EQUIPMENT AND CARE
Skates:
The most important piece of equipment for a beginner or experienced skater is their skates.
Skaters enrolled in STARskate programs needs strong skates with proper figure skating blades. Some department store figure skating blades have the bottom toe pick removed and skaters cannot attempt basic skating moves such as jumps or toe steps or basic exercises. Only specialized Figure Skating shops carry skates for suitable for developing figure skaters. In the Vancouver area, you can find the following businesses.
Skater’s Edge: Suite 10-145 Schoolhouse, Coquitlam, BC V3K 1C8
Leading Edge/Cyclone Taylor: 1005 west 49th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 2P7SKATE SHARPENING
For proper fitting skate:
o Ensure that the space at the back of the heel is no more than a pencil width.
o Skates should fit snugly around the ankle and heel with some room for movement of the toes.
o There should be no looseness or creases in the boot.
o The tongue should be well padded and the wide enough to cover the front of the ankle and stay in place.
o Laces should be loose over the toe and front of the foot, while snug over the ankle and instep.
o Walk around in the skates off the ice, they should feel comfortable.
