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Ice skating

EQUIPMENT INFORMATION

Equipment Information

Boots & Blades

I require beginner skaters to wear figure skates. Double runner skates are not permitted, any skate with a hockey-style blade, and adjustable “grow with me skates” are not permitted for lessons.

Skates are the most important piece of equipment that a skater will use. So, skates need to fit properly and support your ankles. 

Incorrectly sized and fit ice skate boots can cause foot discomfort, affect skater performance, cause premature skate breakdown, and lead to injury. So, it is essential that your skates fit properly. 

  1. Wear thin knee high socks. Thin socks, such as knee highs, allow you contact with the boot and do not bunch up in the boot.  
  2. One of the most common mistakes skaters make is to assume your skate size will be the same as your street shoe size. Like quality shoes, each brand of skates has different sizing. 
  3. Skates should fit your feet today, Boots sized too large with the hope of the skater being able to grow into them is a mistake.  
  4. Skates that are big don’t fit or support the foot properly and can cause discomfort, breakdown, and could lead to injury. 
  5. Boots laced too tightly can cause numbness and pain in your feet. To be your best on the ice, your boots must be properly laced.   

 

Your blades need to be sharpened, on average, after every 20-40 hours of ice time. The specific depth of hollow will vary depending on the skater. 

FAQ

some answers to your questions regarding equipment

I always recommend that beginners, especially young first time skaters start with figure skates. 

Here's why: 

The blade on figure skates is longer and flatter than the blade on hockey skates.  

The more pronounced rocker and shorter blade on hockey skates can make it too easy for beginners (especially younger skaters) to fall forward or backward frequently, which can cause injuries as well as frustration. 

Figure skates offer more stability in learning, which promotes good posture and skating technique.  

Skaters often find it easier to learn their basic edges and other fundamentals in figure skates, and often progress faster. 

Once the correct skating techniques are learned, it is an easier transition to go from figure skates to hockey skates than it is to transition to figure skates from hockey skates.