Laces in competition

[jumpingbeansmom]

my daughters laces are a tad long-- which is no problem in practice as she folds her sock over the boot, but for one of her programs, the laces are kind of hanging, and I swear she caught one a bit during a double flip.  I know she could do over the boot tights, but her white boots actually look really nice with the dress.   I tried footless tights, but they ended up riding up (they were danskin brand) and the laces came out anyway.   Any suggestions?

[JHarer]

Skate tape! Just tape them down.

[Skittl1321]

Tie the laces- see how long they need to be. Tie a knot at the end of where you need them, clip the rest off.

[jumpingbeansmom]

Tie the laces- see how long they need to be. Tie a knot at the end of where you need them, clip the rest off.

I could do that...I do find though that having a bit of extra length makes it easier for her to tie them properly.

[fsk8r]

I was shown how to twist the loop around and around and then when it's starting to curl up on itself (like the phone cable does) then hook it around one of the hooks. It's really simple but loses the excess lace without having to resort to chopping it off.
However, depending on how big the hooks on the boot are it might come off if she falls.

[Clarice]

I just wrap mine an extra time around the hooks to use up the extra length.  Skate tape is a good solution, too.  Synchro skaters do that all the time, and I've noticed more ice dancers taping, too.

[FigureSpins]

Just go over the hooks twice when lacing up as Clarice suggested.  It picks up the excess slack and keeps everything tidy and neat.

You don't have to buy brand-name skate tape; clear packing tape work just as well, which is what our synchro teams use.  Easier to find, far less expensive.  It is shiny, though and if there's a of excess lace, it looks lumpy and wierd.

[Kim to the Max]

When I was a kid (footless were a no-no and OTB weren't around), we used to tuck the extra laces behind the tongue. We couldn't feel the different and it kept everything out of the way. I would also second the tieing around the hooks a second time.

[sarahspins]

Yep, go over the hooks twice, and hook the loops of the bow over the hooks as well... you can even tuck in the ends of the laces if you want to.

[Sk8tmum]

Why not buy a shorter pair of laces? The only problem with the multiple lacings is it may feel different (i.e stiffer) - and if you've got chunky laces, they can be hard to double loop (rare, yes, but my kid's Klingbeils couldn't accomodate the thicker Riedell laces, and they popped out of the hooks as a result.)  We usually get nice clean white laces for comps anyways to perk up the boots ...

[jumpingbeansmom]

Why not buy a shorter pair of laces? The only problem with the multiple lacings is it may feel different (i.e stiffer) - and if you've got chunky laces, they can be hard to double loop (rare, yes, but my kid's Klingbeils couldn't accomodate the thicker Riedell laces, and they popped out of the hooks as a result.)  We usually get nice clean white laces for comps anyways to perk up the boots ...

My daughter wears Klingbeils too.... she likes the extra lace so she can more easily get the boot opened up to get her fat foot in there!  Somehow the extra length helps her tie she says (yes she is fussy)

[pamplemousse]

Klingbeils have small hooks which don't accommodate double-lacing unless you have very thin laces (usually all nylon), and double-lacing will make her skates feel differently than they do in practice (since she is not doing it then).  Either use skate tape or do it the old-fashioned way -- tuck excess lace in between the tongue and the sides of the skate and loop the "bunny ears" of the lace around the hooks.