Author Topic: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots  (Read 4651 times)

AbiJ

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Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« on: January 22, 2018, 09:19:41 am »
I’m just starting out skating and have a pair of Graf Davis Gold boots which I bought because I didn’t know much about boots and they seemed like an affordable boot from a good brand. Now I’m wondering if I made a mistake, the toe pick seems to get stuck in the ice a lot causing me to lose balance, and I’m thinking maybe I would make more progress in a different boot. I’ve found a pair of Risport Lasers second hand, would these be a better boot to learn in?

Snufkin

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2018, 09:28:29 am »
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on starting the world's best sport ;)

I think the toe pick is bigger on the Lasers than on the Davos Golds, isn't it?

You'll need to get used to having a toe pick at some point so I say, if you like the Davos Golds, power through. They are a real beginner skate so you are unlikely to get anything 'easier' (as it were). Just pick up your feet an amount that seems exaggerated to begin with and you will soon learn where to keep your weight and how to manage the pick.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2018, 09:30:14 am by Snufkin »
Started skating August 2017

AbiJ

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2018, 10:31:08 am »
I don’t know as haven’t seen the Lasers in person. The grafs are ok but being new I don’t know how they should feel, they’re not leather which bothers me a bit!

Snufkin

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2018, 10:41:46 am »
The Davos Golds are quite basic but they'll be perfectly serviceable for basic Learn to Skate type stuff. I would maybe upgrade before you start doing any jumping at all as they are probably not very stiff. But that's good right when you're starting out and just working on your knee bend. They're not cheap junk or anything, they're perfectly good starter skates and Graf is a respected brand.
Started skating August 2017

AbiJ

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2018, 10:44:40 am »
Thanks for that, it’s so hard to know to what’s what in this game when you’re starting out! Would you advise getting the Lasers anyway for when I’ve progressed a bit?

The Sacred Voice

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2018, 02:53:29 pm »
Buying ice skates uninformed is an absolute nightmare, I've certainly made mistakes along the way and I'm not even a very seasoned skater yet! I agree with Snufkin that I think the toe pick on the blade on the Lasers is bigger (I'm just going on a picture comparison, but it certainly seems marginally bigger). Learning to deal with the toe pick is just one of those facts of life in ice skating, you get better at avoiding it as you go along (and then rediscover the pain of it all over again when you get a blade with a bigger toe pick).

Personally, I'd just stick with the Davos Golds for about 3 months of learning to see how you're getting along and whether you're enjoying the sport. A coach I had back in my Skate UK course insisted that you shouldn't spend too much on your skates at first, there'll be plenty of time for that later if you're still into the sport and a higher level boot isn't really necessary (and could even be detrimental) for the learning you'll be doing for most of the Skate UK course.

If after 3 months you're enjoying the sport and still think the boot isn't any good then you could consider changing, but I wouldn't necessarily go for another boot above £100 just yet unless you've done the entirety of the Skate UK course. I did the Skate UK course in some Graf 500s (~£82 I think) and I only changed my boot when I started learning the jumps as my coach basically insisted the 500s wouldn't be stiff enough to support the landings.
I'm blogging about my skating journey, please read along at dontexcelaxel.blogspot.com

AbiJ

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2018, 03:26:53 pm »
Ok thanks. Do you think having a leather boot as apprised to a synthetic makes a difference Re comfort? I can’t bare to have mine done up on the top hooks as hurt so much, yet they are quite roomy in the foot.

Snufkin

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2018, 03:32:04 pm »
How many hours have you worn them for? It takes a while to break them in (after which they ought to hurt less). I'd say if you've used them for 8 hours or so and they are still hurting you then they are probably not the boots for you. But certainly synthetic boots can be broken in as well as leather ones, I hate to buy leather so all of my street boots are synthetic and they do have a similar breaking in process to leather boots.

If they are so roomy that your foot moves around in the boot then they are too big for you and you need a smaller size boot (or wear some thick socks if the movement is only slight).
Started skating August 2017

WednesdayMarch

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2018, 03:38:53 pm »
Buying ice skates uninformed is an absolute nightmare, I've certainly made mistakes along the way and I'm not even a very seasoned skater yet! I agree with Snufkin that I think the toe pick on the blade on the Lasers is bigger (I'm just going on a picture comparison, but it certainly seems marginally bigger). Learning to deal with the toe pick is just one of those facts of life in ice skating, you get better at avoiding it as you go along (and then rediscover the pain of it all over again when you get a blade with a bigger toe pick).

Buying ice skates is a mine field, even for the seasoned skater!  I've just been through the stress and worry (which hasn't yet stopped) and I've been skating for nearly 40 years.  If you've been fitted in a skate shop, hopefully the fitter will have measured your feet and taken into consideration your level of skating and where you want to go with it.  If you've bought them blind, as it were, if they are comfortable and you feel you're able to transfer your movements through to the blade and the ice, then that's fantastic. 

Graf have been a very respected maker of boots for a long, long time (although they have recently ceased trading) and my latest pair are Graf.  Don't be too worried about yours not being made of leather, plenty of boots aren't these days - and some people prefer them that way.  Give them a fair trial for breaking in.  It can take a while.

You've bought a nice basic beginner's boot and blade combination, which should see you happily through the first part of learning to skate, while you decide whether you actually like it and want to continue.  (Not everybody does!)  I absolutely adored my first brand new pair of boots and still miss the level of comfort they offered, even though I wore them out and needed a lot more support as I progressed.  I still remember going to buy them - in the sports department of Debenhams, of all places - along with the design of the box and the smell of the leather...  They had blades like those on your Davos Gold, although probably less support, and I skated on them as I learned most of my single jumps.  Getting used to the larger toe pick on freestyle blades came as a bit of a shock.  If you're finding these tricky, don't even consider changing up to larger toe picks for a while.

One thing to consider is whether you're finding the pick tricky because you may be in boots that are too large for you?  If they're the right size, stick with them.  The fit should be snug around the heel and instep (can be adjusted with tighter lacing) but you should be able to wiggle your toes.  I don't lace up the top hooks on my boots.  Lots of people don't, especially ice dancers, who really need good deep knee bends.

Be very wary about buying second-hand boots and/or blades until you learn more about what you want/need and can tell what is good and what isn't!  Just because it looks like a bargain, doesn't mean it's right for you.

Enjoy the journey and don't sweat the small stuff.  Those picky bits at the front will stop catching you out as you learn to keep your weight over the centre of the blade and master stopping properly.  ;)

Returned to the ice in Sept 2017 after a major leg injury in 1999. Skating in Jackson Elite Pro & MK Vision Syncro. Still scary after all these years.

AbiJ

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2018, 04:04:58 pm »
How many hours have you worn them for? It takes a while to break them in (after which they ought to hurt less). I'd say if you've used them for 8 hours or so and they are still hurting you then they are probably not the boots for you. But certainly synthetic boots can be broken in as well as leather ones, I hate to buy leather so all of my street boots are synthetic and they do have a similar breaking in process to leather boots.

If they are so roomy that your foot moves around in the boot then they are too big for you and you need a smaller size boot (or wear some thick socks if the movement is only slight).

Only about 6 hrs, I’ll give them a bit longer then. I think they are a bit are wide for my foot, I’ll try some thick socks next time 😊

AbiJ

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Re: Advice re Graf Davis Gold boots
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2018, 04:11:49 pm »
WednesdayMarch, thanks for that info 😊 Ive only just started skating regularly so I guess I need to grow some patience, I can skate forwards quite well and quite confidently, although the first 15 mins of each skate feels like my first time in the ice! I still can’t skate backwards or stop properly tho 🙄



 

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