One of the favorite winter activities is ice skating. Many people spend evenings on skating rinks. Fans of ice entertainment will sooner or later have to think about purchasing their own skates. And there are a number of reasons for this. However, beginners are concerned about the question: "How to choose skates for beginners?" After all, this is a purchase for several years.
Why buy your own skates and not use the skates
- Hygiene There will only be a skating leg in the boot, therefore, there is no risk of infection with the fungus.
- You do not have to sweat in plastic bags, which are offered in many rentals instead of a hygienic sock.
- The skates will be matched exactly to the size and eventually spread under the foot of their owner.
- There will be no binding to ice rental arenas. Often, small free sites are equipped in yards and parks. However, there is nothing to do without your skates there.
- With frequent visits to the rink, an impressive amount for using shoes can run up.
The main reasons are clear. The only benefit of renting: here a beginner can decide what he likes best (or by foot). Even a little experience will help to solve the question: "Which skates to choose for beginners?"
Varieties of skates
Probably, everyone paid attention that the shoes of the skaters are not the same as those of hockey players. The skates of the latter are very different from speed skating, etc. Each type of sport has its own shoes. Depending on the type of load, different blades are used, sharpening methods, even the appearance of the boot is strikingly different.
In total there are 3 main types of skates: hockey, figure skating and speed skating. Also, this list is often supplemented by amateur (or pleasure) and children. Which skates are best for beginners? To answer this question, you need to consider the features of each type of ice shoe.
Hockey skates
Everything here is aimed at protecting the legs. Everyone knows that hockey is a rather aggressive and traumatic sport. It is often hit with a club or on the side, it happens that the puck hits the leg. Shoes should protect the player from all these troubles. Therefore, comfort is often sacrificed for safety. Hockey skates are quite solid, they are made of synthetic materials and have hard inserts in the most open places. They always have a reinforced toe (it is made of plastic). On the other hand, a hard boot provides good support for the foot and ankle, fixes the foot in the correct position.
Another requirement that the game makes for shoes is speed and maneuverability. Therefore, the blades of the skates have the shape of an arc, and they also have no teeth. This allows you not to cling to ice even with very sharp turns. The smaller the area of contact with ice, the more maneuverable the player. However, maintaining balance will be more difficult.
How to choose skates for beginners to play hockey? If you plan to ride on open skating rinks, then you should not buy professional shoes. It is designed for temperatures up to -5. In severe frosts, the outer layer may crack. For street games, it is better to choose models from semi-professional and amateur collections. These shoes can withstand 20 degrees of frost without any damage. In addition, they are insulated, unlike professional ones. A warm insole is placed in them, the edge is sewn, there are tabs that protect the feet from frost. You can ask the sellers in the store which skates for beginners will be optimal.
Match the results. This is not the most suitable option for beginners, since it is quite difficult to maintain balance in hockey skates, so at first there will be many falls. But if a person is going to run on ice with a club, then you need to start in the appropriate shoes. If you already have some experience, you can safely buy hockey skates, because it is in them that you can perform various turns and some tricks, develop great speed and quickly reset it. In other words, they provide greater freedom of action.
Figure skates
They provide greater stability on ice due to a long straight blade that protrudes from the heel line by 2-2.5 cm. There are teeth in front that allow you to stand on tiptoe and perform steps, jumps and complex pirouettes. However, it is this element that gives a lot of inconvenience to beginners. Cogs can cling to the uneven ice of street rollers, which often leads to falls. But otherwise, figure skates for beginners are the best option.
They make shoes from leather or substitutes. This provides a rigid fixation of the ankle, which will protect against many injuries. However, skates are thin. As a result, riding in the cold is cold. The problem can be solved using warm insulating socks. The boot is high, with tight lacing, which facilitates the control of movements.
How to choose skates for beginner skaters? Shoes with a sole made of genuine leather should be preferred. It absorbs moisture well, which is very important for prolonged skiing.
Before buying, you should check the blades: they need to be slightly bent and released. The metal should return to its original position. If there is a bend, then the material used is of poor quality, it is better to choose another pair.
Walking skates
One of the most diverse types of shoes for skiing. Models may be similar in appearance to hockey, figured or roller. However, they differ from all in a softer and warmer boot. The blades may repeat the shape of hockey, but in this case the arc will not be steep. Or curly, then the teeth are either very short, or they are not at all. These skates are intended for those who plan to just ride and enjoy a leisurely walk on the ice, rather than chasing a puck or learning difficult pirouettes. In general, an option for most visitors to open ice rinks.
Walking skates are designed for riding with comfort, so their boots are softer. The lacing can be classic, but buckles can be used, like on rollers. Then the soft boot will be combined with the plastic one. However, the clasps can break, and they can be replaced only with the skate. Walking shoes were originally designed for large frosts, so you can ride in any weather.
However, increased comfort leads to the fact that the ankle is not so firmly fixed, and this increases the risk of injury. Also, a soft boot imposes serious restrictions on the ability to perform pirouettes, jumps and other complex elements. All these features you need to know in order to decide which skates to choose. For beginners, walks are quite suitable.
Children's skates
Toddlers are offered shoes with a wider and more stable blade. Double skids can also be used. These are the best skates for beginners to ride at the age of 4-5 years. When the child is a little comfortable with the new method of movement, you can buy shoes with a normal narrow blade. In this case, you can use children's sliding skates. Their appearance resembles amateur ones. They are suitable for easy skating on ice. Stock for sliding models is usually 3-5 sizes.
If the child plans to ride more thoroughly, then it is better to immediately choose him figured or hockey skates. Depending on the chosen sport. The allowable margin is no more than 2 sizes. Otherwise, the boot will dangle on the foot, resulting in personal injury.
Lacing
It is necessary for fixing the legs in the boot. Reliable lacing distinguishes skates for beginners. Children may be interested in bright multi-colored shoelaces. After all, they are so nice and interesting to tie! But the optimal solution is ordinary cotton shoelaces. Synthetic will be untied, especially in the cold. Clasps can not always be adjusted, and they are rarely located. It is good if the holes for the lace are located often. This will ensure a secure fit and protect against injury. A good option is a combination: the buckle is located at the very top, and the rest is controlled by a lace. The boot should sit tight, but not crush the leg. Checking the quality of the lacing is simple: you can sit in shoes and not fall back. That, in fact, is all you need to know about how to choose skates for beginners.
Sharpening
New skates are usually dumb. Before you start riding, take them to the sharpening. Do not try to do it yourself, because the procedure is performed on a special machine.
There are 2 ways to sharpen: under the groove and a flat stone. In the first case, maneuverability is ensured, the skate can ride on the edge, at bends it “bites” into the ice. In the second case - a larger contact surface with ice, better stability. This is suitable for beginners. Then you can re-grind under the groove.
Selection tips
There are several recommendations on how to choose skates for beginners:
- You need to go to the store with a warm toe and try on shoes with it. This is the only way to choose the perfect size.
- Children should not buy too large skates. Stock - a maximum of 1-2 sizes. If there is no desire to change them often, then you can buy sliding.
- To understand if skates are suitable, you need to lace them up completely.
- Try on a few pairs. Then it will be clear which block fits the foot.
- To understand whether skating is comfortable, you need to walk around in them, squat.
Which skates are better for beginners or what to stop at
It is easy to get confused in this variety. Therefore, before choosing skates for beginners, you should decide which type of skating is closer. And already from this start. So, if ice battles with sticks and puck are planned, then you need to buy hockey skates, because no other can protect your foot well from injuries and blows. To perform pirouettes, jumps, writing out complex figures, only curly ones are used. The rest will not be able to provide proper stability and fixation of the ankle. However, if there are no special plans, then walking will be enough.
It makes no sense to buy expensive skates for beginners. No price tag will stop the children: the foot will grow quickly. And an amateur is unlikely to visit the ice so often. For beginners, skating on smooth and level arenas is the best choice. For street ice, hockey or recreational ones with rigid fixation of the ankle are suitable. This will avoid injuries and accustom the foot to hold correctly.