate with multiple team USA skaters who wear lace straps in practice. But what do I know….

And I'm a former elite, now a pro and have worn them taped in competition and have seen tape on other International Elite skaters in competition.

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Her boots are taped with white "athletic" tape....on Olympic ice!

Kao Miura currently does it, Surya Bonaly used to do it in competition (duct tape), as did Mai Asada and more... yes- in competition. Some use skate tape, some use duct tape, and some use clear packing style tape. Many of the men that tape you don't see it b/c they have their pants over the top of the boots and secured underneath with a pant stirrup. Also, more than Edea wearers do this.

 

[Mimi2789]

And I'm a former elite, now a pro and have worn them taped in competition and have seen tape on other International Elite skaters in competition.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Her boots are taped with white "athletic" tape....on Olympic ice!

Kao Miura currently does it, Surya Bonaly used to do it in competition (duct tape), as did Mai Asada and more... yes- in competition. Some use skate tape, some use duct tape, and some use clear packing style tape. Many of the men that tape you don't see it b/c they have their pants over the top of the boots and secured underneath with a pant stirrup. Also, more than Edea wearers do this.

If you read my comment I was referring to the lace straps As in no one wears lace straps in competition because it’s too risky, but they do wear them at home, for practice.