Guys using figure skates

[MadMax]

They are not my friends as such... I just chat to them when I skate I don't know them off the ice. But as I mainly skate on my own it is nice to have someone to chat to and sit down with for lunch etc.

I know what you mean though it is a bit judgemental so that is why I asked for a sanity check on it.

[iSk8]

My, for all the success you do have the basic male insecurity.  Real men set an example and lead.  Sure there's a 'stigma' - just like that of the lout/hoody/poser in hockey skates.  Doesn't mean that it's necessarily true of the individual.

Skating in all its forms is a challenge - whether that's hockey, speed, free, dance, pairs, whatever.  If you want to learn the skills then get the tools for the job - you don't race a 4X4 just because it gives a macho image, you get a slim, cutdown, high-performance vehicle.  It's sort of like what appears to be the general UK attitude to learning - it's not smart to show your mates that you're intelligent.  Ultimate aspiration to be a reality 'star'.

Hey, you do some activiety which requires a partner, you even get the girls - which is probably what they'd like but aren't smart enough to work out.

Just go for what you'd like to do and try it - provided it's not illegal or totally delusional.

[Stevie40]

I'm a 43 year old bloke going through the LTS course. Up till now I've had hockey blades but have just bought a pair of figure skates due to problems with three turns (and likely further problems on grades 7-10).

I've got plenty of friends met through skating (at Peterborough) and the older folks tend to be on figures, the younger on hockeys. So far the most stick has come from my own 2 children but we just have a laugh and a joke about it. Perhaps in a few weeks my son (who is also on hockeys) will be asking for a pair.

I will be taking both pairs to the rink on Saturday mind. 30-45 minutes is all I can manage in the figures at the moment before the pain becomes too great. Only bought them Tuesday and have skated in them twice, worn them for a few hours at home. After the lesson, I'll switch back to the hockeys for my fun (exercise) skate.

[mkp]

You shouldn't be in pain....

[iSk8]

Where's the pain - ankles, ball of foot, toes?

They might take a little to break in, but shouldn't be painful.

[Stevie40]

Instep mainly (about 1 cm up, right hand inside, halfway along foot) and only on the one skate. These are brand new skates and when I mentioned the pain in the shop, I was told it would ease as they broke in. I accepted this as I had tied the left boot, the assistant the right so I just assumed he had done that one much tighter.

Length wise is fine, as is the support around the ankle.

I might take a look at the lacing tomorrow to see if one differs or perhaps it is just my feet.

I did around 30 mins on them this afternoon and it felt like a blister was forming. Caught it before then though so just sore for a bit. 

[iSk8]

Depends on the boot, but you might have a bit of a fallen arch.  Sometimes find that the narrowness of some of the boots and the arch support is too high.  Alternatively, not enough support and you may need a support insole.

If it's not your toes then that suggests that your feet aren't cramped.

Newbies sometimes have ankle problems.

You probably need to assess where the problem is, but try wearing them round the house (with guards) for a couple of evenings - when you have no visitors!  The heat of your feet softens them = breaks them in.  Skating does put new strains on your feet.

[Stevie40]

iSk8 - thanks for taking the time to reply.
Ankles are fine - skating for around 5 months now, 7-8 hours a week. Skating has done wonders for my ankles and knees in particular.
Took the new skates away on business with me this week and wore them in the hotel room - didn't order room service mind.

Will look in to fallen arches. At the moment, I'm just putting it down to the newness of the leather. They are Graf 500 boots btw.
If I've still got problems in a month, I'll look at getting them punched out or an orthotic instep.

[TexasUK]

If you want a nose at how your local rink is doing you can see here

http://companycheck.co.uk/search?name=planet+ice&posted=true

They vary greatly in how they do IOW does not look to be in great shape financially and the rest vary depending on if they are freehold or leasehold. Thing is you never want to buy on a short Leasehold as if you have a marginal asset your next review could sink you in the hole  especially if you need to replace and renew a lot of the equiptment.

Opening a new one is a good way to go but planning would be time consuming. I tend to generally buy distressed companies (normally in Administration or Receivership). I have all the alerts set up for Planet Ice. So never say never  .  Each Rink they own is registered as a seperate LTD company so if they do get into trouble they would typically fold one at a time.

Didn't see this reply, very interesting. Without going into too much detail, can you determine from the reports if the Basingstoke branch would maybe have a surplus of cash that could be reinvested into the rink? It badly needs a new Zamboni, or the old one majorly serviced, but they always quote costs versus profit.
And I know you can hide it, but does it look in a reasonable position currently?

I'm interested in this one in particular, as I heard candidly that Planet Ice is used to write taxes off for a larger company, something that sounds unlikely if they are all setup as seperate Ltd companies.

[Stevie40]

I heard candidly that Planet Ice is used to write taxes off for a larger company, something that sounds unlikely if they are all setup as seperate Ltd companies.

Arena Group I guess, same officers - http://companycheck.co.uk/company/03169714

[L4wrence]

Yeah I am going to what would you recommend Skate wise? I would prefer something comfortable and decent enough that I don't need to upgrade them again in a month or two after I have broken them in  .

I'm sure if you're going to Everglides they can advise what would be an appropriate boot as there are a few factors to consider (e.g. foot shape, weight, ability etc.) as for blades that will almost certainly come into two choices for make model and then a further choice for blade type:

MK 'Professional'
Wilson 'Coronation Ace'

Then decide if you want a parabolic blade type or standard blade type. The MK Pro is in their catalog at http://www.mkblades.com/mk%2Dbrochure%2D2010/ on page 8. Parabolic technology is described on pages 4 and 5 as 'EdgeControl'

The John Wilson catalog is at http://www.mkblades.com/jw-brochure-2010/ and the Coronation Ace is shown on page 8. Again, EdgeControl is described on pages 4 and 5.

I'm not going to to say one is better than the other or that you should opt for parabolic, just showing the options so you can make your own informed decision.

I went from hockey boots straight into a Wifa Deluxe Champion boot and MK Professional parabolic blades and have been very happy. My wife went from using a cheap pair of figures to a Wifa Deluxe Skatec boot and MK Professional parabolic blades and also loves her skates. The Wifa structure is shown at http://www.wifa.at/images/downloads/modelluebersicht_e.pdf this is like a tree structure, the higher up the more specialised and stiffer the boot gets. Generally most good skate boot manufactures offer a range of boot stiffness and a range for specific types of skating (e.g. dance or free) and a good choice of sizes and widths to best match your foot shape.

Everglides don't stock Wifa as this is solely handled by John Turner in Birmingham http://www.johnturner-tcg.co.uk/ but they will stock similar boots and be able to measure you for correct length, width and determine correct stiffness.

There will be a breaking in period required. New figure skates may be painful or rub until they have softened up a bit. Some boots can be baked to speed up this process. New blades will always need a first sharpen before you use them on the ice. I'd suggest to start with a 7/16" grind. This is the most common along with 1/2" but I found 1/2" for me wasn't enough sideways grip,  but it's a personal thing you may want to experiment a bit and find what's best for you.

Blades are usually fitted first with a temporary mount in which the blades are attached in an anticipated or "normal" mounting position but done so with a single "toe" screw, two "ball" screws and two "heel" screws. The purpose of a temporary mount is to allow the skater to do some light or moderate "test" skating to determine if the "normal" placement of the blade is acceptable or if the skater wishes to have it moved slightly. Such determination should be done at this time prior to the second type of mounting, the permanent mount. The permanent mount is the final mount in which the blade's final position has been determined and is a more secure mount for full competition and/or use.

There are some products which will help reduce friction when using skates, particularly if you are breaking in new ones. I personally use Ankle Angels available from http://skategreat.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/ankle-angel-gel-sleeves-pair

Others use Bunga Sleeves at http://www.darlas-dresses.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/32_58/products_id/145 (note this is for a single sleeve, you'll need to order two of these, the Ankle Angels are sold as a pair in the link I gave above).

Also, get advice in the shop for correctly lacing up the boots and generally for socks it is advised they are as thin as possible - wear some thin socks when you go for the fitting.

I can't think of anything else useful you'd want to know but I'm sure others on here can add something I've forgotten