All about children's curly skates

It is difficult to imagine a child who, having seen the skating of figure skaters, would not want to be on the ice in a shiny suit and skating. Many sports schools start accepting children from the age of three, inviting young skaters to the school. It is not necessary to achieve athletic success and train in the hope of winning a gold medal. You can just come to the ice rink and start skating there, at the level of an amateur. In either case, this cannot be done without skates. About what skates are for children, how to choose models for a child, as well as how to lace and care for them, will be discussed in the article.

Figure skating is considered to be a very interesting and exciting sport. Figure skates are required for ice skating.

Figure skates got their name because of the convenience of producing various figures and pirouettes in them. Such models are equipped with a row of teeth located in front of the blade. Thanks to their presence, the skater can perform complex elements, walk on tiptoes, and jump. The skater blades are wider and longer than other options. Because of this, they become more stable, which makes it easier to ride.

Curly models differ from other options by the presence of a heel on them, which makes it possible to evenly distribute the center of gravity.

The most suitable material for figure skates is genuine leather. In shoes made of such material, the leg feels comfortable, breathes, and retains heat. To extend the life of such products, several layers of leather are used for them.

Figure skates can be classified into 3 categories.

• Amateur models. They are made from less rigid materials than professional options. Most often they have a plastic sole. The blades are securely attached to it using a one-piece connection, which cannot be further replaced. This is the most suitable option for beginner skaters and just amateurs. It will be extremely difficult to do complex pirouettes in such shoes.
• Semi-professional. The Semi-Pro options are for kids serious about the sport. They have a hard boot that reliably fixes the leg and has an anatomical shape. The sole is two-layer. This option is designed for fairly solid loads.
• Professional. Athletes exercising daily choose professional footwear. The blades in the skates are made of high quality steel. A 3-layer natural leather is used as a suitable material for them. The teeth here have longer extreme projections, they are located below.

The choice of models depends on what exactly the child will be doing. Fans of roller skates more often pay attention to universal options with removable chassis. Such shoes are intended for training on ice as well as on asphalt. The peculiarity of the models is that the blades in them can be exchanged for roller wheels, and vice versa. These products are ideal for year round training. They are intended for children from 4 years old and for adults.

Recently, more and more professional skates are equipped with removable blades, allowing them to be sharpened when necessary. It is not only convenient but also practical. It is not uncommon for the boot to remain in good condition while the blade becomes unusable. By changing it, you can continue training. The ease of sliding depends on how high quality the blades are.

Young children and beginners start skating with wide runners, often almost flat. The presence of double blades contributes to greater stability on them when skating on ice.

Children's models and walking skates are made monolithic, with fixed blades. They are attached directly at the factory and do not require subsequent removal.

In order not to have to regret the wrong choice, it is better to buy skates for skaters in a specialized store, choosing products from trusted manufacturers.

Rating of popular companies engaged in the production of sports shoes for figure skating.

• Graf. The skates of the Swiss company are very popular among athletes. Manufacturers produce models for men, women, children's options. The products of this brand are distinguished by high quality and comfort.

• Jackson Ultima. Manufacturers from Canada present products in demand in many countries, suitable for athletes of all skill levels. Modern technologies are used in the production of models.

• Wifa. Sports goods from Austria are very popular. Models for children, which are made by hand, were most marked. In addition to skates, the company also produces accessories.

• Edea S. R. L. Country of origin - Italy. The skates produced by the young company are not inferior in quality to eminent manufacturers. In each model, everything is carefully thought out, from the shape of the products to the lining with antibacterial properties.

To buy skates for girls and boys, you need to determine what size of casual shoes your child is wearing, then choose the size of the shoes. You can find out by focusing on the dimensional grid. It is worth knowing that the dimensional grid may not always correspond to reality, therefore, shoes must be measured on the foot.

The length of the boots should be taken as a basis:

• children's models - up to size 32;
• skates for juniors - size 33-37;
• shoes for adults - from 38 p.

A small child at the age of 3-4 or five years cannot yet determine the exact size for himself. Adults and the recommendations of experienced skaters will help them in this.

1. When trying on, it is advisable to wear socks that will be used during training. The size of the shoes should be half a size larger than the child's outdoor shoes.
2. When putting on boots, the lacing should be completely relaxed. The leg should easily fit into the boot, resting against the back wall.
3. The foot must be firmly fixed, otherwise the child may be injured. The shoes are laced up and tested for comfort. At the slightest discomfort, you should choose another model.
4. For skaters with a large physique, professionals recommend opting for rigid models, with a lateral inclination at the heel not exceeding 300 degrees. For beginners, it is better to pay attention to models with medium hardness.
5. The neck of the boots should match the parameters of the foot. You should not choose a neck that is too narrow or too wide. It is chosen taking into account the fullness of the leg, which is determined by the rise and width of the foot. For a wide foot, you can purchase boots one size larger.

It is very important for skaters how well the shoes are laced up. The lacing is considered correct if the ends of the laces point upwards and the finger does not fit under the lacing.

There are two options for lacing.

• Upper. This type of lacing is more suitable for an experienced athlete than a beginner. This method is designed for a 1-hour workout. With this method, the boot will be quite tightly in contact with the foot, which can cause discomfort. This kind of weaving involves pulling the lace from the outside of the next row.
• Lower. This option is suitable for people with high instep of the foot, as well as for beginner athletes. In this case, the lace is pulled along the inside. 20 minutes after the start of the workout, the lacing is loosened.

To properly lace up boots, you should follow the instructions.

• It is necessary to loosen the lacing up to the third hole of the boot. Then the tongue is protruded and tilted forward. At the same time, the foot should not experience unpleasant sensations.
• With effort, it is necessary to move the foot so that the heel is in its place.
• Lace up the boot from the toe. At the next crossing, the lace is checked for tension. It is important that it is not too strong.
• The top pair of holes as well as the bottom hooks are tightened.
• The lacing is finished without undue tension. Each subsequent pair of hooks is laced weaker than the previous one. In this case, the lace is thrown over the hook, leading down under it and leading upward, moving towards the next hook. Thanks to the loop formed around the hooks, the lacing will hold well.

It is necessary to check the comfort of finding the foot in the boot on the next pair of hooks. The knots are tied in the form of a classic bow. This method is considered the most reliable.

In order for such shoes to last as long as possible, figure skates must be properly looked after.

• When carrying skates, plastic covers must be put on the blades.
• It is recommended to store them in fur or fabric covers.
• Wipe shoes and blade with dry cloth. This will prevent the blade from rusting.
• It is not recommended to dry your skates in the immediate vicinity of heaters or other heat sources.