How to choose skates? Tips from figure skating and downhill professionals

How to choose skates? Tips from figure skating and downhill professionals

January 11, 2022, 20:05 MSC

World champion Dima Murlychkin and coach Masha Kuzmina – about what to pay attention to in the store and how to try on skates correctly.

For hockey and downhill speed

To begin with, it is worth saying that now a lot of manufacturers offer quality skates, but in terms of comfort not all will suit you. I advise you to choose inventory from well-known brands, as they have already made millions of people happy and know exactly what the key to comfort and progress is.

If you have firmly decided to devote a lot of time to skating, it is better not to save money when buying. You will still come to the fact that cheap skates (up to 15 thousand rubles) do not provide proper ankle support and are not molded (do not fit you individually). Quality skates are filled inside with gel filler. Before trying them on, they are heated in a special oven, and then you will need to put them on, evenly tighten the laces and sit in the skates for a while. After the gel has solidified, the inventory can be taken from the store.

But do not rush to run to practice. After molding, the equipment can not be used for twenty-four hours.

For figure skating

In the event that you, for example, go to figure skating, ballet on ice or ice fitness, which is becoming very popular recently, for these purposes you need professional figure skates with professional, which is important, blades.

Here we can advise you to go to the right stores, such as “Figurist” and “Twizzle” – these are two leaders in Moscow. The consultants there will help and advise.

For skating with friends

If you do not plan to go to the rink regularly and do not want to spend a lot of money, your option is simple pleasure skates. They are quite suitable for skating in city parks with family or friends. Especially if you plan to go out on the ice a couple times during the winter. Walking skates are available in sports stores. As a rule, their boots are not very sturdy, do not hold the foot so well. But at the same time they are as comfortable as regular shoes. There are models that are made with fur.

Coach of the figure skating team “Yunik”

Of the minuses of such skates – blades of low-quality steel and the absence of the lower tooth (not on all models). Because of this, you will not be able to do even elementary spins or jumps. But for normal skating will do and such.

Tips that will help you buy good skates

• In the store you need to spend at least 30 minutes in the skates to understand where they press and where they do not. Do not spare time for this. Then what was pressing when you tried them on will press even harder. This should be avoided.
• In the store to choose skates should be with consultants, as they clearly have more experience in the choice and they know about the hidden nuances. But do not forget: skating is for you, so rely on your feelings.
• Measure skates should be measured on the sock in which you will skate.
• You should be comfortable in the skates after you tighten them. The ankle should flex, not be cramped until blue, but not too loose either. The big toe should just slightly touch the front walls.
• In general, it makes no difference whether you buy skates together with blades or everything separately. At the amateur level, as a rule, put blades “Mark 4” or “Ultima”. They are perfectly normal even for double jumps and are used on the simplest, not quite rigid boots.