Ice Skates?

Denisejcc

Hi everyone, I have recently started ice skating lessons and want to buy my own skates as the rented ones result in massive blisters every time I wear them! There is a skate shop @ Charlestown on Ice so Im just wondering if anyone has any advice on what ones to get etc? Saw a pair in there for €120, would these be decent quality?I know they can be bought online but would never chance buying footwear without trying on! Thanks for your help!

If this is in the wrong forum, shoot me!!:rolleyes:

Denisejcc

Hmmm, oh well, dont suppose I need boards to answer my question! :rolleyes:

Static M.e.

Hi Denisejcc,

Sorry, I don't know very much about Skates at all or where you would buy them. Hope you find a nice pair.

washiskin

Denisejcc wrote: »

Hi everyone, I have recently started ice skating lessons and want to buy my own skates as the rented ones result in massive blisters every time I wear them! There is a skate shop @ Charlestown on Ice so Im just wondering if anyone has any advice on what ones to get etc? Saw a pair in there for €120, would these be decent quality?I know they can be bought online but would never chance buying footwear without trying on! Thanks for your help!

If this is in the wrong forum, shoot me!!:rolleyes:

Hi there,

there is a skate shop in the Dundalk Ice Dome which is the real deal. I bought a pair for my fiance last Valentines and they are the biz. Staff are good but a bit SkateBoy.

hobochris

You cant go wrong with a pair of bauer or Ccm(even though most Ccm's need the ocasional coat of toetex: protective stuff for the front of the skates)

Ccm's:


Bauer:


I would look to the UK for skates as you will get a lot more choice and a much better price.

Imposter

Any of the major brands will be good. Make sure you try them on before buying and there is little or no movement in them. Also make sure to get them sharpened before you skate on them!

miceal

Talk to the lads in the Hockey Locker in Belfast

http://www.thehockeylocker.co.uk/

Aigars in the ice dome in Dundalk also has a good selection.

There are also a few online places you can get them

Hockey Office i based in Germany and have a good selection. Be careful if you are buying from the states with the Customs tax!

miceal

Imposter wrote: »

Also make sure to get them sharpened before you skate on them!

That is very important, watching people skate on blunt skates is hilarious!

Imposter

Also check out http://www.hockeycorner.de - i'm pricing goalie stuff at the moment and these seem to be the cheapest for nearly everything!

http://www.eishockeyzentrale.de also seem to be the same site as Hockey office.

Denisejcc

Hey, thanks for all the replies! Hope to get them next weekend... never knew I had to get them sharpened before I used them! Thanks again Im off to lessons now... x x x

miceal

Denisejcc wrote: »

Hey, thanks for all the replies! Hope to get them next weekend... never knew I had to get them sharpened before I used them! Thanks again Im off to lessons now... x x x

Just curious who is coaching the learn to skate in Charlestown?

Denisejcc

I dont know their full names, there are 3 trainers, my group being trained by Lisa/Amanda..... Exams are through ISAI as afar as I know...:D

gumballz

Denisejcc wrote: »

Hi everyone, I have recently started ice skating lessons and want to buy my own skates as the rented ones result in massive blisters every time I wear them! There is a skate shop @ Charlestown on Ice so Im just wondering if anyone has any advice on what ones to get etc? Saw a pair in there for €120, would these be decent quality?I know they can be bought online but would never chance buying footwear without trying on! Thanks for your help!

If this is in the wrong forum, shoot me!!:rolleyes:

I think even if you have a new skates you will still have blisters until your feet is already used to wear those skates. Goodluck to your new skates.

Denisejcc

I think Ive cracked the old blisters problem, 4 plasters one on top of the other , 2 pairs of socks = no blisters today!! :D:D

miceal

Ahh it is the figure skating coaches that are teaching it!

miceal

gumballz wrote: »

I think even if you have a new skates you will still have blisters until your feet is already used to wear those skates. Goodluck to your new skates.

You can bake the skates which can help break them in quicker!

Denisejcc

Do you know them Miceal, they are very good, really enjoying ourselves. Great when you can see progress from the follwoing week especially when youve been no where near the ice

Denisejcc

miceal wrote: »

You can bake the skates which can help break them in quicker!

:rolleyes:.. am I being gullible to even ask... but.... BAKE the skates???:D

miceal

Heard of them! Don't know then.. I was just curious to see if any of the coaches from Dundalk where up there.

Baking the skates is exactly what is reads skates go into a oven and when they come out you slip them on. I have saw this done with hockey skates never with figure skates though.

Denisejcc

Dont think I will chance it! Do you play ice hockey?

Diageio_Man

have a pair of CCM Mustangs hockey skates for years and there great, duno if your looking for hockey skates though.

Denisejcc

No, ice skates,,, was just wondering should I bear certain things in mind, need them to last so want to get a good pair..:D

miceal

Denisejcc wrote: »

Dont think I will chance it! Do you play ice hockey?

yea i play ice hockey up in Dundalk

Denisejcc

Wow, youre obviously very good on the ice, hockey is so fast!

miceal

Denisejcc wrote: »

Wow, youre obviously very good on the ice, hockey is so fast!

lol

I am a goalie i don't move much!

MysticalSoul

I just ordered some blue ribbon, riedells online. They should be with me by Monday - ensure you dry the boots and blades after use, as otherwise the blades can go rusty. Blade guards are another essential, help you to break them in around the house, and by wearing the blade guards until you are at rinkside, will help prolong how long you get out of the blades, before they need resharpening. Most skates come semi-sharpened, but will only get a few hours of skating out of them, before they need to be done again. www.everglides.co.uk are good, and John really knows his stuff.

A previous poster mentioned baking in the oven - personally I would not do this at home, however they do it at Dundalk, which basically helps in the boot break in period.

What stage are you at in the figure skating? I am currently working on level 4.

Denisejcc

Thanks for all that info

Im in Dublin so will need to check about the blade sharpening if I manage to get skates tomorrow.

Next Monday is just our 3rd lesson, we are on level 3.. still have a lot to learn but love it!

MysticalSoul

The skates in the shop at the Charlestown rink are in American sizes, so if you are a 6, for instance, buy the 8 (or try on). They were out of this size last week, and was told it would be the end of the month before they come in again, hence why I ordered online, as have been trying to get them since July - think is the novelty factor, that they are going out as soon as they come in. They do sharpening in the shop alright though, as saw them sharpen some when a guy was buying some hockey skates.

Denisejcc

Great, thanks for that! Im a ladies 8 so fingers crossed they have a pair!! Got stung shopping online recently so very reluctant to part with credit card details etc again.. but thats another story!!

The hardest thing for me to master is skating backwards! Very slow! :rolleyes:

MysticalSoul

If you don't get them tomorrow, post here, as if we have class on the same day, you could try on mine for size, and can let you know which website I got them from. I attend for classes on a Monday evening.

Denisejcc

MysticalSoul wrote: »

If you don't get them tomorrow, post here, as if we have class on the same day, you could try on mine for size, and can let you know which website I got them from. I attend for classes on a Monday evening.

Me too!!:D You are a ladies 8 too then?

MysticalSoul

Denisejcc wrote: »

Me too!!:D You are a ladies 8 too then?

Yep. Sounds like we could very well know each from the class.

Also, the backwards skating comes with time. When we started the backwards scullying, I used to travel diagonally across the ice, rather than in a straight line, lol. That may give you a clue who I am, lol. My group is mixed with levels 3 and 4.

Denisejcc

Ha ha, youre in an advanced group then! Im in the group that is always at the entrance end of the rink (if you know what I mean!)

MysticalSoul

Not exactly advanced. I look back to my first round of 6 weeks, and now wonder how I struggled so much with some elements in the beginning - half the problem was that I was thinking too much - am on my second round of lessons.

We were told last week that either Amanda or Donna would be coaching us from this point on - due to being in the higher stages of the emerald skate programme. We were told about even as adults, what is beyond level 8, and I am definitely looking forward to when I achieve the 8 levels.

The downside of ordering online, is that I am now feeling impatient to try them before my lesson, but that won't happen, as will be Monday now before they arrive, but then again, they were only shipped yesterday. I wonder how long the boots will last me, as apparently the higher up you go, the better boot you need to get - the skate ordered though, will see me through the 8 levels anyway.

Denisejcc

Wow, your second round of 6 weeks!? You must be expert by now!

Yeah Ide be very impatient to get them too! Hate those orange and blue skates,,, the pain and blisters they cause is something else! Until I copped on and put on 2 pairs of socks and a load of plasters!! :rolleyes:

MysticalSoul

I haven't got blisters in those skates yet, I always go a size up though , and make sure my socks come over the top to protect where the skate comes up to. I find I get pain on the balls of my feet though, and even though figure skates can take time to break in, it will be worth it in the long run. I hope my skates arrive on Monday, as one of the techniques we are covering next week, requires the toe pick to start and stop it. Wonder if I will be able to stop in the sharper blades than the rentals - the rentals are so blunt it is unreal :eek:

Denisejcc

Mine felt very strange last week, so maybe they were blunt, Im not expert enough to know but there was definitely something up! Would be great if you had the skates for Monday but if not you'll just have to go for a skate midweek to try them out!

MysticalSoul

Hope you managed to get some skates today. What ones did you get?

I was at the rink at the 5.45pm session - the ice was "interesting", and some kids kept making chains - bloomin' birthday party - was hard to get any decent skating done

Denisejcc

Hi there, I was at the 4.30 session, ice quite slushy, lots of pools of water!! It was in great condition last Monday but not so good today! No joy with the skates unfortunately he only had 1 size 8 and it was a RBok style with fur, didnt fit but didnt like it anyway! :rolleyes: Have been having a look online, very hard to know what make etc to go for as some are wider than others too...

MysticalSoul

I ordered mine from Skate Asylum - once I get them, will let you know the verdict. I ordered them on Tuesday, sent out on Thursday, and they have told me I should have them by Monday.

I have heard fab things about Riedell, for beginners. Jackson figure skates I tried on up in Belfast, and boy, did they hurt - after some research, Jacksons are supposed to be one of the harder brands to break in. Have you spoken to Donna at the rink yet, as she has a contact with a guy in the UK who sells Risport, from whom she gets her own skates. I am slow to buy Risport without trying on, as from looking on google, it seems they are more suitable for people with narrow feet. Edea Overtures are supposed to be another good boot, however the caution here would be that the blade is a bit more advanced (longer, and bigger toe pick), so personally, I would not recommend this. I would say go for a beginner boot, but at the higher end of the scale.

Denisejcc

Great I will have a look at their site so.... Riedell seem to be a very high quality brand alright. Bet you cant wait to get yours, fingers crossed you will have them for Monday night!! Thanks for sharing your research info, very helpful

MysticalSoul

Can't wait - the downside of buying online is the waiting period.

The ones I got are these, out of stock on everglides at the mo, hence why I ordered from the other site, lol

http://www.everglides.co.uk/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=224

Keep an eye out for me on Monday, if you would like to try on, for size guidelines, once I have first of course . I have dark curly hair, usually in a ponytail for the lessons and also wear a fleece for the lessons (most of the time).

Denisejcc

They are so nice arent they, the white is so dainty compared to the ORANGE and BLUE rental ones :eek::eek::eek:

sure send me a message if you get the skates on Monday

MysticalSoul

I took the plunge, and baked my skates, and it worked - they feel so much better now. Going for a skate Saturday morning, to see how they feel after baking them

Denisejcc

Great, thats brill, hopefully they'll be better on Saturday , its such a pity they take so long to get used to :rolleyes: You were very brave to bake them!:D

MysticalSoul

Did some research - all Riedell skates can be done, but not all brands can be as far as I know. Temp was only 90C for 8 mins per skate. They were a lot easier to take off too, than they were on Monday after the lesson.

I have a fan oven, and wouldn't do it in any other oven type.

Denisejcc

Well thats great, will be interesting to see the difference you find on Saturday. I must say I really enjoy the classes, everyone is so nice there too. We cant make next Monday so there was no problem changing our lesson to Saturday week instead so we didnt miss out.Just means itl be ages before we are on the ice again - or it'll seem like ages!! :D

MysticalSoul

Denisejcc wrote: »

Well thats great, will be interesting to see the difference you find on Saturday. I must say I really enjoy the classes, everyone is so nice there too. We cant make next Monday so there was no problem changing our lesson to Saturday week instead so we didnt miss out.Just means itl be ages before we are on the ice again - or it'll seem like ages!! :D

That happened me a few weeks back - the first week of the current block of lessons, and I was wrecked afterwards, due to only landing back in Dublin the wee hours of Friday morning, and then having such an early start on a Saturday, I was wiped out.

I found when I was away for a week, and not having been on the ice for two weeks, that my skating was dire afterwards, was like my feet would not do what my brain was telling them.

A few people in my group were making friends with the ice on Monday, as those of us who had got new skates, ended up tripping on our toe picks - quite normal apparently. I think if the pain is less on Sat, the toe picks won't be as much of a problem. Will let you know verdict after skating in them again.

Yep, I find that too, everyone is so friendly in the lessons - it won't be too long now before you catch up with my group, as the progress starts to slow down from hereon, but is fun.

Denisejcc

Yeah its so enjoyable and a great stress buster because all you can think about is what you are supposed to be doing! Those toe picks look huge compared to the rentals, very easy to fall over! The rentals are awful though :rolleyes:

MysticalSoul

... and I love the smell of new shoes

Denisejcc

Oh yeah a smell that appeals to all women, certainly better than the 'rental' smell :D:D