Ice Skating lessons and buying own skates?

Question

Okay, so i've been skating a good few times and really enjoy it. I went with a friend today and she enjoyed it as well so we're thinking of going regularly after school. I fancy learning figure skating and I prefer presentation to speed, I heard the toe-pick can be a pain for beginners. I also met a guy today who said that if I'm going to skate regularly then I should get my own skates. The sole molds to the foot if you have your own unlike rentals. I asked my dad and he said that I don't need my own, I can just rent some. He seemed really against it. I explained I would pay for them myself but he still just refused. So yes, my questions are:

1) If me and my friend decide to skate regularly, should we get some lessons for a few weeks so we can learn the basics correctly?
2) Should I get my own skates?
3) If so what kind of skates should I get? (I'm a noob at different types of skates, so please could you go into detail)
4) How could I let my dad let me get them?

Thank you very much for your help.

Also I live in the North West of the UK so if you know any stores there that would be very helpful.

Thank you very much for your time :)

Answer 1

1) I think you should get lessons, because even if you want to skate recreationally and not competitively, they are still a great way of fun and exercise.

2) Yes, Yes, Yes!! If you plan to skate that often, then you should definitely get your own pair of skates. Rental skates are terrible for your ankles and literally you can end up with ankle injuries from them.

3) Um, well, if your rink has a skate shop in it, I would recommend going there. You can get your feet fitted for a certain skate and they usually know the correct models. Then you can find the cheapest pair of that specific type in your size.

4) You should just explain to your dad how terrible the rental skates are for your feet and if you look at all the times that you plan on skating, buying skates is an investment and really the cheapest way to skate. They are the cheapest because if you add on the added fee for renting the skates and the possible ankle injuries, it just makes sense to buy your own.



Umm, I don't know about the stores because I live in the US. Hope I helped! Good luck skating! :)

Answer 2

I am an old skater mom. My two daughters used to compete so I have bought a lot of ice skates. First of all, how committed are you to skating and how long do you expect to stick with it? If you do plan to stick with it, I would suggest trying to get a pair soon because rental skates do not have the ankle support and the blades are usually dull. You need good edges to execute movements correctly. For your first pair, if you want to buy them new, try Reidell. If you would like to start with a used pair, check to see if your rink sells used skates or your local figure skating club. I wouldn't buy used skates from the Internet or eBay unless you could return them if the fit wasn't right. Once I ordered new Reidell's over the phone from a shop in New York (got the number from the Skating magazine) and I was able to send them back for another size. Finally, you have to allow for break-in time. You won't be able to put them on and go right to your lesson. Walk around the house, do knee bends as if you are doing a sit spin, go to a public session and try them out. It takes about ten days to break in a new pair. I have no idea what the cost is these days. Good luck and have fun!!

Answer 3

1) Yes, absolutely yes. There's nothing worse than doing the basics wrong.



2) Yes. Rental skates do not offer enough support, often don't have the edges on the blades correctly, and will hurt your feet.



3) Jacksons or Riedells are the two top brands. You need to go to a pro shop and get fitted. If you are planning on learning to figure skate, you will need to spend at least $100 (but not more than $170, probably). Any less than that figure (I know it sounds a lot) and you will be getting something which is hardly any better than a rental skate, and any more and the skate will be too advanced for your level and hinder your progress.



EDIT: A lot of people will say "get Riedells if you have narrow feet and Jackson only if you have wide feet". I wear Jackson boots and I have absolutely tiny narrow feet. They fit just fine.



4) Explain exactly what I said in 2. And then say to him, "Daddy, would you rather I spend the money on some good skates, or would you rather spend time with me in the hospital when I break my ankle?"



I know you prefer "presentation to speed" but the speed is neccessary, btw. If you don't have enough speed, some of the elements don't work properly.

Answer 4

2

Answer 5

1

Answer 6

1. Yes you should get lessons :) even if you just plan to skate recreatonally you may find you enjoy it and want to persue it more :)

2. YESSSSSS! the rentals are terrrrrrible! most of them arn't even leather D: so they have poor support for your ankles and if you wish to start lessons you will more than likely sustain an injury on rentals the higher levels you learn, your own boots are supportive, comfortable (when broken in, at first it will be like a very stiff pair of shoes and yes toe picks can be difficult to get used to but wont take long) and also they look a lot nicer too

3. That depends entirely on your feet, personally I started on Risport RF4's (http://www.skatehut.co.uk/acatalog/Risport_RF4_Ice_Skates.html) with a manufactured mark IV blade ( there are certain blades usually on beginners that are manufactured and already attached to the boot but the more expensive you get your boots they tend to sell the boot and blades seperately and then you would have to contact a fitter to fit them NEVER do it yourself or go to someone or somewhere you think unworthy anyway that's if you get higher up :) ), if you have a slimmer more narrow foot I would urge you to buy Riedell they are an excellent boot and look amazing many people go for Riedell, (http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/answer?qid=20110422151828AAEoZi1) here is a good example of a beginner Riedell skate. But if you have a more chunkier foot I would go for Jackson if I were you (http://www.skatemall.com/Jackson-JS1691-Artiste-Girls-1.aspx) I have left a few links for ideas you could browse through however NEVER buy online unless you are absolutely sure of your size it differs with each boots don't assume because you are for example a size 5 in shoe you are a size 5 in skate as it differs with skates and don't ever get a size bigger so you can 'grow into them' skates are not the same as shoes your weight has to be equally balanced so you have to have an exact fit, always go to a skate shop and ask for someone who really knows what they are doing and get them measured to your feet properly :) also consider your toe pick some blades have beginner toe picks which are very small and your more advanced boots have larger toe picks, if you are considering learning a few jumps you will eventually have to get used to a larger toe pick so look out for that trust me you will see the difference beginner toe picks are tiny and not sustainable for your more intermediate jumps, just a precaution as it will be easier to get used to an advanced toe pick first rather than a beginner them advanced. I also wouldn't advise you spend any less than £100 even on your first pair of skates don't go crazy and spend like £400 pound though as just because you have the money, more expensive boots don't make them better for you the more expensive boot you buy will be a lot tougher and padded much harder to break in as they are designed for an advanced skater not a beginner such as yourself :)

4) If your dad wont let you save and get them yourself, I'm sure there will be a skate shop in your actual rink shop or if you know a skate shop nearby or even go to the rink ask one of the coaches for ideas of who to go to, you need to sharpen your skates every 15/20 hours of skating and to find a sharpener you can ask fellow skaters or coaches I wouldn't go to your local rink sharpener unless you really have to usually they arn't very good, my coach recommended me to someone who did it in his own house and the reason I'm explaining this is sharpening is important and also coaches and sharpeners tend to also be able to measure your feet and order boots so if the shop doesn't satisfy you then go to a coach or sharpener and they can sometimes measure you and order them for you, or if you got your feet measured already you could try the internet but I'd strongly seriously advise you not to do that as you seem to not know a lot about skates and also like I said sizes differ between different types of skates, anyway back to your dad, maybe take him on a family day out get the family to go have a fun day show him how much you like it or show him some videos on youtube of skaters, try and get him involved, you could ask for skates for your birthday off your mum or grandma or other people in your family or even ask for just money in a card for your birthday and not even mention the money is for skates then buy your skates yourself but to be honest I would get him involved, get him to go with you and explain and show him how rubbish the hire skates are :) sorry for the huge rant haha but this is all stuff I thought would be helpful and thought you'd need to know :)