Title: Sharpening for Recreational skaters
Author: Natasha
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2003

Tip: If you're a casual skater and you're wondering when to sharpen your skates, a good trick is to run your thumbnail along the blades edges. If some of your thumbnail comes off on the blade then the sharpening is fine. If it doesn't come off in one or more spots, then it might be time for a new sharpening. Happy Skating!

Title: skate storage
Author: Jasmin
Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Tip: When storing your skates for the season, make sure to wipe your blades completely dry, apply a small amount of oil or petrolium jelly to the metal edge of your blades. Store in an upstairs closet and not the basement. Don't forget to wipe clean before you start your next season!

Title: FIGURE SKATING MUSIC FOR COACHES
Author: Musica Allegro
Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2003

Tip: Welcome to Musica Allegro -Musica Allegro offers digitally mastered ready-to-use music on compact disc for FIGURE SKATING. -Program music for all your athletes can be found on ONE compact disc, no matter their age or skill level - All you have to do is copy your favorite program music to disc or cassette and go! No cuts or fades required! -SAVE TIME AND MONEY! Come and visit us at http://pages.infinit.net/musica Don't miss it !

Title: new versus used skates
Author: Figure 8
Date: Sunday, June 09, 2002

Tip: In a perfect world, a skater would always get new skates. However in reality there are great second hand skates on the market. The most important thing is the fit whether new or used. Make sure that you purchase second hand skates with the same attention to fit. Second hand skates should have lots of support remaining and if you don't plan on changing the blades right away, lots of sharpening edge left too! Make sure insoles are in the used skates so that you may also have to option of taking them out when the time comes!

Title: sharpening before competition
Author: Figure 8
Date: Sunday, June 09, 2002

Tip: It is strongly suggested that you do NOT sharpen your blades the day of or prior to a competition. We suggest that you have your blades checked at least 10 days before a major competition Allow time for the skater to practice a few times on the new sharpening before the big day!

Title: blade length
Author: Figure 8
Date: Sunday, June 09, 2002

Tip: Blade length should be determined by the length of the soles of the boots you want to use. Generally, the blade fits 1/4" shorter than the overall sole length. There are exceptions: Risport brand boots need blades that are almost full sole length because of the heel design. Tip #1 - Long blades generally give more flow but need more skills to be handled. Shorter blades are easier to handle but lack flow and can result in reduced speed.

Title: boot fitting? growing room and how much!
Author: Figure 8
Date: Sunday, June 09, 2002

Tip: One of the most confusing aspect of buying skates is how much extra room should there be? tip #1 - If the heel raises when the skater walks with them in the store, they are too big (length or width or both) tip #2 - With the laces loosen all the way down, ask the skater to move his or her toes to the front of the boot. Make sure the toes are not curled. Ask the skater to stand up, bend his or her knee forward and check how much room is behind her heel. If you can clearly see the insole of the skates, they are too big! Tip #3 - Pull the insole out of the boot, place it on the floor and ask the skater to place his or her foot onto the insole making sure that the heel is all the way to the back. In most cases, if the toes are more that 1/4" to 3/8" away from the end, the skates are to big. Please note that in many cases, a skaters foot will fill the entire length of the insole, that is okay. same thing with width. Insole are generally generic and are not size/width specific. Tip #4 - Generally girls feet stop growing near age 13 or 14. For those older than that, you should leave little room for growth Generally boys feet stop growing near age 16 or 17. Older kids, avoid buying too big. These kids usually need the added support of a close fittng boot because of there level of skating, Tip #5 - If it feels too big, it's too big

Title: polish
Author: jasmin
Date: Wednesday, March 06, 2002

Tip: It's very important to maintain your boots with regular polishing

Title: polish
Author: jasmin
Date: Wednesday, January 09, 2002

Tip: It's very important to maintain your boots with regular polishing

Title: sizes? laces hockey
Author:
Date: Thursday, November 08, 2001

Tip: generally laces fit as follows: (hockey skates) 72" for youth size 8 to youth size 11 84" for youth size 12 to junior size 3 96" for junior size 3 to adult size 7 108" for senior size 7 to senior size 11 120" for senior size 11 to senior size 13

Title: size? laces figure
Author:
Date: Thursday, November 08, 2001

Tip: generally laces fit as follows: (figure skates) 72" for youth sizes up to size 12 84" for youth size 12 to junior size 3 96" for size 3 to size 5 108" for size 5 to size 9 120" for the biggest sizes

Title: size? boot covers
Author: Figure 8
Date: Thursday, November 08, 2001

Tip: Boot covers come in 2 sizes small: approximately up to skate size 3 1/2 medium: approximately from size 4 and up Boot covers are made from Lycra spandex and stretch lots. Ideally you don't want the boot cover to bag over the skating boot.