| Test Level | Skill Level | Skate Type |
|---|---|---|
RECREATIONAL ONLY This means that these skates are meant for pond skating or for skaters who only want to skate occasionally. Except for the very young (ages 7 and below), these skates do not have the support needed for skaters who are taking lessons and wanting to advance in the sport. | Occasional ice skating, non-competitive skating, or beginner skaters (not for Adult Beginners). Good Recreational Boots with a support rating between 15-20. gliding, stopping, forward stroking, basic edges. | Girls Beginner/Rec. Women Beginner/Rec. Jackson JS1491 Mystique Beginner/Rec. Women Jackson JS1592 Mystique Riedell 113SF Riedell 110 Opal Beginner Girls Beginner Boys Risport Scott Hamilton Graf Davos Gold
Girls/Women Beginner/Rec. Boys/Men Beginner/Rec. |
BEGINNER INSTRUCTIONAL This means you need more support for skills learned through instructional figure skating. In addition you will be skating more frequently and need a skate that will stand up to the increased usage. ISI Pre-Alpha, Alpha USFSA SKATE CANADA SKATE UK AUSSIE SKATE | Basic steps, swizzles, gliding, stopping, forward stroking, basic edges, forward crossovers, two foot spin, backward stroking. Boots Should have a support rating between 20 - 30. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. | Beginner Girls Jackson JS1593 Mystique Jackson JS1790 Artiste Jackson JS1790 Artiste Beginner Women Beginner Girls Beginner Boys Beginner Girls Beginner Men Riedell 133 Diamond Beginner Girls Risport Scott Hamilton Beginner Girls Graf Bolero Beginner Men Beginner Girls/Women Beginner Boys/Men Youth or Adult Beginner Girls Beginner Boys Beginner Men |
ISI USFSA SKATE CANADA SKATE UK AUSSIE SKATE | Back crossovers, three turns, bunny hop, forward lunge, arabesque, ballet jump, beginning half jumps, simple footwork such as Mohawks, hockey stop, T-stop. Boots Should have a support rating between 30 - 45. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. | Jackson JS1791 Artiste Youth Girls Youth Girls Jackson FS2130 Elle Fusion Youth Girls Jackson FS2192 Freestyle Fusion Adult Men Youth Girls Riedell 33 Diamond Riedell 223 Stride Riedell 223 Stride Youth Girls Youth Boys Adult Beginner Girls Graf Ace Graf Splendid Gold
Girls/Women Boys/Men Men |
ISI USFSA SKATE CANADA Pre-Preliminary SKATE UK AUSSIE SKATE | Advanced stroking, crossovers, forward one foot turns, consecutive edges, half-jumps, one foot spins, sit spin. Beginning single jumps. Boots Should have a support rating between 40 - 50. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. | Youth Girls Jackson FS2191 Freestyle Fusion Youth Girls Jackson FS2190 Freestyle Fusion Ladies Jackson FS2193 Freestyle Fusion Jackson FS2192 Freestyle Fusion Men Jackson FS2330 Entre Boot Only Women Men Boys Riedell 29 Edge Youth Girls Risport RF3 Pro Adult Men Graf Ace Youth Boys Men Girls/ Women Boys/Men Men Women |
ISI USFSA SKATE CANADA SKATE UK AUSSIE SKATE | All single jumps. Half and Single jump combinations, beginning axel. Spins such as backspin, scratch and sit, camel, spirals, simple footwork. Boots Should have a support rating between 45 - 70. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. | Youth Girls Youth Boys Jackson FS2450 Debut Fusion Firm Women Women Men Ladies Coach & Show Skaters Youth Girls Youth Boys Women Men Women Men Women Men Youth Girls Youth Boys Ladies (Men Graf Prestige Graf Prestige Men Edea Concerto Women |
ISI USFSA Intermediate Free SKATE CANADA SKATE UK AUSSIE SKATE | All single jumps, Combination jumps, Axel, Change foot spins, flying spins, more complex footwork, spiral sequence. Beginning doubles. Boots Should have a support rating between 55 - 75. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. | Ladies Coach & Show Skaters Ladies Men Ladies Women Men Ladies Ladies Men Graf F4000 Graf F4000 Graf Richmond Special Graf Windsor Women Men Men Sp-Teri Pro Teri |
ISI USFSA SKATE CANADA SKATE UK AUSSIE SKATE | All single jumps, all double jumps, combination doubles, lower level triples, flying spins, complex footwork. Beginning Triples. Boots Should have a support rating between 70 - 85. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. | Ladies Ladies Men Men Women Men Women Men Risport Royal Exclusive Men Risport Royal Exclusive Women Graf Richmond Special Graf Windsor Men Women Women Men Women Men Women Men Men SP-Teri Super Teri Men Sp-Teri Zero Gravity Men |
ISI USFSA USFSA SKATE CANADA SKATE UK AUSSIE SKATE | Triples, quads, combination triples, all spins, complex foot work. Boots Should have a support rating between 85 - 100. Lowest Rating is for Youth, | Women Mens Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Risport Royal Exclusive Men Risport Royal Exclusive Women Men Women Graf Edmonton Special Graf Edmonton Special Women Men Sp-Teri KT2 Men Ladies Men |
Figure Skate Comparison Guide
There are several factors to consider when choosing the best figure skates such as your body type, your skill level and the stiffness rating of each boot. The Figure Skate Comparison Guide below has our recommendations for choosing figure skates based upon an individual's skill level. This guide refers to the test levels of the United Skate Figure Skating Association (USFSA) and the Ice Skating Institiute (ISI). It also uses the recommendations provided by figure skating manufacturers as well as observations and experiences of the customers who have bought figure skates to help you select the most appropriate figure skates.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Figure Skates
Four factors to consider when purchasing your boot are: your weight, how often you skate, your skating level and your foot length & width. Remember there is no "better brand" of figure skate, there is just the brand that fits your foot the best. To read more information about figure skates, visit our Figure Skate Facts page.
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What are Stiffness/Support Ratings?
The Stiffness ratings in the Figure Skate Comparison Guide refer to the amount of support for a particular model of skate. The stiffer the figure skate, the stronger the support. Stiffness ratings will vary depending upon figure skate brand. For this reason the Figure Skate Comparison Guide has given a range for stiffness with each level.
Stronger skaters or larger adult skaters might want to move up to the next higher level boot (a more stiff boot), lighter or younger skaters might want to move down to the next lower level (or less stiff boot) but purchase a higher level blade. This is especially true for young girls skating at higher skill levels, but their physical size can’t justify a figure skate boot built for a senior lady. When in doubt consult your coach or instructor.
If you have chosen the correct figure skate boot and skate several times a week, then it should take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to break them in. If your feet are killing you after 5 or 6 months then you probably picked the wrong boot for your skating level. Expect blisters and/or sore spots during the break in process.
Find the best figure skates for your skill level. If you trust our store enough to use our skate comparison guide or sizing charts, then trust us enough to make your purchases from us. Even though there may be cheaper options out there, we specialize in figure skating. There is a reason why there is a term "cheap skate". You get what you pay for. When you trust in cheap equipment, you spend your money twice either by replacing the cheap stuff or through more ice/lesson time because your can't accomplish the skills being taught. Trust us to help you get the correct size of the correct skate for your skating level.