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Ice Skates for Novices and Intermediate Levels: Buying Advice
The selection of your ice skates will greatly influence your time on the ice. Considerations like the ice skating style, fitting, and ankle support are vital, whether you're purchasing your inaugural ice skates as a novice or seeking the ideal pair to enhance your abilities as an intermediate.
This guide is here to aid you in making a well-informed choice. Prior to delving deeper, keep these essential factors in mind:
- Varieties of ice skates: Is it best to opt for recreational, figure, or hockey skates?
- Fit: Should be tight enough for control yet comfy for prolonged sessions.
- Comfort versus performance: Are you leaning towards comfort, or is achieving top performance your goal?
- Blades: Are flat and stable blades with toe picks what you need, or do curved blades for speed and agility suit you better?
- Sharpening ice skate blades: Newly purchased skates need proper initial sharpening.
Varieties of Ice Skates
Here's a summary of the different kinds of ice skates available. By aligning the type of skate with your interests and proficiency level, you can streamline your options and make the selection process easier.
Each skate type has a distinctive balance point, feeling noticeably different on the ice. To find out what fits your needs best, you can either read about the diverse skate types below or, better yet, try on various rental skates. Experiencing them in person can help you pinpoint the style that feels natural and comfortable for you.
Recreational Ice Skates
Recreational ice skates are perfect for beginners and those who skate occasionally. They offer a balanced combination of comfort, support, and performance, often considered a compromise between figure skates and hockey skates.
If you decide to devote yourself to and advance in a particular discipline, you’ll eventually require a pair designed specifically for that area.
- Comfortable, insulated liners to keep feet warm and dry.
- User-friendly lacing and buckle systems.
- Suitable for leisure skating and basic movements.
- Ankle support and stability.
- Slightly curved blades for simple turns (although some recreational skates come with flat, stable figure skate blades with toe picks).
Boasting soft, comfortable boots with good ankle support, recreational ice skates share numerous features with fitness inline skates. If you're already acquainted with fitness inline skates, you'll likely enjoy a high-quality pair of recreational skates.
Figure Skates
Figure skates are ideal for adults interested in artistic skating or those who favour stability on the ice. Equipped with flat, steady blades and the classic toe picks, they’re sometimes recommended as beginner ice skates for absolute newcomers. They are undoubtedly the correct choice to start with if your ultimate ambition is to pursue figure skating.
- Flat blades with toe picks for enhanced control and stability.
- Softer boots allowing flexibility in ankle movement but offering less ankle support.
- Appropriate for learning jumps, spins, and other figure skating skills.
Given the limited ankle support in figure skate boots, many newcomers feel more assured on recreational skates. While some novices find toe picks troublesome, as they can hinder movement, others value them for the extra grip they deliver during initial strides on ice.
Hockey Skates
Hockey skates focus on speed and agility, making them suitable for adults interested in ice hockey or a more dynamic skating experience, emphasising speed and agility.
- Curved blades for swift movements and acceleration.
- Rigid, supportive boots for protection and ankle support.
- Ideal for fast-paced skating and hockey-specific actions.
Beginners can find hockey skates an excellent option. Entry-level hockey skates are typically more economical and tailored especially for novices. They frequently include comfortable interiors and more flexible boot casings, making them easier to manage as you learn the basics.
Sizing Your Ice Skates
Accurate sizing is paramount for both comfort and performance. When purchasing online, use these suggestions to secure the appropriate fit:
- Foot measurement: Position your foot against a wall and measure from the wall to the tip of your big toe.
- Refer to sizing charts: Check out the size chart given for each product to align your foot length with the correct skate size.
- Think about width: Some brands provide varied width options, so consider this for an improved fit.
For certain skates prioritised for performance, newcomers may benefit from choosing a size larger than the recommended one in the chart. This affords more comfort, which tends to be more crucial than performance when starting with basic ice skating skills. Ensure you read the product description and sizing guide for the given pair of skates to access all relevant sizing information.
Breaking in New Ice Skates
The break-in period for new ice skates can vary significantly, but certain practices can minimise the risk of blisters while breaking them in.
- Shorter sessions: Engage in brief skating sessions and take breaks to loosen the skates and let your feet rest.
- Lacing: Lace your skates properly, perhaps moderately looser than usual.
- Basic motions: Concentrate on fundamental movements rather than attempting elaborate manoeuvres or intensive hockey sessions.
- Wear them at home: On days when you're not on the ice, continue breaking them in by wearing your skates at home. With proper skate guards, you can walk around safely, getting your feet accustomed to the skates.
All these strategies ensure a gradual break-in process. In essence, the advice is simple: don’t act hastily during the break-in process. New skates need time to shape themselves to your feet, and you'll require time to adjust to their feel as well. Patience is instrumental in achieving the best fit and comfort.
Heat Mouldable Ice Skate Boots
New ice skates generally come with a universal anatomical shape that might not perfectly match your feet. Nevertheless, if your objective is to advance in figure skating or ice hockey, a heat-moulded boot can offer a more personalised fit, boosting both comfort and performance.
It's highly advised to have your skates moulded by a professional. Trying to mould your skates at home could damage them as the heat might weaken the glue joints and stitching, impacting the skates’ longevity and performance.
Heat-mouldable skates are usually at the higher price point, and you should never attempt to heat-mould them unless it’s explicitly mentioned that the boots are designed for that purpose.
Ice Skate Blades
The blades of your skates significantly dictate their gliding characteristics. Composed of various metals, often inclusive of carbon, blade materials and designs differ depending on quality and purpose. Despite some skates being pre-sharpened, most new blades arrive fairly blunt.
The first sharpening of a new blade is especially critical as it defines the blade's hollow—a groove along the surface enabling the blade to maintain grip on the ice. This grip provides essential control for all skaters, irrespective of skill level.
For optimal results, it's advisable to have newly acquired skates sharpened by a professional. At SkatePro, we deliver professional sharpening services to spare you the trouble and ensure your blades are ready to perform at their best from the start. Proper sharpening simplifies using your skates.
For upkeep between sessions, handheld skate sharpeners are available. While they lack the precision of professional sharpening, they're a handy option to maintain your blades' sharpness and performance.
Types of Ice Skate Blades
Ice skate blades generally fall into two types: figure skate blades and hockey skate blades. Each blade kind is tailored to the specific requirements of its sport.
Hockey skate blades: Curved hockey blades are distinguished by a smaller ice contact surface, enhancing agility, manoeuvrability, and speed—vital for the sharp turns and swift accelerations inherent to hockey.
Figure skate blades: Flatter figure skate blades provide more stability for the elegant movements in figure skating. The toe pick is a notable feature, acting as a friction point that aids in executing powerful jumps and creating rotational energy. It's also beneficial for intricate footwork and allows for controlled, abrupt stops.
Ensure Your Safety!
Don’t let the fear of falling deter you or, worse, lead to injuries that could have been easily avoided. Using protective gear can boost your confidence and facilitate quicker progress. If you’re worried about style, go for gear that can be discreetly worn beneath your clothing.
If you already own protective gear for inline skating, it’s equally effective on ice. If not, we’re here to help with a wide range of equipment, such as helmets, knee pads, wrist guards, and impact shorts to protect your tailbone and hips. Stay secure and relish the experience!
