WHAT KIND OF SKATE IS IT?

If you've been looking on e-bay for ice skates, you might have noticed that skate models vary so much that one might not even believe they all will glide on the same ice! If you've just started skating, or you don't skate much, these differences might appear overwhelming at first, but they really aren't... The biggest difference in ice skates is the blade, if the blade has points in front,(a toe-pick) they are figure skates. If the blade does not have any points and the whole blade forms a small arc it's a hockey skate. If the blade is really long, it's a speed skate, and they are the least popular kind of skate you'll find being sold and some rinks do not allow them on the ice during public sessions.

                                                                                  FIGURE SKATES

If you have decided that a figure skate is what you want to buy you'll find that not all figure skates are created equal! The e-bay price tag will range from about $5 to sometimes $1,000! I own an $700 pair, and I can really tell the difference between the rentals I used to wear before I started jumping, my starter skates, and my current pair. The big differences between them are manufactuer and model. A generic pair, (you'll find them starting for around $5 on e-bay) will not offer enough support for those performing spins and jumps and footwork, but will probably be okay for the recreational skater with strong ankles. A down side on the generic pair is that the manufactuer will use plastic or artificial leather or a low grade leather that easily falls apart. The bottom and heel of such a skate is typically plastic or rubber. But you can find more suppportive boot cheap too, which is essential for those with the dreaded floppy ankle problem, or the instructional skater. If you want that supportive boot, look for names like RIEDELL, JACKSON, HARLICK, GAM, RISPORT, KLINGBEIL, and S-P TERI, which offer enough styles to find the perfect skate for your foot. The models are different for each company, so if you're a basic skills skater you can look for a more moderately priced skate with a fairly high quality leather boot and rubber sole and heel, but if you're a more advanced skater (doing doubles and triple jumps), you'll need an ultra-stiff boot. Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi wore HARLICK for all thier victories, Michelle Kwan wears S-P TERI, and Kurt Browning, Jamie Sale and many other modern elite skaters wear RIEDELL, (so do I) so you might just wear the same brand as your skating hero (but you probably won't need a skate on their level, go one of those skates in a lower model for less painful break-in). For example, if you're a recreational skater and you want a decent-quality skate for a great price, the RIEDELL blue ribbon boot and MK 21 blade set will give you ample support with enough flexability to keep you on your toes. Look up these names on the web, find out which model you need and which company fits their skates for people with feet like yours and then you can look for that model on E-bay.

SIZES

You want to have your skates as snug as possible without actually hurting your feet. Buying skates too big is often a waste of money, but skates a little too small can be stretched by a skating pro shop. Skate sizes run 1/2 to 2 sizes smaller than your pair of street shoes. Buying for kids can be tricky, but it's usually okay to buy the same size as their street shoes.

                                                                  FIND OUT HOW MUCH LIFE IS LEFT IN THE SKATES

When you find a pair of skates that you think might work out, the first thing is to find out how old the skate is, how long the skates were used and how often, how many times they were sharpened, and how broken down the skate appears to be. Beware of older models, they tend to be less stiff than the newer models, but if they were made by a trusted company less than ten years ago the should work out wonderfully.  How often they were used will tell you how much of the original stiffness is still left, but the recreational skater is less likely to have quickly broken them down as much. Blades sharpened around twenty-five or more times are probably too used, but you could consider a pair of blades sharpened less than ten times a great find. The most trusted blades are MK (also known as Mitchel and King) and John Wilson. Other skaters appreciate the value of Ultima and Gam. Those companies carry enough models to suit the recreational skater to the top Olympic athlete. One of the nicest things about higher-quality blades is that they stay sharper longer, up to a month of skating every day, (whereas you might have to sharpen a recreational blade every 10 times you skate), but a very advanced blade has bigger toe-picks might trip you. Also beware of ice dance blades if you're not an ice dancer, they have a much shorter heel which isn't designed for freestyle figure skating. 'Patch' blades, designed for skating figures, not jumps or spins, are not appropriate for the skater who wants to learn jumps, spins, and 'regular' footwork. Generic blades (often found on skates purchased at department stores) tend to be comprised of low quality steel which easily rusts and is sometimes not strong enough to withstand the simplest hops and jumps and unfortunately could leave you injured.

HOW TO LIST YOUR SKATES ON E-BAY

When listing your own skates on e-bay it is helpful to put blade size (You'll see numbers such as 9 1/3 or 10 1/4 on the bottom of the plate the blade is soldered to), as well as skate boot size. Also list the name and model of the skate, how long it was used, and if possible, how many times the blades were sharpened. This will help people know right away if they want the skates or not.

GOOD LUCK BUYING, SELLING, AND SKATING!

I am a high-level skater who has made a good number of skate-related ebay transactions. I wear RIEDELL's Gold Star boot and a John Wilson blade. I sincerely hope this guide helps those who read it! Have fun, Elissa.