Skates Advice

[Mom2NewSkater]

I'm completely new here and skating illiterate.  My eight year old had apparently been asking my in-laws to take her ice skating a lot. About five weeks ago they decided to take her after school.  She ended up loving it, so they have been taking her weekly.  About the second or third week they went, they found out that group lessons would be starting in March.  My daughter wanted to take the lessons, so they signed her up.  Here are my questions.  The skates you can rent at the rink are not very good at all.  They are worn out and don't have a lot of support.  This past Saturday at lessons, she actually wore what looked more like a hockey skate.  They said all the skates in her size had no support.  If she decides she wants to stick with skating, I plan to get her private lessons and her own skates.  I don't want to go broke getting skates not knowing if she will stick with it for long.  That being said, what brand would you recommend I get?  It appears Riedel and Jackson are pretty popular brands.  It also appears I could get her a pair for less than $100.  Are these two good brands?  Is there a certain type skate I should be looking for at this stage in the game?  Also, since this will be her first pair, do I need to get them through a specialty shop where she can try them on, or would buying them online be ok?  I know what size she wears in the rented skates. 

I'd appreciate any input you might have.

Thanks.

[littlerain]

Hi! Welcome! How exciting for your daughter

Riedell and Jackson do have great skates for beginners, and it is important for her to try them on to make sure they are a comfortable fit for her feet. I'm sure others with more experience can help with specifics, but your rink might have a pro shop that would be an ok place to start. There are definitely shops better versed in skate fitting than others too

[littlerain]

Oh another thought, the rink may have skaters who are selling their used skates bc the kids have outgrown them. Worth checking at the rink office to see if the skating club has that sort of thing

[Loops]

Hello and welcome!!!!

What littlerain says is true.  Some others you may come across are Graf, Risport and Edea.  Harlick and SP-Teri make stock boots but do more custom-made boots and Klingbiel only does customs (just putting these last three out there so the names are familiar to you). The difference between the brands is the shape of the actual boot.  The best brand for you will be the one that matches best the shape of your daughters foot.  I would avoid buying online- skates are sized differently than street shoes and you need to put your foot in before you buy.  Fit is very important, it can make or break your daughters skating experience, so it's worth taking the time needed to get it right.  Having said that, at the beginning she's not jumping/spinning yet, so there's a little more wiggle room in terms of fit.  Skates can also be stretched/punched out in places as necessary. 

You are right in that there is no need to break the bank on a first (or second) pair of skates.  Skates are funny beasts and you're going to learn a lot along the way; we all do with every new pair.  So don't drop too much at this point.  If you can get used ones that are in good shape, that's a good route too- my skates up until 11 or 12 were always used.  Kids outgrow skates before breaking them down.   If you get a used pair, make sure you have her coach (group lesson coach is fine) check them out before you commit.

In terms of where to go, I would start by asking around the rink, and if you're lucky enough to have a pro-shop there, that shop.  Talk to your daughters coach, use it as a topic to start up conversations, and get to know the other parents.  Where are you located? If you're in DC I can recommend some places to start.  Rainbo sports (see their website) is also a good place, if you're lucky enough to live near them.   I bet there's people on this forum who might be able to recommend shops in other regions.

When I bought skates in November, I had just returned to skating after 25 years.  Technology has changed a lot and I had to relearn quite a bit to educate myself before I went into the store (I live in a foreign country and there's a language barrier).  I found the Kinzies Closet website to be very useful, if not a little overwhelming.

The rental skates are pretty bad, but take your time with this, and talk to as many people as possible!  Good luck!!!!

[nicklaszlo]

Also, since this will be her first pair, do I need to get them through a specialty shop where she can try them on

Yes.  You need an expert fitter if you want skates that work well.  Ask a coach at your rink to recommend a fitter.  Whether used or new, you need someone knowledgeable to check the boots and blades to make sure they are okay.

I know what size she wears in the rented skates. 

That is not necessarily helpful.  Rental skates may be sized differently.

[aussieskater]

The most important thing for buying skates is to buy boots that fit, and not to buy boots too "strong" for the skater's size and skill level.  Ill-fitting skates will impede a skater's progress, and can do real damage to the soft bones of growing feet.  More money does not mean a better-fitting boot unless the skater requires custom-made boots.  (Most kids don't!)

As far as trying on skates - you should have her try on as many different brands as possible.  This will likely mean a visit to more than one shop, unless your one shop is something like Rainbo Sports!  Be wary of a sales assistant railroading you into the brand or sizes they carry.  Also be wary of being sold skates which are too long to compensate for lack of width.  This is a common problem, especially for kids and beginners.

[nicklaszlo]

Actually, Rainbo only stocks three brands.  And they charge a lot more for anything that isn't Jackson.

[Mom2NewSkater]

Thank you all for your replies.  I'm in WV and honestly have no idea if the local skating rink has a pro shop, but I will be finding out.  So far I haven't been able to find a pro shop in WV when searching online.  We go to Columbus OH a few times a year.  It appears Ohio State has a pro shop.  Looks like there may be some others in Columbus too, so that might be my best option.

So how long would you wait before you bought her a pair?  Like I said in my original post she has been skating about five weeks now, once a week.  Her group lessons are for six weeks.  So when she gets done with the first set of group lessons if she is still loving it should I look into buying then?  What price range am I looking at for skates for a kid who is a new skater?

[Loops]

I know of several people who commute from WV to jobs in DC....yes it's one heck of a commute, but I guess depending on where you are in WV, perhaps it's not too horrid to head to the DC area?  Fairfax Ice Arena (in VA) has a long established very competitive skating club.  There has been a pro-shop there as long as I can remember, and I suspect they know what they're doing and would be a good place to visit.

If you're willing to make the haul to Waldorf, MD then you can visit Mike Cunningham at Skaters Paradise (see his website for info).  You will need to make an appointment- he's semi-retired now.  Mike is the guy who always took care of my skates, from purchasing to sharpening.  He is well respected as one of the best in the business and will make sure your daughter is in skates that are good for her.  He won't sell you something you don't need, or push what he happens to have in stock on you.

I would guesstimate that you're looking at max $150, probably closer to $120 for a new boot/blade combo.

As for when?  Certainly I'd try to hold out as long as possible!  But if she loves it and is committed for the foreseeable future, then perhaps after this series of lessons?  I think that's your call, in any case.

[JSM]

Honestly, brand new skater, Basic 1/2 or Pre Alpha/Alpha levels, shouldn't need anything too complicated.  I think you should consider something like this:

http://figureskates.discountskatewear.com/p-1517-riedell-615-soft-series.aspx

I've seen a lot of kids go through basic 3-4 (crossovers) in skates like these.  They are comfortable, have decent enough support for beginning skating, and don't cost an arm and a leg.  If your daughter is 8, then she'll be growing soon and will need new skates before you know it.

The worst things a parent with a new skater can do, in my opinion, are 1) buy a boot too big so that their child's foot slides around, or 2) buy cheapo $15 walmart skates with zero support.  These things will make it damn near impossible to learn anything on the ice. 

If your daughter loves skating, invest in a good pair when the time comes.  For now, something comfortable or used, as long as they fit correctly, is the most important thing!