Sharpe Edges & Blunt Trauma: Buying New Skates

By Sardonyx Jade


My coach looked at my feet and told me to bend my knees. His raised eyebrow declared, “It is time for new skates.” “I know, I know. We’re going tomorrow.” I said before he could verbalize the thoughts clearly displayed on his face.

Early the following morning with my mother in tow, I ventured to Anaheim at the suggestion of skating friends. When I entered the address provided to get directions the name of the skate shop given was different from the one on the GPS. Only in my world would two skate shops exist within a block distance of each other. Fearless and determined we traveled on.

After a swift ride on the highway we parked and asked a pedestrian where to find USA Skates. The man must have been a heavenly angel walking with earthly feet. He directed us across the street to Ultimate Skate and Hockey, the very place where my friends recently purchased their skates.

We walked in awed by the vast selection of apparel and skating equipment. A young man stepped from behind the counter, introduced himself and asked how he could help us. I told him that I needed new skates that I wanted Klingbeil but that my coach suggested I also ask about Risport. James asked if I was consistently landing axels. I answered with laughter. He then stated, “You don’t need that level of boot. Ninety percent of people in custom boots don’t need them” and they spend a painful eternity trying to break them in.

He asked how often I skated and what maneuvers I practiced. He then took my current skates, removed and measured the insoles. He then measured my feet. He had me roll up my pants to take a look at my ankles and heels. James looked at me and said, “You have very slender, narrow feet with no volume.” Curious and confused, I asked what that meant exactly. He told me that the size and shape of my feet tells him what brand and style of boot is best and that my feet hadn’t been “beat up from skating, yet.”

James suggested a new heat moldable model of Riedell boots. I tried the boots and they felt wonderful compared to my old ones. He laced them up and molded them to my feet. Once the boots cooled he had me stand on a plastic sheet to observe my posture. He adjusted my blades to accommodate my pronation then took me inside the arena to try them on the ice. Surprisingly, the boots felt comfortable yet firm. I was instructed to execute one-foot glides on each foot. We then returned to the shop where he punched out the ankles and adjusted the blades a bit more. We went back to the ice where he instructed me to skate faster and perform the glides again. He reminded me of my coach for a second, pushing me to move beyond my comfort level.

Once satisfied, the boots were weather proofed the blades were temporarily mounted and sharpened and I was advised to return for the permanent mount upon approval from my coach. I spent far less money than originally intended. I had by far the best, most attentive consumer experience. I was so pleased that before leaving, I asked the crew to pose for a picture.
My mother, who loves trouble just a bit more that me, asked if they were affiliated with USA Skates. They asserted that there were separate establishments in close proximity. Of course, upon leaving my mother wanted to know how the customer service compared. We loaded the newly purchased skates in the car then ventured to the skate shop, which happened to be located not two doors away from where we asked the stranger for directions.

We went inside and the owner was fitting a customer wearing Klingbeil's. I pointed them out to my mother. I then looked through the small selection of clothing and accessories. There wasn’t anything on the racks to fit my petite yet curvy frame. The owner acknowledged our presence and came to our assistance. I told him that I was interested in Klingbeil Stock Boots. He told me that if I were going to spend the money that I should go for the custom. He told me to hop up on the platform and let him look at my feet. He told me that I had flat slender feet that would benefit from a custom boot. I let him know that I wasn’t quite ready to make the purchase but took his contact information for future reference. Had we gone to his store first, we would have spent well over fourteen hundred dollars, nearly five times more than at Ultimate. I suppose when I can successfully and consistently land axels I will buy custom boots but then again maybe I’ll take my coach’s advice and invest in the Italian brand.

Buying new skates is a relatively regular occurrence in the life of a skater. Skates are rarely kept forever. When making your purchase, be careful about allowing a seller to push you into a particular brand. Buy boots and blades for your level and type of skating. You can hurt or create problems with your feet if you are not fit and matched properly. Generally, Jackson is made for wide toe box shaped feet; Riedell is made for narrow to regular width. Sp-Teri, Harlick, and Klingbeil are known for their custom fits and stock boots. If you live in the greater Los Angeles area then go see the team at Ultimate. You will not be disappointed. Happy Shopping.

FIGURE SKATES
GAM
http://www.gamskates.com/en/

GRAF Figure Skates
http://www.grafcanada.com/

Harlick
http://www.harlick.com/

Jackson
http://www.jacksonskates.com/

Klingbeil
http://www.klingbeilskatingboots.com/

Riedell
http://www.riedellskates.com/

Risport
http://www.risport.it/

SP-Teri
http://www.spteri.com/

ICE BLADE CHARTS

MK Blades
http://www.theworldsbestblades.com/mk-recommendations.html

John Wilson
http://www.theworldsbestblades.com/jw-blades.html

Jackson Ultima Blades
http://www.jacksonskates.com

Paramount Blades
http://www.paramountskates.com/ourblades.php

Ultimate Skate & Hockey
300 West Lincoln Anaheim, CA 92805
714-518-3240 ultimateskate@cox.net
http://www.bestbuyfigureskating.com

The Team at Ultimate Skate & Hockey

SKATE ADVICE
http://www.ehow.com/how_4758063_figure-skates-fit-feet-budget.html

http://www.kinziescloset.com/Skating_Brands

Skating Events Calendar

http://www.socalinterclub.org/events.php

June 13-14 LA Showcase, Burbank, CA

June 26-28 So-Cal Inter-Club Championships Cancelled

July 9-12 Hidden Valley Open, Escondido, CA

July 17-19 Los Angeles Open, Burbank, CA

July 23-26 Cactus Classic, Scottsdale, AZ

July 9-12 Hidden Valley Open Escondido, CA

August 1-2 Arctic Blades Open Lake Arrowhead, CA