Need help with boot recommendation for adult beginner

[DevonneSky]

Hi everyone.

I’m an adult skater who started figure skating lessons 2 months ago and need to buy my first real pair of skates.

Problem: I live in Portugal and there isn’t a single store that carries stock of ice skates, let alone a fitter or a skate tech and I’m slowly losing my mind trying to find the right size/width/model/brand of boots based on internet research alone, seeing as I will have no choice but to order online.

I’ve seen some very helpful advice in other threads from extremely knowledgeable people like @tstop4me, @Ic3Rabbit, and @Diana Delafield so if any of you can chime in I would be super grateful!

Some useful info you might need:

Age: 27 year old female
Height: 172cm/ 5’8”
Weight: 92kg/ 202lbs
Feet length: 261mm
Ball width: 109mm (L) and 106mm (R)
Ball Circumference: 25cm
Foot type: Egyptian
Foot shape: Wide at the ball
Arches: Normal to low (but not entirely sure)
Pronation: Yes, moderate
Skill level: Currently have all the basics down (front and backwards crossovers, edges, lunges, stops) and working on mohawks, 3 turns, waltz jump, one-foot spin, etc

Here’s the link to some of the tracings + foot shape/ foot print I already have: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/mobile/folders/1vPSnonLXjuYmyTUqK8ket41NMAHe_f-I?usp=share_link
If any other type of picture would be more useful (or pictures of my actual feet or arches) please ask away.

Of course the first thing I did was ask my coach (the only one in the country) what I should get and where the other skaters (mostly all in Edea) got their skates to which she just vaguely replied that the Chorus “should be fine” and that, aside from the ones that got used skates passed down, they all ordered online from IceSkater in Italy and that that’s what I should do.

Whether they are even a reputable store that mounts/sharpens blades properly and knows what they’re doing I don’t know (any feedback on this from people who have ordered from them would also be amazing), what I do know is that when I asked for their help with choosing the correct size for me based on my measurements they recommended a size far too big that I know for a fact does not fit, which I guess isn’t a great sign…

I’ve previously (back when I was just skating recreationally on the holiday rinks) had a pair of Tempish Fine that were far too short and actually made my big toenail fully fall out from the pressure and had a tongue so thin they gave me a lace bite bump so bad it took a year to heal.
Not wanting a re-do this year I bought the only thing I could find in stores which was the Axelys FS100 from Decathlon, and they’re what I’m currently using now.

They offer little to no support, and are too big in length for me (41 probably equivalent to a 275/280) but too narrow in the front (my big toe is in constant pain on the side and getting squished to the center of the boot) but too loose in the heels and I have 0 heel lock no matter how I tie them so safe to say I need to get off them asap.

My brand options are limited and mostly consist of Edea and Risport, with Edea being by far the easiest to get. There’s also some low level Jackson’s but they’re about double the price they go for in the US so not a very viable option.

Blade wise I’ve already settled on the JW Coronation Ace tradicional.

Based on my specs and foot shape what brand would you say fits me best and for my height and weight what would the most suitable model be for each one?

Thank you for any advice you can give me!

 

[Diana Delafield]

Hi everyone.

I’m an adult skater who started figure skating lessons 2 months ago and need to buy my first real pair of skates.

Problem: I live in Portugal and there isn’t a single store that carries stock of ice skates, let alone a fitter or a skate tech and I’m slowly losing my mind trying to find the right size/width/model/brand of boots based on internet research alone, seeing as I will have no choice but to order online.

I’ve seen some very helpful advice in other threads from extremely knowledgeable people like @tstop4me, @Ic3Rabbit, and @Diana Delafield so if any of you can chime in I would be super grateful!

Some useful info you might need:

Age: 27 year old female
Height: 172cm/ 5’8”
Weight: 92kg/ 202lbs
Feet length: 261mm
Ball width: 109mm (L) and 106mm (R)
Ball Circumference: 25cm
Foot type: Egyptian
Foot shape: Wide at the ball
Arches: Normal to low (but not entirely sure)
Pronation: Slightly
Skill level: Currently have all the basics down (front and backwards crossovers, edges, lunges, stops) and working on mohawks, 3 turns, waltz jump, one-foot spin, etc

Here’s the link to some of the tracings + foot shape/ foot print I already have: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/mobile/folders/1vPSnonLXjuYmyTUqK8ket41NMAHe_f-I?usp=share_link
If any other type of picture would be more useful (or pictures of my actual feet or arches) please ask away.

Of course the first thing I did was ask my coach (the only one in the country) what I should get and where the other skaters (mostly all in Edea) got their skates to which she just vaguely replied that the Chorus “should be fine” and that, aside from the ones that got used skates passed down, they all ordered online from IceSkater in Italy and that that’s what I should do.

Whether they are even a reputable store that mounts/sharpens blades properly and knows what they’re doing I don’t know (any feedback on this from people who have ordered from them would also be amazing), what I do know is that when I asked for their help with choosing the correct size for me based on my measurements they recommended a size far too big that I know for a fact does not fit, which I guess isn’t a great sign…

I’ve previously (back when I was just skating recreationally on the holiday rinks) had a pair of Tempish Fine that were far too short and actually made my big toenail fully fall out from the pressure and had a tongue so thin they gave me a lace bite bump so bad it took a year to heal.
Not wanting a re-do this year I bought the only thing I could find in stores which was the Axelys FS100 from Decathlon, and they’re what I’m currently using now.

They offer little to no support, and are too big in length for me (41 probably equivalent to a 275/280) but too narrow in the front (my big toe is in constant pain on the side and getting squished to the center of the boot) but too loose in the heels and I have 0 heel lock no matter how I tie them so safe to say I need to get off them asap.

My brand options are limited and mostly consist of Edea and Risport, with Edea being by far the easiest to get. There’s also some low level Jackson’s but they’re about double the price they go for in the US so not a very viable option.

Blade wise I’ve already settled on the JW Coronation Ace tradicional.

Based on my specs and foot shape what brand would you say fits me best and for my height and weight what would the most suitable model be for each one?

Thank you for an advice you can give!

A quick hello and an expression of admiration that you can persevere under less-than-adequate circumstances! I'm sure we'll come up with more detail than I have time for right now, but just from a quick look at your information, you need stronger boots and your foot shape would seem to prefer Risport. The RF3 perhaps, if you can get those, or the even stronger RF1? I have Egyptian feet and I wear the RF1, at the senior level. The Edea Chorus is a strong boot, but probably not the right fit for your foot. Your blade choice is good. I don't know the skate shop in Italy you mentioned, but there must be others, given how big skating is in Italy currently.

More later, from others -- we love to help beginners get a safe start on the ice!

 

[Diana Delafield]

Hi everyone.

I’m an adult skater who started figure skating lessons 2 months ago and need to buy my first real pair of skates.

Problem: I live in Portugal and there isn’t a single store that carries stock of ice skates, let alone a fitter or a skate tech and I’m slowly losing my mind trying to find the right size/width/model/brand of boots based on internet research alone, seeing as I will have no choice but to order online.

I’ve seen some very helpful advice in other threads from extremely knowledgeable people like @tstop4me, @Ic3Rabbit, and @Diana Delafield so if any of you can chime in I would be super grateful!

Some useful info you might need:

Age: 27 year old female
Height: 172cm/ 5’8”
Weight: 92kg/ 202lbs
Feet length: 261mm
Ball width: 109mm (L) and 106mm (R)
Ball Circumference: 25cm
Foot type: Egyptian
Foot shape: Wide at the ball
Arches: Normal to low (but not entirely sure)
Pronation: Slightly
Skill level: Currently have all the basics down (front and backwards crossovers, edges, lunges, stops) and working on mohawks, 3 turns, waltz jump, one-foot spin, etc

Here’s the link to some of the tracings + foot shape/ foot print I already have: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/mobile/folders/1vPSnonLXjuYmyTUqK8ket41NMAHe_f-I?usp=share_link
If any other type of picture would be more useful (or pictures of my actual feet or arches) please ask away.

Of course the first thing I did was ask my coach (the only one in the country) what I should get and where the other skaters (mostly all in Edea) got their skates to which she just vaguely replied that the Chorus “should be fine” and that, aside from the ones that got used skates passed down, they all ordered online from IceSkater in Italy and that that’s what I should do.

Whether they are even a reputable store that mounts/sharpens blades properly and knows what they’re doing I don’t know (any feedback on this from people who have ordered from them would also be amazing), what I do know is that when I asked for their help with choosing the correct size for me based on my measurements they recommended a size far too big that I know for a fact does not fit, which I guess isn’t a great sign…

I’ve previously (back when I was just skating recreationally on the holiday rinks) had a pair of Tempish Fine that were far too short and actually made my big toenail fully fall out from the pressure and had a tongue so thin they gave me a lace bite bump so bad it took a year to heal.
Not wanting a re-do this year I bought the only thing I could find in stores which was the Axelys FS100 from Decathlon, and they’re what I’m currently using now.

They offer little to no support, and are too big in length for me (41 probably equivalent to a 275/280) but too narrow in the front (my big toe is in constant pain on the side and getting squished to the center of the boot) but too loose in the heels and I have 0 heel lock no matter how I tie them so safe to say I need to get off them asap.

My brand options are limited and mostly consist of Edea and Risport, with Edea being by far the easiest to get. There’s also some low level Jackson’s but they’re about double the price they go for in the US so not a very viable option.

Blade wise I’ve already settled on the JW Coronation Ace tradicional.

Based on my specs and foot shape what brand would you say fits me best and for my height and weight what would the most suitable model be for each one?

Thank you for an advice you can give!

Sorry to keep popping in and out on my way through a day, but I wondered if you knew of Everglides, an excellent skate shop in the UK, that does virtual fittings? I think it's free if you then order your boots from them, but there's a fairly low fee if you just get their recommendation as to which boots to order elsewhere. I know skaters in Scotland who have difficulty getting time off work or school to keep making trips down to England who buy from Everglides that way.

 

[DevonneSky]

A quick hello and an expression of admiration that you can persevere under less-than-adequate circumstances! I'm sure we'll come up with more detail than I have time for right now, but just from a quick look at your information, you need stronger boots and your foot shape would seem to prefer Risport. The RF3 perhaps, if you can get those, or the even stronger RF1? I have Egyptian feet and I wear the RF1, at the senior level. The Edea Chorus is a strong boot, but probably not the right fit for your foot. Your blade choice is good. I don't know the skate shop in Italy you mentioned, but there must be others, given how big skating is in Italy currently.

More later, from others -- we love to help beginners get a safe start on the ice!

Thank you for the reply, and thank you I really appreciate it!

It truly is out of love for skating cause between not having any shops and it taking me 6.5 hours to and back from the rink on the other side of the country let’s just say the odds for practicing this sport where I live aren’t really stacked in my favor

Thank you for the recommendation, I’ve heard the RF3 being recommended on here quite a bit, I’ll have a better look at them.

I’ve also heard Edea not being recommended for wide/wider feet and was a bit confused regarding that because is that not the point of the wider D and E widths?
Or does it have to do with the overall shape more than the width, like does Edea not fit Egyptian feet?

 

[DevonneSky]

Sorry to keep popping in and out on my way through a day, but I wondered if you knew of Everglides, an excellent skate shop in the UK, that does virtual fittings? I think it's free if you then order your boots from them, but there's a fairly low fee if you just get their recommendation as to which boots to order elsewhere. I know skaters in Scotland who have difficulty getting time off work or school to keep making trips down to England who buy from Everglides that way.

I’ve come across it in my searches yes, but didn’t really have any idea whether they were a good shop, so it’s great to know you have direct feedback from people that have used their services!

Unfortunately because of brexit I can’t order from them because it would be the same as ordering from the US as far as the skates getting stuck in customs and probably having to pay a 300-500€ fee to release them…

But I’ll definitely consider the virtual fitting if you say they’re good, thank you for the advice!

 

[Diana Delafield]

Thank you for the reply, and thank you I really appreciate it!

It truly is out of love for skating cause between not having any shops and it taking me 6.5 hours to and back from the rink on the other side of the country let’s just say the odds for practicing this sport where I live aren’t really stacked in my favor

Thank you for the recommendation, I’ve heard the RF3 being recommended on here quite a bit, I’ll have a better look at them.

I’ve also heard Edea not being recommended for wide/wider feet and was a bit confused regarding that because is that not the point of the wider D and E widths?
Or does it have to do with the overall shape more than the width, like does Edea not fit Egyptian feet?

It's the shape of the boot vs the shape of your foot all over that determines which brand and which of their models would best fit your foot. The fitter advising you should consider not just the slant of your toes, but the height of your arch and instep and the shape of your heel and ankle. I can't wear Edeas, for example, and Jacksons used to be perfect until they changed their basic shape and suddenly they didn't fit me at all. Now I wear Risports, sometimes Riedells, and may try Grafs in the future. (Egyptian toes, very high arches and instep, thin heels with prominent ankle bones.)

For an adult beginner, the skater's overall size dictates a stiffer boot than a child at the same level. I'm 5'3", 115 lbs, but I wear Risport RF1s for their stiffness since I still skate pairs at what used to be senior level in my day (probably what my partner and I do would be considered junior competitive level these days, but we don't compete, just skate for fun and occasionally perform in club shows). But I still work my boots a lot with jump and throw landings and coming down from lifts, skating usually 10-12 hours a week on ice and two or three hours on wheels (indoors), so I replace my boots often.

I'm amazed by the dedication that keeps you skating in that situation! Even the few years that I trained in the UK there was at least one rink in every major city, and in Canada where I've lived most of my life, every small town has one and in the cities there are public and private arenas in every neighbourhood with multiple ice surfaces -- I train in a private sports club in Vancouver (half an hour away) and rent practice ice in an arena with six full-size ice surfaces in the suburb of Richmond (ten minute drive)!

Have you ever considered also roller skating as a way to practise between your treks to the arena? Both quad skating (four wheels set as two pairs, which is the kind I do) and inline are popular in their competitive artistic forms in the hot weather countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal and all over South America. You buy the same boots as for the ice, and have the wheels of your choice attached instead of blades. Plus a helmet and knee/elbow/wrist padding, especially if you skate outdoors on pavement, which hurts a lot more to fall on than ice where you usually slide on the film of water!

 

[Diana Delafield]

I’ve come across it in my searches yes, but didn’t really have any idea whether they were a good shop, so it’s great to know you have direct feedback from people that have used their services!

Unfortunately because of brexit I can’t order from them because it would be the same as ordering from the US as far as the skates getting stuck in customs and probably having to pay a 300-500€ fee to release them…

But I’ll definitely consider the virtual fitting if you say they’re good, thank you for the advice!

Right, I forgot about Brexit. I read somewhere that a virtual fitting from Everglides if you don'y buy from them is 35GBP (I know there are currency symbols somewhere on my screen but can't find them at the moment), so you could try that and then order the boots they recommend from that shop in Italy? Good luck!

 

[FethryDuck]

..."six full-size ice surfaces [within a] ten minute drive"...
I really envy you ...

But I have got used to artistic inline now in the summer season and got to like it nearly equally ... may also keep it up during the winter season due to limited available ice time.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

..."six full-size ice surfaces [within a] ten minute drive"...
I really envy you ...

But I have got used to artistic inline now in the summer season and got to like it nearly equally ... may also keep it up during the winter season due to limited available ice time.

It's Canada, they appreciate skating there lol.

 

[IceM]

If Risport is an option and better available, RF3 is probably your best bet. Your size would be 270D, or thereabouts (if you could try them, could try 265 too). Problem is the width, 270D is rated according to the size charts for 245mm ball circumference (250mm would be all the way to 280D which is way too big). But being a leather boot and not that stiff, it would probably mold somewhat to accommodate your feet, and if not, the ball area can be somewhat widened by a cobbler/shoemaker, that I'm sure you can find in Portugal.

If virtual fitting is an option, you should definitely try that too. And use the sizing here as a test of sanity, and a confirmation based on what they recommend there.

Best of luck!

 

[DevonneSky]

It's Canada, they appreciate skating there lol.

Hi, any adicional advice you can give me regarding the brand and model choice (and size/width) or do you pretty much just co-sign everything that’s been said so far?

Also if you know of any truly good fitters in Spain/Andorra you can point me towards I’d appreciate it!
Not for right now but for future reference as I may considered doing the trip in the future, with some more time to plan for when the plane tickets are more affordable.

Thank you!

 

[DevonneSky]

It's the shape of the boot vs the shape of your foot all over that determines which brand and which of their models would best fit your foot. The fitter advising you should consider not just the slant of your toes, but the height of your arch and instep and the shape of your heel and ankle. I can't wear Edeas, for example, and Jacksons used to be perfect until they changed their basic shape and suddenly they didn't fit me at all. Now I wear Risports, sometimes Riedells, and may try Grafs in the future. (Egyptian toes, very high arches and instep, thin heels with prominent ankle bones.)

For an adult beginner, the skater's overall size dictates a stiffer boot than a child at the same level. I'm 5'3", 115 lbs, but I wear Risport RF1s for their stiffness since I still skate pairs at what used to be senior level in my day (probably what my partner and I do would be considered junior competitive level these days, but we don't compete, just skate for fun and occasionally perform in club shows). But I still work my boots a lot with jump and throw landings and coming down from lifts, skating usually 10-12 hours a week on ice and two or three hours on wheels (indoors), so I replace my boots often.

I'm amazed by the dedication that keeps you skating in that situation! Even the few years that I trained in the UK there was at least one rink in every major city, and in Canada where I've lived most of my life, every small town has one and in the cities there are public and private arenas in every neighbourhood with multiple ice surfaces -- I train in a private sports club in Vancouver (half an hour away) and rent practice ice in an arena with six full-size ice surfaces in the suburb of Richmond (ten minute drive)!

Have you ever considered also roller skating as a way to practise between your treks to the arena? Both quad skating (four wheels set as two pairs, which is the kind I do) and inline are popular in their competitive artistic forms in the hot weather countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal and all over South America. You buy the same boots as for the ice, and have the wheels of your choice attached instead of blades. Plus a helmet and knee/elbow/wrist padding, especially if you skate outdoors on pavement, which hurts a lot more to fall on than ice where you usually slide on the film of water!

Okay, that makes a lot of sense.
So, for example, the Chorus in D and the RF3’s, even if that have a similar width in the toe box still wouldn’t both fit the same feet because of other factors like the arch and instep height, etc?

Ahah yes, I’m currently on my way back home from today’s training and super envious of the amount of ice y’all have over there.
Honestly between the extreme cold and the amount of ice rinks Canada sounds perfect for me, I’d love to move

Right now there’s only one rink open year round and it’s tiny and in the food court section of a mall (don’t ask…idk) but the first Olympic size rink in the country is set to open in 2027, which in Portuguese translates to “it might be done by the end of 2029” but it’s gonna be 10 minutes away from my house and I’m SO excited about it!

I have actually!
I don’t really care for quad skating much but I’ve been interested in inline figure skating for a while, especially because it’s supposed to mimic ice skating the best and, like you said, would allow me to practice on a more frequent basis when I can’t get to the ice.
However with the steep price of ice skates already (plus the lessons, ice time, overnight stay and transportation) it probably won’t be for a while.
My jaw dropped a little when I saw the price of Roll-Line Lineas
There’s also the Snow White’s, Jackson Mirage, etc but I don’t really know how good they are.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Hi, any adicional advice you can give me regarding the brand and model choice (and size/width) or do you pretty much just co-sign everything that’s been said so far?

Also if you know of any truly good fitters in Spain/Andorra you can point me towards I’d appreciate it!
Not for right now but for future reference as I may considered doing the trip in the future, with some more time to plan for when the plane tickets are more affordable.

Thank you!

My first thought was Risport for you but with your stats, there's not going to be a boot by Risport that will be stiff enough but not too stiff for your needs.
You could look at Graf Richmond Special and you would need to order them in a larger width (a fitter should be able to help you with this based on the ball circumference of your foot). You could look at Edea Chorus, but you'd need a D or even E width, again a proper fitter can help you with this.
You could also look at Jackson boots: Synergy Ignite or Supreme 5300.

You'll need a blade too. A traditional MK Pro or JW Coronation Ace Intermediate level blade will be fine.

There is a fitter/skating shop in Madrid. Try them.

Doctor Patin C.B.​

c/Colombia 4, 28823 Coslada Madrid, ES

Also in Barcelona area there is:

Distribuciones Carlos Mur S.L.​

[email protected]

+34934276434

Canigo 20. 08031 Barcelona


Good luck!

 

[Diana Delafield]

Okay, that makes a lot of sense.
So, for example, the Chorus in D and the RF3’s, even if that have a similar width in the toe box still wouldn’t both fit the same feet because of other factors like the arch and instep height, etc?

You're getting the picture .

Ahah yes, I’m currently on my way back home from today’s training and super envious of the amount of ice y’all have over there.
Honestly between the extreme cold and the amount of ice rinks Canada sounds perfect for me, I’d love to move

The southwest corner of Canada, including Vancouver and Victoria, has a much milder climate than the whole rest of the country. We very seldom get snow and it usually melts again within a few days. It rains a LOT here, which makes for beautiful gardens and lots of greenery. We did think it was a bit odd that Vancouver was awarded the Winter Olympics in 2010. They had to truck in snow for the events needing it, and every store and gas station was doing a great business selling umbrellas to bewildered tourists carrying their too-warm down-filled jackets . But my suburb of Richmond got a nice new arena for the speedskating events, now converted to a figure skating arena used by the Connaught club. (As well as the six-surface arena where I rent ice there are four additional rinks in a city of about 225,000 people. There used to be a privately-owned arena with one full size rink and a half-size ice surface used by figure skaters for school figures or practising spins, and by tots learning to skate and play baby hockey which was cute to watch. But that arena was sold and demolished when the owner died and his family didn't want to keep running the business. I skated there for years on private ice for virtually free because the owner was a friend of my mother-in-law.)

Right now there’s only one rink open year round and it’s tiny and in the food court section of a mall (don’t ask…idk) but the first Olympic size rink in the country is set to open in 2027, which in Portuguese translates to “it might be done by the end of 2029” but it’s gonna be 10 minutes away from my house and I’m SO excited about it!

Mall rinks are popular in quite a few cities in both Canada and the USA, but they're usually full-size rinks. World champion Kaetlyn Osmond trained in one in Edmonton. If there are any in the Vancouver area I haven't heard of them. We don't go in for big enclosed malls as much here. But your future rink sounds great for you!

I have actually!
I don’t really care for quad skating much but I’ve been interested in inline figure skating for a while, especially because it’s supposed to mimic ice skating the best and, like you said, would allow me to practice on a more frequent basis when I can’t get to the ice.
However with the steep price of ice skates already (plus the lessons, ice time, overnight stay and transportation) it probably won’t be for a while.
My jaw dropped a little when I saw the price of Roll-Line Lineas
There’s also the Snow White’s, Jackson Mirage, etc but I don’t really know how good they are.

There I can't help you, never having done inline skating. The couple who persuaded my pairs partner and me to try roller as well were already experienced quad skaters in dance, so they gave us tips on how to do the pattern dances on wheels. For boots, I just used a spare pair I already had and switched the blades for wheels. Buying everything from the basics on up would be expensive, I agree.

 

[DevonneSky]

If Risport is an option and better available, RF3 is probably your best bet. Your size would be 270D, or thereabouts (if you could try them, could try 265 too). Problem is the width, 270D is rated according to the size charts for 245mm ball circumference (250mm would be all the way to 280D which is way too big). But being a leather boot and not that stiff, it would probably mold somewhat to accommodate your feet, and if not, the ball area can be somewhat widened by a cobbler/shoemaker, that I'm sure you can find in Portugal.

If virtual fitting is an option, you should definitely try that too. And use the sizing here as a test of sanity, and a confirmation based on what they recommend there.

Best of luck!

Thank you this was super helpful!

When you say 270D, you mean the RF3’s? Because every store I could find including Risport’s website says that their widths only go up to a C.

Is it just not a listed width and has to be discussed with them directly?

Also, regarding the ball measurement, I measured it while standing with the majority of the weight on the leg of the foot I’m measuring and the knee slightly flexed, is this the correct way to do it?
Would measuring while sitting down be more accurate? With the foot just lightly resting on the floor my measurement is actually exactly 24.5cm.

 

[DevonneSky]

My first thought was Risport for you but with your stats, there's not going to be a boot by Risport that will be stiff enough but not too stiff for your needs.
You could look at Graf Richmond Special and you would need to order them in a larger width (a fitter should be able to help you with this based on the ball circumference of your foot). You could look at Edea Chorus, but you'd need a D or even E width, again a proper fitter can help you with this.
You could also look at Jackson boots: Synergy Ignite or Supreme 5300.

You'll need a blade too. A traditional MK Pro or JW Coronation Ace Intermediate level blade will be fine.

There is a fitter/skating shop in Madrid. Try them.

Doctor Patin C.B.​

c/Colombia 4, 28823 Coslada Madrid, ES

Also in Barcelona area there is:

Distribuciones Carlos Mur S.L.​

[email protected]

+34934276434

Canigo 20. 08031 Barcelona


Good luck!

Hi and thank you for the fitter recommendations!

Meaning the RF3’s wouldn’t be stiff enough but the RF1’s would be too stiff?

Unfortunately none of the stores that ship here sell Graf at all and the stiffest Jackson boots they have available is the Freestyle I think :/

I was initially thinking of going with the Chorus, as I would prefer not going against my coach’s suggestion, but wanted to make sure if it would even fit my feet at all.

Edea finally got back to me with their size recommendation (the foam mold in the picture was mailed to them about a month ago at their request) and they suggested a size 270D, does this seem about correct for my measurements?

They said I could also probably go for a 265 but that seems far too risky without being able to try them on and I fear they would be too tight.

Also contacted Doctor Patin who suggested a size 280 so the confusion rages on

Thanks again!

 

[Diana Delafield]

Also, regarding the ball measurement, I measured it while standing with the majority of the weight on the leg of the foot I’m measuring and the knee slightly flexed, is this the correct way to do it?
Would measuring while sitting down be more accurate? With the foot just lightly resting on the floor my measurement is actually exactly 24.5cm.

This is why it's best to have a professional fitter measure you. It's impossible to get an accurate measurement of your own foot, bending over while standing or sitting. There will be pressure, causing spreading, on part of the foot, and skate boots have to fit snugly so accuracy is essential. If you can't get to a fitter, you should get someone else to do the measurement while you stand up straight, preferably with your heels (and calves, etc, all the way up) against a wall. No knee bend! Good luck

 

[IceM]

Thank you this was super helpful!

When you say 270D, you mean the RF3’s? Because every store I could find including Risport’s website says that their widths only go up to a C.

Is it just not a listed width and has to be discussed with them directly?

Also, regarding the ball measurement, I measured it while standing with the majority of the weight on the leg of the foot I’m measuring and the knee slightly flexed, is this the correct way to do it?
Would measuring while sitting down be more accurate? With the foot just lightly resting on the floor my measurement is actually exactly 24.5cm.

You would need to ask a shop or Risport directly, if they have dropped those widths, or if they are a special order (shops typically don't stock anything but C and maybe B). According to their website, black RF3s only come in C width, which is pretty...interesting.

And regarding measurements, they should be taken standing up, having weight applied like you do when you have the boots on. But overall, your foot changes during the day and the activities that you do, so measurements are just estimations. If they are a little bit narrow, you can always widen them a little.

Although now that I think of, RF3s might be a bit on the softer side for you, too. Not terribly too soft, but you could look to other brands offering intermediate stiffnesses (Graf comes to mind, either Richmond or Edmonton special in white, since blacks are stiffer). Or you could go all the way to RF1, if Risport is the only option, but perhaps you should try the RF3s first. Sorry, I don't have a clear simple answer for you, haha. If you do look into Grafs, you're L width.

 

[tstop4me]

Also, regarding the ball measurement, I measured it while standing with the majority of the weight on the leg of the foot I’m measuring and the knee slightly flexed, is this the correct way to do it?
Would measuring while sitting down be more accurate? With the foot just lightly resting on the floor my measurement is actually exactly 24.5cm.

* Each manufacturer specifies what measurements are to be taken and under what conditions the measurements are to be taken. Some manufacturers specify more than one set of measurements taken under more than one set of conditions (e.g., sitting, standing straight, standing with knee bend, or some combo of the above). So it's best to contact each manufacturer for their specific instructions for measurements (and tracings).

* But as @Diana Delafield has cautioned, don't take measurements on your own feet, and, ideally have the measurements taken by an experienced fitter. My fitter is competent and experienced. He told me that over many years he's learned that some manufacturers tend to ship too small or too large a size, and he's learned to skew the measurements to compensate (e.g., by adjusting the tension on the tape measure). Similarly, with tracings, he's learned how to adjust the angle with which he holds the pencil to give a slightly smaller or slightly larger tracing.

* So far, your primary concern has been with the ball measurements; no mention of the heel measurements. If you skim recent and older threads, however, a common issue that skaters have is heel slippage. And my standard comment has been that, for figure skating boots, heel fit is the most crucial, but, at the same time, the heel pocket of the boot is the least adjustable portion of the boot; therefore, make sure the heel pockets fit snugly as-is. For many skaters, their heels are substantially narrower than their balls (which is why Jackson has standardized on split-widths for their stock boots for their advanced models and many of their intermediate models). If the difference in width is within a certain range (depending on manufacturer and model), the ball and toe area of a stock boot might be suitably modified by heat molding (including use of punch-out tools when needed). If the difference is too great, however, you might need a semi-custom or custom boot.

* I realize you're in a sticky situation because you don't have a local fitter. But you'll likely need more than one visit to a more distant fitter. It'll save you a lot of grief (including injury to your feet) and money in the long run. I realize that's not the answer you want to hear.