The new boots are fantastic!
I skated a couple hours and decided to use them for the competition already. I actually never put my old skates on again since trying out the new ones. I thought they were comfortable these days, but with the new pair it’s hard to imagine using them anymore even on ponds or in slush.
Once I had my preferred laces in they were great. Coach Cheerful said I skated better in the new pair, and I thought so too. I felt like I was more in contact with the ice (especially in my heels for some reason) and had better control once I was used to the slight difference in feel of the blade placement. Spins suffered for sure but began to come back alright with time.
Despite the 3 layer super stiff construction I could flex happily quite quickly, and I am sooooo glad I didn’t go for a reduced level. The woman that got gold in our adult silver category was really surprised I was competing in such new boots.
I probably should have just had the backstays in the same grey, but I am undecided about that. I adore the grey suede so much. It seems to mostly read as pale tan in photos or videos. That’s kind of perfect.
The tech at the shop was surprised by the half lined tongues saying he hadn’t seen that from them before. I found it odd also, because I thought my inline pair only had it done that way due to it being a retrofit. I’d guess that it is something done to allow for replacing foam in the long term viewing it as a seamstress. If the lining leather isn’t stitched down and full length then the tongue padding can be replaced without taking the whole piece out, and that makes sense.
Despite only about 3 hours in them the chem glaze wore off in a spot from lunges on the left sole. Water clearly leaked in where Too Sharp added more screws also, but not where the other tech placed screws. I melted beeswax there and hope it’s okay now. The glaze has a bit of hairline cracks and seems thinner, like I saw on some other pairs, but my original pair had a lovely robust glaze. I hope it holds up better than I fear.
I’m already dreaming of ideas for another pair… whenever that might be. I’d like them tall like old school boots and in white pebble perhaps?
There’s plenty of time, hah! I think some design with crystals where Harlick does the custom cutouts might be nice. The crystals are my favourite part aside from the suede colour.