Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy figure skates or hockey skates for my skater?

This is highly dependent on what the goals of the skater and their parents are and what kind of skating they want to participate in. A beginner has to learn a set of basic skating skills, first and foremost balance, posture, stroking, and stopping (which can be learned on both types of skates). However, when considering the points of balance, (forward, backward, left and right) basic skills are learned more easily on a figure skating blade. 

A hockey blade is like a rocking chair. In technical terms it is "highly rockered" meaning that you can lean all the way forward or backward with nothing to stop you. This often results in beginners in hockey skates to tend to skate hunched over with their arms extended to prevent a fall. It requires high proficiency at all four points of balance to achieve significant progress. 

Figure skate blades have a toe pick and tail. The toe picks on beginner figure skate blades are typically small and don't present a problem, but they do stop you from going too far forward on the blade, and the tail prevents you from leaning too far back. This makes it easier to stand upright with solid core strength, and be able to utilize your left to right balance for inside and outside edges. You accomplish more of the fundamentals when you learn on figure skates, and often progress faster. 

If I want to ultimately play hockey, how long should I stay in figure skates before I switch to hockey skates?

That decision is personal to your comfort level, however it would be practical to learn: forward and backward stroking, both left and right crossovers, hockey stops and T stops, and a solid 3-turn. These are all skills that you will need in both figure skating and hockey. Depending on how often you skate and practice, you may achieve these skills quickly, but the better you perfect your basic techniques, the more adept skater you will become in either discipline. Each skill builds on the previous one for better speed and flow.

Will figure skates give me enough ankle support?

A good quality pair of figure skates provides as much ankle support as any pair of hockey skates. You can get very stiff figure boots, (stiffer boots will be required when jumping, to provide the proper support to avoid injury on landings) but it is important to maintain some flexibility. Old style skates that go back to the early years of competitive skating were made of thin leather and required significant muscular development to hold the body in the correct upright position. Now, as technology has advanced, the boots do part of that job for the skater. This is one reason for younger skaters being able to perform more difficult jumps. However, starting off in a boot that is too stiff or heavy plastic will impede progress. Even as a beginner, you must select boots of adequate quality and correct fit and flexibility, so that the boots help your ankles stay erect as you condition your foot position and balance to control the skates, but also allows a nice deep knee bend. Competitive or professional skaters will often say that their skates feel like an extension of their feet. Most cases of "weak ankles" are due either to cheap department store skates, or too floppy, worn-out or oversized rental skates.

My child is just starting to skate. How much time must I spend at the rink?

You'll probably start off at 1-2 hours per week. You can do more of course but typically, if your skater is young and just starting out, this will be typical. It would most likely include a group lesson and some practice ice. This is, of course, a matter of intention, personal dedication and the size of your budget. If you have a skater who would gladly spend hours on the ice every week, that skater will most likely advance more quickly and have higher aspirations. When your skaters are young, you should plan to stay while they're on the ice. Occasionally they do take a tumble and they need some parental comfort. It will also give you the opportunity to observe their progress and provide encouragement. Coaches aren't really the people to do this and if in a group lesson, the coach has to keep teaching other skaters.

At What age should a child begin figure skating?

There is no correct age to introduce your child to skating. However, sometimes a child can be too young and will cry the whole time. If that happens, wait six months and try again. Children develop at different rates so what will work for one beginner, may not work for another. Psychologically, children get satisfaction with self-mobility and the enhancement of fine motor skills. The ability to crawl, walk, run, ride a bike and skate all add to that in a positive way, giving them a sense of control over their environment. The initial response to gliding on ice is extremely positive. You know your child’s abilities and temperament best. Our program and many local programs allow skaters to start at 3 years old. 

My child loves skating and is making great progress, how do I know if he/she has real potential?

Genuinely talented children may exhibit a natural ability and coordination to perform in any athletic activity. Undeveloped talent requires opportunity and training. But heredity and nurture greatly influence one's ability to take advantage of training. Some children learn quickly; they will succeed more rapidly because they are faster or stronger, and better coordinated. A coach may recognize their ability as potential and offer opportunities that will provide greater challenges. That is a pretty good indicator that they see some special “spark” in your skater. Acquiring good, fundamental, efficient techniques is necessary to achieve long term goals, so pushing too hard, too fast may not accomplish your future vision. Gaps in technique become more apparent when trying to properly execute more complicated skills. Bad habits, from basic skills that have been rushed, once acquired, are nearly impossible to change. Early competitive success based on the incorrect execution of simple skills is not a reliable indicator of future success. In fact, pursuing poor technique is a good way to limit future success. The risk of this developing is high in talented, but poorly trained skaters. Always make sure that skating is a positive experience for your skater. Those that love being on the ice will acquire better training habits, even if they must overcome initial awkwardness.

At what point do the boots and blades, which my skater uses, make a significant difference in his/her skating?

Always! Initially, the skates must be the correct size and offer sufficient support, so that the skater is able to stand upright, be comfortable, and have sharpened blades. That should allow basic skills to be accomplished without fighting poor, ill-fitting equipment. The soft style skates with the heavy padding are only recommended until Basic 5, at which point the more complex tasks are impeded by the bulky nature of the skates. Once the skater begins learning jumps and spins, a better boot and blade will vastly improve performance. “Better” should not be interpreted as “extremely expensive”, although a better quality boot and blade will, certainly, cost more than a recreational combo. Quality advanced beginner styles are available for about $100-$125 and you may find an excellent quality used boot and blade available for less. Our local skate shop, "Northern Ice and Dance" is very knowledgeable and is a great place to take your skater for fittings and to determine what skate is best for your skater.