Figure skating blades?

Please HELP me! :( Which figure skating blades and boots should I get?

• Hi! I need help in deciding which model of boots and blades I should get. I am currently doing FS1-2 elements and I should be moving up to at least FS3 by end of the year. I have been ...show more

• Answer:

  Your boots have given you the best three years of their life, far longer than their life expectancy. As for the "Freestyles are no good above waltz jump" that's just an attempt to upsell. There are tons of skaters who use Freestyles through to axels and doubles, so that's nonsense. You're in Freestyle 2, not 5 or 6. I'd switch to a higher level skate at that point. Stick with the Jacksons if they fit you well all these years and lasted so very long. You can order Jackson Freestyle boots without the blades or upgrade to an Elite or Premiere boot. I wouldn't overboot a FS2 skater by putting him/her in a Competitor. Grafs are made by Jackson now, so the rumor is that they're the same boots under the covers, but more stiff. If Jacksons fit you well, the Grafs will fit well too. Several people have remarked about stress fractures and other injuries after using new Edmontons due to the stiffness, so be wary. I don't know anyone using the Galaxy boot, sorry. Edeas are european and fit a narrower foot, so watch the width if you order them or you'll be in pain if they're too narrow. They're nice looking skates with good support. As for the blade, I don't understand why a coach would be *that* committed to the Paramounts. If you really want to tick him off, ask him if he gets a commission on the sale, lol. Just kidding - it'll just make the situation worse. The Paramount 1085 is supposed to be a lightweight knockoff copy of the Pattern 99, which is a higher level blade (better for jumping) than the Coronation Ace. Maybe the weight is the reason the coach insists on these blades, but why is he putting a FS2 skater on a Pattern 99-clone blade, which are usually for advanced skaters. Strange that he can't communicate that to you and your mom. The $3 difference isn't meaningful. Your coach should be explaining the reasons, not insisting on something "because I said so." Have you been a bit of a pest, asking a million questions and wasting lesson time talking about this endlessly? That would explain his impatience, so schedule a time off ice to talk with both you and your mom. The only justification I can see for getting the Coronation Ace blades is that the rocker radius is 7', compared to the Mark IV and Paramount rocker radius of 8'. You'll have a longer period of adjustment, but if your spins are mediocre now, the shorter rocker radius will improve them. Frankly, you're not a high-level skater, so either blade would be fine for you. If your spins are okay, go with the Paramounts just to end the drama and have a blade that you can grow into.