tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post8234892916939020196..comments2023-04-07T10:27:50.934-05:00Comments on Xanboni: Buying skatesAlexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-79796345603549085282012-02-05T20:45:10.787-06:002012-02-05T20:45:10.787-06:00Thanks for the advice! I knew the blades screwed o...Thanks for the advice! I knew the blades screwed on, but because the soles are PVC instead of leather, I wasn't sure if the blades could be swapped out. I'll definitely give them a try and see if they'll work (as soon as I can get them sharpened), and if not, I'll shop around for some less-advanced blades. Thanks again!Orianna2000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-83254628593094668632012-02-05T17:14:47.979-06:002012-02-05T17:14:47.979-06:00Looks like the Classique comes with a "Mirage...Looks like the Classique comes with a "Mirage" blade. This is a freestyle blade so it's a little advanced for Adult 2. I would go ahead and try skating in them and see if you can get used to them. The problem with "advanced" blades for beginning skaters is that beginners tend to balance too far forward on the blade; this is wy you trip on the picks. The good news is, if you really don't like them you can swap them out for a less serious blade; the classiques are a boot-and-blade set, with the blade screwed, rather than riveted on. In other words it comes off. Don't sell the blade, though; you're going to want them back when you get to freestyle!Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-40583863499768457812012-02-05T16:46:41.693-06:002012-02-05T16:46:41.693-06:00I started figure skating classes about three month...I started figure skating classes about three months ago, as a 30-something adult, and now take private classes equivalent to Adult 2. Because of having extra-wide feet, my struggle to find a decent pair of skates has been long and arduous.<br /><br />First, I was sold a pair of Jackson Glaciers locally, that I later found out were three sizes too big. When they began producing severe foot cramps, we drove 5 hours to the nearest figure skating shop, where they were out of stock of all wide widths. Being desperate, I bought a pair of (cheap) Riedell 110s that are too narrow and don't fit. They cut painfully into the back of my ankle and my toes go numb when I wear them.<br /><br />Not knowing what else to do, I ordered one of the only pair of recreational wide-width skates I could find: Jackson Classiques. The Artiste skates also came in a C-width, but since the Classiques were just $30 more, I decided to go up a step in quality. The Classiques fit comfortably and are actually wide enough (hooray!) but I haven't been able to skate in them yet, since they must first be sharpened, and it's a 3-hour drive to someplace that sharpens by hand and knows the difference between hockey and figure skates. Meanwhile, I've been wearing them around the house to break them in.<br /><br />My question is, do you think I'll have trouble because of the toe picks? They look wicked, to be honest. I would have gone with a less-advanced skate if I could have found one that would come in a wide-width, but these and the Artistes were all I could find, and I wasn't sure there would be much difference between the two. If the toe pick does turn out to be too large, is there anything to be done? Will I get used to it? Can it be reduced without ruining the blades? Or am I doomed?Orianna2000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-79057114137068273732010-02-26T11:12:14.325-06:002010-02-26T11:12:14.325-06:00Rental boots are a hideous drag; their one advanta...Rental boots are a hideous drag; their one advantage is cost, but it's a big advantage. If you know you're going to skate at least a couple dozen times in the year that the boots will fit, it's worth it to buy a basic recreational boot. If your child decides after the third lesson that she absolutely hates figure skating, you've just wasted about $60. I hold to my belief that rental skates are fine through Beta, if you don't want to invest.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-82269658830899934262010-02-26T09:52:37.258-06:002010-02-26T09:52:37.258-06:00Why should you consider buying skates? My daughter...Why should you consider buying skates? My daughter {5 and a half} is starting lessons in March. Her lessons include skate rental, but I'm wondering if it's better to have a pair all her own. I know when I learned to ski, I was better with my own boots. Rental boots just didn't fit right.<br /><br />Thanks!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10695898803346817238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-60949028397318465812010-01-21T06:21:22.728-06:002010-01-21T06:21:22.728-06:00Any advice or opinion offered must, perforce, be g...Any advice or opinion offered must, perforce, be general. Every situation has exceptions and outliers and used skates are no different.<br /><br />I see lots of people at the rink in old skates. For a few of them, the skates are decent. For a few of them, the skater is gifted and can overcome the deficits in the skates. For nearly everyone, however, they think they can't skate or they have "weak ankles" or whatever. If used skates, whatever their provenance, is your only option, by all means give it a try. But understand that good equipment makes a huge difference, and that poor or inappropriate equipment (like trying to do jumps in patch skates) can actually be hazardous.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-22600262510386462572010-01-20T17:43:36.993-06:002010-01-20T17:43:36.993-06:00My very first 'own' rather than hired skat...My very first 'own' rather than hired skates had belonged to my aunt during the 1950s, they were old fashioned but sound and lasted me a short while before I outgrew them. My sister then had them for a short time before outgrowing them, and they were then passed to other kids at our rink in SA who couldn't afford new ones (we both got new skates). So although I agree that trying out the old ones in grandma's old toy bin isn't a good idea, the ones my aunt had were basically sound so we were lucky I guess.DollMumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07655612985882320920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-32536562959078276152010-01-20T14:46:18.399-06:002010-01-20T14:46:18.399-06:00Christine knows what she's talking about! Cal...Christine knows what she's talking about! Call or email from anywhere in the country!Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-87392823668334067342010-01-20T11:24:35.941-06:002010-01-20T11:24:35.941-06:00I am always happy to point folks in the right dire...I am always happy to point folks in the right direction for skates... just email me at asktheexpert@rainbosports.com. My #1 goal is to get the skater into the appropriate skates for them.Christinehttp://www.rainbosports.comnoreply@blogger.com