Breaking in or punching out

[skating123]

Hi, looking for some advice.

I’m an adult skater, jumping single waltz, sal and toe. Skate twice a week, approx 3 hours in total. I was fitted at a reputable skate shop in the UK, for Jackson Premiere’s in January. Previously I was in Jackson Freestyles with no feet issues. At the time of trying on the Premiere’s, they felt very pinchy on my outer ankle bone (lateral malleolus), particularly on my right foot. I was told by the fitter that that was normal as they’re a lot stiffer and need breaking in. They also said heat moulding would help. When they came out of the oven and I put the skates on for cooling, they didn’t pinch my ankle anymore so I thought they were sorted.

However, since I’ve taken them home and skated in them for about two months, they’ve been causing excruciating pain on my right ankle bone. I jump and spin clockwise so this is my dominant foot. Every time I extend my right foot, the pain of the boot rolling over my ankle bone is unbearable. Even just standing with my foot in them presses on my ankle bone and causes pain. I am wearing gel pads already and not lacing the top hook. The only way I can avoid the pain is tying the skaters looser than I would normally do, however this leaves my ankle feeling very unsupported and wobbly. If I lace them as I typically would, it’s so tight and painful on my ankle. I’ve probably skated in them for approx 30 hours now.

I know skates have a breaking in time and these are a stiffer boot, but it feels like the pain is getting worse not better. I feel a bit disappointed as it was a 7 hour round trip to be fitted properly and I feel like I’ve spent a lot of money on some boots that are hindering my skating.

I just wanted some advice on whether to persevere with breaking them in whether to go and get them punched out round the ankle bone. I’m willing to make another 7 hour round trip to get them done if it’ll help but just want to make sure it’s the right thing. My coach hasn’t really been much help with this issue.

 

[tstop4me]

So, ~30 hrs total break-in time, pain is unbearable and getting worse. Correct? If so, time for punch out. And the boots should be spot heated for the punch out to hold. Verify with your tech that he'll do that while you wait (given your long trip, you don't want to leave the boots for processing and then return to pick them up).

 

[skating123]

Thanks for the reply - yes, I’ve probably skated in them for about 30 hours now and they actually feel like they’re causing more pain on the ankle than when I first got them.

I’ll definitely contact the fitter before I go down about getting them punched out, my only concern is that it’s quite close to where the lace hooks are on the Premiere’s because they’re offset. From research I’ve seen people complaining about the lack of padding behind the hooks, but as far as I can tell it doesn’t seem to be this area that is causing pain, rather is a bit more behind it, but hoping this won’t impact punching out!

 

[tstop4me]

Thanks for the reply - yes, I’ve probably skated in them for about 30 hours now and they actually feel like they’re causing more pain on the ankle than when I first got them.

I’ll definitely contact the fitter before I go down about getting them punched out, my only concern is that it’s quite close to where the lace hooks are on the Premiere’s because they’re offset. From research I’ve seen people complaining about the lack of padding behind the hooks, but as far as I can tell it doesn’t seem to be this area that is causing pain, rather is a bit more behind it, but hoping this won’t impact punching out!

Yeah, I've never understood the rationale behind that crazy staggered 5-row hook configuration on the Premiere. After all, the boots in the 2000 series below the Premiere and the boots in series above the Premiere (Synergy and Supreme) all have 4 rows in a straight line (with the exception of the low-cut boots, which have only 3 rows in a straight line). Good luck with the punch out!