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Answers to some of your questions!

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Recommended Figure Skates

For Beginning Ice Skaters:

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Consult a Figure Skating Coach if you are unsure BEFORE you purchase:

Take the time to consult your coach before purchasing skates. Figure skating coaches may recommend a certain figure skate for a new ice skater.

Don't Buy Cheap Skates:

Inexpensive figure skates may draw some buyers; however, when it comes to figure skates, you do get what you pay for.

An "unwritten rule" in the ice skating world that is passed on to those new to the sport is that cheap boots and blade sets that are sold at sporting good stores or department stores are just not acceptable.

Used Figure Skates Are Okay:

Sometimes good used boots and blades are better than inexpensive, lower-quality new skates. Make sure the boots fit properly. Also, make sure that the used boot has support.

Figure Skates Must Fit:

The foot has to fit in the skating boot. There should be no extra room in the boot, especially in the heel. The boot should "fit like a glove."

New Boots May Hurt:

Understand that good figure skating boots may hurt at first. Expect a "break-in" period.

Recommended Figure Skates For Beginning Ice Skaters:

There are many entry level figure skates available for beginning and recreational skaters. In recent years, entry level skates have been manufactured with a soft and comfortable boot. Leather and vinyl figure skates are also available for beginning ice skaters.

Entry level skates and soft boot ice skates are meant only for recreational skating. Soft boot skates are not designed for doing advanced figure skating moves, but can be great for a beginning recreational figure skater since there is no breaking in period and the skates are comfortable.

Boot-Blade Figure Skate Packages:

Boot and blade figure skate combination packages are also available for beginning and intermediate level skaters. When purchasing a boot-blade package, be aware that the boots should be somewhat stiff to give feet and ankles support, but should be flexible enough to break in and feel comfortable.

Most Advanced Figure Skaters Buy Boots and Blades Separately:

Until recently, most figure skaters bought boots and blades separately. There are many high quality boots and blades. Take the time to get familiar with the boots and blades available.

Buying boots and blades separately is always an option, even for beginning figure skaters.

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​How to lace skates:​

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Lacing figure skates correctly will make the ice skating experience more enjoyable. Correct lacing of figure skates is very important and must be done a certain way.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: The time for this task can take anywhere from two to ten minutes, depending on experience.

Here's How:

  1. Loosen up the skates.

    By pulling the laces out a bit, the foot can be put inside easily.

  2. Stuff the feet inside the boots.

    Make sure the socks are straight and the foot is placed inside the boot all the way. Put the toe of the foot in first and then push the heel all the way down.

  3. Tighten up the laces in the first half of the boot.

    Work up from the toe to the ankle. Don't pull the laces too tight in this area. Just make sure that each pull is somewhat secure.

  4. Tighten the laces the most where the foot and the ankle bends.

    This is the most important part of lacing figure skates. Give the laces a good tug at this point and pull hard.

     

      Suggestion: Just before starting to lace the hooks, wrap one lace around the other twice to keep a snug fit over the arch so the laces won't slip.

     

  5. Next lace around the hooks.

    Make a criss-cross pattern with the laces and pull with both hands around each hook. Some skaters like to put the laces over and under the hooks; others like to put the laces under and then over. Either option is correct.

    Again, don't pull the laces too hard. Leave some room for the ankle to bend.

  6. Finish with a secure bow.

    It is recommended to double knot the bow. Some figure skaters leave the top hooks empty while breaking in new boots.

  7. Tuck the bow's loops inside the tops of the boots.

    This will prevent the blade from catching the bow's loops and also keeps the top hooks from coming loose.

Tips:

  1. If the skates don't feel secure after being laced up, the laces are too loose, and lacing should be done over again.

  2. Figure skates should not be too tight. If a skater can't bend his or her knees, the skates are too tight.

  3. Make sure the tongue of the skate is straight and does not slip under the laces.

  4. Skates must fit. If the boot is too big, lacing the skates tightly will not improve the ice skating experience.

  5. Wear a sock that fits and make sure that no wrinkles are in the sock as the foot is placed inside the ice skating boot. Wearing thick socks is not recommended for figure skating.

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Question: How Often Should Figure Skating Blades Be Sharpened?
 
Answer: A simple answer to this question is that figure skating blades need to be sharpened when they need to be sharpened.  How often figure skates need sharpening will depend on how much a skater skates and how hard he or she skates.  Sometimes the edges no longer feel secure and a skater will know when the blades just feel dull.  Also, if you rub the width of the blade back and forth with a finger, you can tell that the blade is dull.

In general, figure skates need sharpening after about forty hours of ice skating.  Figure skaters can determine that their blades need sharpening when the blades start to slide sideways too easily.

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