If your ankles fall in as you skate and you find it virtually impossible to glide in a straight line - you are probably wearing rental skates.

Rental skates are good for an introduction to skating but if you are committed (passing Skate UK Level 3 is a good sign) and want to progress, you’d better get your own skates on.

WHY BUY WHEN YOU CAN RENT?

Newly bought skates offer that crucial support around your ankles so that your ankles do not fall in.

Rental skates may seem cheaper but the reality is they offer virtually no support around the ankles. It's also worth mentioning that the blades on rental skates tend to be blunt from over use; which is not ideal when you want to glide in a straight line.

No - it’s not just you.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

Quite a bit - so before you pull out your wallet - speak to a member of staff at the on-site skating shop, ‘Demon Xtreme Sports’, here at Alexandra Palace.

 

 

INTERVIEW WITH ANNE KHAN, MARKETING MANAGER, DEMON XTREME SPORTS:

Skaters want to be confident that the skates they buy are right for them.
Is skate size the same as shoe size?

No - generally with both figure skating and hockey skates you would need to go at least half a size down from your shoe size if not a full size. But really it is best to go to a professional skate shop and get your feet measured and fitted correctly.

If a boot is too big -  especially for children whose feet are growing - then the foot moves in the boot and can damage the foot. Parents like to give growing room but it should never be more than half a size, especially if you are on [National Ice skating Association] NISA grades. We always recommend fit to gauge.

At Demon Xtreme Sports you have a variety of figure skates on display.  

What advice would you give to anybody looking to buy their first pair of skates?

We sell many brands, Jackson, Risport, Edea, Graf and a few more and basically the more you spend the better boot you will get. That said, if you spend a lot of money it won’t make you a better skater.

We fit a boot to fit your size, weight and level of skating you are on. If you are doing your beginner levels up to Skate UK Level 7 or Skate UK Level 8, Graf Bolero are great starter boots. They are comfy and give enough support for the money.

Anything above up to gold level, we would recommend you spend between £130 and £200. If you go too high, the boot can be far too stiff and very hard to break in and can hinder your progress. So a good quality Jackson Artiste up to competitor level is a good gauge. These skates are also good for talented youngsters whose feet are still growing.

Once you hit NISA levels then it is very much down to talking to the skater and finding out what they are doing and what they will be learning in the near future. Everyone is different so we ask lots of questions to gauge what is needed.

Budget is always a big factor as skating can be a very expensive sport.

 

We often hear about experienced skaters having their skate blades sharpened. How often should we sharpen our skate blades?

We tend to say between 10 and 13 hours on the ice. Some people wear blades out quicker than others with the jumps and spins they are doing but that is a rule of thumb.

Often skaters don’t like it when their blades have just been sharpened as well so you have to get the depth of the hollow [groove on the bottom surface of the blade] correct for that person.

Most figure skaters have a 5/8 grind which is quite shallow, which basically gives more speed and the blade doesn’t dig in the ice so hard. The deeper you go the more grip on the ice you get but the less speed you will get going into a spin.

The deeper the cut the more ice builds up in the blade which can freeze and slow you down - so we tend to have to sharpen a new customer’s skates a few times before we get it right for them.

 

Water seems to be the number one enemy of skates because if blades are not dried after skating, rust gradually sets in.

What are your top tips for looking after figure skates?

On cheaper skates the blades are not of a great quality so if the blades aren’t dried after every use then they will go rusty. The better blades tend to be stainless steel and if looked after correctly, won’t go rusty.

The plastic guards are a real enemy to skates when the skate is not properly dried with a chamois or towel. You will see like a ripple tarnish on the bottom of the blade, caused by the guard. Soft towelling covers are good to put on after a session and the plastic ones to use while walking around the rink to protect the blade.

Once rust gets on the blade it is pretty much ruined. The blade will soften and will not keep a sharp edge. So make sure your blade is completely dry when you put it in your bag or put your guards on.

Don’t forget if your blade is cold and you take it into a warm car - condensation will make it wet again, so it’s best to have a soft cover and a blade guard.

 

Thank you very much for your time Anne