Yup ebay works well for me - but maybe take her to decathlon or another big sport shop in Scot to see which type fit her best and wah tsize she is and them go and but off ebay!!

The main difference between figure and hockey skates as far a learners go is the the pick.

If you arent used to the pick it leads to many face plants, but if you are going to do figure skating then you need to get used to the pick early on.

Figure blades are also longer and more stable (without the large rocker curve that makes hockey skates ideal for fast manouvers). Comfort should not be an issue dictated by style...thats the boot not the blade.

Crappy tire has some pink skates aimed at little girls. If you dont like the pick its easily ground off, but then if she decides to do figure skating later on, there will be a painful learning period while she gets used to the pick at the front. We figure its easier to get used to the pick now when shes going to fall over a lot anyway, and then later on if she goes for hockey (God I hope not...too expensive, too many early starts) then the lack of pick is a non issue.

Frankly, once you buy her her own skates she will be so thrilled that the colour (or lack of) should be a total non issue, and if it is, we either "tough", or find some covers (although the other kids are pretty sure to laugh at that)






The top one looks to have a particularly crappy flat blade. (as do the barbie ones Ive seen).

The MOST important thing in any skate is NOT the colour, its the blade and the FIT OF THE BOOT. Get good blades, but above all else get a good fit. Those plastic ones with the ratchet strap fit (the second picture) are particularly sucky as far as fit goes.

I was wondering about the whole getting her used the figure skates and dealing with the pick. It's what she's hiring now - those awful wellies that the rink has!!

IanK have you been talking to my OH! He said she's getting skates that fit properly even if they are black!! (ie but that's why we want her sized/fitted properly) and then we can look to buy what's right for her. The coloure/style, etc will come second (of course I do wholly agree) I was just wondering if in Canada they have a better range than here and in a boot which is of good quality with laces but maybe have pink on them. Hubby says no way is she getting the ratchet type - laces only, especially as her feet are so narrow.

The first picture of the pair you show of course are the ones she saw a young girl wearing and I wasn't sure if they were any good but hubby said no to her anyway. He doesn't rate them and said we will be waiting till we get to Canada this year anyway, to see what's what and we would be far more able to get 2nd hand pairs there with a good fit anyway.

I think the best option is going to be buying the 2nd hand ones and putting the cover on like Tanah suggests. That's a fab idea. Saves me all that painting time as well and means when she outgrows them she can maybe pass them on to someone else who needs them too.

Is it the figures skates they have to have for school or does it not matter??

Thanks guys.

Doesnt matter, at least not at our local club. Once kids start to play hockey I believe that then they cant have the piks as its a potential hazard. Ive seen kids doing figures in hockey skates, but it definitely limits what they are able to do in terms of jumps etc.

The Reebok skates with the "Boa" lace system look OK, but at $130 they had better be.

As I recall my daughters first new pair were recommended by the local club (white, with piks) and were about $70 new. The key to the fit is how stiff the ankle are as the support is critical. Floppy ankles or a loose fit just make life really hard.

Forgot to mention - one of the better things about getting second hand for little ones is that the skates are already 'broken in'. New skates can be quite unforgiving especially basic skates ( no extra internal padding) so if someone else has already worn then chances are they are already a little softer. nothing worse than spending £50-£60 on new skates for little person to refuse to wear them - There are 2 good makes here in the UK with Risport being the main one - belati being the second ( for basic skates) belati are wider fitting so if your daughter has skinny feet she would be better with risport.
If you take her to a decent shoe shop and get her feet measured professionally at this stage in her new skating career skates in the same size would probably do her just fine. I didnt get my son specially measured until he started axel and doubles as thats when he needed the extra ankle support etc. Most coaches in the UK will say just to get standard skates - to be honest i think the width is standard and doesnt come in width measurements like shoes ( Clarks)
Dont make the mistake that many do of getting a size bigger and wearing thick socks - its more to do with the position of her foot inside the boot - ball of foot should be over rocker. As for pick on a standard blade the pick should be higher than on some of the specialist blades and i think Risport picks are higher anyway. My son had a problem with his first boots as being clueless as i was i bought him belati ( he has wide feet) and the pick was lower than the rink boots he was wearing- he spent the first week falling on his face everytime he caught the toerake in the ice- BUT i have to say it didnt put him off and he was very quick to get used to it.
If she will be having lessons - learn to Skate - i would suggest figure skates as opposed to hockey skates espcially if she is a new budding champion as she would only have to change to figure at some point and she may find this difficult.
I cant comment on the school thing coz we havent quite got there ourselves yet and have about 1000 questions of my own on this topic - so if there are any serious canadian skaters out there let me know and I'll post a new topic

Don't forget the third type of skates - Speed Skates! That's what my daughter is after, she started speed skating in October. Last weekend she came 4th in her group, but missed out on overall silver by 0.2 of a second

The race she won is the distance they use for seeding so next meet she will go up a group and have an even bigger challenge to get a medal.

I dont think anyone learns on speed skates though, do they?

That would be bit lethal Me thinks!!

I think my daughter had been on skates a total of about 5 to 10 hours in her life before trying the speed skating, she has certainly never been taught anything else.

I had wonderd about "broken in" skates if they'd be more comfortable or because they are broken in for someone else they might not feel right? But I guess they must have been softened. I'll keep the Risport in mind for her "skinny" feet!

Oh my!! Please don't be giving her any more ideas Glad your daughter did so well. She must be proud of herself as are you I'm sure.

I think I'll stick with the other two kinds for now and if she was to happen to "slide" into speed skating by herself then I'll worry about that hurdle then!!

Speed skating with hurdles...now THAT I would pay money to see

I'm right with you....now do you think I could convince her to do it and I could sell tickets!!!

I love my daughter I really do before anyone complains!!