Thanks for your input Doubletoe! I actually hadn't even considered the Pattern 99, but I will check it out.
Now I'm wondering whether I should just stick with the Coro Ace after all! Having skated on them for so long, I don't know whether I'll regret changing blade. Surely, after some adjustment period, one can get used to any blade!
It is such a hard decision
Your original post specifically addressed a comparison of Coronation Ace and Gold Star blades. I have skated with Coronation Ace, but not with Gold Star, so I haven’t responded up to now. But since you’re the OP and have opened the bounds of the discussion, I feel I can discuss my recent upgrade experience without being guilty of thread drift.
(1) Yes, it is a hard, and expensive, decision to upgrade from an intermediate blade to an advanced blade. Intermediate blades are typically in the ~$200 range (with exceptions); whereas advanced blades are typically in the ~$500 – $600 range (with exceptions). And with one exception, you can’t test drive a blade (the exception is Eclipse: you can return a blade for a full refund within a 60-day trial period; I think that’s a great marketing strategy ... wish other manufacturers would follow suit). Not many skaters (including coaches and skate techs) have direct personal experience with a variety of blades; so it’s hard to get advice. And which blade is best depends strongly on the individual skater anyway; so what’s best for your coach, skate tech, or fellow skater may not be what’s best for you.
(2) With advanced blades, there are a large number of parameters to consider. These include (not an exhaustive list):
(a) Main rocker radius
(b) Spin rocker radius
(c) Pick design and placement
(d) Heel length
(e) Longitudinal blade geometry (parallel, tapered, parabolic, and combo parabolic and tapered)
(f) Transverse blade geometry (planar, concave side-honed, and dovetail side-honed)
(g) Blade thickness
(h) Stanchion height
(i) Runner (edge) material (various grades of carbon steel, various grades of stainless steel, and one unusual titanium alloy)
(j) Blade body and mounting plate material (various grades of carbon steel, various grades of stainless steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, and carbon-fiber composite)
(k) Overall blade construction and method for attaching the runner to the blade body and mounting plates.
So you see, there’s a lot more than just the main rocker radius to be concerned about. Which parameters are important to your skating is an open question.
I’m not as advanced a skater as you. I don’t jump at all these days (most I ever did were half jumps); I concentrate on edge work and trying hard to get a good scratch spin. I skated many years on Coronation Ace, then switched to the Eclipse Aurora (also 7’ radius main rocker, but a flatter spin rocker). I recently upgraded to the Paramount Freestyle 12”; similar to (but not identical to) the Wilson Gold Seal, with an 8’ radius main rocker and a 12” radius spin rocker. My coach really loves Gold Seals, especially the spin rocker, and recommends that her students upgrade to them once they have enough edge control. Until recently, I haven’t upgraded since I didn’t want to spring for the $$$, and I figured I didn’t need them since I don’t jump. But she convinced me that I’d do better with the small radius spin rocker. I chose Paramount instead because it offers a blade with a 12” radius spin rocker in 440C stainless steel.
I’ve just completed 10 sessions (1.5 hrs each) on the Paramounts. With respect to edge work performed on the main rocker, there was surprisingly an instant noticeable difference between the 7’ radius and the 8’ radius.
The first was the increased glide (increased speed and distance per push), on straight and curved trajectories and on cross-overs, both forwards and backwards. Before, at times, I had trouble completing a full circle on a single push-off during figure 8’s. No longer. When practicing cross-overs along a full circle or along a figure 8 pattern across two end-zone circles, I have to deliberately slow down; else, I pick up too much speed.
The second was the increased stability. I can do deeper knee bends and ankle bends, lean deeper into edges, and lean backwards more strongly. It’s hard to describe, but I just feel more control ... I feel less likely to fall off an edge or off the heel. I do regular practice drills with consecutive edges (outside and inside edges, forwards and backwards), and they are all tighter and smoother now.
So, with respect to edge work on the main rocker, I’m really happy with the 8’ radius instead of the 7’ radius. I wouldn’t switch back, and now I wish I had switched earlier. Again, I’m (pleasantly) surprised at the results. In summary, in considering options for an advanced blade, perhaps you shouldn’t limit yourself to a 7’ radius main rocker. Caveat: Not sure how the larger radius would affect a camel spin; perhaps someone else could address that. At your level, I assume you're working with a coach? You should ask your coach for compelling reasons why you should upgrade (or not).