Ice dance boot & blades recommandation

[Mauve]

Hello everyone,

Once again, I come to this forum asking for your advice on skates : thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping me !

I first posted here almost 3 years ago to ask for recommandations on a fitter and skates for figure skating. Following your advice, I went to Everglides UK and was fitted with Jackson Premiere + Coronation Ace + fully custom insoles. Lara was absolutely amazing with me ! And I've loved my skates since, they feel absolutely comfortable. Btw, my podriatrist (who is a hockey player) said Lara's insoles were really good and thought she might be a podriatrist too ! I'm really grateful you guys helped me meet Everglides, this place is fantastic even for low-level skaters like me.

After attending an ice dancing camp (? sorry if it's not the correct word...) last August, I decided to go back to ice dancing : I'm now training 2 hours a week and I already have a program to participate in adult competitions in the beginning of 2026. I'm at a beginner level, I think the translation in english would be Preparatory ? Preliminary ? (my apologies !). I'm working on the swing dance and european waltz if it helps. As far as I have seen, people in my group level at the club wear figure skates which the club lends them.

I have been skating in my Premiere for the past three years, 3 hours a week during season + summer camps. I admit they bend a bit easier now but they don't really feel broken, the lining is just a bit worn in places. But I have recently been feeling a burning pain in both my arches at times when ice dancing and Lara from Everglides suggested it might be a sign to change boots. No pain when I'm figure skating and the pain stops immediately after my ice dance lesson.

So I'm thinking I might need to invest in some proper ice dance boots and blades and keep my current skates for the occasional figure skating. Would that be correct or overly ambitious considering my low level ? Should I wait until I have done a full year of ice dance first ? Can you please recommend boots and blades ?
If I change to ice dance skates, what should I expect in terms of difficulty and time needed to adapt to them ?

For context :
- me : 39 yo woman, 1m60, 71 kg, german foot shape, very high arches, no pronation but a valgus in my right ankle + haglund syndrome which "gave" me bumps on my right heel and right ankle bones in my Premiere after I increased my training.
- weekly training : 2 hours of ice dancing + 1 hour of figure skating (+ 2-3 hours of crossfit if relevant)
- level : singles up to the loop + 8th blade (maybe a French level, don't know the international equivalent) / swing dance + european waltz
- experience : 3 years of training in ice dance in my teenage years, now I'm on my 4th year of practice as an adult skater after a break of almost 20 years (but the 3 first years as an adult were only figure skating).

I'm absolutely grateful for your patience and your advice, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on all this !

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Hello everyone,

Once again, I come to this forum asking for your advice on skates : thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping me !

I first posted here almost 3 years ago to ask for recommandations on a fitter and skates for figure skating. Following your advice, I went to Everglides UK and was fitted with Jackson Premiere + Coronation Ace + fully custom insoles. Lara was absolutely amazing with me ! And I've loved my skates since, they feel absolutely comfortable. Btw, my podriatrist (who is a hockey player) said Lara's insoles were really good and thought she might be a podriatrist too ! I'm really grateful you guys helped me meet Everglides, this place is fantastic even for low-level skaters like me.

After attending an ice dancing camp (? sorry if it's not the correct word...) last August, I decided to go back to ice dancing : I'm now training 2 hours a week and I already have a program to participate in adult competitions in the beginning of 2026. I'm at a beginner level, I think the translation in english would be Preparatory ? Preliminary ? (my apologies !). I'm working on the swing dance and european waltz if it helps. As far as I have seen, people in my group level at the club wear figure skates which the club lends them.

I have been skating in my Premiere for the past three years, 3 hours a week during season + summer camps. I admit they bend a bit easier now but they don't really feel broken, the lining is just a bit worn in places. But I have recently been feeling a burning pain in both my arches at times when ice dancing and Lara from Everglides suggested it might be a sign to change boots. No pain when I'm figure skating and the pain stops immediately after my ice dance lesson.

So I'm thinking I might need to invest in some proper ice dance boots and blades and keep my current skates for the occasional figure skating. Would that be correct or overly ambitious considering my low level ? Should I wait until I have done a full year of ice dance first ? Can you please recommend boots and blades ?
If I change to ice dance skates, what should I expect in terms of difficulty and time needed to adapt to them ?

For context :
- me : 39 yo woman, 1m60, 71 kg, german foot shape, very high arches, no pronation but a valgus in my right ankle + haglund syndrome which "gave" me bumps on my right heel and right ankle bones in my Premiere after I increased my training.
- weekly training : 2 hours of ice dancing + 1 hour of figure skating (+ 2-3 hours of crossfit if relevant)
- level : singles up to the loop + 8th blade (maybe a French level, don't know the international equivalent) / swing dance + european waltz
- experience : 3 years of training in ice dance in my teenage years, now I'm on my 4th year of practice as an adult skater after a break of almost 20 years (but the 3 first years as an adult were only figure skating).

I'm absolutely grateful for your patience and your advice, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on all this !

Hi and welcome. I'll be back to help you later.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Okay, so there's alot to unfold here so bear with me.

First of all, yes your Jackson boots are more than broken down. Since you are a beginner with dance, I'm going to make several suggestions to you and give you multiple options: None which would be wrong for you at this point.

First of all with the foot issues you are explaining and your foot shape and arches you should try out Risport RF3 Pro for your next boot. You could also try a Graf Richmond Special and see which you like better, b/c just starting out you don't have to have a dance boot. Now, I am going to suggest both ice dance blades, and even a hybrid blade; and I am doing so b/c you have not stated if you are doing solo ice dance or pairing up with someone to learn and compete. If you are doing solo dance either the MK Dynasty (which is a hybrid blade) or JW Coronation Dance blade. If you are doing paired ice dance with a partner then just go for the JW Coro Dance blade. Just know that dance blade have a different toepick and shorter tail.

If you are super serious about ice dance and are pairing up for it, then you could also look at the Risport Dance Prime boot, it will give you a different more adaptable range of motion and is shorter in the ankle.

Good luck and if there's anything else you need, feel free to reach out.

 

[Mauve]

Thank you very much for your input Ic3Rabbit ! I have a few follow-up questions if you don't mind.

First of all, yes your Jackson boots are more than broken down.

May I ask what brings you to this conclusion ? I'm not yet confident I can identify broken down boots (aside from the obvious) so I'd like to learn more please. My boots currently have no marks on the leather for instance. Is it because of their age and my weight ?

b/c you have not stated if you are doing solo ice dance or pairing up with someone to learn and compete

Sorry I forgot about that, I'm doing solo ice dance.


I have a few more questions about the blades :
Am I correct in interpreting the "hybrid" MK Dynasty blade as one I can use for both ice dance and figure skating ?
My Coronation Ace blades are new (I changed them this summer because a bad sharpener had wrecked the rocker on the previous ones). Would it be ok to use them with either the RF3 Pro or the Graf Richmond you suggested or do I need either a dance or hybrid blade with those boots ?

And out of curiosity, how difficult is it to adapt to dance blades when you're used to figure skating ones ?

Thank you very much again for your time and explanations !

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Thank you very much for your input Ic3Rabbit ! I have a few follow-up questions if you don't mind.


May I ask what brings you to this conclusion ? I'm not yet confident I can identify broken down boots (aside from the obvious) so I'd like to learn more please. My boots currently have no marks on the leather for instance. Is it because of their age and my weight ?


Sorry I forgot about that, I'm doing solo ice dance.


I have a few more questions about the blades :
Am I correct in interpreting the "hybrid" MK Dynasty blade as one I can use for both ice dance and figure skating ?
My Coronation Ace blades are new (I changed them this summer because a bad sharpener had wrecked the rocker on the previous ones). Would it be ok to use them with either the RF3 Pro or the Graf Richmond you suggested or do I need either a dance or hybrid blade with those boots ?

And out of curiosity, how difficult is it to adapt to dance blades when you're used to figure skating ones ?

Thank you very much again for your time and explanations !

Hi, sorry it's taken so long to reply as I'm in the middle of an Olympic season and it's been hectic.
As far as the boots and how I know they are broken down: I cannot (time wise) explain 30+ years of experience with equipment at a high level in this sport, so I will just make it super short and simple for you: With your height and weight stats, how much you have been skating on them and what you have been doing skill-wise for 3 years, your current boots are done. You also explained that the lining is worn and they feel "softer" which are also signs they are broken down or nearly broken down. You are way past needing boots. And if I'm not mistaken, the tech at Everglides has confirmed what I've said here about it's definitely time to change boots.

If you are doing solo ice dance, just switch to one of the dance boots I suggested if they work in a fitting for you. The hybrid blade allows for ice dance or synchro use. A good dance blade for a beginner like you would be Jackson/Apex Dance: It has the highest lift angle and drag pick of all dance blades. The grip that the edges allows for too, would be helpful for you. Yes, it will take a small amount of adjustment just like any blade, you will have to get used to the curve of the rocker, the picks, the edges and a shorter blade tail than freestyle blades, but that shouldn't be a big deal. It will benefit you in the end if you have moved to dance.

Good luck!

 

[Mauve]

Hi, sorry it's taken so long to reply as I'm in the middle of an Olympic season and it's been hectic.
As far as the boots and how I know they are broken down: I cannot (time wise) explain 30+ years of experience with equipment at a high level in this sport, so I will just make it super short and simple for you: With your height and weight stats, how much you have been skating on them and what you have been doing skill-wise for 3 years, your current boots are done. You also explained that the lining is worn and they feel "softer" which are also signs they are broken down or nearly broken down. You are way past needing boots. And if I'm not mistaken, the tech at Everglides has confirmed what I've said here about it's definitely time to change boots.

If you are doing solo ice dance, just switch to one of the dance boots I suggested if they work in a fitting for you. The hybrid blade allows for ice dance or synchro use. A good dance blade for a beginner like you would be Jackson/Apex Dance: It has the highest lift angle and drag pick of all dance blades. The grip that the edges allows for too, would be helpful for you. Yes, it will take a small amount of adjustment just like any blade, you will have to get used to the curve of the rocker, the picks, the edges and a shorter blade tail than freestyle blades, but that shouldn't be a big deal. It will benefit you in the end if you have moved to dance.

Good luck!

Thank you so much @Ic3Rabbit for sharing your knowledge !
I've had a virtual appointment with Everglides, to prepare for my in-store visit. We're looking at an RF3 + my curent blades combination. I'll look at dance blades when i change my CoroAce (and probably RF3 too...) in 2 years !