I think it mostly depends on what your pro shop chooses to carry. One skate tech, who is very good at his job, told me he likes Jackson boots and (Jackson Ultima) blades partly because they give him a better profit margin.
What the famous people use is not a very good guideline to athletic gear - they often get them free or discounted if they think to ask (so do some influential coaches), or may even be paid to wear what they wear. MK/Wilson are particularly well known for giving away blades to extremely good skaters.
On boots, I would personally look for nice snug overall fit, to YOUR feet, and the stiffness you think you need, not what works for someone else. Likewise, blades that work well for someone else, with their particular degree of flexibility and other anatomical variables, might not work for you.
Consult with your coach, or a really good fitter, if you have one. If not, you may want to stay fairly close to your current blades, unless you feel that you want it to be easier or harder to reach your toe pick, or to have the "sweet spot" where "rocker" (long-wise curvature) changes to be further or less far forwards - I like my sweet spot two or three mm or so ahead of the ball of my feet.
If you are a beginner, you almost certainly won't do well in the same boots and blades the experts use. They would be too stiff, and you would keep tripping over your toe picks.
What the famous people use is not a very good guideline to athletic gear - they often get them free or discounted if they think to ask (so do some influential coaches), or may even be paid to wear what they wear. MK/Wilson are particularly well known for giving away blades to extremely good skaters.
On boots, I would personally look for nice snug overall fit, to YOUR feet, and the stiffness you think you need, not what works for someone else. Likewise, blades that work well for someone else, with their particular degree of flexibility and other anatomical variables, might not work for you.
Consult with your coach, or a really good fitter, if you have one. If not, you may want to stay fairly close to your current blades, unless you feel that you want it to be easier or harder to reach your toe pick, or to have the "sweet spot" where "rocker" (long-wise curvature) changes to be further or less far forwards - I like my sweet spot two or three mm or so ahead of the ball of my feet.
If you are a beginner, you almost certainly won't do well in the same boots and blades the experts use. They would be too stiff, and you would keep tripping over your toe picks.