Hello everyone!
I'm an adult skater, just coming back from a 12 month break after moving countries / injury.
A little bit of history: My mom was coaching me from 5-9, I did some local competitions as a child, then stopped.
I restarted training in my 20's for 2 years (lessons twice a week, about 6-7 hours on ice a week), then suffered injury on my ankle & moved to the UK.
It's safe for me to skate again and do sports, so I got back into working out at the gym (cardio) every other day and went back on the ice last week.
I have no idea what type skate I was wearing in my childhood, the ones I got in my 20's were (Zairas) CrystalII F-130, and I wore them out a lot doing some jumps (mostly single) and combinations spins.
Since I live in a remote area now, it's been a bit of a hike finding a coach for 1:1 lessons again, I have been able to go back to the rink and rent shoes, however they are far from what I'm used to and not a good fit to get back into it.
Bonus: I'm FTM, so I have to look in the black boot category now. I know I have less of a chance in terms of placing at competitions with my body, but I didn't want to give up either.
The UK (NISA) competitions let FTM people compete in the mens category with no restrictions, so I'm looking into more serious training throughout the next years. Since I work part-time I'm okay to get a higher brand boot and separate blades, but it doesn't change that I have very slim and small feet (38 EU, 5 UK).
Where do I go to get new boots, do I wait for a coach and not practise further or do I go out and buy a new set beforehand?
I might be waiting for a month or so to get someone securely, and I doubt they will go on a trip to England with me to find the right fit shoe.
I'm an adult skater, just coming back from a 12 month break after moving countries / injury.
A little bit of history: My mom was coaching me from 5-9, I did some local competitions as a child, then stopped.
I restarted training in my 20's for 2 years (lessons twice a week, about 6-7 hours on ice a week), then suffered injury on my ankle & moved to the UK.
It's safe for me to skate again and do sports, so I got back into working out at the gym (cardio) every other day and went back on the ice last week.
I have no idea what type skate I was wearing in my childhood, the ones I got in my 20's were (Zairas) CrystalII F-130, and I wore them out a lot doing some jumps (mostly single) and combinations spins.
Since I live in a remote area now, it's been a bit of a hike finding a coach for 1:1 lessons again, I have been able to go back to the rink and rent shoes, however they are far from what I'm used to and not a good fit to get back into it.
Bonus: I'm FTM, so I have to look in the black boot category now. I know I have less of a chance in terms of placing at competitions with my body, but I didn't want to give up either.
The UK (NISA) competitions let FTM people compete in the mens category with no restrictions, so I'm looking into more serious training throughout the next years. Since I work part-time I'm okay to get a higher brand boot and separate blades, but it doesn't change that I have very slim and small feet (38 EU, 5 UK).
Where do I go to get new boots, do I wait for a coach and not practise further or do I go out and buy a new set beforehand?
I might be waiting for a month or so to get someone securely, and I doubt they will go on a trip to England with me to find the right fit shoe.