Wonderful information. I’ve been skating with traditional MK Gold Star blades since I began skating 30y ago. I love them. One thing to note, if you change to a different boot manufacturer, the size of your blade may change. It may take some time to get acclimated to the new blade size.
Yes, totally team MK Gold Star here as well! And you are correct, different boots can mean a different size blade, which can really throw a skater for a loop. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks Coach Julia. I am the only person at my rink that has MK Pro blades. I have had them for over 25 years I love them. Now I know why. Im drop the Great White North, but now live in Virginia. So many women wear other type blades. I am often asked what blades I use & why. I will pass that info onto the young ppl that ask. Thanks for breaking it down. Thanks for your videos.
I recently switched to the 7’ John Wilson Coro Aces when I upgraded by kit from the stock Jackson Elle’s. Jumps and speed have been come pretty naturally to me as a gymnast/dancer/skier/weightlifter but oof I was struggling with footwork and SPINS. The 7’ rocker helped jumped me forward a couple test levels in a couple weeks. At my age (32) I can’t imagine ever going back to the bigger rocker
I’m getting a bonus from work next month and I was thinking about treating myself to some new blades so this video couldn’t have come at a better time!😊 I wear the Risport electra boots at the moment with an edea rotation blade but I would like to upgrade and get a blade with a 7’ rocker. Also, I skate in Sheffield, where the steel for your blades comes from😆
Dear Coach Julia, as you said in another video: you can 'overboot', but you can't really 'overblade'. My coaches used to recommend MK Prof even for newbies, so I started right away on them with my very first swizzles as an adult skater (~50yo). I just ended my second full season on ice. Currently I can spin an bit on one foot, do decent F/B O/I edges, FO 3s, FI Mohawks and - with a little help - FI 3s and little hops and waltz jumps (btw thanks a lot for the tutorials, they are a great addition to the instructions I get from my coaches). For obvious reasons I can't compare my blades to other ones than the very simple leisure versions, but what I can say is that after the general process of getting used to proper skating blades (and boots), I feel pretty confident on them. Maybe it would have taken 1-2 months less to feel stable on my edges, but switching from 8ft to 7ft might have taken up the same time to reajust - and I saved the extra money for beginner blades I'd have used for max. 2 years. Long story short: Listen to your coach and don't be afraid to chose a more advanced blade if they recommend them for you. Spend that money on individual coaching instead. 😉
You are absolutely correct on this, You cannot over blade. Go with the best you can afford and it will definitely have a positive impact on your skating.
Thank you so much. My girls and I need to get new skates. This information helped a lot to understand what to get. Now, we just need to ch prices for us (adult for me doing the beginner jumps and my daugters that are younger working up on their jumps).
Very informative, thank you sooo much! Now I just need to know what I want in my skating to choose the right blade. I'm an adult begginner so I don't need the 3 or 4 rotation blades. I currently have an Aspire XP and don't like them so much. I'm often on my picks and have trouble finding my sweet spot. With this information, I think I need a 7ft rocker, parabolic blade style, and crosscut pick.Never thougt it was so difficult to choose a blade ;)
Side honing is just a gimmick. The way the blades are rust protected ends up ruining the effect, so there's actually no real difference (other than the blade being harder to maintain/sharpen). Tapering can have a slight effect, although chances are your sharpener ends up making more impact on that effect when they're sharpening the blade (and you better pick someone who knows what their doing or you ruin your blade right there). If I had to sharpen my own blades, I would surely go for a parallel blade, lol. But again: No big difference. One thing I'm not sure if you covered, is the _stanchion_ height. That actually does make some difference, and there's some big differences between blades there (that is, how tall the blade is, as in a Gold Seal is much higher than a Pattern 99). Obviously, the biggest thing is whether you're going to freestyle or dance. There's really no "beginner blades" for your "axels" and whatnot. Higher price (typically) just comes with better quality (and perhaps some gimmicks). What I would suggest, is that you pick a blade and find one that you like, and stick to it. *In short: If you like to have stability and an aggressive curve at the front of the blade for your spins, go for Gold Seal/MK Pro, if you don't want that, go Coro Ace/P99. And if you want something in between, go Phantom. That's about it!* Oh, and another thing I'm a bit annoyed about is the way manufacturers give the "rocker" radius: 7'' or 8'' "rocker radius"? Absolutely meaningless compared to the SPIN-rocker (here called "secondary rocker" like JW calls it as well). That's what actually makes a difference, wayyyyy more than the 7'' or 8'' "main" rocker. At least in my opinion. Gold seal rocker is (by specs) 12'' and starts nearest to the toe picks. Phantom is 17'' and starts further back. P99 is 12/27'' and starts furthest to the back (which means, Gold Seals are actually much more "stable" compared to P99s, because that 8'' rocker is actually much longer on a Gold Seal, than a P99. Oh, and most other manufacturers (like Jackson) that say something like "Gold Seal profile" actually have a blade profile closer to a P99 (although they don't say that and...basically lie to the consumer). So, if you're thinking those, you're really getting a blade closer to a P99, so keep that in mind. Aaand as a last note: Toe pick shapes don't matter, whatsoever. Just my two cents!
Thank you so much for these clear and brilliant explanations Julia!!! This is so helpful! Now I know which blades I'm gonna choose next, I was hesitating between two types. Greetings from Finland 😊⭐
Could you tell us more about the differences between the normal and lite versions? Have you try them? Or your students have tell you about it? Next month I’m going to buy a mk professional and did some research on them, in many forums they say that the lite version loses its edge extremely quickly, and that they are much more slippery. They prefer the normal ones, although for me the lite ones look prettier haha, do you have any thoughts on them? 🤗
Great video! Thank you very much. Julia please give your opinion on revolution blades; do they really make jump landings softer absorbing shock? Do you feel a bit rocky on spirals with 7 ft rocker ( are Y spirals harder to perform with 7 ft than with 8ft or opposite easier)?
The blades on that pair of thrift shop skates from the late 60s /early 70s were MK.. I only discovered this as I professionally sharpened them.. now after the season is over and I can't find an open rink, I bought some new modern skates, second hand, Edea Concerto.. but now I have to look for a nice set of 9 3/4 MK blades to replace the generaric blades on these skates I haven't even tried.. also my MK blades that are older have a different form than the modern ones.. so I am worried about the timing I need to adjust when I finally get ice time. Thank you for your information and inspiration.
That was so informative thank you!!! My skate fitter never really explains everything to me. Also, where did you get those lovely wall flowers in your background??
Coach Julia, I'm a 65YO Adult skater ready for new boots and blades after skating in Riedells for over 20 years. I'm eyeing the Edea's! I want comfort, plus I have an inside rt. bunion, which gives me discomfort after one hour skating. I love edges and the footwork of Moves in the Field (passed Silver) and Figures. I also want to begin the Solo Dance test track, after having volunteered recently at the National competition. Is 'Flamengo' the boot for me for comfort and Dance study; but is it also perfect for Moves and Figures? Two of my friends have 'Flamengo' and love it. What should I do about blades then? I've never had a Dance blade. I am primarily interested in Moves and Figures, but want to begin the Dance tract. At my age, I want to give up the Freestyle jumps and spins for footwork. But, I might want to practice the initial five jumps and basic spins, though, now and then. Thank you for your excellent advice!
I went from a coronation ace to a coronation comet then the MK phantom. Life really changed when i switched to the John Wilson Gold Seal. There’s a reason why most Olympic gold medalists going back to the 70’s wear the Gold Seal Boitano Yamaguchi Baiul Gordeeva Grinkov Nathan Chen Yuna Kim To name a few. Also, Carolina Kostner who once skated on Matrix blades, switched to the MK gold star Rev blades. She skated on them for a while. One off season she went to Gold Seals. I remember her in an interview saying she could not believe what she missed out of for so many years. You can see how much lighter , quicker and precede but effortless her skating was and consistent afterwards Also, another skater that skated for years on a MK Gold star but switched to Gold Seals was female pairs champion Winjing Sui. Chinese pair girls usually skate in the gold star and the man the gold seal. She switched and NEVER went back. Also, for those of you that like the skating lesson, years back John Wilson let dave and Jenny try the GS. Jenny was an old school Pattern 99 girl and like all of us had to adjust to that rocker but they documented it on camera. Hope this helps
I have skated on Aspire XP blades with an 8ft rocker, for several years now. I learnt as an adult, and have been skating for just over 10years in total. I'm not on my second pair of XPs but other people rave about the Coronation Aces, and have been wondering lately if they might be an option for my next pair of blades 🤔, I'm concerned about switching rocker size a bit though. I'm only doing single jumps at the moment, but I do have a pipe dream of being able to axel, maybe, and I love spinning too, just learnt change foot upright ❤.
Making a change from an 8' rocker to a 7' rocker is indeed an adjustment, but one that is worth making so that you can progress. Go through the pain of change and come out a butterfly on the other side.
So helpful thank you! How do I know which length/size of blade to get? I’ve only skated with the pre fitted blades that came with my skates a year ago and I’m struggling to get my spins as my blade is 8 inch and super flat/beginner.
Great video and super helpful. I am just confused about one thing: you say you have never skated in a parabolic blade, but the MK Gold Star blade is listed as parabolic on their official website. Maybe they've changed something? When you show the MK website at the end it also shows the blade listed as parabolic (as opposed to the MK Professional and other blades which are standard parallel type). Maybe you have been skating on a parabolic blade without realizing it? :-)
Hi Coach Julia, can you also please include a video discussing the hollow? For example, my coach recommends for me a 7/16 hollow on my current blades (also MK gold star), but my previous paramount blades had a 1/2 hollow, and I felt like they had more bite/grip on the ice, but were harder on turns. Thanks for this very informative video!
Would you rather recommend the 1/4'' shorter blades which is the standard "blade fit to boot" option at online shops or would you rather recommend the version that's 1/4'' longer than the standard "blade fit to boot" option?
Is it ok for me to consider the gold star even though I am still learning my single jumps? My coronation aces are hard to spin in, I have a used pair of mk visions that helped my spins instantly but not much life left in them but I can’t order a new pair since they’re now discontinued. Gold star seems awesome but not sure if it will be too much for my skill level?
I have been so confused about the blade specifications and their properties. (Unfortunately the company website doesn’t explain enough for a curious newbie like me to understand how the technologies work) Thank you so much for sharing! This is indeed very beneficial. Will definitely incorporate this into my selection for new boots and blades as my Jackson Freestyle is now a year old with a bit bent ankle and the blades had lost too much metal to sharpen it again (per pro shop’s staff comment). One question: what are the main differences between MK and JW blades?
Hello, I'm already very good at hockey skates and can do the Salchow on them. I've also tried inline skates from Pig Skate. I always fall on the stopper. Which blade would you recommend? I'm leaning towards ice dancing with simple jumps.
Hi Julia, I am watching this now, and I did not know there came so much to blades! I currently have the MK professional, but I have a lot of trouble with spins and finding the sweet spot. Now I notice that MK professional has a 7" rocker, and my previous blades definitely had 8". It has been already 2 seasons since I switched to these new blades, but I am now doubting whether the MK professional may be "above my level". But the thing is, I kind of need to "adjust" to having a 7" rocker anyways, if I want to go into jumping doubles one day... So I am now in doubt what to do... Do you have any tips for me?
The sweet spot for spins is a different rocker, precisely a 12'. The 7' rocker is the curve of the whole blade. The sweet spot on the MK is very precise. You either hit or miss it in the beginning, but when you hit it and are well centered, your spins are going to be much faster! Because you are used to a 8' main rocker, you probably are going to be much further forward on you blades. So you don't have to rock that much forward for the sweet spot. Give yourself some more time to adjust and start out with easy two-foot-spins to get used to the new location of the spin rocker!
@@curiouslyme524 the Coronation Ave has a compound rocker, so it goes from a 7-foot radius on the main part of the blade to a 27-inch radius as you move towards the toe and then to a 12-inch radius closest to the toe pick. This gives you a more gradual change than the MK Pro and places the change in curvature a little farther back from the toe pick. The overall effect is that the CA change's curvature more gently than the MK Pro, which is something that you may or may not prefer.
Jackson Supreme is actually nothing like an actual Gold Seal. All Jackson blades have a flatter profile more akin to a Pattern 99. (This is one of my biggest gripes with manufacturers, as they don't actually disclose their blade profiles well at all). Still, any blade that works for you, is good (for you)!
@@Stormquad Elite has the pick pattern of P99. Supreme has the pick pattern and tapered edge of the GS, but the spin rocker profile is still much flatter than an actual GS (and closer to P99). What I mean is that all Matrix blades are closer to the rocker profile of P99 (rather than GS).
Thank you soo much for those information they are more than useful, I am professional dancer and I started with figure skating 6 months ago … I am planning to buy new skates ,boots and blades … now I am working on simple jumps and rotations on one leg… my trainer suggested me MK galaxy or professional but I am thinking to buy Mk professional … I love to spin … but I am still struggling with three turns a little …. Do you think this tipe of blades could be a good choice?
Hi, thank you for the excellent explanation. I’m currently on Jackson Freestyles with the standard Aspire XP blade. My skate tech says they don’t have much of a rocker (spins and footwork is a challenge for me, maintaining a deep outside edge is the bane of my existence but this is mostly a lack of skill probably). I’m currently at ISI Beta-Gamma level, my boots are less than one year old. Skate tech says best to just change to Ice Fly x MK combo but it’s super costly. I was wondering if I could get the MK blade and mount to my Jackson’s then when o reach F3/4 change to the Edea boot and move the MK blade there. Thoughts?
What do I ask for when I get one of these sharpened? Also I’m learning my one foot spin and I’m having trouble going from my spin entrance to actually spinning, it’s like my blade gets caught on the ice and prevents me from spinning, (not the toe pick, but the edge of the blade) i have a jackson blade with a half inch cut and a slight concave, or the “standard” cut and nothing else fancy. Its a very beginner blade and trying to do my waltz jump on it is hard.. what blade do you recommend for me
As a beginner I was wondering throughout the video why the more professional blades are made to do jumping, spinning and edge work easier. Why do I have to struggle with a more bulky and flat blade through my first attempts at the elements for the next couple of years before switching and then getting a boost in performance quality later? Or are beginner blades just more stable to learn with? 🤔
You don't, you could start out with Coronation Ace or MK Pro. Normaly, the 8' rocker is just easier for beginners because of stability reasons, and those blades are not quite as fast as the intermediate ones. I started out in CA (I skated on Ultima Mark IV a few times) and in the beginning felt like constantly falling backwards because the shorter tail and the 7' rocker. But now I love them :)
i think it’s purely because most beginners won’t want to part with £500+ for a pair of blades in case they give up skating. it’s not worth it when you’re only going forwards lol
@@hnsccharlie4908 You would be surprised how many people I have seen who could barely do a waltz jump but skated in Edea Piano with high-end revolution blades. Of course price is a factor, but mot advanced blades are just hard to learn of when you are a beginner. Aggressive toe picks, parabolic, higher stacion... There's a reason that those aren't recommended for the beginner apart from the price.
Hello Coach ! When would you recommand changing blades, except for jump ? I am competing in adult ice dance, learning single jumps aside in figure skating, and I am currently with Mark IV blades. I will change my boots soon, so it will already cost a lot, and I wonder if I really need to change blades too (mostly for footwork and deep edges). My coach isn't really helpful for this, and I don't have a tech in my city...
I just tried out my Edea Ice Flys with MK Galaxy (I was a little timid to try the 7' rocker featured on the MK Pro at the moment as my last lower-quality blade rocker was 8'). I can only say that it is a HUGE improvement from my previous blade and my spins were so much more effortless. Now I am curious about the difference between the Galaxy and Pro, or even the Gold Star!
Hi coach Julia! Wonderful video :D I was wondering if you could give me your thoughts about this, I'm going to do private figure skating lessons next month and a very advanced coach teaching triples to students, has offered to be my coach, I feel conflicted as I feel honoured but also nervous as I'm quite inexperienced with only being able to do single jumps the sal, toe and waltz and spins and I fear as if I'm not worthy enough to be coached by this person and I was wondering if I should find another coach or just stay with this one? thank you so much!
Oh my gosh, I would never want you to feel 'not worthy enough'. A coach who can train triple rotation jumps should also know how to train single rotation jumps, and all of us coaches should have such a love of the sport that we would train a skater of lower levels not just high levels. On Fridays I have a student who is learning one foot glides followed by a student who is working on doubles, that is just how the sport goes. So if this coach has offered to be you coach, take them up on it and soak up everything they have to teach you, without fear of feeling inferior.
Can you explain the different shapes on the mounting, for lack of a better term the side profile of the blade? Why do some have a sort of triangle shape where it is attached? Is there extra strength in this style?
Yes, shorter heel, more side honed, the drag pick is much smaller, and toe picks are often smaller other than on the Ultima Finesse and Coronation Dance!
Guys, I'm desperate. Where are you buying it??? I ordered a pair of RF3 pro Risport skates in NOV 2022 and even now in AUG 2023 I have no news on how it's going... Hole Spain is out of stock... No blades, no boots, nothing
What are the differences between the "normal" and revolution blade (or in general those blades with the kinda "Y" shaped connection? Is it just to reduce weight or for something else?
It's for weight reduction, because the runner is normaly aluminum, as well as better shock absorbance for jumps. But the Revolution part is apparently annoying for some skaters with really deep edges, because it tends to scrap on the ice.
It’s supposed to be weight reduction only, but I have a friend who skates on mk pro rev who says that they felt much curvier than regular mk pro for some reason. They definitely makes it much harder to grab the blade if you’re doing any catch foot stuff though.
I started out with the blade that came with the Jackson freestyle skate - the aspire XP blade, which was an 8in rocker and I always had trouble spinning. I'm now on a jw coronation ace blade with a 7in rocker and my spins improved almost overnight.
I have the same start setup as you and am struggling with spins - it’s probably 80% my lack of skill but really wondering how soon I should change my blade as I just bought and started skating last May
Awwe…last week I switched to Gold Seals to treat myself for birthday…I did do my homework and research, but I’m getting a funny feeling that I might have picked the wrong one…😢
@@kia9119 well, the “side honed” feature is something I didn’t consider and it seems absent from Gold Seals. John Wilson’s website doesn’t mention side hones. If GS’s are also side honed, then lucky me. And of course I love my new blades! First time skating on them felt so good! But after my second day on them, I started slipping sideways a lot…Let’s just hope that the “blademaster” forgot to sharpen my blades after mounting them. Too bad I don’t know for sure as I went out for lunch while he worked on the mounting process.
@@yjchoi17 Many champions and great Russian skaters all use Gold Seal. Don't worry, any problem would not be the blade's problem (except for unlucky situation of bad quality control).
@@aatsw yup. It all comes down to the skater. Which I’m just a little more than beginner level without much potential due to age. But hey, it’s all about having fun and enjoying the sport, right? Anyways, I’ll get used to my GS’s. I know I will.
@@yjchoi17 I have heard from many skaters that all those extra features like side honed / parabolic are only ever useful if you are a pro or jump triples. If not, they are more of a hindrance than useful.
This feels like a dumb question but I went to an online store to look at blades and for the life of me can’t figure out if the blades are sold/priced as a pair or individually. What’s normal?
ABSOLUTELY Love 💕 yur videos. You're truly amazing. Got back into skating after nearly 25 years .I have learned so much from you lately💯⛸️.I have a pair of SP Terri Skates with an MK blade.LOVE❤MY MK BLADE !!! I use 2 skate in them when I was younger. Also I wear a size 7 & that is the size they are.But 20 years later they hurt so bad 😢.Had them punched and they still didn't fit correctly. I was in an ice rink that had a pro shop. I slipped on a pair of Jackson's skates & they fit like a glove. Now I think 🤔 I might have rushed into the buy. To make a long story short, I don't think they can mount my blade on those Skates . I love the comfort of the wide width that Jackson boots make.Though they're a less expensive style boot 👢 they have padding which my SP Terri are lacking.. But the SP Terri's & skates of the past have solid wooden heels. Blades could be taken off or on when needed. I don't think you could do this with the Jackson boot. Or even should for that fact They are PVC . Should have done my homework 😮But I'm on a limited budget .I wanted a pair of skates so bad,that I could at least skate in without pain. Any suggestions? Thanks much and God bless always 🕊️⛸️
😃 I really want to thank you for the excellent explanation😮 now I understand better the blades . I want to buy John Wilson gold Seal parabolic Revolution blades.😊 could you please give me your opinion about that???⛸⛸ Thanks in Advance Kind regards. From México City 🌎
If you don't learn to jump triples / double flip and lutz, then I wouldn't recommend them. When you're just learning your easy doubles / singles / or are a beginner, please get yourself Coronation Ace or MK Professional. Those are much more suited. But
... and we thought that starting our daughter on skating, would have been a simple after school activity choice 🤷🏻♂️
Wonderful information. I’ve been skating with traditional MK Gold Star blades since I began skating 30y ago. I love them. One thing to note, if you change to a different boot manufacturer, the size of your blade may change. It may take some time to get acclimated to the new blade size.
Yes, totally team MK Gold Star here as well! And you are correct, different boots can mean a different size blade, which can really throw a skater for a loop. Thanks for the comment.
It is awesome. As a hockey player, this is the first time I have learned so many parameters and jargon of a figure skate blade. Thanks a lot.
I am glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Coach Julia. I am the only person at my rink that has MK Pro blades. I have had them for over 25 years I love them. Now I know why. Im drop the Great White North, but now live in Virginia. So many women wear other type blades. I am often asked what blades I use & why. I will pass that info onto the young ppl that ask. Thanks for breaking it down. Thanks for your videos.
I recently switched to the 7’ John Wilson Coro Aces when I upgraded by kit from the stock Jackson Elle’s. Jumps and speed have been come pretty naturally to me as a gymnast/dancer/skier/weightlifter but oof I was struggling with footwork and SPINS. The 7’ rocker helped jumped me forward a couple test levels in a couple weeks. At my age (32) I can’t imagine ever going back to the bigger rocker
Glad to hear you have had a good experience with transitioning to the 7' rocker. It can be a tough one for some people.
I’m getting a bonus from work next month and I was thinking about treating myself to some new blades so this video couldn’t have come at a better time!😊 I wear the Risport electra boots at the moment with an edea rotation blade but I would like to upgrade and get a blade with a 7’ rocker. Also, I skate in Sheffield, where the steel for your blades comes from😆
Dear Coach Julia, as you said in another video: you can 'overboot', but you can't really 'overblade'.
My coaches used to recommend MK Prof even for newbies, so I started right away on them with my very first swizzles as an adult skater (~50yo). I just ended my second full season on ice. Currently I can spin an bit on one foot, do decent F/B O/I edges, FO 3s, FI Mohawks and - with a little help - FI 3s and little hops and waltz jumps (btw thanks a lot for the tutorials, they are a great addition to the instructions I get from my coaches). For obvious reasons I can't compare my blades to other ones than the very simple leisure versions, but what I can say is that after the general process of getting used to proper skating blades (and boots), I feel pretty confident on them. Maybe it would have taken 1-2 months less to feel stable on my edges, but switching from 8ft to 7ft might have taken up the same time to reajust - and I saved the extra money for beginner blades I'd have used for max. 2 years.
Long story short: Listen to your coach and don't be afraid to chose a more advanced blade if they recommend them for you. Spend that money on individual coaching instead. 😉
You are absolutely correct on this, You cannot over blade. Go with the best you can afford and it will definitely have a positive impact on your skating.
Thank you so much. My girls and I need to get new skates. This information helped a lot to understand what to get. Now, we just need to ch prices for us (adult for me doing the beginner jumps and my daugters that are younger working up on their jumps).
I am glad you found it helpful!
"The toe pick serves an important function on your skates..."
Tripping beginners and building character?
Hah! Yes, exactly! They are a Character building tool for sure. Lol.
@@CoachJulia I can't wait until my character building phase is over lol
Really builds character and makes you remember the proper techniques alright 🤣
Very informative, thank you sooo much! Now I just need to know what I want in my skating to choose the right blade. I'm an adult begginner so I don't need the 3 or 4 rotation blades. I currently have an Aspire XP and don't like them so much. I'm often on my picks and have trouble finding my sweet spot. With this information, I think I need a 7ft rocker, parabolic blade style, and crosscut pick.Never thougt it was so difficult to choose a blade ;)
This really helped me! Im so glad you masde this video for us! 😁
I am so glad it helped!
Side honing is just a gimmick. The way the blades are rust protected ends up ruining the effect, so there's actually no real difference (other than the blade being harder to maintain/sharpen).
Tapering can have a slight effect, although chances are your sharpener ends up making more impact on that effect when they're sharpening the blade (and you better pick someone who knows what their doing or you ruin your blade right there). If I had to sharpen my own blades, I would surely go for a parallel blade, lol. But again: No big difference.
One thing I'm not sure if you covered, is the _stanchion_ height. That actually does make some difference, and there's some big differences between blades there (that is, how tall the blade is, as in a Gold Seal is much higher than a Pattern 99).
Obviously, the biggest thing is whether you're going to freestyle or dance. There's really no "beginner blades" for your "axels" and whatnot. Higher price (typically) just comes with better quality (and perhaps some gimmicks). What I would suggest, is that you pick a blade and find one that you like, and stick to it.
*In short: If you like to have stability and an aggressive curve at the front of the blade for your spins, go for Gold Seal/MK Pro, if you don't want that, go Coro Ace/P99. And if you want something in between, go Phantom. That's about it!*
Oh, and another thing I'm a bit annoyed about is the way manufacturers give the "rocker" radius: 7'' or 8'' "rocker radius"? Absolutely meaningless compared to the SPIN-rocker (here called "secondary rocker" like JW calls it as well). That's what actually makes a difference, wayyyyy more than the 7'' or 8'' "main" rocker. At least in my opinion. Gold seal rocker is (by specs) 12'' and starts nearest to the toe picks. Phantom is 17'' and starts further back. P99 is 12/27'' and starts furthest to the back (which means, Gold Seals are actually much more "stable" compared to P99s, because that 8'' rocker is actually much longer on a Gold Seal, than a P99. Oh, and most other manufacturers (like Jackson) that say something like "Gold Seal profile" actually have a blade profile closer to a P99 (although they don't say that and...basically lie to the consumer). So, if you're thinking those, you're really getting a blade closer to a P99, so keep that in mind.
Aaand as a last note: Toe pick shapes don't matter, whatsoever.
Just my two cents!
Thank you so much for these clear and brilliant explanations Julia!!! This is so helpful! Now I know which blades I'm gonna choose next, I was hesitating between two types. Greetings from Finland 😊⭐
Glad I could help you!
Could you tell us more about the differences between the normal and lite versions? Have you try them? Or your students have tell you about it? Next month I’m going to buy a mk professional and did some research on them, in many forums they say that the lite version loses its edge extremely quickly, and that they are much more slippery. They prefer the normal ones, although for me the lite ones look prettier haha, do you have any thoughts on them? 🤗
I'm skating on JW Coronation Aces. My dream blade is the MK Gold Star traditional blade.
Great video! Thank you very much. Julia please give your opinion on revolution blades; do they really make jump landings softer absorbing shock?
Do you feel a bit rocky on spirals with 7 ft rocker ( are Y spirals harder to perform with 7 ft than with 8ft or opposite easier)?
The blades on that pair of thrift shop skates from the late 60s /early 70s were MK.. I only discovered this as I professionally sharpened them.. now after the season is over and I can't find an open rink, I bought some new modern skates, second hand, Edea Concerto.. but now I have to look for a nice set of 9 3/4 MK blades to replace the generaric blades on these skates I haven't even tried.. also my MK blades that are older have a different form than the modern ones.. so I am worried about the timing I need to adjust when I finally get ice time. Thank you for your information and inspiration.
Someone who has seen me skate mentioned Ultima Legacy 8 for me. All the blades seem very expensive!
Thanks for your work, teaching and everything!! A++++videos!! I’m updating my self!! Where are the Phantom Special?? XD
That was so informative thank you!!! My skate fitter never really explains everything to me. Also, where did you get those lovely wall flowers in your background??
I actually made them! There are a bunch of templates you can purchase on Etsy, I got a few I liked and went crazy with the craft paper. lol
Coach Julia, I'm a 65YO Adult skater ready for new boots and blades after skating in Riedells for over 20 years. I'm eyeing the Edea's! I want comfort, plus I have an inside rt. bunion, which gives me discomfort after one hour skating. I love edges and the footwork of Moves in the Field (passed Silver) and Figures. I also want to begin the Solo Dance test track, after having volunteered recently at the National competition. Is 'Flamengo' the boot for me for comfort and Dance study; but is it also perfect for Moves and Figures? Two of my friends have 'Flamengo' and love it. What should I do about blades then? I've never had a Dance blade. I am primarily interested in Moves and Figures, but want to begin the Dance tract. At my age, I want to give up the Freestyle jumps and spins for footwork. But, I might want to practice the initial five jumps and basic spins, though, now and then. Thank you for your excellent advice!
I went from a coronation ace to a coronation comet then the MK phantom.
Life really changed when i switched to the John Wilson Gold Seal. There’s a reason why most Olympic gold medalists going back to the 70’s wear the Gold Seal
Boitano
Yamaguchi
Baiul
Gordeeva Grinkov
Nathan Chen
Yuna Kim
To name a few.
Also, Carolina Kostner who once skated on Matrix blades, switched to the MK gold star Rev blades. She skated on them for a while. One off season she went to Gold Seals. I remember her in an interview saying she could not believe what she missed out of for so many years. You can see how much lighter , quicker and precede but effortless her skating was and consistent afterwards
Also, another skater that skated for years on a MK Gold star but switched to Gold Seals was female pairs champion Winjing Sui. Chinese pair girls usually skate in the gold star and the man the gold seal. She switched and NEVER went back.
Also, for those of you that like the skating lesson, years back John Wilson let dave and Jenny try the GS. Jenny was an old school Pattern 99 girl and like all of us had to adjust to that rocker but they documented it on camera.
Hope this helps
Thank you for this super helpful video! I’ve heard that MK is preferred on the West Coast whereas where I am on the East, we prefer John Wilson.
Really? Interesting! Never heard this before
Yes it’s true. All my east coast skating peeps skate in pattern 99 blades. Gold Star are more popular on the west coast
Never heard this but it does make sense. The only MKs I see people at my rink wearing are the MK Dance ones. Everyone else uses JWs or matrix blades.
Definitely never heard of this before.
Thank you! Just in time as I’m looking for new blades!
Glad I could help!
Wonderful information. From here I will go to the MK Blade offerings.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fabulous video and the details you provided are outstanding.
I'm curious if you have a blade suggestion for someone doing Moves in the Field only.
Great explanation! Love my MK Goldstar, other than Coronation Ace for figures, all I ever skated in. Had a little sticker shock buying the new ones! 😂
Yeah, the price has certainly gone up. I am in the 'saving' mode for my next pair.
I have skated on Aspire XP blades with an 8ft rocker, for several years now. I learnt as an adult, and have been skating for just over 10years in total. I'm not on my second pair of XPs but other people rave about the Coronation Aces, and have been wondering lately if they might be an option for my next pair of blades 🤔, I'm concerned about switching rocker size a bit though. I'm only doing single jumps at the moment, but I do have a pipe dream of being able to axel, maybe, and I love spinning too, just learnt change foot upright ❤.
Making a change from an 8' rocker to a 7' rocker is indeed an adjustment, but one that is worth making so that you can progress. Go through the pain of change and come out a butterfly on the other side.
Perfect!!! I need this video- looking to buy new skates (boots and blades) this week and I’m freaking out!!! 😅
Good luck with the new blades!! It can be an adjustment so just be kind to yourself!
So helpful thank you! How do I know which length/size of blade to get? I’ve only skated with the pre fitted blades that came with my skates a year ago and I’m struggling to get my spins as my blade is 8 inch and super flat/beginner.
Power has never been a problem for me so I really wanted to try the 7' rocker, but it's definitely been a huge learning curve for me 💀
Great video and super helpful. I am just confused about one thing: you say you have never skated in a parabolic blade, but the MK Gold Star blade is listed as parabolic on their official website. Maybe they've changed something? When you show the MK website at the end it also shows the blade listed as parabolic (as opposed to the MK Professional and other blades which are standard parallel type). Maybe you have been skating on a parabolic blade without realizing it? :-)
Parabolic is an option on the Gold Star. I have never chosen that option when ordering.
@@CoachJulia I see! That makes sense. Thanks for your reply! :-)
Hi Coach Julia, can you also please include a video discussing the hollow? For example, my coach recommends for me a 7/16 hollow on my current blades (also MK gold star), but my previous paramount blades had a 1/2 hollow, and I felt like they had more bite/grip on the ice, but were harder on turns. Thanks for this very informative video!
Answering your question tomorrow during my Q&A!
Love this video and wish I knew this before. However, got the coronation ace lite blade and I'm loving it.
I am so glad you are happy with your choice!
Would you rather recommend the 1/4'' shorter blades which is the standard "blade fit to boot" option at online shops or would you rather recommend the version that's 1/4'' longer than the standard "blade fit to boot" option?
Answering your question tomorrow in my Q&A!
@@CoachJulia yaaay thank you so much Julia!!
Hi coach Julia. Do you have any suggestions on beginner ice dance blades?
Is it ok for me to consider the gold star even though I am still learning my single jumps? My coronation aces are hard to spin in, I have a used pair of mk visions that helped my spins instantly but not much life left in them but I can’t order a new pair since they’re now discontinued. Gold star seems awesome but not sure if it will be too much for my skill level?
I have been so confused about the blade specifications and their properties. (Unfortunately the company website doesn’t explain enough for a curious newbie like me to understand how the technologies work) Thank you so much for sharing! This is indeed very beneficial. Will definitely incorporate this into my selection for new boots and blades as my Jackson Freestyle is now a year old with a bit bent ankle and the blades had lost too much metal to sharpen it again (per pro shop’s staff comment).
One question: what are the main differences between MK and JW blades?
Hey, awesome video!
Do you think you could do a tutorial for a sit tuck and a camel catch foot spin in the future?
Greetings from Germany
Great suggestion!
this is so helpful!!! thanks coach julia :)
Glad it was helpful!
Hello, I'm already very good at hockey skates and can do the Salchow on them. I've also tried inline skates from Pig Skate. I always fall on the stopper. Which blade would you recommend? I'm leaning towards ice dancing with simple jumps.
Hi Julia I really enjoyed your in depth analysis
Thanks Coach, I thought picking a t-blade was tuff. Nice ring!!
Thanks! ☺️
@@CoachJulia I love how skates are made, thanks again!
Hi Julia, I am watching this now, and I did not know there came so much to blades! I currently have the MK professional, but I have a lot of trouble with spins and finding the sweet spot. Now I notice that MK professional has a 7" rocker, and my previous blades definitely had 8". It has been already 2 seasons since I switched to these new blades, but I am now doubting whether the MK professional may be "above my level". But the thing is, I kind of need to "adjust" to having a 7" rocker anyways, if I want to go into jumping doubles one day... So I am now in doubt what to do... Do you have any tips for me?
The sweet spot for spins is a different rocker, precisely a 12'. The 7' rocker is the curve of the whole blade. The sweet spot on the MK is very precise. You either hit or miss it in the beginning, but when you hit it and are well centered, your spins are going to be much faster!
Because you are used to a 8' main rocker, you probably are going to be much further forward on you blades. So you don't have to rock that much forward for the sweet spot.
Give yourself some more time to adjust and start out with easy two-foot-spins to get used to the new location of the spin rocker!
@@kia9119 THe spin rocker on the MK Pro is 12 inches, not 12'.
@@sigriddahlberg5045How does this compare to the JW Cor Aces? Thanks.
@@curiouslyme524 the Coronation Ave has a compound rocker, so it goes from a 7-foot radius on the main part of the blade to a 27-inch radius as you move towards the toe and then to a 12-inch radius closest to the toe pick. This gives you a more gradual change than the MK Pro and places the change in curvature a little farther back from the toe pick. The overall effect is that the CA change's curvature more gently than the MK Pro, which is something that you may or may not prefer.
I am using Jackson Ultima Matrix Supreme. Its similar to Gold Seal but I think it is a bit lighter and last really long. Nice vdo always!
Thanks for sharing!
Jackson Supreme is actually nothing like an actual Gold Seal. All Jackson blades have a flatter profile more akin to a Pattern 99.
(This is one of my biggest gripes with manufacturers, as they don't actually disclose their blade profiles well at all).
Still, any blade that works for you, is good (for you)!
@@BluesruseMatrix Elite is more similar to Pattern 99. Matrix Supreme is unlike Pattern 99.
@@Stormquad Elite has the pick pattern of P99. Supreme has the pick pattern and tapered edge of the GS, but the spin rocker profile is still much flatter than an actual GS (and closer to P99).
What I mean is that all Matrix blades are closer to the rocker profile of P99 (rather than GS).
Thank you soo much for those information they are more than useful, I am professional dancer and I started with figure skating 6 months ago … I am planning to buy new skates ,boots and blades … now I am working on simple jumps and rotations on one leg… my trainer suggested me MK galaxy or professional but I am thinking to buy Mk professional … I love to spin … but I am still struggling with three turns a little …. Do you think this tipe of blades could be a good choice?
Answering your question tomorrow during my Q&A!
Hi, thank you for the excellent explanation. I’m currently on Jackson Freestyles with the standard Aspire XP blade.
My skate tech says they don’t have much of a rocker (spins and footwork is a challenge for me, maintaining a deep outside edge is the bane of my existence but this is mostly a lack of skill probably).
I’m currently at ISI Beta-Gamma level, my boots are less than one year old. Skate tech says best to just change to Ice Fly x MK combo but it’s super costly.
I was wondering if I could get the MK blade and mount to my Jackson’s then when o reach F3/4 change to the Edea boot and move the MK blade there. Thoughts?
I'll answer this for you in a Q&A Posting on Sunday!
I used Phantom with K-pick. Very old blades
Oh yeah. Those are old. I remember when the K-pick came in and was all the rage. Do you like them?
What do I ask for when I get one of these sharpened?
Also I’m learning my one foot spin and I’m having trouble going from my spin entrance to actually spinning, it’s like my blade gets caught on the ice and prevents me from spinning, (not the toe pick, but the edge of the blade) i have a jackson blade with a half inch cut and a slight concave, or the “standard” cut and nothing else fancy.
Its a very beginner blade and trying to do my waltz jump on it is hard.. what blade do you recommend for me
As a beginner I was wondering throughout the video why the more professional blades are made to do jumping, spinning and edge work easier. Why do I have to struggle with a more bulky and flat blade through my first attempts at the elements for the next couple of years before switching and then getting a boost in performance quality later? Or are beginner blades just more stable to learn with? 🤔
Yes the stability is really an important factor for beginners. Makes general moves much easier
You don't, you could start out with Coronation Ace or MK Pro. Normaly, the 8' rocker is just easier for beginners because of stability reasons, and those blades are not quite as fast as the intermediate ones.
I started out in CA (I skated on Ultima Mark IV a few times) and in the beginning felt like constantly falling backwards because the shorter tail and the 7' rocker.
But now I love them :)
i think it’s purely because most beginners won’t want to part with £500+ for a pair of blades in case they give up skating. it’s not worth it when you’re only going forwards lol
@@hnsccharlie4908 definitely also legitimate reasoning. It wouldn't make sense to invest in an expensive blade if a beginner couldn't make use of it
@@hnsccharlie4908 You would be surprised how many people I have seen who could barely do a waltz jump but skated in Edea Piano with high-end revolution blades.
Of course price is a factor, but mot advanced blades are just hard to learn of when you are a beginner. Aggressive toe picks, parabolic, higher stacion... There's a reason that those aren't recommended for the beginner apart from the price.
Do you have any lower end blades you recommend? ( yes! I know the lower level blades are not that good)
Hello Coach !
When would you recommand changing blades, except for jump ?
I am competing in adult ice dance, learning single jumps aside in figure skating, and I am currently with Mark IV blades. I will change my boots soon, so it will already cost a lot, and I wonder if I really need to change blades too (mostly for footwork and deep edges).
My coach isn't really helpful for this, and I don't have a tech in my city...
Answering your question tomorrow in my Q&A!
@@CoachJuliawhere can I find this Q&A?
MK should make an "ultra" line
Which are better, tapered or parallel blades for a beginner? I also want them to last me a long time
Answering your question tomorrow in my Q&A!
I wonder about John Wilson Coronation Ace vs MK Professional and MK Galaxy in relation to toe length (for an adult beginner).
I just tried out my Edea Ice Flys with MK Galaxy (I was a little timid to try the 7' rocker featured on the MK Pro at the moment as my last lower-quality blade rocker was 8'). I can only say that it is a HUGE improvement from my previous blade and my spins were so much more effortless. Now I am curious about the difference between the Galaxy and Pro, or even the Gold Star!
Hi coach Julia! Wonderful video :D I was wondering if you could give me your thoughts about this, I'm going to do private figure skating lessons next month and a very advanced coach teaching triples to students, has offered to be my coach, I feel conflicted as I feel honoured but also nervous as I'm quite inexperienced with only being able to do single jumps the sal, toe and waltz and spins and I fear as if I'm not worthy enough to be coached by this person and I was wondering if I should find another coach or just stay with this one? thank you so much!
Oh my gosh, I would never want you to feel 'not worthy enough'. A coach who can train triple rotation jumps should also know how to train single rotation jumps, and all of us coaches should have such a love of the sport that we would train a skater of lower levels not just high levels. On Fridays I have a student who is learning one foot glides followed by a student who is working on doubles, that is just how the sport goes. So if this coach has offered to be you coach, take them up on it and soak up everything they have to teach you, without fear of feeling inferior.
@@CoachJulia Thank you so much for your advice, Coach Julia! I appreciate it a lot, I will stay with this coach and try my best!
Tried tapered blades, they feel I'm always on my toe pick
I am sorry to hear that. Hopefully you found a blade that you love.
Can you explain the different shapes on the mounting, for lack of a better term the side profile of the blade? Why do some have a sort of triangle shape where it is attached? Is there extra strength in this style?
Ive got a Q&A going up on Sunday where I will answer your question!
Thanks! I also prefer MK blades
Yay for team MK!
I’m about to switch to the Mk Dance blade from my coronation aces and I’m quite nervous!!
I have a student who wears them and really likes them. I hope you love them as well.
So a side-honed creates a deeper hollow essentially? Since it has more of a bite when sharpened the same as a parallel?
Exactly!
What about Dance-Blades?
Yes, shorter heel, more side honed, the drag pick is much smaller, and toe picks are often smaller other than on the Ultima Finesse and Coronation Dance!
Guys, I'm desperate. Where are you buying it??? I ordered a pair of RF3 pro Risport skates in NOV 2022 and even now in AUG 2023 I have no news on how it's going...
Hole Spain is out of stock... No blades, no boots, nothing
Hi again Coach Julia, must say you keep your skates in top notch shape and really great looking too.
I do the same.
Thank you! They are an investment that I really value so I try and treat them well.
@@CoachJulia You're so welcome
What are the differences between the "normal" and revolution blade (or in general those blades with the kinda "Y" shaped connection? Is it just to reduce weight or for something else?
It's for weight reduction, because the runner is normaly aluminum, as well as better shock absorbance for jumps.
But the Revolution part is apparently annoying for some skaters with really deep edges, because it tends to scrap on the ice.
It’s supposed to be weight reduction only, but I have a friend who skates on mk pro rev who says that they felt much curvier than regular mk pro for some reason. They definitely makes it much harder to grab the blade if you’re doing any catch foot stuff though.
Could u please make another video but for boots please please ❤️❤️
I’m creeped out by the idea of parabolic blades.
Blades thinning in the middle? No thank you!!! 😂
You and me both!
I started out with the blade that came with the Jackson freestyle skate - the aspire XP blade, which was an 8in rocker and I always had trouble spinning. I'm now on a jw coronation ace blade with a 7in rocker and my spins improved almost overnight.
I have the same start setup as you and am struggling with spins - it’s probably 80% my lack of skill but really wondering how soon I should change my blade as I just bought and started skating last May
Awwe…last week I switched to Gold Seals to treat myself for birthday…I did do my homework and research, but I’m getting a funny feeling that I might have picked the wrong one…😢
What, why? Gold Seals are wonderful!
@@kia9119 well, the “side honed” feature is something I didn’t consider and it seems absent from Gold Seals. John Wilson’s website doesn’t mention side hones. If GS’s are also side honed, then lucky me.
And of course I love my new blades! First time skating on them felt so good! But after my second day on them, I started slipping sideways a lot…Let’s just hope that the “blademaster” forgot to sharpen my blades after mounting them. Too bad I don’t know for sure as I went out for lunch while he worked on the mounting process.
@@yjchoi17 Many champions and great Russian skaters all use Gold Seal. Don't worry, any problem would not be the blade's problem (except for unlucky situation of bad quality control).
@@aatsw yup. It all comes down to the skater. Which I’m just a little more than beginner level without much potential due to age. But hey, it’s all about having fun and enjoying the sport, right? Anyways, I’ll get used to my GS’s. I know I will.
@@yjchoi17 I have heard from many skaters that all those extra features like side honed / parabolic are only ever useful if you are a pro or jump triples. If not, they are more of a hindrance than useful.
Why they solder the blade when with today's technology, the blade can be made in a single piece but with costs being absorbed by the customer
Paramount blades come in one full piece. Yet they are still rather pricey.
Welded, not swadered, also sawdered is not a word. I think you soldered with a L
This feels like a dumb question but I went to an online store to look at blades and for the life of me can’t figure out if the blades are sold/priced as a pair or individually. What’s normal?
Normally they are sold as a pair!
They are always sold as a pair.
ABSOLUTELY Love 💕 yur videos. You're truly amazing. Got back into skating after nearly 25 years .I have learned so much from you lately💯⛸️.I have a pair of SP Terri Skates with an MK blade.LOVE❤MY MK BLADE !!! I use 2 skate in them when I was younger. Also I wear a size 7 & that is the size they are.But 20 years later they hurt so bad 😢.Had them punched and they still didn't fit correctly. I was in an ice rink that had a pro shop. I slipped on a pair of Jackson's skates & they fit like a glove. Now I think 🤔 I might have rushed into the buy. To make a long story short, I don't think they can mount my blade on those Skates . I love the comfort of the wide width that Jackson boots make.Though they're a less expensive style boot 👢 they have padding which my SP Terri are lacking.. But the SP Terri's & skates of the past have solid wooden heels. Blades could be taken off or on when needed. I don't think you could do this with the Jackson boot. Or even should for that fact They are PVC . Should have done my homework 😮But I'm on a limited budget .I wanted a pair of skates so bad,that I could at least skate in without pain. Any suggestions? Thanks much and God bless always 🕊️⛸️
😃 I really want to thank you for the excellent explanation😮 now I understand better the blades . I want to buy John Wilson gold Seal parabolic Revolution blades.😊 could you please give me your opinion about that???⛸⛸ Thanks in Advance
Kind regards.
From México City 🌎
If you don't learn to jump triples / double flip and lutz, then I wouldn't recommend them. When you're just learning your easy doubles / singles / or are a beginner, please get yourself Coronation Ace or MK Professional. Those are much more suited. But