New Skates! Help!!

[ElsonIce]

First post on here so firstly Hi!, I recently started taking figure skating lessons again after stopping about 9 years ago. For Christmas I got new Skates (yay!) but I had my first skate on them today for my lesson and I feel somewhat like Bambi on ice again! I kept tripping on my toepick as its so much bigger than my old one, and I was just feeling a bit uneasy overall. However, my spins felt much better as I think the rocker on my old skates had been ground down, and they are definitely comfier, and fit me better. I bought my old pair second hand off ebay 11 or so years ago as a starter pair, then life got in the way, and I had to stop skating so never moved on from them until now.

 I suppose I'm looking for some reassurance that I will get used to them and to keep at it because I got off and I can't lie I was tempted to put my old ones back on!
Also if anybody has tips on what I can do to get used to them quicker! or steps to work on that will help me find my feet on the ice again!
I've attached pictures for reference, no prizes for guessing which are the old ones haha. Also for context I'm doing the skate excellence program and I'm at advanced 1 so I've got (or had!)some of the basics down, currently I am working on sit spin, forward brackets, continuous backwards outside 3 turns and closed mohawks.

Thank you in advance!

[transmissionoftheflame]

One session is very little to get used to new skates, especially as the blade profile looks quite different and the old skates look pretty broken down.  Provided the new skates are the correct size and shape for your feet, you will be fine.


I didn't realise that Skate Excellence had advanced levels now - it used to be just an equivalent of Skate UK and then you went on to take what used to be called NISA levels which were externally judged.  Brackets and sit spins are well along in the NISA levels, so it sounds like SE has "developed" their own levels beyond the beginner/improver track.


What I normally do when feeling unsure on my skates is just work on basics - edges, stroking, crossovers - and focus on where my weight is, my posture.  Basically just dial back the level of difficulty until I feel comfortable.

[transmissionoftheflame]

A couple of other things I do at the start of every session to get comfortable on my skates:


Slide feet forward and back alternately, transferring weight smoothly, forwards and backwards direction also in a straight line and a circle- in a circle if you want to alternate sides you need to change edges.


Two foot slalom forward and backward, paying attention to posture and making the edges even (most people below advanced level think they do this but don’t). Make the curves small by working the ankles, knees and hips.


One foot glides in a straight line the length of the rink, forward and backward.

[black]

I kept tripping on my toepick as its so much bigger than my old one

I'd say, looking at those pictures!

Do you know if you changed your rocker size with the new skates?

https://wissota.com/skate-blade-profile-rocker-explained/
(shows hockey blades, but it's the same principle)
Flatter blades = bigger number; more curve = smaller number

Your new blades look possibly like Jackson Ultima Aspire XP? = 8' Rocker
https://jacksonultima.com/collections/blades/products/aspire-xp

I've found that with flatter blades you can't rock (back/forward) as much before you hit the heel or toepick.

As transmissionoftheflame mentioned it will take a while for you to 'recalibrate' to brand new skates.

Longer term if it's still an issue possible look at changing blades, or customizing/tailoring the existing ones to your needs.

[ElsonIce]

Provided the new skates are the correct size and shape for your feet, you will be fine. - I went to get fitted at Als skate shop in Deeside and they were great, they heat moulded them to my feet as well which was a helpful addition!

I didn't realise that Skate Excellence had advanced levels -
Yes they have 1-10 and then go on to advanced, I think they go all the way on up to advanced 5 or 6, it’s more akin to the skate uk bronze, silver and gold if I remember correctly, which is sort of where I finished when I stopped skating last time.
Thank you for your advice, I’m going to go on some public skate sessions this week and just get a feel for them doing basic things.

[ElsonIce]

Do you know if you changed your rocker size with the new skates?

Your new blades look possibly like Jackson Ultima Aspire XP? = 8' Rocker


Yes my new ones have a giant toe pick! And they are the Jackson ultimate aspire XP blades.

Yes the new ones are monster toe picks!! they are the Jackson Ultima aspire XP blades as you said.


I’m really not sure about the rocker size on my old blades, they were second hand, and have worn down so much now I can’t see any writing on them other than a number 10 at the back- I’ve attached a picture. But honestly they’re quite flat now, I don’t know if they had a longer rocker to begin with or if it’s just wear and tear along with lots of sharpening over the years that’s misshapen them.

[black]

The '10' would refer to the blade length, in inches.

Not sure about the old blades though, from IMG_1240.jpg the slot mounting (blade to the plate) looks like possibly a Ultima Mark I or something by SLM?

I'd recommend getting a sheet of A4 paper and at the edge of a table/workbench place the skate blade sideways on the paper and trace the blade profile for both skates, so that you can see the comparison; possibly show your coach this?