Fitting Guide

CHOOSING A PAIR OF SKATES:

  • Since skates are your primary and most important piece of equipment, it is very important to get a suitable pair to allow you to perform your best.
  • A good pair of used skates will always be a better investment than a pair of poor quality new ones.
  • A poor quality skate will not have enough support in the ankles, will have a blade which is difficult to perform many skating maneuvers on, and will not allow your child to progress quickly in this sport.
  • It is a wise choice to spend more on your skates than to spend on your skating outfit.
  • Some of the better skate company names to look for are Harlick, Wifa, SP-Teri, Riedell, Gam, Risport
Please go to a recognized figure skate dealer to aid in your choice of skates. Hardware stores and Department stores do not generally carry the level of skate required to learn quickly and properly on.

PROBLEMS WITH SKATES:

  • Please note that if you have any problems with your skates there most likely is a simple solution to correct it.
  • For example if your ankles are sore a boot may be molded out so that your ankles are not sore any more. Other minor points of discomfort are usually easily fixed.
  • For any problems big or small The Leading Edge Skate Shop will be there to help you solve them.
Some of our services include sharpening, boot stretching, rebuilding, hook repairs, blade alignment and more.

Boots

Excellent for narrow feet, excellent custom product
Strong Boot, Great for wide fitting feet
Moderate fitting, good value skate
Wide fitting ball area, excellent dollar value

Gam

Moderate fitting skate, excellent dollar value, great skate for canskate-canfigure
Wide fitting, Excellent custom skate
Beginner level skates
HARLICK (SAN CARLOS, CA)
Type Level Description Jump Level Ball Width Heel Width
Finalist Novice - Senior Very Stiff advanced skating boot High Doubles, Triples Very Narrow Very Narrow
High Tester Pre Novice to Light Seniors Stiff competitive skating boot Doubles Very Narrow Very Narrow
Competitor Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Soft competitive boot Singles, Low Doubles Very Narrow Very Narrow

 

SP TERI (SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
Type Level Description Jump Level Ball Width Heel Width
Advantage Junior - Senior Extremely stiff, ideal for male skaters High Doubles, Triples Very Wide Very Narrow
Super Teri Deluxe Novice - Senior Very Stiff advanced skating boot High Doubles, Triples Very Wide Very Narrow
Super Teri Preliminary - Novice Medium stiff competitive skating boot Doubles Very Wide Very Narrow
Pro Teri Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Soft competitive boot Singles, Low Doubles Very Wide Very Narrow

 

RIEDELL (REDWING, MN)
Type Level Description Jump Level Ball Width Heel Width
2010 Junior - Senior Light weight boot High Doubles, Triples Moderate Moderate
Royal 900 SR / JR Novice - Senior Very stiff advanced skating boot High Doubles, Triples Moderate Moderate
Gold Star 375 SR Pre Novice - Junior Stiff competitive skating boot Doubles Moderate Moderate
Silver Star 355 SR / JR Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Medium stiff competitive skating boot Doubles Moderate Moderate
320 SET SR / JR Canfigure Boot/Blade ideal for advanced Canfigure Singles, Low Doubles Moderate Moderate

 

KLINGBEIL (JAMAICA, NY)
Type Level Description Jump Level Ball Width Heel Width
Strong II Novice - Senior Stiff advanced skating boot High Doubles Wide Wide
         

 

RISPORT (ITALY)
Type Level Description Jump Level Ball Width Heel Width
Diamant Novice - Senior Stiff advanced skating boot High Doubles, Triples Very Wide Moderate
Super Cristallo Preliminary - Novice Stiff competitive skating boot Doubles Very Wide Moderate
Lazer Set Canfigure - Preliminary Boot/Blade ideal for advanced Canfigure Singles, Low Doubles Very Wide Moderate

 

GAM (MONTREAL, Q.B.)
Type Level Description Jump Level Ball Width Heel Width
400 Performance Novice - Senior Stiff advanced skating boot High Doubles, Triples Moderate Moderate
100 Maxi Preliminary - Novice Stiff competitive skating boot High Doubles, Triples Moderate Moderate
80 Podium Ladies Preliminary - Novice Stiff competitive skating boot Doubles Moderate Moderate
65 Ladies 565 Men's Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Doubles Moderate Moderate
50 SR 150 JR Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Singles, Low Doubles Moderate Moderate
540 SR Men's Canfigure - Preliminary Canfigure - Preliminary Singles Moderate Moderate
Josee Chouinard SR Canfigure - Preliminary Canfigure - Preliminary Singles Moderate Moderate
520 SR Men's Canfigure - Preliminary Canfigure - Preliminary Singles Moderate Moderate
120 JR Canskate Canskate Singles Moderate Moderate

 

DON JACKSON (TORONTO, ON)
Type Level Description Jump Level Ball Width Heel Width
Mystique Canskate Canskate Size 8-13 Singles Moderate Moderate
Artiste Canskate Canskate Size 1-7 Singles Moderate Moderate
Classique Preliminary Preliminary Singles Moderate Moderate
Freestyle Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Pre Preliminary - Pre Novice Singles, Low Doubles Moderate Moderate

 

Blades

MK BLADES
Type Discipline Description Jump Level Sides
Goldstar Freestyle Bottom toe pick forward, acceptable for dance High Doubles, Triples Side Honed Taper
Gold Medal Freestyle Solid base plates, balance bar, very fast flow, Goldstar picks High Doubles, Triples Dove Tail
Phantom Freestyle Large toe picks , bottom pick is under skate High Doubles, Triples Side Honed Taper
Phantom Special Freestyle Solid base plate, large toe picks , bottom pick is under skate High Doubles, Triples Dove Tail
Vision (Vantage) Freestyle Large toe picks similar to Phantom, ideal first freeskate blade High Doubles Parallel
Professional All purpose Ideal for up to double lutz jumps, good for dance and Precision Doubles Parallel
Club 2000 All purpose Ideal for all single jumps, not recommended for doubles Singles Parallel
Gold Dance Dance Narrow blade, short heel, domed picks, extremely fast flow Dance Dove Tail
Silver Dance Dance Short heel, domed picks, similar picks as Professional Dance Parallel
Precision Precision Short heel, domed picks, economically priced, acceptable for dance Precision Parallel

 

JOHN WILSON BLADES
Type Discipline Description Jump Level Sides
Gold Seal Freestyle Solid base plate, Extra long heel High Doubles, Triples Side Honed Taper
Pattern 99 Freestyle Large toe picks, flat radius High Doubles, Triples Parallel
Spirit Freestyle Large toe picks, ideal first freeskate blade High Doubles Parallel
Coronation Comet Freestyle Intermediate freeskate blade, moderate toe picks, can be used for other disciplines Doubles Parallel
Coronation Ace All purpose Ideal for up to double lutz jumps, good for dance and Precision Doubles Parallel
Majestic All purpose Ideal for up to lutz jumps, good for dance and Precision Singles Parallel
Super Dance 99 Dance   Dance Parallel
Dance 99 Dance   Dance Parallel
Cornation Dance Dance   Dance Parallel
Precision Precision Short heel, domed picks, economically priced, acceptable for dance Precision Parallel