Hi guys,
I've recently started skating again after 14 years. I began skating very young (at the age of 3) and stopped at 10 years old because I was really overweight and my ankles couldn't handle it. I'm 23 now, will be 24 in April. Over the past 2 years I've lost 180 pounds, half my body weight and can do so many things I was unable to do before. When I stopped skating, I was competing at the ISI freestyle 1 level and taking freestyle 2 group lessons. I've been working with a coach for about 5 weeks now and practicing for an hour about 3 times a week which I'm trying to increase. It's amazed me how much has come right back to me after so long. By the end of my first lesson I was doing crossovers, three-turns, mohawks, waltz jumps and one foot spins. I was wondering if I could get some advice from other adult skaters out there with a few issues that I'm having.
When I started skating again, my coach recommended just getting a basic pair of skates to start off so I got a pair of beginner skates from Reidell which are very comfortable but I fear that they may be holding me back and interfering with progressing. When I do my jumps and spins, I follow every tip that my coach gives me about body placement, which muscles to use..etc. and I feel as though my blades are getting "caught" on the ice. It doesn't happen all the time but enough to make me question whether or not I can get away with using these skates for any moves more challenging than the ones I'm doing or if I'm going to need to invest in a better pair with the level that I'm at. Any suggestions?