What size Ice Skates should I get? (tips welcome too :P)?

Im starting a new figure skating class tomorrow, what size skates shgould I get?


Im a size 4 and a 1/2 shoe (since i was 11) and im 15 now.





Any ice skating tips would also be appreciated too :P





and how long will it take for me to get to competition level?

What size Ice Skates should I get? (tips welcome too :P)?
It%26#039;s hard to tell because different brands of skates run differently. At my home rink, their rental skates do not come in half sizes, and we usually tell people to go up a size from their shoe size. The bad thing about using %26quot;mental rentals%26quot; for lessons is -- and I worked at an ice rink for a long time, so this is from experience working there and teaching there -- the skates don%26#039;t get sharpened nearly often enough, so sometimes skaters struggle through lessons and quit because they get frustrated when they%26#039;re unable to hold edges or even keep their feet underneath them. With rentals, one week you may get a pair that works well, the next week you may get a pair that are really broken down.





If you%26#039;re going to be taking lessons and plan to continue on, I%26#039;d suggest getting your own skates. Go to your local pro shop/skate shop and get fitted properly. Tell them that you%26#039;re just starting out, but plan to continue on with classes. They should be able to set you up with a boot/blade set that is the correct stiffness for a beginner, but will take you through most of the basic classes...at least through beginning spins and jumps. They will probably put you in a Riedell or Jackson skate. Don%26#039;t go to Sports Authority, Dunham%26#039;s, Dick%26#039;s Sporting Goods, Toys %26#039;R Us, etc. You%26#039;re not going to get the help you need, your questions answered, a correct fit or the right type of skate. The skates those stores have are for people who only plan to skate a few times a year, just doing laps around a rink or pond. You%26#039;re going to need a little better boot and blade for lessons -- plus who wants skates that everyone else%26#039;s stinky feet have been in!! :) They may cost a little more, but they%26#039;re going to last you longer than the Toys %26#039;R Us specials....as I%26#039;ve told other budding skaters here before, your skills will probably outgrow your skates pretty fast, and may even hold you back.





As for skating tips, the best tip I can give you is bend your knees!! If I had a dollar for everytime I told an adult or child skater that, I could probably quit my full-time job! :) Especially when you%26#039;re first starting out, everyone wants to keep their knees locked.....if you stay low on your knees and bend, you have more to push with. Keep a straight upper body, arms out for balance, don%26#039;t watch your feet, head up and bend your knees. Oh, and of course, have fun.





There are competitions for skaters in the basic skills programs now, if you%26#039;re interested in competitions. Check usfsa.org. You can search by location and date as to when competitions are. Other than that, how long it takes is up to you. How many hours do you spend practicing and how hard do you want to work?





Good luck -- I hope your lessons go well. :)
Reply:My daughter skates and she wears a size 7 and her skates are 5 1/2. Skate sizes can be 1 to 1 1/2 sizes smaller than your actual shoe size.Your best bet would be to go to your rink and get them to size your foot.When you go to the rink to try them on, wear THIN socks or tights. Good luck with your lesson!
Reply:i%26#039;m not sure how figure skates work... but hockey skates are usually about a size and a half smaller than your shoes. So i%26#039;m an 11 and i have 9 1/2 skates
Reply:i am size 8 in my skates and i am size 8 in shoes


i would rent skates before you buy them and just experiment with lots of sizes





it will probably take about 2 or 3 years to get to competition level


if you are just a begginer dont rush yourself just be patient


it is kinda wierd for a 15 year old to be starting


hard to break it to ya but i dont think you will be in the olympics if you are starting this late





hope i helped!!!!!!


ps. i luv skating and the jonas brothers!!!!!!
Reply:Okay, first of all, don%26#039;t make the same mistake that I did. I got skates 1 size to big and I couldnt even skate without my ankles killing. I am talking about skating, not even tricks.








Now, when you try on your skates try a 3 on, and see how that fits. It should fit like a glove, don%26#039;t let anyone tell you %26quot;oh, you need room to grow into them%26quot; NO YOU DONT!





Now, when going to try them on wear thin thin socks, if not even wear tights! [if you wear tights, dont wear socks] because you never wear heavy socks, they get all bunched up in your skate when you%26#039;re skating and the cause blisters.











Now, I am not sure what class your taking [ISI, ASFSC ...did i spell that right?]





I take ISI and when in ISI its around pre-alpha you do competition.





but really its whenever your coach, or teacher thinks your ready.





Good Luck!
Reply:3 1/2
Reply:I would suggest going to your local pro shop and being fitted for skates if you plan on buying skates since different brands, and types run differently size wise. If you are just trying to figure out what size of rental skates to get for you lesson I would suggest trying a size 4 or 4.5 and trying on a couple of pairs smaller and larger and seeing which ones fit fairly snug, but are not uncomfortable on your feet. Wear thin nylon or polyester socks. You can really begin competing at any level, but I would suggest waiting until you are able to do most basic jumps before you begin competition. Every skater is so different that the time table of when you will begin competition is very hard to judge. Good luck!
Reply:Besides the obvious (practice, practice, practice)





don%26#039;t let them talk you into filing down the first pick on the toe. Lots of people say, %26quot;Oh it will be easier to learn%26quot; but you will quickly get to the point when that extra spur is really helpful, especially in toe jumps. Learn to skate with the full pick
Reply:for rental skates? u can try ur own shoe size n if its too loose u can get a size smaller, as for ur own skates, ur gonna hafta get fitted...also, to get to competition level as in regionals, u hafta be a novice skater...so a looooong time...for regular competitions, the usfsa has competitions for all levels, u just hafta join it =D
Reply:You should go into your rink%26#039;s pro shop and see if they have someone available to fit you for skates. When you are buying skates, it is SO important to get a pair of skates that fit you properly and are the right level for you. Someone at the ice rink should be able to properly measure you and recommend a good pair of skates for you that are the proper stiffness and blade needed for your level. Never buy a pair of skates that you can take the boot, and fold it over. Those have 0 ankle support, and you%26#039;d be better off skating in rental skates.





Like someone else said, don%26#039;t ever buy skates with room to grow. Not only will it hinder your skating because your foot will be sliding around, you are also at risk for a lot of injury to your foot. A couple of friends of mine used to have ill-fitting and ill-supporting skates, and now they have lovely bone spurs on their feet to prove it. Also, you will not want to wear a thick pair of socks with your skates if they are too big, contrary to popular belief. Thick socks rub and cause blisters, and you also don%26#039;t get as good of a feel for your skates and the ice.
Reply:IDK but a thought is go to the pro shop and have your foot measured they know
Reply:Always get the size up in figure skates (bring a pair of thick socks because they WILL rub!) The only tips i could really help you with when I%26#039;m not there is keep kinda low and that will help balance, if your a beginner stay near the edges and then there there to grab in case you fall, once you get more confident move away from the edges and explore the ice rink.



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