Features of professional figure skates and their choice

Professional figure skates differ markedly from ordinary, amateur counterparts in performance and technical requirements for this piece of equipment. High-quality female models made of genuine leather and their male versions even outwardly stand out from the rest. An overview of all the features of such sports shoes will help to understand the difference between semi-professional and professional products produced for training, competitions.

Everyone knows that skaters are of a special type. But the subtleties of their difference from amateur options are still known only to professionals. First of all, the blades used by athletes look different. They differ from the usual ones by the presence of anterior teeth and a protrusion in the heel. To make it easier for the athlete to perform complex figures and pirouettes, the boots have a heel.

Do not forget that such equipment has 2 components. Shoes in professional figure skating are just as important as blades. They are created according to certain templates, most often on an individual order.

The following points can be attributed to the important characteristics of this shoe.

1. High rigidity. When sewing boots, several layers of genuine leather are used at once. The material should be well-made, breathable - air permeable, but retaining heat.
2. The presence of a softening lining. It prevents skin damage from chafing and makes riding more comfortable.But professional skates are equipped with a lining with another important component - shock-absorbing properties. A composite or natural textile is used as a material.
3. Special materials outsole. Most often, in boots for professional sports, it is made of genuine leather, rubber, carbon fiber.
4. Anatomical block. It is made to fit the athlete. To achieve a perfect fit, a thermoforming method is used, with a filling of memory foam. In this case, the athlete's foot leaves a perfect impression, which remains inside for the entire duration of the boot.
5. An insole that evenly distributes the load on the foot.
6. Special tongue design. They use foam or felt as padding. When lacing, the shin is not crushed by the strings.

Skate blades are always 2-ribbed and have long and wide teeth. A recess is located between the parallel elements. When skating, the skater slides on the ice, leaning on both ribs. The blades are made of high quality chrome-plated steel. For fastening, screws are used; the radius of curvature is accurately calculated for them.

The classification of skates for figure skating begins with their division into women and men, differing in size and performance. All of them are made with genuine leather boots and fit the established quality standards. But for girls in boots, a heel is necessarily made, which allows performing a number of elements more effectively, visually changing the position of the leg.

In addition, the division is also carried out on other grounds. The classification in this case is carried out according to the following parameters.

Depending on the mass of each of the components of the figure skate, it can be designed for:

• mass skating;
• free programs;
• coaching use;
• educational or "school" classes with the development of basic elements;
• dance numbers;
• synchronized movement of athletes.

Each of the options is made according to its own standards, taking into account the complexity, speed mode, relevant for a particular discipline. It is important that the mass of the skates is not too large, allowing you to easily perform the necessary elements.

In free skating, skates are used with an elongated blade and heel, well-defined teeth. Boots should be high, very stiff, capable of withstanding intense jumping loads. Trainer skates often differ from free skates only in an increased layer of insulation and a softer boot.

For the performance of the compulsory figures, "school" equipment is used. It is distinguished by a small radius of curvature of the blade, softer boot, one tooth. Dance skates do not have protrusions or other elements that can injure a partner when contacting at high speed. Synchronized skaters use skates with soft, cropped boots and ergonomic lacing.

Classification of figure skates according to the skating class of athletes is also quite common. Professional training requires the use of equipment with the stiffest boot that reliably fixes the lower leg, as well as a high-grade steel blade that retains its sharpness for a long time.

Skates for beginners are softer and lighter. In them, young skaters hone their technique. Semi-professional skates are available for children and adults. They are sewn from genuine leather, with a mandatory anatomical fit on the leg. The outsole must have cushioning properties.

The best figure skating companies are based in Europe and North America. Each brand has its own characteristics. For example, Italian Edea focuses on modern high-tech materials and the highest rigidity of its boots. Synthetic items are preferred and Risport... The recognized world leader is considered Swiss brand Graf... It is his skates that can be seen on the feet of the world's leading skaters performing in synchronized skating and ice dancing.

Among the North American brands, special attention is paid to Jackson products... The company uses a lightweight boot construction, multi-layered anatomical outsole and natural leather for the upper.

Among European manufacturers, attention is also quite worthy Austrian brand WIFAfocused on professional and semi-professional skiing. The company successfully maintains a balance between the quality and price of its products.

The rating of professional figure skates for beginner athletes looks like this.

• Graf Splendid. Ready-made figure skates for womens skating. The boots in this model are made of genuine leather, the blades are of a professional grade. The inner layer is thermotransformable, providing a perfect fit on the leg. High-quality last and reliable fixation of the ankle area minimize the risk of injury.

• Jackson Freestyle Aspire. Skates of a semi-rigid type (index 45) with a thermotransforming layer and lining with memory effect. It is a good choice for learning the basic elements of figure skating.

• CK Princess Lux 100% Leather. A professional skate model with a precisely calculated boot profile and excellent ankle support. All elements are made of genuine leather, the blades are made of high quality stainless steel, fastened with short screws.

• Graf Montana Gold. Modern skates with a comfortable last. Available in a wide range of sizes. The boot has an outer covering made of artificial leather, resistant to damage, there are reinforcements in the ankle and upper area. Felt tongue and lining, steel blades with nickel-plated stainless steel.

• WIFA Prima Set. A universal model of skates made of genuine leather with high-quality steel blades. Available in a wide range of sizes. Due to its low weight and good stability, it is considered an excellent choice for training for beginner athletes.

• ICE BLADE Naomi. Lightweight and inexpensive skates for beginners with artificial leather boot, available in versions for men and women. Natural fur lining, high carbon steel blades.

• Jackson JS1490 Mystique. Lightweight skates with synthetic upper, soft abrasion-resistant lining and PVC sole. The set includes a high-quality steel blade that requires sharpening no more than 1-2 times during the season. Due to the rigid fixation of the ankle, the model is sometimes considered professional, but it is more likely suitable for beginners in figure skating.

Experienced athletes use individually tailored kits in their training and performances. The cost of boots here can reach 50,000 rubles, and the stiffness index is 90-95. It depends on this how complex elements an athlete can perform without the risk of injury.

Before choosing the right figure skates of the right size, it is worth considering some of the secrets and subtleties of this process. The basic set of rules can be formulated as follows.

1. The fitting is carried out over the socks in which the skating will be performed. The fit should be snug but not squeezed.
2. The stiffness of the boots is selected based on the weight of the skater. The more weight, the higher this figure should be. Beginners ride in semi-soft boots. You can check the rigidity by squeezing the ridge in the ankle area - it should not bend, especially in PRO class models.
3. The hardness of the blade must be at least 70. With such indicators, it will be possible to sharpen less often.
4. Boot attachment type - lacing only. In figure skating, it should be full, from the bottom up.
5. The blade width is the maximum possible. In this case, it is important that the skate does not turn out to be too heavy.
6. The sole is multi-layered, but not plastic. Polymeric materials are found in budget models of figure skates. They reduce the weight of the boot, but under shock loads after freezing, they easily crack and deform. A high-quality outsole always has several layers with varying degrees of cushioning.
7. Material - genuine leather. Of course, synthetic boots today are not inferior in rigidity and quality to their counterparts made from natural materials. But in terms of durability and ride comfort, nothing beats real leather goods.
8. Selection is strictly in size. To determine it, accuracy is needed, therefore, both legs in socks are traced along the foot on a cardboard blank, then the length is measured at the extreme points. When asymmetry is detected, the maximum value is taken as the basis for selection. By dividing the length by 2/3, you can get the actual size of the athletic shoe.
9. Riding experience matters. Beginners 1-3 years of study use ready-made kits assembled. Professionals make up the kits themselves, purchasing boots and blades separately, based on the desired parameters.
10. Famous brands are a priority. In the world of high performance sports, you should give preference to only the best brands of equipment. Its quality directly affects the result.