Petlover
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Posted: 12-30-2009, 02:45 PM
In my opinion only, blades make a huge difference.
When I switched from Coronation Comet to MK Professionals, my skating improved drastically, and I was actually able to spin decently.
One of my teenage skating buddies switched to MK Visions a couple of months ago - she is starting doubles - and it really helped her a lot. I'm not sure what blades she had before, but she's extremely happy with the visions.
Another teenage skating buddy has had Coronation Aces for years, and she has almost of her doubles and they are gorgeous.
d b n y
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Posted: 12-30-2009, 02:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs Redboots
Yes, I'm surprised she's got so far in beginner blades! I'm also surprised your coach is recommending as low-level a blade as Coronation Ace for someone starting doubles - they are generally considered a good all-round blade until you start doubles, by which time you're thought to want something with a bit more wellie. Definitely upgrade, and be guided by both her coach and her fitter.
ITA. My DD's coach had her upgrade from Cor Aces to Gold Seals or Pattern 99's when she started doubles. She went wtih Gold Seals and they made an amazing difference right away. They were particularly helpful in landing jumps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Petlover
In my opinion only, blades make a huge difference.
When I switched from Coronation Comet to MK Professionals, my skating improved drastically, and I was actually able to spin decently.
Comets are notoriously difficult to spin on. They have an 8.5 foot rocker, which can make finding the spin spot a problem.
ukmum
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Posted: 12-30-2009, 02:59 PM
Not sure about putting other blades on the classique, they have platic soles, which my daughter loves as they are light and she has seen the state some other kids soles are in (leather). Don't get me wrong she isn't too tiny I don't think, nearly 10 and around 133cm tall but slim. I am only 5ft 2inch so guess she will never be tall! She is also a light skater as in she lands very softly even though she has a deep knee bend. Does anyone know if you can fit other blades onto these boots? It would be a good compromise in my daughter's opinion.
RachelSk8er
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Posted: 12-30-2009, 04:52 PM
Quote:
However, we have discovered that ISE and/or Ultima produce excellent blades at better price points. Ultima's blades are extremely well made; initially, there were problems with quality many years ago, however, that has been resolved.
I've had really good luck with Ultimas, I'm on my 3rd pair of Ultima Synchro blades. I no longer do synchro, but I do both dance and freestyle and they've been a good all purpose blade for doing both. They hold an edge much longer than other blades I've worn over the years (I've used Wilsons--Coronation Aces, Super Dance 99s and MK Gold Stars) so they need less sharpenings and therefore last longer. The synchro blades are only $130, too.
I may actually go back to the Gold Stars when I get new boots after 2010 ANs since I do a lot more freestyle than dance nowadays (and can just use my old boots with the Ultimas if I want a shorter blade for dance), but that's only because I have a pair of Gold Stars that were only used for about 8 months and hardly sharpened hanging around the house. When you have $500+ blades just sitting around, you might as well use them. (I actually got them for free, my uncle used to work for a skate shop, they were a sample.) I remember I really liked them back when I had them on my boots during a break from synchro in college, but I went back to synchro blades when I started synchro again.
dak_rbb
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Posted: 12-30-2009, 07:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ukmum
Not sure about putting other blades on the classique, they have platic soles, which my daughter loves as they are light and she has seen the state some other kids soles are in (leather). Don't get me wrong she isn't too tiny I don't think, nearly 10 and around 133cm tall but slim. I am only 5ft 2inch so guess she will never be tall! She is also a light skater as in she lands very softly even though she has a deep knee bend. Does anyone know if you can fit other blades onto these boots? It would be a good compromise in my daughter's opinion.
As far as I know you can't switch the blades on plastic soles. My daughter upgraded from the Classique/Mark IV around when she began working on Axels. The boot was okay at the time, but her coach wanted her in a higher blade (Coronation Ace or MK Pro). She went to Freestyle boots and they were fine for her. She was 7 and around 55 lbs, so I don't think Freestyles would be too stiff for your daughter. My daughter is now 8 and skating in Sp-Teri super teri boots/MK Pro blade and those are working well for her. She's currently working on her double jumps.
phoenix
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Posted: 12-30-2009, 09:00 PM
Yeah, you can't put new blades on plastic soles--anyways she needs to get into a higher grade boot w/ leather soles--those plastic ones aren't meant to take the force of landing larger jumps, and can split.
sk8tmum
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Posted: 12-30-2009, 09:25 PM
Yup, Comets can be quite hard to spin on; when we switched DD off of them to Ultima (the Lite ones, actually, which she finds quite a pleasure to skate on, they are very light and the cross-cut picks are better for her, and they just look so fantastic!) - the spins improved immediately. Edges improved too. However, the jumps did have to be revisited, the change in rocker makes the landings different.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was an exact science for blades, that the definitive answer to cross cut vs straight cut, rocker size, etc? It would certainly cut down on the guesswork, and the expense! (and the worry factor for parents ...
aussieskater
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Posted: 12-30-2009, 11:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dak_rbb
As far as I know you can't switch the blades on plastic soles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phoenix
Yeah, you can't put new blades on plastic soles.
Yes you can - my skate fitter has twice changed the blades on plastic-soled Mystiques for my DD - first on her old Mystiques (changed from the rec blade to Club 2000), and then when she outgrew those, moved the Club 2000s to her current Mystiques. She's almost 11yo, with a reliable sal and toe, and is learning the loop jump, plus sit and (ha ha) camel spins.
Her coach was the one to suggest the Club 2000 and is very happy with the support DD is getting from the Mystiques. However, she has said DD will need to upgrade her boots (probably to the Freestyle) and maybe upgrade the blade as well, when she is due for a new pair some time this coming year.
d b n y
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Posted: 12-31-2009, 12:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sk8tmum
Wouldn't it be nice if there was an exact science for blades, that the definitive answer to cross cut vs straight cut, rocker size, etc? It would certainly cut down on the guesswork, and the expense! (and the worry factor for parents ...
It would indeed! But I think blades, like boots are an individual thing. One person may thrive on Pattern 99's while another just can't get used to them, etc.
sk8tmum
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Posted: 12-31-2009, 01:29 AM
I am always amused/amazed by the variance in blade progression among coaches, fitters, parents, skaters. Some put kids in, for example, Gold Seals at singles; some at doubles; some at triples; some never!
However, here's what Wilson themselves put out re: recommendations. Because I'm Canadian, I know only the Canadian test levels. However, I would say, eyeballing this, that Ace and Comet would take you pretty far up the Doubles ladder (Senior Bronze FS in Canada permits all doubles, except double Axels, in competition).
http://www.mkblades.com/jw-recommendations.html sk8rdad59
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Posted: 12-31-2009, 04:19 PM
Yes the Ace and Comet are good up to at least double flip. We switched over to Pattern 99's once the double Lutz and double Axel were being worked on regularly
kssk8fan
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Posted: 01-01-2010, 10:01 AM
My daughter - 10 - could never break in, or down, the Jackson Freestyles. If your daughter isn't breaking down the Classiques rather quickly, the Freestlyes may be too stiff for her. My DD is in Klingbeils now but some other skaters that had the same issue with the freestyles are in the SP Teri gravity boot - forgot exactly what's it's called but it's super lite!!!!
BLADES.....it's such a detrimental piece of equipment for the skaters and very confusing! The last blade my DD was in was the gold seal - it was nice, but soft. Since she's young, we were always having to fix rolled edges and knicks. Last year, I switched her to the paramounts and we will never change again! She loves them! They are very pricey but well worth the $$, IMO! We have them for almost a year and we've sharpened them twice - the last time, only b/c one skate fell out of her zuca onto the driveway as we were loading into the car.
If they weren't so price prohibitive, I'd guess you'd see more skaters in them to begin with. They are similar to the pattern 99's which is an all around advanced level blade. B/C they keep their edges, you don't have skaters struggling with technique to compensate for dull or rolled edges so often!
momof3chicks
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Posted: 01-02-2010, 03:55 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrs Redboots
Yes, I'm surprised she's got so far in beginner blades! I'm also surprised your coach is recommending as low-level a blade as Coronation Ace for someone starting doubles - they are generally considered a good all-round blade until you start doubles, by which time you're thought to want something with a bit more wellie. Definitely upgrade, and be guided by both her coach and her fitter.
Agreed, my dd (also 9) with axel, 2sal and 2toe (most of the time!) is on Pattern 99s and she is getting new skates next week and a stiffer boot as well.
Query
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Posted: 01-02-2010, 08:33 PM
In your place, I would trust the coach. If you trust the coach's judgment enough to teach your DD, you should trust her judgment on boots and blades, unless you have very good reason not to.
If your DD is taking private lessons, the lessons have cost you a good deal more than the boots and blades - so forget the idea that the coach is just looking for a kickback. If your coach thinks new ones are needed, they are a worthwhile investment that can help prevent injuries and give your daughter a significant boost in performance.
Yes, replacing shoes and boots that haven't broken down is wasteful. But would you rather the kid's feet grow wrong because they are jammed into shoes or boots that are too small? (However, if they are only slightly too small, remove the insoles and asking the fitter to stretch them to get a little extra space.)
On the other hand, if the boots haven't broken down, they probably fit very well, except for size, and are probably adequate to her needs. So I would keep the brand and model of boot, unless your coach says otherwise. But ask the coach before ordering the new ones.
sk8tmum
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Posted: 01-02-2010, 10:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Query
In your place, I would trust the coach. If you trust the coach's judgment enough to teach your DD, you should trust her judgment on boots and blades, unless you have very good reason not to.
But ask the coach before ordering the new ones.
Absolutely. Thank you for summing up my own position on this so succintly. The coach has their own reasons, rationale and purpose in selecting blades: it may be something that no-one else can know, such as a specific "need" a skater has. Coaches do not make recommendations lightly, as they know that they are going to be working with the equipment that they are provided with with the skater. As stated before, what works for Skater "A" is not appropriate for Skater "B" - even if they are working on the same jumps, are the same age, the same weight, etc.
It is always okay to ask your coach, though, about what is "nice to have" and "what is necessary" and discussing budget realities is always important. The coach needs to know what you have to spend. It's also okay to ask when they think you might need to move "up" a blade or a boot, so you can plan and budget in advance.