Ankle pain and buying used skates (sf, jjane45, 8/22/2010)

[Isk8NYC]

From Google's archives - sorry, couldn't cull the entire thread - only the first two posts were archived.

Today, 12:06 AM
           jjane45  
           Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010
           Posts: 36

     Ankle pain and buying used skates


     I have been experiencing some noticeable ankle pain in my landing foot for
     a few week. Mostly due to flip jump attempts I think. Checked the skates
     with Rainbo today and it seems like I grew out of the current pair!
     (Second-hand Jackson Classique that I've been using since LTS delta,
     treated me really well) Good news though: my newly acquired gel ankle
     sleeve seem to relieve the ankle pain quite a bit, allowing me some buffer
     time to shop for skates.

     I do not have budget to buy new ... Rainbo recommended Jackson Elite (or
     Elite Plus) 6B but also said this size is hard to find in good condition -
     tends to break down too much already when skaters grow out of it. On the
     other hand, around the regionals there is a high inventory turnover and I
     should call in frequently to check. Sounds like quite a bit of good luck
     is needed, sigh.

     Where else could I look for used skates in addition to asking skaters /
     coaches I know? My rink does not seem to have a skates swap. Just set up
     an eBay search alert but chances are slim I think (not everyone is as
     lucky as icestalker!) Any other sources I should try? I vaguely remember
     there is a website for swapping used skating goods (with the option to
     support clubs) but can't seem to find it now.

     This link mostly recommends Riedell, Gam, and Risport for ISI FS4&5. Guess
     I could look into them as well if I run across a good pair.

     Your opinions on skates-shopping and handling ankle pains are truly
     appreciated!
     jjane45

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        Today, 09:40 AM
           Isk8NYC  
           Board Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003
           Location: Below the Mason-Dixon Line
           Posts: 9,816

     Make sure to get the blade alignment checked. When skates get older,
     sometimes the blade shifts or sinks, which can also cause ankle pain. An
     adjustment can stave off the need to buy new or new-to-you skates. I will
     say that I know of two skaters who are wearing skates from a skate swap
     and I don't like them. One pair is definitely broken down and the blades
     are sunken - the skater is struggling to fight the skates for every edge
     and flat. The other skater's boots are angled in at the ankle and look too
     big for her, but that's not the skates' fault.

     I've always found that replacing the laces with new ones is a good start
     at combatting any kind of boot pain issue in older skates. Laces tend to
     stretch out and become inflexible, which requires the skater to tie them
     tighter and tighter. New laces can relieve that fastidious tying and help
     alleviate the pain from it.

     Honestly, I prefer buying from a pro shop and letting them do the work
     required to get a good, well-fitting skate. My time is too valuable to
     waste online. I once spent hours researching a purchase, measuring feet,
     comparing products, only to find the skates were discolored when they
     arrived, so more time was wasted handling the return. Buying from a pro
     shop eliminates that nonsense. The cost of research+item+shipping online
     is the same as measuring+ordering+fitting+sharpening+adjustments - much
     more bang for the buck, imo. (People in Australia have said this isn't the
     case where they are, though.)


     If you know exactly what model and size skate, eBay's a good option. You
     can set up a search to notify you immediately when an auction matching
     your criteria is posted.

     Most new skates go on clearance around April or May, so always check your
     skates in February/March to see if you need to replace the boots or
     blades. If you join online stores' mailing lists, they will notify you of
     sales and sometimes send coupons or discount codes, so it's worth the junk
     email. If you run an internet search for the skate model and add the word
     "Clearance," you can come across some good buys. An older model within 2
     years is fine as long as they've been stored properly and the boots
     haven't yellowed with age. Always check return policies as well.

     There are some clubs and rinks that host online skate swaps. If you run a
     search on "skate swap", "skate consignment" or "skate exchange" a few
     sites will turn up. You often have to to contact the club coordinator via
     email. To find out if your club or rink is hosting a future skate swap
     sale, ASK. Send the skating director at the rink and the club secretary an
     email or give them a call. I know that several people asked at our rink
     one year and were told that a swap was planned for another rink about 30
     minutes away, so there may be another nearby option. You have to ask in
     advance, though, and be patient.

     Many pro shops keep a list of consignment skates that are available, so
     even if your rink/club doesn't have a skate swap, ask at your pro shop.
     Other pro shops accept email or telephone inquiries, or have online "For
     Sale" pages.

     www.sharperedgeskates.com and
     http://www.capitolskatingschool.com/skates.html are two examples. (Both
     are empty right now, but they're accepting skates to be sold on
     consignment.)

     The Skate Exchange is okay, but it doesn't get a lot of traffic:
     http://www.sk8stuff2.com/m_sk8exch.asp
     Most ads don't include photos and everything's done via email messages, so
     that's a bit of a turnoff. The site itself, www.sk8stuff.com, is awesome
     and the creator, Don Korte, deserves a medal for keeping it up to date.

     The newer site to buy/sell skates is MySkatingMall. That's the one that
     allows you to contribute part of the sale to the skating program of your
     choice. It's still new and relatively unknown to the general population,
     but the Ryan Jahnke, the founder, has been publicizing it well.

     The postings of used skates for sale start to increase around this time of
     the year in the US, so be patient and vigilant - sometimes you can find
     real bargains.

     It's really important to understand how to judge the condition of used
     skates over the internet. Ask for photos of the soles, blade edges, boot
     sides and toe areas. Stay away from boots with deep creases (broken down
     indicator) and boot rot on the sole. If the toe area's really banged up
     and cut, the skater fell a lot while wearing them. Dark colored areas
     means waterproofing wasn't done regularly. Uneven/very low edges or rust
     indicates that the blades weren't sharpened well or maintained.

     Ask about the age of the skates - leather does dry out after a few years,
     especially when the skates have been stored poorly. I once bought a pair
     of Riedell Gold Stars (<$20) from eBay, only to find out that they were
     almost 20 years old, with no support and dried-out leather. I had pretty
     front porch decorations for a year or two, lol.
     __________________

     Isk8NYC

[jjane45]

You found it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so impressed, thank you thank you thank you!

Link in first post re: selecting skates
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/skatebuys/skateselect.html

Apparently www.kinziescloset.com has good sizing references.

I have great hope in www.httpMySkatingMall.com, very well designed and tailored for skating equipment. Just hope it starts to attract more traffic and is capable of break even in the meanwhile.