Many people when skating choose the wrong skate. It really depends on how advanced your jumps and spins are. Or if you are really just doing it for fun. There are the 8 basic skills, and they may need different blades. The difference between skates is really the blade. They blade could have small and only a few picks. But a advance blade has many picks and they are much bigger. 
Don’t forget about the boots. Some boots have more padding thank others. And just like blades, some are just made to be for jumps and some are just for fun. When choosing your boot, get the boot. Not all advance boots come with advance blades. So my advice is to get the boot and search for a blade that fits you.
When skating make sure you have backups. And maybe not as advance. Because most of the time you are going to practice. But you always have those lazy days. But that does not mean you cant practice. Make sure you look at all brands of skates. There is a chart down below so make sure to check it out… It may help.
| 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 stiffness rating between 15-20. |
Jackson Softskate Plus GS181
(Girls Beginner/Rec.) (Women Beginner/Rec.) Jackson JS1392 Excel Riedell 113SF Riedell 110 Opal (Girls Beginner) (Ladies Youth or Adult Beginner) (Ladies Youth or Adult Beginner) |
| ISI Tot 1,2,3,4 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 stiffness rating between 20 – 30. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. |
Jackson JS1491 Mystique
(Beginner Girls) ( Beginner Girls) Jackson JS1790 Artiste (Beginner Boys) (Beginner Boys) (Youth or Adult) (Adult Beginners) GAM G0171 Pirouette (Beginner Girls) (Beginner Adult) (Youth or Adult) SP -Teri Silver Medalist SP-Teri Escalde Graf Splendid Gold |
| ISI Beta, Gamma, Delta, Freestyle Test 1,2 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 stiffness rating between 30 – 45. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. |
Jackson JS1791 Artiste (Girls) Jackson DJ2130 Elle Jackson Classique Jackson Marquis (Youth) Riedell 223 Stride GAM Horizon Sp-Teri Gold Medalist Graf Ace |
| ISI Freestyle Test 3,4 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 stiffness rating between 40 – 50. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. |
Jackson JS1990 Classique
(Ladies) Jackson JS1993 Marquis (Men) (Youth or Adult) (Ladies) (Ladies) Risport Lux Sp-Teri Pro Teri Graf Prestige |
| ISI Freestyle Test 5 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 stiffness rating between 45 – 70. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. |
Jackson DJ2471/DJ2470 Competitor
(Ladies) (Ladies) (Men) (Youth) (Ladies) Graf Richmond Special Sp-Teri Pro Teri |
| ISI Freestyle Test 6,7 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 stiffness rating between 55 – 75. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. |
Jackson Elite DJ4200
(Womens) (Men) (Mens) GAM G0058 Podium Risport RF3 Risport RF3 Super Graf Richmond Special Sp-Teri Super Teri SP-Teri Super Teri Deluxe |
| ISI Freestyle Test 8 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 stiffness rating between 70 – 85. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. |
Jackson Elite DJ4500
Jackson DJ3852, DJ3802 Elite Supreme (Mens) GAM G0078 Bronze Label Risport RF2 Graf Edmonton Sp-Teri KT-2 SP-Teri Super Teri Deluxe SP-Teri Zero Gravity |
| ISI Freestyle Test 9,10 USFSA USFSA SKATE CANADA SKATE UK AUSSIE SKATE |
Triples, quads, combination triples, all spins, complex foot work.
Boots Should have stiffness rating between 85 – 100. Lowest Rating is for Youth, Higher Rating for Adults. |
Jackson Elite 4500
Jackson DJ3902/DJ3952 Elite SupremeStiff (Mens) Graf Washington Sp-Teri KT-3 |