HappyLady Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 My DD wants to learn how to ice skate. Our local ice skating rink offers lessons and they said they have hockey skates to rent. I don't want to invest in any skates until I know my DD is going to stick with it. My DH grew up using figure skates and wants our DD to use those. I don't ice skate so I don't know which is better. What do you suggest? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Hockey skates seemed easier for my kids (of course, one ended up playing hockey). They all were good, for some reason, and we can barely stand up! Weird. Check out resale shops for sports equipment. You can get a good pair really inexpensively, and then if your kid loves it, can buy a better pair later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abba12 Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Hockey was FAR easier for me learning because I would lean forward to balance, and leaning forward in figure skates will, obviously dig in. I used them once and ended up quite hurt. Having said that, it depends what she is more likely to want to do. If she wants to learn some figure style skating she is better off learning in those to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Hockey skates are more versatile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 (edited) Dd took to figure skates quite readily. She can now do all the single jumps and spins. Dh took to hocky skates. I'm just happy to get around the rink in one piece :) but I do prefer the figure skates because of the shape of the back of the blade. Can you rent both and try them to see which one works better. Remember rental skates may or may not be sharp enough. If you get a pair that doesn't have a good edge, take them back to the rental desk to exchange Edited December 2, 2015 by HollyDay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 If she's quite young, there are double-bladed skates that help littles (and also milk crates, haha). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I think it's depends which style she wants to learn. DS started out on hockey skates at 2, because um, he wanted to play hockey. :). But if she wants to figure skate, there's no reason not to start on those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I'm surprised that everyone is saying hockey skates are easier. Our local ice rink says figure skates are easier, and suggests that kids who want to play hockey take the initial couple series of lessons on figure skates, and when they are ready to switch, repeat the level they just finished with hockey skates, so they can concentrate on learning how to use them. I have no experience to back this up, as I've never worn anything but figure skates, and DS started out with figure skates because that's what the rink rented, but never took lessons. He switched to hockey skates, and didn't seem to have trouble. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtsmamtj Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Hockey skates - they don't have the "toe ridges" at the top of the blades. All of mine, well 6 of 7, all preferred hockey skates-including the girls when learning to skate (child #7 isn't ready for ice skating yet). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 If she's going to take lessons for figure skating she needs figure skates. Some people, like your dh, think it's better to get used to skating with a toe pick right from the beginning. I think skating is like everything else. Good equipment makes it more enjoyable. You really can't decide you are going to stick with skating after a lesson or two. It's a skill that has to be developed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baile Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Even if you think she'll end up playing hockey, I would have her start out in figure skates. In our experience, it's easier to transition from figure skates to hockey skates than the other way around. The toe picks are not a big deal, but figure skates force kids to develop better technique and stronger, more flexible ankles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 My boys did three years of figure skating lessons in hockey skates. A travesty, I know. But half the girls wore them too. Other than the pick, the real difference is how they're sharpened, but we didn't even worry about that. Go with what the rink rents, if the skates are comfortable for her. That's the most important thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 My son started in hockey skates. The disadvantage is that it is slightly harder to stand up when you fall because there is no toe pick to grab the ice and keep you steady while you stand. The advantage is that beginners can shift their weight more freely without catching the toe pick if they are wearing hockey skates. My son wore hockey skates straight through until he started jumping and only then shifted. Aside for a few inadvertent falls due to accidental toe-picking, he transitioned just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I'd go with whatever you can rent from the rink you will be learning at unless she wants to learn to figure skate competitively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 When I was very young, someone gave me a pair of Hockey skates and I learned how to ice skate on those. I think they were too big when I got them, and I stuffed cotton in them, in front of my toes? If your DD wants to play Hockey, then I believe learning on Hockey skates is the way to go. However, if she wants to learn how to Figure skate, then I believe it would be better to learn on Figure skates. It has been many years since I've skated (we live in a Tropical Valley and there is no ice skating rink here), but I seem to remember that when I went to rinks where they rented skates, they rented Figure skates. Possibly they also rented Hockey skates. I had my own Figure skates, so I didn't pay a lot of attention to what kind of skates they were renting. When I was young, I took some FIgure skating lessons, and that certainly requires that one is using FIgure skates. Suggestion: Question them about why they use Hockey skates... OT: DD wants to go ice skating with me, when we are in Orlando Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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