To become a master in hockey or figure skating, first of all, you need to ensure yourself confident skating, that is, an athlete on skates should feel comfortable. To do this, you need to choose the right skates for your leg size.
Sizes of hockey skates and their influence on the quality of the game
Nothing should interfere and distract the hockey player from the game, and, of course, he should not even remember that he is now not in ordinary boots or sneakers. There is no universal recipe for choosing skates. This is an individual matter, and you should mainly focus on the feeling of under whose foot they are being picked up.
Skates, the sizes of which are correctly selected under the foot of the player, become like an extension of his body. Between the athlete’s foot and the inside of the ice shoe there should not be a “bump”, but also there should be no excessive squeezing. There are some principles when choosing skates for yourself that you should pay attention to when buying them.
Foot size and boot size
If you are guided by the North American size system, then the pair of skates that are half the size of the student’s foot is most suitable. But this, of course, should not be taken as an unconditional guide to action. Because the main selection criterion is how comfortable you feel your feet in fully laced boots.
Habits, preferences, and purpose also play an important role. Someone chooses skates, the dimensions of which are close to the foot. And someone - even half the size. This is done in order to increase mobility and maneuverability, since the smaller the size of the skates, the consequently the shorter the length of the blade. After all, as you know, a long blade reduces maneuverability. And remember: never buy children skates for growth, 2-3 sizes larger. This not only increases the risk of injury, but also can completely ruin the child’s skating. Given that each manufacturer has their own table of sizes of skates, you can choose the right one by comparing your country of residence with the size of the shoes. To find out the last one, it is necessary to measure the length of the foot and find in the table the size corresponding to the obtained indicator.
When it's better hard, and when it's soft
There are plenty of skates on sale today, and so when choosing a pair for yourself, try to focus not only on the size of figure skates or ice hockey skates, but also on some important nuances. Skates come in with a low or high heel, come in with a high or low rise, and the choice in this case is determined by the individual structure of the athlete's legs. In addition, you should pay attention to the stiffness of the boots.
To prevent injury, it is best to choose the hard option. However, a hard boot will not give the freedom of action that a soft boot can provide. Professional athletes usually opt for the soft version, because the muscles of their legs are already well trained and ready for specific loads. The beginner is not prepared so well, and therefore in soft boots can tuck his leg.
The smallest size of skates and sliding models for kids
First skating for a child can be the most joyful event. Moreover, nowadays it’s not difficult to buy skates for kids. The models for the smallest “future stars” are so wonderful and comfortable that it’s nice to take a look. The smallest size of the skates is approximately 22-23, but the bottom line is that in kids the leg grows very quickly. And taking skates for growth, as mentioned above, is not recommended. Skate designers thought about it and created skates that can change their size.
There are four types of sliding skates. They are divided into separate types, depending on the method of their separation, that is, they are push-button, bolt, screw and lever. How these mechanisms work is easy to understand. The screw ones are recognized as the most convenient, since thanks to this method the dimensions of the sliding skates can be changed smoothly, and the shoe can be literally adjusted to the millimeter under the baby’s legs.
Nuances when choosing sliding skates
Of course, it’s best to buy sliding skates with a baby, because these models require fitting. It is imperative that the child himself answers whether it is convenient for his legs in the selected pair. If you can’t take the child with you to the store, or if you want to surprise him, then measure the length of the child’s feet in advance. Then the table of sizes of the skates will help you determine the size. And in this case, agree with the sellers about the possibility of exchanging goods, in case you still make a mistake with the size and the skates will not fit your baby.
When choosing skates for a child, be sure to pay attention to which part of the shoe is sliding apart. For very small ones, choose those in which the toe opens, because when the heel moves apart, the center of gravity shifts and the baby can fall. In general, it is best to give preference to plastic sliding skates, as they are both comfortable and light, and will last several seasons. In such models, only shoes are plastic, and the blades of the skates are made of durable carbon steel.
Figure Skating Skates
Skates for figure skating differ from other types of skates in the form of blades. A feature of these same blades is that they have sharp teeth in front. Thanks to them, the skater can take steps and jumps, as well as move around on toes. At the same time, the blade itself is not at all flat, but curved, which helps in performing movement, sliding, and rotation, which distinguishes such skates. Dimensions are also very important, but their selection is focused on the same criteria as in the selection of models for hockey.
When choosing, pay special attention to the blade of the skates. Here, such a criterion as “inexpensive” does not fit absolutely. This is because low-quality steel grinds quickly and does not glide very well on ice. And if you want to grow up a great skater or skater, then make sure that your child is provided only with high-quality sports equipment.
General recommendations for choosing skates
Examine the individual characteristics of your foot, as these are important criteria for choosing the right model. Take a close look at your old skates. The sizes and their right or wrong choice in the past will tell you the look of the old insole. How correctly the foot is imprinted on the insole, whether it is evenly distributed throughout the insole or somewhere beyond its edges - try to take all this into account when choosing a new pair.
Socks and lacing
You should try on in those socks in which you will ride. This refers to the thickness and density of the socks. Thin socks are recommended to be worn, since the inside of the boot will form and adapt to your unique foot shape.
So, the ice boots are bought, and you are ready to go out on the ice in them. While shoeing, loosen the lacing lower and slide the heel vigorously back. The boot tongue, when properly laced, will hold the foot in that position, preventing your heel from moving in the back of the boot. The leg should be tightly fixed, but in no case squeezed. Now you are ready to ride.