How to Break-In Your Figure Skating Boots!

[@erskinepatton3247]

Looks like your ankle is back to 100%. So glad you've made a full recovery and are able to enjoy skating again.

[@CoachJulia]

Yes! Thank you!

[@jenniferjames346]

Great timing! Thanks for the info, I’ve only been out on the ice twice in my new boots so I’m glad I watched this before I put any creases in them or broke them in unevenly.

[@CoachJulia]

Glad to help!

[@T-Law.]

I’m about to buy my first ever pair of skates today! I can’t wait to properly start training. I just used rentals for half a year when I was trying to teach myself to skate. I hope it’ll be worth the investment

[@trashcant69]

It absolutely will be, having your own skates makes a huge difference. Even if they're not great skates, pretty much everything with some support from a proper brand will make you much happier than rentals (:

[@ginatriana1523]

Thank you for all your helps and tips! You're a beautiful skater and as an adult skater I appreciate how you break down parts of moves jumps, spins, etc. into small pieces that I can comprehend!😊

[@CoachJulia]

Awe, thanks so much for the positive feedback!

[@JohnnyK1]

Thank you, Julia! Yes, this video is very-very helpful. I switched from Jacksons Freestyle to Debut, and first 5 hours were so painful. Though boots look alike, the stiffness of the new boot is incomparably higher. I wish I watched your video before I put my new boots on. Now I understand, and I'm teaching myself being patient! Thank you, again for great tips.

[@mckennalynn1916]

Haven't skated in years, gonna go skating with a friend this weekend! Getting prepared and hope to get back into skating!

[@CoachJulia]

Good luck!

[@mckennalynn1916]

@@CoachJulia thank you so much :)

[@LeoFan16]

Thank you so much for this video. Got my new skates today and I am wondering: can you also break in your skates (partially) at home by wearing them around the house? Therefore do you lace them all the way up or only the first or first two hooks? Does it help to do knee bend exercises at home as well? Thank you already for your answer. You are an amazing skater and your videos are so helpful and easy to understand!

[@alexdiangelo2108]

Yes! Thank you, i got my first skates yesterday!!

[@CoachJulia]

Have fun!

[@alexdiangelo2108]

@@CoachJulia Omgs thank youu

[@name2541]

I recently just went from a size 6.5 Ridell emeralds to a side 4 edea chorus. I'm struggling sm to break in my skates and I'm having to relearn basically all my skills so this definitely will help.

[@imme3958]

I just bought my new skates as a beginner (Jackson mystique’s) my last skating lesson was 13 years ago, when I was 5. And I really wanted to take some lessons again. I’m really going to need these tips haha!

[@greenlimenay]

Thank you coach Julia! I’ve been waiting for this video as I got new skates a while back, I like the lacing method that you have shared with us, thank you again!

[@CoachJulia]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AZ-ig6wg]

I think I'm in a peculiar situation. I would say i'm a beginner-intermediate (can do swizzles backwards and forwards, but struggle with crossovers), however I have an intermediate-advanced skate, the Jackson Freestyle. I'll try to do some squats in my house with them. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do to break them in evenly if I can't do bunny hops, spins, or other advanced moves? Your video suggests to do bunny hops without lacing the top notch of the skate. Thank you Julia, you're the best!

[@siribaimusic]

jackson freestyle is not an advanced skate. It's a lower level intermediate skate.

[@rahulrane1658]

You are the best Coach Julia!

[@trashcant69]

This may be a bit late, but for everyone having fairly specific questions: go to a pro shop!!! You can't really make assessments over the internet, and it's always better to have someone who's actually a professional look at your stuff. If you don't have the option for a pro shop you can try to scoure some fs forums or try the fs subreddit, but these resources can't substitute a proper pro shop. Some general tips for people struggling: - Look up lace guides for your specific brand. Especially Edea has a funky way to tie skates, and it can impact how your skates feel greatly. For edea, it can also impact how fast your skates break down. -Edea has a higher heel than other brands. It might be weird to get used to if you switch to them. They also have a looser fit around the ankle, which some people might dislike. -Edeas also can't be heat molded by shops that aren't specialized in them. If you have icky feet and feel like you benefit from the molding it might be difficult with edeas. - For the maniacs that want to order boots online: Risport tends to be icky for people with with wider feed, while Edea can be bad for people with flatter feet. This isn't universal though. -Don't get a boot because you think it looks nice or because your friends are happy with it. You will most likely be disappointed. I've heard some stories from my pro shop. Pretty rhinestones aren't worth foot pain guys. - this should be common sense, but since I've heard about some stories: under no circumstances should you mount your blades by someone who isn't a professional. They won't be aligned properly, and the blades can rip off if you don't use the correct screws. Just don't. Bonus point: don't trust pro shops 100%. There are some that will try to put you in much more expensive boots that you might need. It's probably not going to be a lot of them since many have a (good) reputation to keep, but it's just something to be aware of if you're a beginner. A good shop will always have you try multiple options, and they will advise you against buying something that's needlessly expensive.

[@emmab.9264]

Hey Julia, thanks for the videos ! Now that I just got new skates and blades, following your advice, I appreciate. I naturally try to skate without one hop and it feels so much better, almost like before changing them, but it's perhaps only compared to the full tying situation 😅 that's good to know that I can still do single jumps and dances for a while like that ! I was wondering also if wearing the skates at home would help or not.

[@ArtScienceWonder]

Do you have a video where you tell us how to tell which way our blades might be leaning and if they need more screws?

[@VOGUEmany]

After 3 months 101 beginner classes, I just realized that my Edea Chorus boots should be molded. And after it’s done, the new pair of silky skating socks also made them too loose to skate on...So now some new don’t-know-how need to be tackled and I’m just kind of frustrated because nobody mentioned anything to me this before or during the class...It feels like a huge NASA-level instruction about the gears are needed before you sign up for a 101 class. I love skating but the process just need to be improved.

[@CoachJulia]

I am so sorry to hear that you have has such a challenging experience. I hope you have been able to sort out your boot fitting issues!

[@cringemeister04]

mine are preowned but in good condition I think and idk how worn/broken in they are so this video can be useful

[@bryango4610]

And here I am wanting to break in new skates. Got them before quarantine, and rinks are all closed.

[@CoachJulia]

Well then this video is perfect for when the rinks open back up!

[@IntuitiveGanesh]

Thank you, I needed this.

[@gracebeauty3119]

I just got my first pair of beginner figure skates (yay!) after having used rentals. But once I stepped onto the ice it felt like I had to “relearn” how to skate in them, is that normal? They’ve been checked for alignment and proper fitting, so will this just take time to feel comfortable?

[@CoachJulia]

Congratulations on getting your first pair of skates! Yes, it often does take an adjustment period to get used to your skates. Even mine which were made for my foot took some adjustment. Keep going and they will feel better and better.

[@himeraji]

Oh, I just bought new skates! Perfect timing ! I have EDEA overture, Can they be considered as beginner skates? (Or intermediate) and Is it painful to break skates?

[@CoachJulia]

Edea Overture is a great choice! I would treat them as an intermediate pair and go through the whole break in process. it can be painful, but not excruciating. so if you are experiencing severe pain, I would recommend you see if you need the ankle, bones punched out or anything.

[@BirdsAndWhales]

I just bought those too! Aren’t they so pretty?😄💓

[@eljj7968]

You should be fine with Edeas! They break in extremely fast given the way the tongues are designed. When I get new boots they're pretty much good to go straight out of the box (Unless you're a complete beginner, then they might take a little bit to get used to).

[@himeraji]

ElJ J I am a complete beginner but I think excepted the first time I put them on ( worst day ever, I couldn’t even do my swizzles), it was less and less painful (It is still painful when I start the session but then it’s ok) . It’s kinda easy to get used to them. I really like this brand

[@himeraji]

Karolina Renoir yess, They are so pretty, btw I’m gonna customized them with cherry blossom flowers ✨

[@apmotionbyandyphoto650]

my skate boot is tearing away from the heel :( ive been told it maybe a bad fit, but they feel like they fit perfectly. any chance you can do a video on why boots may break at the heel? i know they wont last forever but ive had mine for less than a year.

[@CoachJulia]

I don't really have a good answer, other than to maybe take your boots to a shoe repair shop and see if they can solve the problem for you.

[@apmotionbyandyphoto650]

@@CoachJulia i ended up getting fitted for new boots im really excited they are coming in a couple weeks due to shortages in shipping and manufacturing. in the mean time im practicing my edges and trying to pick up some new step sequences. hope your 2022 is going off to a great start. HAPPY SKATING!

[@RandomRabbitHoles-101]

I have a little different question. I want to film my self skating so I can see how I am doing. Do you have any tips for that?

[@imthatextrakid8292]

What I usually do -Ask friends and parents -Tripod on Judges table -Put phone against the hockey glass -suction cup phone holder on the hockey glass (I use ones that are meant for cars) -Ask your coach (They will definitely help you with this)

[@danielastoica2110]

Mine hurt above my ankles like the bone and also the Bunions areas ? What can I do for those areas

[@ronishastroud8891]

I have recreationally skates and my feet seems to always be hurting I have had them punched out so it will not hurt my toes but the pad of my feet. I have been skating off and on for 2 years so I have had at least 50 hours on the ice with these skates. Is there anything that I can do or do I have to suck it up and deal with it?

[@charliesewell7418]

OMG, this is crazy. I Just got new skates and I opened youtube to look at how to break them in and your vid popped up on my homepage! Thanks so much, a very useful video!

[@CoachJulia]

So cool! Glad I could help!

[@deesterdee6650]

Thanks so much! I just bought new boots and am trying to decide which i want. One of them.are low cut boots and the other are traditional. I always seem to have a hard time getting a deep bend and thought the low cut boot would help. I probably will not do jumps beyond waltz or maybe a single if I get courageous for that at my age. Do you have an opinion about low cut boots and the break in period?

[@CoachJulia]

Low cut boots are often better for Ice dancers, as they don’t need the support for jumping and spinning. I don’t really have an opinion on the per se, just that you may need to be a bit more careful about strengthening your ankles if you are going to use a lower cut boot.

[@deesterdee6650]

@@CoachJulia Thanks :) I am so glad you have your channel 🥰

[@aslcan3280]

Thank you so much Julia !! Good tips, very useful 👍🏻

[@CoachJulia]

You're so welcome!

[@myz1c835]

I wanted to ice skate SO BADDD but i had to rollerblade because in my country there is NOT A SINGLE ICE RINK 😭 i live in south america and here the one that people mostly practice is rollerblade, not a single ice skater, teacher, skates nor rinks close to me over here 😔🥺 i will start skating with snow white inline skates... Well, can you be good on ice if you are good with those inline skates? Can someone please answer

[@ginatriana1523]

Hi, yes I feel your pain! In some countries there aren't ice rinks. I skate on ice, and I found out about inline figure skates and got me a pair to skate off ice...they are a bit heavier than ice skates, and there's going to be more friction, but that will actually make you a stronger skater for when, yes when! you get to skate on ice someday! Wear protective gear, look on KZbin at skaters using inline skates. Mine are Pic Skates. Have fun!

[@bradleyglasson8832]

I used inline skates to keep my ankle strength up and help me learn crossovers in my weak direction (to the right) while covid shutdown all the ice rinks. When I got back on the ice I was able to do them to the right :) So yes the balance and coordination you learn is definitely transferable to the ice.

[@myz1c835]

Tysm Gina and Bradley!!!

[@CoachJulia]

Hi Morita! I am sorry to heard that you don't have any Ice rinks where you live. That does make it more of a challenge to pursue this beautiful sport. I actually started my skating life on roller skates, and took artistic roller skating lessons. It made it much easier to learn on Ice, one I made the switch. I would recommend you get a pair of pic skates, or off- Ice skates which mimic the shape and toe pick of figure skates. You can learn pretty much any figure skating skill on these Here are links to two companies I know of that make good versions... off-iceskates.com www.picskate.com/products.htm

[@bradykal1]

Hey Julia, I really like your videos. They are a lot of fun. I recently invested in some Jackson Freestyle skates and while I have broken them in I feel like I am not getting the arch support that I would like in them for my foot. Are there some in soles etc that you would recommend? Thanks!

[@trashcant69]

If you can, go to a local pro shop. They can look at your boot and help you out properly. There are inlays for soles, but they should be for padding and not for added support. If I'd have to guess you might be lacing your boots incorrectly, they might not be the right kind of skates for your feet or they might be broken down already. It's hard to make such an assessment over the internet. I personally like comparatively hard boots for my level because I have weak ankles and I like of the amount of support they provide. If you actually have to end up buying new boots I can personally recommend the Risport RF3. Stellar support and very tight around your ankles/arches, but again, you absolutely need to go to a pro shop for this. Different brands are better for different people. It's a bit like Harry Potter, the boot chooses the skater, and not the other way around (:

[@lydian.2298]

Is it bad if you have a little crease in your skates? What should I do to prevent further creases?

[@CoachJulia]

It isn’t the end of the world, but we do want to avoid creating those creases during the break-in process. For future creases, just do your best to make sure your laces are pulled taut all the way up. they don’t have to be so tight that they cut your circulation off or anything like that. Just pulled taut enough that you can’t easily slide your finger under any of the laces.

[@Svetochka.5]

Beautiful earnings. Please share a link for them.

[@fatimah3463]

Perfect timingggg!

[@CoachJulia]

Yay!

[@sethbrimhall8754]

I just got some risport rf1s and I was wondering if it’s normal to feel pressure on the big toes? Or just pain in the toes in general?

[@CoachJulia]

Pain in the toes could either mean the boots are too short, or the boots are to narrow. I would recommend you look into getting the toe box stretched and see if that helps solve the pain issue.

[@ariannagraversen9026]

i just got new skates for my birthday. both the boot and blades are smaller than my old skates so it's definitely some getting used to. first time stopping in my new skates my coach had to catch me because i couldn't stop properly and fell😂🙈

[@CoachJulia]

Oh no! Breaking in new boots is a weird process.

[@Scooby2U2]

Thanks!

[@CoachJulia]

Wow, thank you so much. I appreciate it!

[@emilykamer3353]

I just got new skates an the back of my heels have been hurting really bad. Is this normal?

[@Grace.C2]

If its cause u have hard boots try graph boleiros, I dont think they r top quality ones but they have thick padding and are very comfy!! 😁

[@CoachJulia]

It could be because of a few different problems. 1. It could be that you are not tying your skate snug across the ankle bend and your heel is sliding across the leather which would cause pain. 2. It could be that you need a different shape of a heel. Some skates have 'ankle hugger' padding to help lock the heel down in the skate. If your foot is a different shape, this padding could be pressing into your foot creating pressure which would cause pain. Those are the main two problems I can think of at the moment.

[@adrienneliu3182]

Retie every 20-30 min? I don't think my group class or instructor will let us stop just to retie after 20 min. If there is no pro shop near me, how do I bake my new Reidell?

[@CoachJulia]

If you don't have access to a shop with a skate oven, you will just need to break them in 'the old fashioned' way, as I describe in the video. Usually the 20-30 minutes is during practice time, but I don't know of any instructor who would not allow a skater to re-tie their skates during break-in. That is a pretty fundamental part of getting a good fit, so I would hope for your sake your instructors are knowledgeable enough to know that skates need re-tying.

[@esdalton]

Hello! I'm slowly breaking in a new pair of Harlicks and I've been following their guidance and just skating with first two hooks and retying for a few sessions now. I've skated about 3 hours total in them the past two weeks. My old Harlicks were really old and getting broken down. I used to skate a ton and did intermediate moves and pre-silver ice dance. Now I really only can skate once a week. While I'm being patient, I feel like this new pair is really heavy. I'm wondering about simply doing off-ice skating with ankle weights to help. Any thoughts?

[@juditkeymeulen6071]

I just bought Jackson entre boots and I'm waiting for my wheels sow I van use my inline figure skates! Do you also need to break those in?

[@CoachJulia]

Yes you do, just about any boots are going to need some level of breaking in so that they mold to your feet. the stiffer the boot though, the more breaking in you need.

[@aly9799]

Would you have any advice for an adult beginner who might be a biiiit outbooted? It's hard to find skates right now because of COVID, so we ended up having to get Jackson Freestyles, with 40 stiffness (also because it's cheaper long-term to get a better boot up front and skipping the more beginner boots). Is it just a matter of taking the breaking-in process slowly so that I don't hurt myself? I'm about to start Adult 3, so all I really have in my arsenal is dips, swizzles, and some beginning stroking... I'm worried I won't be able to do the kind of footwork that would break in the boot effectively.

[@aly9799]

Update: got them baked and they feel much better lol. They don't seem too stiff anymore. I'm just gonna take it slow, and use the helpful tips from this video. Thank you so much!!

[@1chienandalou]

@@aly9799 Jackson freestyles should be good for adults. We’re generally heavier than children so even 40 stiffness is not that much yet still sufficient for a lot of things. That’s what I had for starters (not the fusion but the prior leather model) when I wanted to re-start skating after a couple decades off ice. And they were great skates up until freestyle level and a bit more (long covid break so I lost some progress). Im small (only 5’) and could’ve continued with them a bit more still, but I just needed a better sizing so I went with a split size Jackson next.

[@nnghtngl]

Hi Julia, I'm a beginner skater and unfortunately I do not have a lot of opportunities to skate because i don't have an ice rink in my country. But when I do skate (usually once/twice a year) I notice that I have a lot of pain in the front of both my tibias, just where the boots press against the bone when I bend my knees. My ice skates are not expensive, so I was wondering could that be the reason? Or is it normal for any boot in the beginning, and the more one skates the more skin/bone get accustomed to the pressure. Hoping to hear from you. Thanks!

[@merryjoycie]

I am about to sleep in my skates. Re-Breaking these ... or rather forcing my feet to conform to my skates once more when I cannot get as much ice time now is plain awful on my feet. I like how this guide is useful however the local rink I am debating on returning to doesn’t allow skaters to lace up on the premises. So spending hours on the ice with them on is a challenge. I am trying to look for a friendlier but COVID screening-abiding rink near me. Oh welp. I cannot sleep with them on. They just cut off my blood circulation. Gotta take them off now.

[@CoachJulia]

It does sound like you are outbooted. if there is a way you can warm up your boots inside, maybe with a hairdryer. Then you can wear them around the house, do some squats, etc. That may help you break them in faster.

[@nimranoman1964]

Hi Julia! I just bought some Jackson Artistes (online due to supply shortages) and based on what I saw online ordered 1.5 sizes down. I'm usually a 7.5-8 in women's shoes, and ordered 6.5 in the skates. They do feel very tight, especially around the edges of my foot and toes. Is this normal and part of the breaking in, or do you think maybe I sized down too much?

[@EclecticElegance13]

I know I’m not Coach Julia- but I competed for 14 years and wore Jackson’s exclusively and they typically run pretty true to (street shoe) size. So getting a 6.5 when you wear a 7.5/8 is why they’re tight. I wouldn’t have gone smaller than a 7/7.5

[@KellySager]

i'm a 7.5/8 and in jackson i'm a 6.5. they are stiff when they are new. but soften and stretch as you use them. you can also get them heat moulded at a skate shop or even punched out in spots they are tight.

[@deesterdee6650]

By the way, your skating is gorgeous!!

[@CoachJulia]

Awe, thank you so much. 😊

[@E_E_E732]

I just got new Evo jackson skates,and a coach at the ice rink i go to said she walks in hers (in guards) at home to get used to them,and i would like to try it. Do you recommend this?

[@CoachJulia]

Yeah, that is a great suggestion you were given!

[@E_E_E732]

@@CoachJulia Oh,thank you for your opinion! 😊

[@lorenanascimento4720]

Thanks, Julia! Guys, I'm a beginner searching for some opinions. I had some skating lessons almost 15 years ago but never had the chance to continue practicing (here in Brazil we don't have much rinks) Would you say that Risport Antares with MK Galaxy (or Electra, also with MK Galaxy), are good choices? Considering that I pretend to buy skates that will last long. Or Edea Overture or Chorus would be a better purchase? It is very difficult to only have the opportunity to buy it online without trying them on.

[@susannicolari7335]

Edea are more comfortable than Risport

[@instadz825]

Can i learn figure skating at 27 years old???

[@bradleyglasson8832]

I’m 27 and I started this year, go for it!

[@CoachJulia]

You definitely can still start learning! Go for it!

[@instadz825]

Thank you so much guys 😇 you're the best

[@martapietkiewicz6612]

I started at 38, you can learn at any age as long you don't plan to go to Olympic ;)

[@instadz825]

@@martapietkiewicz6612 thank u. I asked because i'm not athlete at any rate i don't have the flexibility needed. And i gained some weight on qurantine. All figure skating has amazing bodies. Can i ask u how long did it take to master the basics???

[@anika5094]

I can do doubles in new boots after about 2 hours. I have edeas lol, so that's probably why.

[@CoachJulia]

That’s great. Just keep in mind, it is still possible to do those jumps in boots that aren’t broken in. But doing them before breaking in your boots properly can result in your boots breaking in wrong, and they won’t last as long.

[@anika5094]

@@CoachJulia Oh they are fairly broken in after about three hours as long as they fit properly.

[@pinklemonade0717]

I just got my new skates, I skated with them once is it normal that my feet went numb? ☹️

[@lindatannock]

Sounds like you maybe had them laced too tightly across your foot! Don't pull the laces too tight across your foot... Just enough that the laces don't gap. You only need them tightly laced across your ankle, just before you go up the hooks, and then once you start lacing up the hook area. By any chance, did you just get Edeas? You can't lace them as tightly as leather boots, plus they have a higher heel which pushes your foot forwards. They can take a bit of getting used to (I had this issue when I got my Ice Fly. My feet went numb or cramped on me). The padding was pushing my foot forwards, AND I was lacing too tightly. With Edea (and some leather, heavily padded skates), you need to make sure to get your heel as far back in your skate as possible before lacing. Getting your foot in the correct position, and adjusting how you lace them should help. Put your guards on at home and lace up your boots. Wear them around the house for a while. This'll give you time to play around with the best lacing for your foot (without spending a session at the rink tying and re-tying). It'll help you break them in too 😉 HTH!

[@lexiburrows8127]

@@lindatannock I think one of the major problems with Edea is that if you were previously used to a leather boot you feel you are missing a lot of support, so over-tightening them feels like the only way to 'remind' you of that support you feel you have lost. The advantage is that you can skate in them straight away - except for having to alter your balance-point if you were used to the old-fashioned soles and heels. I hated my Edeas at first, ( I was either too much on my toe, over compensating and catching my heels; I lost my back-threes, even) but now I am finding the advantage of the design when it comes to jumps.

[@rawsunnata829]

How often do you change your skates?

[@CoachJulia]

I skate in custom Harlicks which are super supportive and well made, so I go many many years between boot replacements.

[@sxnnyyy8]

My skates were a heat molded skates, but were more advanced- Never touch the metal parts they burn😭.

[@CoachJulia]

Oh dear, yea be careful with those hot blades!

[@susannicolari7335]

Do not follow if skating on Edea skates ,they cannot be heat molded

[@juanm9073]

Are your eyes brown?

[@CoachJulia]

Blue. 🙂