Figure Skates, Figure Skating

Product Line

Geppetto’s Skate Shop

Geppetto’s Skate Shop is a retail shop specializing in ice figure skate boots, blades, and sharpening for both the beginner and serious competitive skater. We do not sell any figure skating clothing, i.e. skirts, warm up, or competitive dresses.

Due to the nature and importance of how boots should fit and blades mounted, we carry very little stock inventory on hand. We believe every foot to be as different as one's unique personality and should be treated as such. Mr. Edge has been fitting and sharpening skates since 1978 and believes in the importance of injury prevention. One way for skaters to avoid injury is by having a properly fitted boot, blade mounting, and sharpening throughout their entire skating career.

Product Lines We Sell

Boots

Figure Skating
Harlick		 Figure Skating
Jackson		 Figure Skating
Klingbeil (customs only)
Figure Skating
Riedell		 Figure Skating
SP-Teri

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Blades

Figure Skating
Eclipse Infinity		 Figure Skating
Figure Skating
Matrix		 Figure Skating
Paramount

Ultima

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Boot and Blade Recommendations

No matter which sport you choose to participate in, having the proper equipment should be your number one priority. Those new to figure skating assume that any pair of skates will work just fine. Nothing could be further from the truth.

For help in deciding which boots and blades to choose for your particular level of skating, Mr. Edge and Geppetto’s has taken a number of factors into consideration and came up with the following recommendations. Keep in mind that these are guidelines that we follow when fitting skaters and that they do not necessarily reflect the opinion of other pro-shops.

Taken into Consideration Are the Following

  • Cost
  • Value
  • Product quality
  • Life expectancy
  • Trade-in value

Cost
When purchasing figure skates, you will get what you pay for up to a point! After that, knowing which boot and blade to choose may be nothing more than a lateral move at a much higher price.

Knowing which blade and/or boots to choose can save skaters hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over the course of their skating career.

Value
Over time, blade manufacturing companies have failed to reinvest their profits into new technology; leaving the doors wide open for others to produce the same and in many instances even better quality blades for much less money, passing the savings along to the pro-shops and down to the skaters themselves.

Product Quality
New computer technology in CNC laser cutting and steel manufacturing has paved the way for more advanced hi-test blades to be produced at a much lesser cost. Paramount SK8S and Ultima are two such companies to have recently made use of such technology; producing lightweight stainless steel blades.

Life Expectancy
Ice conditions, number of times sharpened, level of skating, proper care, fit of boot, blade mounting, and weight all play a role in how long a skaters blades and boots will last.

Girls' feet will grow until about age 13 ½, while boys' feet may continue to grow until around age 18. Between the ages of 9 and 12, girls will have anywhere from ½ - 1 ½ size growth spurt almost overnight. Friday their skates fit fine, but come Monday morning, they have a hard time getting into their skates. Boys on the other hand can have as many as three growth spurts in one year.

Younger skaters who are just beginning with the basics or beginning freestyle will be able to skate just fine in a skate that is ½ size longer than their exact size measurement. It is not until your reach the intermediate freestyle level and above that a much more accurate fit is required.

Trade-in Value
Something to consider when purchasing skates is what their trade-in value may be worth. Skates costing under $75.00 usually have no trade in value simply because there is very little support in them or that they are better suited for outdoor usage and not learning the proper basics of skating.

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Mr. Edge and Geppetto’s Boot and Blade Choices

Learn to Skate:
Boot and Blade Combination

  • Riedell 21 RS with Onyx blade for child’s sizes up to 3½
  • Riedell 133 TS with Onyx blade for sizes 4 and up
  • Jackson Mystique 1490-91 with Mark IV blade for child’s sizes up to 3½
  • Jackson Artiste 1790-91 with Mark IV blade for children and adults sizes

Figure Skating
Riedell 21/121		 Figure Skating
Riedell 33/133		 Figure Skating
Jackson 1490/91		 Figure Skating
Jackson 1790/91

Beginning Freestyle:
Boot and Blade Combination

  • Riedell 21 RS with Eclipse Volant, Ultima Mirage, or Aspire, blade up to sizes 3½
  • Riedell 33 TS with Eclipse Volant or Ultima Aspire blade up to sizes 3½
  • Jackson 1491 Mystique with Mirage blade for child’s sizes up to 1
  • Jackson 1791 Artiste with Aspire or Mirage blade for child’s sizes up to 3½
  • Jackson 1990-91 Classique with Aspire blade for children and adult sizes
  • Jackson 2170 Freestyle with Aspire or Mirage for sizes 4 and up
Figure Skating
Jackson Classique 1990/91		 Figure Skating
Jackson Freestyle 2170
Figure Skating
Eclipse Volant		 Figure Skating
Ultima Mirage		 Figure Skating
Ultima Aspire

Note: Boots and blades can be purchased separately. If a skater does not fit well into one particular brand of boot, they have the option to purchase a separate boot and blade. When doing so, expect to pay a remounting fee. Here at Geppetto’s, we constantly switch boots and blades around in order to provide the best possible fit for the beginner and beginning freestyle skater; all at an affordable cost to the skater.

Intermediate Freestyle up to Axle:
By the time a skater reaches this level, they are usually very serious about their skating, and it becomes necessary to purchase a boot that fits as good as possible in order to avoid potential injury. Skaters at this level seam to do good in the following:

  • Riedell 255-25 TS all child and adult sizes
  • Jackson 1990-91 Classique for child's sizes up to 3½
  • Jackson 2010 Freestyle for adult sizes 4 and up
  • Jackson 2500 Premiere for adult sizes 4 and up
Figure Skating
Riedell 255/25 TS		 Figure Skating
Jackson Freestyle 2010		 Figure Skating
Jackson Premiere 2500

On the other hand, very young children or those skating no more than 2-3 hours a week and are not competing can get by with a less supportive boot which fits about a half size larger than what their exact size would be. Skaters that fall into this category do fine in the following:

  • Riedell 33 TS up to sizes 3½
  • Riedell 255 TS for adult sizes 4 and above
  • Jackson 1991 Classique for child’s sizes up to 3½
  • Jackson 2010 Freestyle for adult sizes 4 and up

Intermediate Freestyle Blades:

  • Ultima Protégé
  • Ultima Legacy
  • Wilson Coronation Ace
Figure Skating
Ultima Protégé		 Figure Skating
Ultima Legacy		 Figure Skating
Wilson Coronation Ace

Intermediate Freestyle-Lightweight Blades:

  • Paramount C12 or C27
  • Ultima Matrix Legacy
Figure Skating
Paramount C12/C27		 Figure Skating
Ultima Legacy

Hi-Test Freestyle – Doubles:
At this level of skating, there is no room for error and both the boot and blade should fit precise. Skater’s feet are very different from one another, and the knowledge of an expert who is familiar with how different boots fit different shapes of feet should be sought after.

Hi-Test Blade Recommendations:

  • Eclipse Infinity
  • Pattern 99
  • Ultima Elite
  • Ultima Freestyle
  • Paramount 420 or 440 P99 – lightweight
Figure Skating
Eclispe Infinity		 Figure Skating
Wilson Pattern 99		 Figure Skating
Ultima Elite
Figure Skating
Ultima Freestyle		 Figure Skating
Paramount P99 420/440

Hi-Test Boot Recommendations:
There is no one particular boot style or model that will fit everyone’s foot the same because all feet differ in physical characteristics and structure. As a result, Mr. Edge and Geppetto’s will not recommend any one particular boot without first measuring and examining a skater’s foot.

Figure Skating
Klingbeil		 Figure Skating
SP-Teri		 Figure Skating
Riedell
Figure Skating
Jackson		 Figure Skating
Harlick

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Blade Guards & Soakers:

Blade guards should only be used for walking in only and not for long-term storage on your blades. They come in both one- and two-piece models. Terry cloth soakers on the other hand are to be used for long-term storage as they will absorb any remaining water or condensation that may remain on the blades after the skater has wiped them down. Soakers are not made for walking in as they are very unstable and will quickly tear along the bottoms.

Guard Dog – 1 and 2 piece

Figure Skating
Images Solid Colors		 Figure Skating
Jane Solon Exclusives		 Figure Skating
Critter Talking Heads

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Laces:

Skate laces come in both all nylon and a cotton/nylon blend 50/50. All nylon laces tend to stretch and loosen up quickly while 50/50 laces will hold tighter together while skating. All nylon laces are good to use for breaking in new skates as they will allow the skater to bend much easier while breaking in their new skates. After breaking in new skates, it is recommended that a skater switch to the 50/50 blend laces.


All Nylon & 50/50 Blend

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Ankle Sleeves:

Ankle sleeves have many different uses, not only for figure skaters, but the general public as well. Figure skaters whose ankle bones are hurting will find relief from their pain when placing them around their ankles. They can also be used to help take up room in the ankle area of a skating boot or be used to snug up the heel area in a boot.

Aside from skating, ankle sleeves can be used around the forearm of an individual suffering from a radial nerve problem. The pressure that the ankle sleeve applies while on the forearm helps to hold the radial nerve in place, thus helping to eliminate some of the numbness or tingling sensation that people sometimes feel in their fourth and fifth fingers.


Silopos Gel Sleeves

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Skating Tights:

Mondor Brand Only in the following:

Footed – Lightweight footed # 3310 and semi-heavy footed # 3395
Footless (semi-heavy) # 3393
Over the Boot Velcro # 3396

All tights come in children through adult sizing and are available year round.


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Sk8Tape:

The original SK8Tape made by Penguin Specialties is used mostly by Synchro teams needing to change the color of their skates. By far, SK8Tape is the best product on the market for doing this type of job.

Original brand Sk8Tape in: Tan (wide only) and white (narrow and wide). Skate taping is also available for an additional charge.

Since 1978, Geppetto’s Skate Shop and Mr. Edge have been serving the needs of figure skaters throughout the Midwest. Mr. Edge’s experience and knowledge has made him one of the world’s leading informational sources regarding boots, blades, and sharpening. His recently released book Ask Mr. Edge explains and provides solutions to common blade, boot, and sharpening problems and their relationship to each other. Furthermore, the book describes many of the common injuries to the ankle, foot, hips, knees, and lower back that competitive skaters are prone too throughout their career and how they can be reduced or avoided altogether. Connect now and order your book today!