Well, the skate buying saga is ALMOST over.
I say almost, the skates are purchased, the blades are purchased. Unfortunately, I don't have the skates. The guy who mounts blades is also the guy who sharpens and he's crazy busy on a Saturday so the shop are going to call when they're ready to pick up.
My friend had a nightmare getting sorted, and skates have had to be ordered in for her, so we're both going to go up and collect our new purchases together.
I am shocked at the difference in service between the two shops I've now used. These guys come highly recommended and I can see why - I was asked so many questions and so many things were checked, both on the boots, and my feet.
The shop I bought my Mystiques from only really asked about my level, not my feet. I asked them for a size 6, and assumed, after they fit, that that's what I was sold.
The guy today looked at my insoles and said, "These are way too big!" He looked at my skates - they're a 6 and a half (UK sizes). Then he looked at my feet and said we'd start at a size 5 and go from there.
He said as there was no real ankle breakdown, he didn't want to put me in anything much stiffer than a Classique, at a push. We started with the Edea Overtures, in a size 5, and they fit so well right from the word go. He let me keep them on and walk around while he helped my friend, and I had them on for nearly an hour with no real discomfort. He checked the fit, and said we'd be hard pressed to get a better fit than that.
Then we talked blades and he said I could go for the Mark IV, or the Coronation Ace. I said I wanted to get something that would last, so I had a look and feel of the Coronation Ace and decided on those. The toe pick is seriously scary looking! And they're a good inch or so shorter than my current blades thanks to going down 1.5 boot sizes.
I just can't wait to pick them up and skate in them! And this change of brand after I said on another thread I thought I was in for a long and happy marriage to Jackson skates...