Jackson boot and blade for intermediate level

[newbieskatemom]

I have 2 daughters,17yrs and 15yrs, in need of new boots and blades. The Jackson's they have now are good for beginners and maybe those just starting to jump. (I'm not exactly sure which skate they have, I believe the Freestyle). They are both now working on the jumps, they have landed their single axle and are beginning to work on their doubles. Their coach recommended Edea as that is what she is familiar with but my oldest has wide feet and it is our understanding that Jackson's are a better for that. They are looking at the Jackson Supreme DJ5300 boot with the Legacy 8 blade. Would seasoned skaters recommend this boot and blade for a skater at this skill level? Is there another boot or blade we should consider? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I have 2 daughters,17yrs and 15yrs, in need of new boots and blades. The Jackson's they have now are good for beginners and maybe those just starting to jump. (I'm not exactly sure which skate they have, I believe the Freestyle). They are both now working on the jumps, they have landed their single axle and are beginning to work on their doubles. Their coach recommended Edea as that is what she is familiar with but my oldest has wide feet and it is our understanding that Jackson's are a better for that. They are looking at the Jackson Supreme DJ5300 boot with the Legacy 8 blade. Would seasoned skaters recommend this boot and blade for a skater at this skill level? Is there another boot or blade we should consider? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Hello :
Their feet shapes are the first consideration when choosing a brand. Did they choose Jacksons on the recommendation of a professional fitter in a skate shop dedicated to figure skating? (Not a sporting goods store or the pro shop at the rink.) Their feet need to be measured all around and the slant of their toes considered. If you need to know the location of the nearest good skate shop, let us know where you live and someone here will know what's available nearby.

Once you're sure of the brand, then the choice of boot model will come next. If your daughters need separate boots and blades, rather than a kit already combined, then either Coronation Ace or MK Pro are the best basic blades that will take them through quite a few skill levels. Good luck!

 

[newbieskatemom]

Hello :
Their feet shapes are the first consideration when choosing a brand. Did they choose Jacksons on the recommendation of a professional fitter in a skate shop dedicated to figure skating? (Not a sporting goods store or the pro shop at the rink.) Their feet need to be measured all around and the slant of their toes considered. If you need to know the location of the nearest good skate shop, let us know where you live and someone here will know what's available nearby.

Once you're sure of the brand, then the choice of boot model will come next. If your daughters need separate boots and blades, rather than a kit already combined, then either Coronation Ace or MK Pro are the best basic blades that will take them through quite a few skill levels. Good luck!

When they first started skating they had Ridell recreational skates. When they moved to figure skating we bought them Jackson's although I cannot remember why, probably price. Their next pair after that, and the ones they are currently in, they were fitted for by a Jackson rep. They have never been fitter by a professional fitter at a skate shop. A recommendation of a good skate shop would be fantastic! We live in Central Indiana.

 

[Diana Delafield]

When they first started skating they had Ridell recreational skates. When they moved to figure skating we bought them Jackson's although I cannot remember why, probably price. Their next pair after that, and the ones they are currently in, they were fitted for by a Jackson rep. They have never been fitter by a professional fitter at a skate shop. A recommendation of a good skate shop would be fantastic! We live in Central Indiana.

That's a good start, thanks! Living on the Pacific coast of Canada, I don't know your area at all, but I'm sure someone in the USA can suggest a shop. ( @Ic3Rabbit ?)

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

That's a good start, thanks! Living on the Pacific coast of Canada, I don't know your area at all, but I'm sure someone in the USA can suggest a shop. ( @Ic3Rabbit ?)

@newbieskatemom where you live is so hockey oriented shops. The closest dedicated decent figure skating fitter is Chicagoland area-Rainbo.

 

[newbieskatemom]

@newbieskatemom where you live is so hockey oriented shops. The closest dedicated decent figure skating fitter is Chicagoland area-Rainbo.

 

[newbieskatemom]

That’s what I was afraid of. I only found one shop and they are exclusively Edea reps. I could not find just a general skate fitter.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

That’s what I was afraid of. I only found one shop and they are exclusively Edea reps. I could not find just a general skate fitter.

A rep is fine as long as it's a rep that is for the brand you want to buy and your kids' feet fit with. Doesn't sound like Edea is it. Do both of your girls have wide feet? If so, then with Jackson 5300 would be fine as would Synergy Pro--they are both rated 75 stiffness level. I would match either of those with either a traditional John Wilson Coronation Ace or Pattern 99 blade.

If you have a daughter that doesn't have super wide feet, you can also look at Risport boots (RF line).

 

[newbieskatemom]

A rep is fine as long as it's a rep that is for the brand you want to buy and your kids' feet fit with. Doesn't sound like Edea is it. Do both of your girls have wide feet? If so, then with Jackson 5300 would be fine as would Synergy Pro--they are both rated 75 stiffness level. I would match either of those with either a traditional John Wilson Coronation Ace or Pattern 99 blade.

If you have a daughter that doesn't have super wide feet, you can also look at Risport boots (RF line).

 

[newbieskatemom]

Only my oldest has wide feet. My 15yr old has neither wide nor narrow feet. I will definitely look into those blades. Thank you so much for your suggestion.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Only my oldest has wide feet. My 15yr old has neither wide nor narrow feet. I will definitely look into those blades. Thank you so much for your suggestion.

Your 15 y/o would be fine in Risport RF line, if interested. Good luck and you are always welcome!

 

[IceM]

Do they fit their Jacksons well? If so, then just stay with Jacksons. Changing both blade and boot at once is no bueno.

As to the blade, what are they on now? From Jackson, Legacy 8 is ok, but they could probably move to either Elite or Supreme.

However, I would recommend Paramount blades, given where you live. Rainbo sells them. You'll save a big buck and get much better quality compared to imported Wilson blades. Paramount C9 is a Pattern 99 for half the price. For the price of a genuine P99, you can even get the Paramount 27" in highest quality steel that'll last you way longer. Also, for wide feet, high end Paramounts are nice, because they have higher stanchions, meaning more boot clearance for taller people and wider feet in general.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Be aware that there are other blades out there that claim to be the same as Wilson but they aren't completely the same and are a bit flatter than them and that's an issue for many. If you want the original, then get the original.

 

[IceM]

@Ic3Rabbit That's a fair point. "Comparable to" is the marketing term blade manufacturers use, which never equals to exactly the same as what they "compare" to.

Jackson only copies the pick patterns. The rockers are on them are flatter, kind of like a used Wilson blade. But flatter isn't necessarily worse; plenty of people enjoy them, and might even prefer them.

Paramount copies the pick pattern and blade profiles, but the stanchions are different, so the blades won't function exactly the same on a given boot as a "comparable" Wilson blade. But then again, any blade functions differently on a different boot with different heels, etc. So, although rarely considered, moving to a different boot might change your blade preference as well.

With Paramount, however, you get the exact same blade profile with correct radius rockers every single time. No flat spots or other manufacturing defects. Less so with other manufacturers. So, there's that

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

@Ic3Rabbit That's a fair point. "Comparable to" is the marketing term blade manufacturers use, which never equals to exactly the same as what they "compare" to.

Jackson only copies the pick patterns. The rockers are on them are flatter, kind of like a used Wilson blade. But flatter isn't necessarily worse; plenty of people enjoy them, and might even prefer them.

Paramount copies the pick pattern and blade profiles, but the stanchions are different, so the blades won't function exactly the same on a given boot as a "comparable" Wilson blade. But then again, any blade functions differently on a different boot with different heels, etc. So, although rarely considered, moving to a different boot might change your blade preference as well.

With Paramount, however, you get the exact same blade profile with correct radius rockers every single time. No flat spots or other manufacturing defects. Less so with other manufacturers. So, there's that

The rocker is flatter and many who have won them, or tested them as I are not a fan and they don't feel like the original. That is something that I like to let those who do are asking about these blades know b/c they may or may not like that. That is all. We can surely agree to disagree and move on.

 

[IceM]

The rocker is flatter and many who have won them, or tested them as I are not a fan and they don't feel like the original. That is something that I like to let those who do are asking about these blades know b/c they may or may not like that. That is all. We can surely agree to disagree and move on.

You mean they feel flatter to you? Have you measured the rockers? Or the stanchions? Sharing your experience is fine of course. Likewise, I'm just trying to put the information I've learned out there, because the manufacturers don't, so people can better make their own decisions.

The spin rocker on my Paramount 12'' is almost an exact copy, if not slightly rounder, than both my "comparable" and age old Gold Seals. The main rocker is consistent 8' throughout, as advertised. However, the stanchions are considerably taller than the already tall Golds Seals, and there's more heel lift, which will make the blade function differently (like perhaps making it feel flatter on the exact same boot).

Also, I have measured various brand new Wilson blades, both Gold Seals and P99s, and all of them have had one or more of the following problems: Inconsistent rocker radius (sometimes closer to 7.5' than the advertised 8'; note the perceived flatness compared to the consistent Paramount), flat spots (both in the main rocker but sometimes even in very critical spin rocker area), uneven and poorly done chrome relief (which is not only a cosmetic thing, but can also cause the runner width being inconsistent).

The difference in quality, overall, is quite noticeable compared to my original Gold Seals and a pair of P99s from way back, which somehow have very consistent rockers and pristine chrome relief and blade width on them still, compared to what I see being made these days, which I personally wouldn't be paying 800$ for. But, that's just me.

 

[Query]

But the Paramount blades are much harder for many pro shops to sharpen - right? Because they don't fit many blade holders.