Are Risport rf3’s overbooting?

[Sandycat]

Hi!

I’ve Been looking to get back into skating. I started at the beginning of last year (2020) and was skating for about 1-2 months before covid happened !!

Since lockdown is being lifted I’m looking to get back into skating and get new skates since my current ones are for more recreational skating and don’t offer much support, so I wanted to get something stiffer
that will last quite a while since I am a fairly fast learner. Or at least last into jumps and turns. 

Before lockdown I was doing crossovers both ways, arabesque forwards and backwards, Mohawks, 3 turns, small turns on the spot, one foot glide backwards and forwards, backwards to forwards (and vice versa)etc. So I am somewhere at a beginner- advanced beginner level I think?

I’m 15 almost 16, about 5’8 in height And fairly slim. I do have quite narrow feet so was advised on risports by a fitter. I’m looking to buy skates second hand and had the opportunity to get risport rf3’s with an MK professional Freestyle blade but I’m kinda worried That might be overbooting?


The other option is risport rf4’s which the fitter did recommend to me however didn’t have my size. But luckily I managed to find some online however the blades are quite rusted and I’m not sure how easy it is to get rid of rust.

I have tried to do some research as well but it was a bit hard to find much on weather rf3’s are ok for my level. If not I might have just stick with my ‘soft skates’ (sfr serene) for now and hold on to the rf3’s until I reach slightly more advanced levels!!

Sorry for the lengthy post but would anyone be able to give me any advice on this?

Thanks!

[transmissionoftheflame]

From your description I think you'd be OK with RF3s, especially as you say they are secondhand so should be broken in a bit.  My kids had them, albeit they had been skating a bit longer than you when they got them.  If you've got the opportunity to try them - which I think is essential - make sure you can bend your ankles sufficiently to get your knees over your toes so you can't see your toes.  I think the most important thing is that they fit properly.

[WednesdayMarch]

Normally at your level I'd be recommending Risport Electra but a second hand RF3 should be okay. Do you have someone who knows enough about boots and blades to check them and make sure you're getting a good - and safe - deal?

[Sandycat]

Thank you so much for the replies and advice given, I really appreciate it!! Unfortunately there isn’t any way I can try them on beforehand and won’t be able to return them after so I am slightly concerned about that!! The ice rink I go to has an adjacent skate shop so I may be able to ask about the rf3’s there, however since the listing is on an auction ending soon I’m not sure how possible that will be !

They are at a reasonable price as of now, around £26 total, though of course since it is an auction the price can very quickly go up.

However the skate shop did mention they would contact me if they got any of the skates they wanted to try me in (rf4’s I think), in stock in my size but so far haven’t got any response sadly.

Even second hand, the skates in the skate shop would of course be much more expensive (they quoted around £100), however I would probably be able to get properly fitted there, so i wonder would it be more worthwhile to wait to buy from a shop or instead look for something similar online?

[WednesdayMarch]

If the ones in the auction are your size (did the fitter tell you what size you're probably needing?) and they're the ones I'm looking at (size 270) on a well-known global auction site, then they look like a good buy at that sort of money! There's a bit of wear left in the blades, although not a vast amount, and they would need a decent grind to get rid of the teensy bit of rust discoloration but for £22 plus postage... They're unlikely to be worse than your SFRs!

[Sandycat]

yes I think that’s the same listing! I managed to get my feet sized at the fitters luckily so I know that they definitely should be my size. I was actually just now thinking of the blades as I was worried they wouldn’t have too much life left in them, but that is true if it goes for around £20-40 it seems a pretty decent deal! Just hoping the price doesn’t go up too drastically!! And yes that’s true..anything is better than the sfr’s! I think I might try to grab these if possible then. And Thank you all so much for reading and responding to all my questions ’:D!!

[WednesdayMarch]

yes I think that’s the same listing! I managed to get my feet sized at the fitters luckily so I know that they definitely should be my size. I was actually just now thinking of the blades as I was worried they wouldn’t have too much life left in them, but that is true if it goes for around £20-40 it seems a pretty decent deal! Just hoping the price doesn’t go up too drastically!! And yes that’s true..anything is better than the sfr’s! I think I might try to grab these if possible then. And Thank you all so much for reading and responding to all my questions ’:D!!

It's a good price for the boots on their own. Good luck!

[Sandycat]

So Sorry to reply again!!!
but ironically I’ve just found some Electra lights in my size for £50, and look to be in quite a bit better condition than the rf3’s! I think I may go with those actually! Since they seem better suited to my level and are in really good condition, however it is pick up so I may have to  arrange to ship etc. So may be slightly over £50 But they do seem to have decent blades with a fair amount of life left and no rust, so overall in pretty good condition. Though I may still keep an eye on the rf3’s.

[WednesdayMarch]

Sounds good. 

[black]

Before lockdown I was doing crossovers both ways, arabesque forwards and backwards, Mohawks, 3 turns, small turns on the spot, one foot glide backwards and forwards, backwards to forwards (and vice versa)etc. So I am somewhere at a beginner- advanced beginner level I think?

For the UK, have a look at the levels here;

https://www.iceskating.org.uk/learn-to-skate
(I think they need to run a spell checker or proofreader on this page)

Or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Ice_Skating#Skate_UK

I'm guessing maybe level 5/6/7 on the Skate UK - Basic Skills Programme?

I hope you keep at it if you can; sadly the sport dropout rates are quite high.

[Sandycat]

Thank you for the links!! This will definetly be helpful when deciding which level/ class to join at! And also just knowing my approximate level in general.

Wow really?! I didn’t even know! it’s such a shame, it really is a wonderful sport, but I guess I can understand as it can get quite expensive as you progress, especially at competitive levels. I hope I can continue with it as well and restart lessons soon!