Artistic skates info...

So.. You've started your learn to skate program or even your national basic skills program and you've noticed that you seem to be working a lot harder than the skaters on artistic skates, why?

Like every sport you need the right equipment. You are probably using what we call 'street skates' and these are perfect for skating outdoors with friends or going to the park with but they aren't designed for artistic skating. (which is the roller version of figure skating).

If you think of skating like driving, which would you able to drive better in. One of these....

Or one of these....

It's the same with skates, one is a effectively a toy and artistic skates are professional sports equipment

Artistic skates are designed to 'edge' which in simple terms means steer.

Press your weight on any of the wheels and the skate will steer around that corner. Also the boots have different levels of rigidity in the ankles and specialist lacing systems that mean you can lean on this wheels without without the boot collapsing and you going with it.

There are many differences, but the most noticeable to you right now will be how easily the club skaters seem to move... Street skates do not have a good quality wheels designed not to slip or bearings designed to roll for upto 60 seconds per push.. So you will think you're not very good yet but truth is a lot of your ability will be held back by your skates.

So... When to buy artistic skates.. Whenever you want is the only answer we can give you. Once you reach basic skills level 3 upwards you will really start to struggle to complete elements for your grading as you simply won't have the roll, balance or edge ability to do them well. So we say the sooner you can change over to artistice the better for you but don't ever feel pressured to do so. Whenever your ready is fine with us.

Costs and buying guide:

Second hand artistic skates cost anything between 80 and 160 pounds but... They do not lose value. So if you buy a pair this year and sold them next year you would likely get the same back for them as you paid out. Artistic decrease in value about every 5 to 8 years and then only about £20 each time.

There is also an option to hire. There are two UK companies that hire them out. For about £20 per month you can have a new £260 set delivered to you in your size. They will also replace wheels and stoppers once a year during your hire and when you outgrow a size, contact them and they will send you the next size up before they ask you to return your old ones. A lot of our younger skates use this service as their feet grow so rapidly.

Whatever you chose to do, remember that at Evolution every skater, parent and coach work together like a family, we would hope you would never hesitate to ask us, any of us for help buying, hiring or even understanding. Always check our second hand section in the app store as we always sell within club much cheaper than you find outside the club and golden rule of buying artistic skates is....

Never ever buy artistic skates from a group or shop online that we haven't recommended as there's an increasing amount of companies online selling street skates in white as artistic and they most certainly are not! They're simply white coloured street skates.

If you are interested in second hand, new or even hire artistic do not hesitate to message me I will always try to find my skaters the best options