Blade for beginner - can I "overblade"?

[tereskacz]

Hi,

I am adult beginner, improving edges, 3turns, half jumps currently. I am choosing my first "real" ice skates and blades.

I wanted to choose either JW Coronation Ace or MK pro but local reseler of Jackson is strogly against that, saying that he never heard that adult beginnner could start with rocker 7 and I should choose rocker 8 and stricktly according to my skating level. He recommends Ultima Aspire XP. On the other hand I read that it is good to start with rocker 7 to improve edges and change to 8 when starting with double jumps... do you have experience with that?

And one more...
I've found huge discount on JW Pattern 99 - for EUR 99 (almost half price od Coronation Ace). I think that this blade has enlarged toepicks and I read that it is not good for beginners and it is not good to grinding then off due to integrity if blade (skaterslanding.com). They recommed smaller toepicks for beginners. But the price..!

They have also huge discount for MK Phantom Special - for EUR 150 - still cheapper then Coronation Ace or MK Pro.

What do you think about it?

[dlbritton]

My first blade was an Ultima Aspire XP on Riedell Motion 255's at the recommendation of the fitter. I was in Adult Basic Skills 2 at the time.
I had to get new boots several years later when I was in Adult Basic Skills 5 and the new fitter recommended the Coronation Ace on Riedell Motion 255's. I have never had a problem with them and found they did make spinning easier.

I am currently working on Pre-Bronze moves and Freeskate so like you I am working on spins, half jumps and edges and never felt the blade was "too much", nor has my private coach ever said it is too much blade.

[rmsilva]

I am also an adult skater, I just passed LTS Pre-Freestyle. I had Riedell 133 with Capri blades, but my feet are a full size different and I needed a better fit.

I just upgraded to custom Harlicks with MK Pro blades - every coach and experienced skater I spoke with highly recommended the same blade for someone with my experience. I'm just learning one-foot spins and half-jumps. I'm guessing it's because I have a better fit, but I'm already having less issue with my drag pick scratching when doing edge work. I'm focusing on spins more than jumps and I could already sense I will have an easier time with these blades. I just need to spend some serious time adjusting to the spin rocker.

Good luck!

[tereskacz]

I am also an adult skater, I just passed LTS Pre-Freestyle. I had Riedell 133 with Capri blades, but my feet are a full size different and I needed a better fit.

I just upgraded to custom Harlicks with MK Pro blades - every coach and experienced skater I spoke with highly recommended the same blade for someone with my experience. I'm just learning one-foot spins and half-jumps. I'm guessing it's because I have a better fit, but I'm already having less issue with my drag pick scratching when doing edge work. I'm focusing on spins more than jumps and I could already sense I will have an easier time with these blades. I just need to spend some serious time adjusting to the spin rocker.

Good luck!

Thanks, seams we are on similiar level. Good luck to you as well. Custom harlick - wow - looking forward to read from you how they feel. It is not available in Europe but heard a lot about their boots.

[Query]

I am adult beginner, improving edges, 3turns, half jumps currently.

Based on your skill set, you aren't a beginner any more!

Yes you can over-blade, if you get super-aggressive very long toe picks, like exist on high level freestyle blades. I haven't used MK Pro, and am not sure about it, but none of the others are high level freestyle blades.

But I bet you could get used to any of the ones you mention.

IMO, your choice of skate tech matters a lot more. You want someone who can mount them right, and sharpen them consistently and right, and who doesn't take off too much metal at a time, so the blades last for a long time.

[tstop4me]

Hi,

I am adult beginner, improving edges, 3turns, half jumps currently. I am choosing my first "real" ice skates and blades.

I wanted to choose either JW Coronation Ace or MK pro but local reseler of Jackson is strogly against that, saying that he never heard that adult beginnner could start with rocker 7 and I should choose rocker 8 and stricktly according to my skating level. He recommends Ultima Aspire XP. On the other hand I read that it is good to start with rocker 7 to improve edges and change to 8 when starting with double jumps... do you have experience with that?

And one more...
I've found huge discount on JW Pattern 99 - for EUR 99 (almost half price od Coronation Ace). I think that this blade has enlarged toepicks and I read that it is not good for beginners and it is not good to grinding then off due to integrity if blade (skaterslanding.com). They recommed smaller toepicks for beginners. But the price..!

They have also huge discount for MK Phantom Special - for EUR 150 - still cheapper then Coronation Ace or MK Pro.

What do you think about it?

<<Emphasis added>> Your skate tech may not have heard of it, but adult beginners have started off on 7' rockers for many decades.  I think it was really Ultima that introduced 8' rockers for beginner blades.  Not sure when they came on the scene.

Wilson and MK [once really the only games in town] for mucho years had 7' rockers on their beginner blades; they didn't introduce 8' rockers on beginner blades until 2015 [their websites currently show beginner blades only with 8' rockers; not sure whether their beginner 7' rockers have been discontinued, or whether their websites need an update].  Not sure what the reason is for Wilson and MK to migrate to 8' rockers for their beginner blades.  Any coaches here who can clue us in?

Riedell lists 7' rockers on all their beginner blades, sold separately and as part of their Instructional Series and Recreational Series kits; they don't supply rocker info for their cheapest Beginner Series kits.

Long time ago I started with the MK Single Star (discontinued), MK Pro, and Wilson Coronation Ace.  I don't think you will overblade with either the MK Pro or the Coronation Ace (both are considered intermediate blades).  I have no experience with the P99 or Phantom Special.  I am currently on the Paramount Freestyle 12" (nominally comparable to Wilson Gold Seal).  I would not recommend the Gold Seal profile for a beginner:  it has an 8' rocker, a 12" spin rocker, and a high heel lift.  If you rock forward, the bottom toepick won't rescue you, and the blade can "scoot" under you.  So you need a reasonable degree of control before switching to that profile.