We try to Ice Skate in Skates from the 1930's

The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: ​skl.sh/icecoachonline07221
In this video, Ice Coach Online creator Lloyd Jones is joined by the owner of the Elite Skating Company, Chris Boyadji, to see if they can figure skate in some vintage ice skates from the 1930's.
These figure skates were purchased from Ebay, and are in fantastic condition. More pictures of the skates can be seen on our official Patreon page.
We had a lot of fun making this video, and we hope you enjoy watching it.
We'll be giving these skates to one of our lucky patrons, please message us if you want to be entered in the draw.
Is there something you would like to learn on the ice? Let us know in our community area or leave a comment below.
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[@IceCoachOnline]

The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: ​skl.sh/icecoachonline07221

[@annasolovyeva1013]

Hello from Russia! A year ago I was doing research on physics of ice skating and randomly came up with some ice skating manuals back from about 1960-70s when the majority of skates with boots in the USSR were still THAT soft, they give a strong advise on wearing eight-shaped bandages on your foot an ankle, like those worn when you have ankle ligament trauma, especially at times you strart learning edges and figures and Misshin's "eights and paragraph school number" stuff on the edges. You know, ) 3 } oo ooo. Otherwise it could be dangerous for a newcomer and could lead to serious injuries In several years you obtained rhe right ankle strength and could start training with them still wearing them while jumping. Or it could be Tarasova's book on memories about what figure skating was long ago, I had it as a child, unfortunately I recall only pictures of the source I mentioned, and the boot in them is very sumularly soft with creases. They also had an emphasis on the technique of the steps that generally reminded me of how ice dancing figure skaters skate, not modern freestyle and pairs. I also recall people commenting that they were medically prescribed ice skating to increase ankle strength and cold immunity, and they also started with bandages. Probably that could help and you could give them another try.

[@annasolovyeva1013]

Corrected, these are Moiseeva and Minenkov actually, Tarasova trained them. Ирина Моисеева и Андрей Миненков. Фото: Global Look Press

[@ginatriana1523]

...maybe the lack of ankle support promoted stronger ankle muscles, tendons, etc. in people of those days....I'm amazed how they skated and invented the jumps we still do today, back then! They had skills.

[@reniadiwijaya8211]

That's why they just did single jump at that time otherwise they'd got injured

[@annasolovyeva1013]

Back then ice skating was mainly calligraphy and also was prescribed to bulit up ankle muscles. I also heard of eight-shaped bandages recommended for ice skating back then in USSR where the majority of skate boots were still soft.

[@kaiaswrld]

I’m guessing the fact that they are almost 100 years old also contributes to the fact that the ankle support sucks. They were probably way better when they were brand new, skaters these days get new skates so often because their skates are worn out, imagine how worn out these skates are.

[@GrasshopperKelly]

Even figure skaters today develop muscles there. I *have* to as a hockey boot skater (although I loose a lot of that power each summer before returning to working at the rink over Christmas. If the muscles aren't there, you have poor control over which blade edge you're using. A lot of the colleagues I've taught have gone from leaning on and resting their weight on the bent ankle, to holding their feet and the blades up straight. That's specifically the reason rental skates (SUPER f***ing heavy, tried a pair on again the other week after at least 6 years not using them) have basically no roll movement and reasons I check to make sure skaters strap them tightly. Most customers don't have any muscles to roll their ankle and list their weight over the fulcrum of the blade edge.

[@buskergirl]

Also, back in the day people had everyday jobs, they spent as much time with skating as recreational skaters today, after school/work. And I've seen some crazy high delayed Axels from them. I wonder with that physique what they would be capable of, if they had the ice time, coaching and equipment that are available to elite skaters today.

[@maouimaisnon2535]

they probably wouldn't have that physique if they had the today equipment so it's the same. :) people do better today than they did yesterday, and people tomorrow will do better than people do today. It has nothing to do with poor or good quality equipment - people do the best they can with what they have, and the skates in 20 years will probably be even better than pianos are today. If a skater from the 30's was skating in modern equipment he would certainly not be able to achieve what skaters achieve today, because his physique is not made to accommodate modern technology. I mean they had that physique because they had poor equipment. If you gave them good equipment they wouldn't need to have strong ankles. And a strong ankle in an already strong boot wouldn't necessarily skate better than today's skaters.

[@chilli-iceolive-abode2447]

@@maouimaisnon2535 skates will be better than pianos in 20 years you say 🤯

[@adamrudling1339]

Scarily these seem better than some of the ultra budget vinyl skates I have seem some people use. Also remember the leather would have probably have been a bit stiffer when new.

[@willoway6606]

im guessing part of the issue with ankle support also comes from the age and wear of the boot. people probably had stronger ankles, but skaters who were doing riskier jumps probably wore boots made of newer leather which would be stiffer if it wasnt broken in yet

[@petergeyer7584]

I am fascinated by vintage skate technology, and how that technology affected their sports. I think it would be fun to get some modern athletes (real ones, not just reenactors) to have a tournament or competition where they all use vintage equipment from the same time period.

[@jo_betcha4157]

Not skating related, but Peter Feeney, a professional shoemaker, recreated Jesse Owens' 1936 running cleats for a TV special. Reportedly the shoes were quite comfortable to wear but the modern runner had a hard time with the big cleats.

[@morriganpalmerbrown4223]

My first pair were very much like that in support level! They cost me a fiver from an advert in the local paper and I was so proud of them. Skating in them was a bit of a shock at first, but I persevered and coped quite well! The blades were Swiss and lovely. I really wish I'd kept them. I'd give those black ones a good home. The word "factor" isn't an error; it means seller. And back then, women wore either black or tan boots. Sonia Henie pioneered the trend for white boots but I suspect they were extremely expensive back then and just not available to most people.

[@ginatriana1523]

They both did great, cool how quick they were able to adapt

[@lorid6544]

This was great! I have often wondered how the skaters were able to do much in those kind of skates. Interesting how the blades held up. Fascinating!

[@marybertke6890]

When I do that kind of salchow, I call it a sow-calf. When I was growing up, that was similar to the kind of skates the kids had. Mine was not a skating family.

[@Kirsten.shergold]

this came up on my recomened funny because I am the person in the back wearing black we were calling them elf ice skates and had 0 clue as to what was going on

[@vincentjanse]

My dad told me that most people still used woodies when he was a kid. Skates like these were a luxury item. You don't need ankle support to skate. Speed skates don't have any ankle support.

[@terrydruste9056]

This is how I feel when I'm in hockey skates. I am far more comfortable in figure skates (for years now) than Hockey skates. However, I was in hockey skates for the first several years when I learned to skate. I basically learned to skate in hockey skates. The very rare time I put on hockey skates now and try skating, it takes me at least 20 minutes on the ice to feel somewhat comfortable to do basic skating. The heel is and the rocker are so different in hockey skates. If I had continued to skate in hockey skates all the time, I would be used to it, but I have to say, I far more enjoy figure skates and have advanced a lot in skills (even though I am well into adulthood). Enjoyed your video!!!!

[@lenablosfeld7047]

The skates I had the first seven years of skating had about as much ankle support as a pair of gloves. You learn how to manage and then you have well balanced ankles.

[@IceCoachOnline]

Did you stick with the weaker skate or decide you needed an upgrade at some point?

[@lenablosfeld7047]

​@@IceCoachOnline I grew out of all the skates we had inherited, so we had to buy modern ones. I thought they restricted the ankle bend in the beginning but adapted.

[@karenlindley.9756]

My first pair were Fagans bought off eBay. They were just like those. No support in the boot. I think with all this support in the boots we are given at the lower levels maybe isn’t helping ankle strength. I agree with the support for people doing triples and quads. I’ve seen some great skaters and coaches skate with half their boots undone and still able to do amazing things. Such great strong ankles, calves etc…

[@alexs.7956]

I live how they get just more and more confident as time goes on Great video!

[@Swinkid]

Took me a soild 5 mins to realise you're at my home rink!

[@katart929]

OMG that was amazing! I feel for the next video you have to recreate an Olympic program from back then in these! No rush though, we don't want you to hurt yourseves;)

[@kaitlyn_sc2]

"just sell it chris, you're on veedeeeo" LMAO ima yoink that line

[@iskatecoach]

Great fun, literally made me chuckle at the process, I kinda want to try but also don’t want to try 😆 happy things have moved on and amazed at what they used to do in them!

[@skynorthern6430]

Two really lovely coaches，especially the second coach，super！

[@leh3827]

Very very cool. Very keen. Those might not have been the top of the line skate available in the 30s. I often profess there would be a reality check in a field of dreams kind of way. The champs of today would likely be taught a lesson by the old gens. I know many modern people feel superior to our predecessors but I think our forefathers were tougher and stronger, period. Field of Dreams!

[@lauribricker9439]

People weren't doing triples yet. Skates have gotten bulkier because of triple and quadruple jumps. Then came Edea boots, which combine light weight with support for jumps. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this. These 1930s skates look like entry-level skates for Learn To Skate USA.⛸️

[@erickkinnee3495]

I've seen Daryl Evans played professional hockey without laces in his skates. I imagine being in a floppy boot like the old ones is much like not having your new stiff skates unlaced.

[@ginatriana1523]

Check out coach Julia's channel and her vid of skating in old skates, too!🤓

[@Anna-uh1jz]

I think it's actually not so much an issue with the ankle support. You can jump barefoot or skate without ankle support p.e.in low rollerskates and jump too without any problems. I suggest the wobbly feeling might be caused by the age of the boots .It might be the sore and how the rocker feels that make you feel like you can't skate anymore. Great experiment! Entertaining:)

[@donnabrochu9002]

That looked fun, trying those skates out! Thanks for the entertainment !

[@lz5517]

These skates remind of the skates Yogi Bear wore in Yogi's First Christmas.

[@avab4035]

Such a fun video to watch , thank you guys 😂

[@SueK2001]

Oh man Lloyd I was amazed you even tried them. They look like ankle breakers for sure. Still you guys did pretty well considering. 😂

[@BP-xv7fj]

I cannot believe yiu didn’t do a backspin with it

[@SaccoBelmonte]

They look like the skates from someone like Buster Keaton. Beautiful construction also.

[@clarence5211]

i’ve always been curious about this! chris is hilarious, haha i’m 24 but i used to skate in similar old figure skates. my mom collects old skates for decoration and i found a pair among them that fit me perfectly. not sure how old they are, the blade is pretty much like a modern skate, but the boot was like this, just unreinforced leather around my ankle. they probably helped me build ankle strength before i switched to vikings for speed skating with my dad. the fact that those don’t even go up to the ankle used to scare me so much! i still used my old figure skates for leisure until i finally started taking lessons last year. this makes me want to dust them off to try actual figure skating moves in them! well… maybe once i’m a little more advanced. i was able to do some simple one foot glides and two foot spins on the oldies though!

[@biari8599]

These are literally like my old, bought second hand, recreational pseudo figure skating boots. That was before I started figure skating and was just hanging out at public sessions or skating on frozen ponds as a child. My father would always tell me that I need to learn to stablise my ankle without the support of the boot :( I don't know if that is truly possible and to waht extent. I remember how elated I was when I switched to hockey boots and finally experienced ankle support. And now ofc in my "proper" modern figure skating boots! I love leaning into an edge and work with the boot.

[@stevewitzel8284]

Very interesting video. I’m trying to break in new hockey skates.

[@tomciras6672]

Hey guys, screws or rivets, how the runner or blade was fastened. No holder, any boot will do, that's how they did it. Also used for survival, like ice harvesting help to get around on the lake. 1930's were tough times...

[@vikisecret9296]

😅😅😅that’s so fun and great job guys 😃

[@spencers4092]

My dad has a pair of super old hockey skates that have been worn to the point of zero ankle support, but he somehow can skate in them insanely well. I can barely stand on the ice with them.

[@nerilka9527]

I'm wondering how it is comparing to the skates used currently in speed skating. I mean I know the blade is very different, but they have low shoes that don't support the ankles. It seems that in the past the skates used for different disciplines were much more similar.

[@rolo4945]

Try wifas from the 70s they are rigid and very heavy, a skinny 14 yr old double axels and trip salchows were the hardest jumps !

[@Vlaedx]

I found some skates at a good will that looked like these. I wore them today at the rink and nearly broke my ankles. It's a no from me.

[@supercell_world]

Cool video! I would like to participate in some of the videos)

[@buskergirl]

Lloyd, please do a review about this video: ITNY: Archives - Darlene Gilbert skating "en pointe" She skates in BALLET SHOES, and my brain says it's fake, but my eyes say it's real!! (Sorry I can't insert links, if I do KZbin won't show my comment for some reason, but you'll find it, that's the title of the vid).

[@jessicapundole360]

WOW!!!! I just googled it and my mind is blown. She’s beyond amazing!!!

[@inklazer3447]

just skate with these for a while then use normal skates and it will make it feel so easy

[@katiemorris2370]

Fun fact... It probably says factors and not factories to save on printing costs! Letters cost pennies haha

[@patlaing4489]

You really need strong ankles😁😁😱

[@patlaing4489]

Is Chris Mr Boyadji??🥰

[@adamrudling1339]

yes, it even says so in the description

[@lisaremland8970]

😂😂😂

[@puff6796]

i mean, im sure those skates were good for their time.

[@reniadiwijaya8211]

Why should you smell it in the first place? 🤔 😅🤣 will it transfer some energy from the past? 🤣🤣 How about the weight? How much does it weigh each? Thanks to scientists finding carbon fiber that made jumping quads possible. One day when boots+blades become as light as ballet shoes, skaters might start jumping quints!

[@layla64870]

the skates seem very flimsy

[@usskater18]

So cool! I always wanted to know how they skated without that ankle support!!!! ⛸ Thank you for posting this!