Arch pain in new skates (beginner)

[stvrgirl]

Hi everyone!
I'm a new skater. I've had 2 lessons and have skated once in between those lessons. I'm currently learning one foot glides, backward marching and snow plough stops. Before I started my lessons, I went to Everglides to get fitted. I'm 21, female, 5'5 and 78kg. I wanted a boot that would last me longer and with a bit more support because I have a chronic ankle sprain from quad skating. I was fitted in wide Jackson Freestyles. I also got the Sidas Insoles for Medium Arches to help with my over pronation.
In total I have skated around 2 hours total over these three sessions and I struggle to skate more becuase I have excruciating arch pain. I don't know if it's just breaking in new skates or if it's a problem with the skates not fitting me correctly. I tried on Risport Electra Light and those felt nice too. I also tried on Jackson Elle's and they were OK but I had the best heel lock with the Freestyles.

I told my coach about it and she said to skate more to break the skates in and see if they break in. I am wondering if it's the insoles or the skates just not being right for me or if the Risports would've been better. If the pain doesn't stop, I am considering an online consultation with Everglides because I don't think I can go there any time soon.

I am worried though that if I take out the insoles my ankles will rock in, so I'm not quite sure what to do. The thought of going to skate in these is quite off putting because it is really painful for me.

[transmissionoftheflame]

Did you skate in hire skates before your lessons?  Any arch pain then?  Did you/do you ever get arch pain in your quads?

[stvrgirl]

Thanks for the reply! Yes I've skated in hire skates, they hurt my arches and would crush my feet on the sides because they were too narrow. I didn't get arch pain in my quads, although those were also too narrow my feet. My quads have lower heels than my Jacksons, I don't know if that's relevant or not though. I forgot to mention that I also tried on Jackson Debuts, but I felt like they were way too stiff for me pressed uncomfortably on the top of my foot.

[transmissionoftheflame]

Hard to know for sure.  Skating can be hard on the feet, you use new muscles, you may be tense, different skates make your feet work in different ways,, different surfaces.  You need to flex and point inside the skate but when skating along and the skate is underneath you probably your foot should be a bit more relaxed with the toes splayed a bit and not scrunched.  You could try fiddling with the lacing too - people don't always pull to the same tension on every part of the foot.  It could just need a bit of time.

[stvrgirl]

I think I'll skate more in them and wear them around the house more to break them in and get used to them. My coach had a look at my lacing and said it looks good but I'll try to experiment a little. I'll definitely speak with my coach again if the problem persists.

[transmissionoftheflame]

Off topic but what's your background in quads and are you switching to ice or mixing it up?  How are you finding the transition?


I've been switching between ice figure skates and inline wheels for years - used to it now, quite like the change.  Wheels are a good option as you get more choice of where to skate, and when.

[stvrgirl]

I skated more recreationally in quads. I can skate forwards and backwards and a few tricks. I skated for about 4 months, so not a very long time. I’ve always wanted to do figure skating but wasn’t able to so I picked up quads. I really enjoyed it but ice is actually more accessible to me right now. So for the time being I’m only doing ice.

It’s a completely different experience on quads than it is on ice. Since I was only skating recreationally I never worried about posture, body position etc. My coach is constantly reminding me to keep my core tight and shoulders down lol. I’ve noticed that ice is wayyyy more responsive than wheels are and i’m enjoying it but also finding it a little scary.

[transmissionoftheflame]

Interesting.  I certainly think that the standard of coaching in ice figure skating is high compared to other skating disciplines, certainly in the UK.  The standard of coaching in artistic quads is also high I think - the best wheels coach I know started life in artistic quads.  There is a wealth of knowledge and structure that is hard to beat.  That said, the quad and inline slalom communities are more fun, IMHO.


I've not skated in quads but I imagine the feel on the surface through the skate takes some getting used to but the basics of how you hold your body are very similar.  You can do cool tricks in quads that you can't on ice - I love the crazy legs for example - but spinning on ice is much easier and much more fun than doing it on wheels.


Hope your foot issues ease and look forward to hearing how you progress.  Have you skated on quads again since you started ice?  It will feel odd to begin with but stick with it and you will be able to switch with ease - even I managed after a few months, and I am a talent-free zone.

[stvrgirl]

Oh definitely. I'm self taught on quads so there was no one to correct my form or anything but I took a few classes and it was really relaxed. As long as you achieved the skill it was fine, form didn't really matter.

Some things are similar for example, in quads and on ice one of the first things I learnt were lemons but they feel so different. I'm sure it will be the same for things like crossovers, when I learn them. Spinning is very hard on quads, I only ever managed one rotation on a two foot spin but there are so many other tricks that I also love on quads.

I hope I can sort the issue out quickly because it is quite distracting in my lessons and when I skate, I feel a bit shaky doing things like stroking and one foot glides but I am still really excited to progress! I haven't skated on quads since starting ice - I just started last week. I am planning on going to a roller rink sometime soon though.

[transmissionoftheflame]

"As long as you achieved the skill it was fine, form didn't really matter."


I'm afraid that can sometimes be the case with the learn to skate programs run in the UK, but a lot depends on the coach.


Roller rinks I've been to:


Rollerworld Derby - Decent enough - lots of kids on the midweek night I was there but super cheap
Skateland Nottingham - A bit on the small side but polished concrete floor is super fast, really cool vibe on the adults only night I was there
Curve Motion Bury St Edmunds - no complaints, good over-16s session on Wednesday mornings
Madison Heights Maldon Essex - big, quiet when I went
Roller City Welwyn - a bit on the small side but the Friday night session is great fun
Flippers Westfield Shepherds Bush - expensive, busy, more like a nightclub with a rink in it, but maybe worth one visit

[stvrgirl]

Luckily, I'm in private lessons and my coach has already given me some exercises to do to improve my stroking and leg strength.

The only rink I've been to is Flippers and it was ok. Both times I went was during school holidays so it was just too busy. I usually go to my local park becuase they have empty tennis courts. I've also skated in sports halls when I took classes. I don't really enjoy skating outside which is why I don't do much quad skating.