Professional Skate Service

[burn_baby_burn]

My eight year old needs new skates. Living in Red Deer, a lot of people head to Pro Skate in Edmonton for custom fitting of new skates. I know that Calgary has a similar business in Professional Skate Service. However, I have never talked to anyone who has purchased skates there. Have any CP members had good experience's there? Would anyone recommend them?

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I have no idea if Professional Skate is associated with the one in Edmonton, but the one in Marda Loop is excellent. Purchased skates for my kid on a couple of occassions, and they are, well, professional. Good selection and they understand fit.
Probably not the cheapest outfit, but if you 8 year old is keen, it would be well worth it. High recommend.

[Coach]

Pro skate is a great way to go....when your kid is 13+ and a solid hockey player.

IMO, 8 is too young to worry about custom fit skates.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Pro skate is a great way to go....when your kid is 13+ and a solid hockey player.

IMO, 8 is too young to worry about custom fit skates.

Perhaps so, but we are talking the usual Bauer/Reebok, Graf, CCM stuff. It isn't necessarily all super high-end. I do think there is value in getting good skates that fit. I most definitely get the rest of my stuff from Canadian Tire or Sportchek, but I do spend the cash on skates.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Pro skate is a great way to go....when your kid is 13+ and a solid hockey player.

IMO, 8 is too young to worry about custom fit skates.

But I hear the cost isn't much more, is that true? Also, I understand what you are saying about his age and all. But he is on the ice a lot (four times a week minimum from Oct - early June, plus hockey school in August and a few 3 on 3 tournaments in Sept). So I would like to get him a good, comfortable pair of skates. This will be his first pair of Junior skates, so I'm a little worried about the transition to a stiffer skate.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Perhaps so, but we are talking the usual Bauer/Reebok, Graf, CCM stuff. It isn't necessarily all super high-end. I do think there is value in getting good skates that fit. I most definitely get the rest of my stuff from Canadian Tire or Sportchek, but I do spend the cash on skates.

Yeah that's no problem. It's not the skate really I find excessive, it would be the custom fitting and rocker adjustment that just makes no sense for a kid who will probably need new skates the next season. The only way I would suggest getting custom skates for a kid that young is if they had some sort of issue with their fit. If you're talking about giving them the boot-oven treatment, then ya but that can be done with pretty much any type of skate.

To me it's like buying an 8 year old a $300 stick. They can't utilize the technology, so there's no point. And it (or the skates) will literally make zero difference in their game. If they get to quadrant levels and are a solid player, get them the good stuff. Until then, even just hand-me-downs should work fine.

Been coaching youth hockey for 6 years, and I worked at SportChek in my uni days. The amount of useless money that gets spent actually appalls me.

[Mccree]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

But I hear the cost isn't much more, is that true? Also, I understand what you are saying about his age and all. But he is on the ice a lot (four times a week minimum from Oct - early June, plus hockey school in August and a few 3 on 3 tournaments in Sept). So I would like to get him a good, comfortable pair of skates. This will be his first pair of Junior skates, so I'm a little worried about the transition to a stiffer skate.

If he is anything like my son, he will need new skates by Christmas. Most places will "Heat mold" them for free.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Mccree

If he is anything like my son, he will need new skates by Christmas. Most places will "Heat mold" them for free.

I got lucky on his last pair. Lasted from Dec 2013 until last month. I'm sure that won't happen again.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Yeah that's no problem. It's not the skate really I find excessive, it would be the custom fitting and rocker adjustment that just makes no sense for a kid who will probably need new skates the next season. The only way I would suggest getting custom skates for a kid that young is if they had some sort of issue with their fit. If you're talking about giving them the boot-oven treatment, then ya but that can be done with pretty much any type of skate.

To me it's like buying an 8 year old a $300 stick. They can't utilize the technology, so there's no point. And it (or the skates) will literally make zero difference in their game. If they get to quadrant levels and are a solid player, get them the good stuff. Until then, even just hand-me-downs should work fine.

Been coaching youth hockey for 6 years, and I worked at SportChek in my uni days. The amount of useless money that gets spent actually appalls me.

I understand. I'm an analytical person who probably over thinks every thing, especially making purchases. His last pair I bought at Pro Hockey Life, the store wasn't busy and had lots of time with the salesman and learned some things about hockey skates that I wouldn't have known other wise. A buddy of mine with a kid the same age bought a pair at Sport Chek from some teenager and they hurt his kids feet and he ended up having to buy an additional pair.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I understand. I'm an analytical person who probably over thinks every thing, especially making purchases. His last pair I bought at Pro Hockey Life, the store wasn't busy and had lots of time with the salesman and learned some things about hockey skates that I wouldn't have known other wise. A buddy of mine with a kid the same age bought a pair at Sport Chek from some teenager and they hurt his kids feet and he ended up having to buy an additional pair.

That is the problem. Decent skates are absolutely vital, top of the line sticks, not so much. They don't need to be $500, but they need to be decent and they need to fit well. I would still check out Pro Skate. I really don't think they'll put you in $500 skates if that isn't what you need. I haven't purchased jr skates in a long time, so it is just a guess, but you are probably looking at $200+. Can't hurt to stop in and look.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

That is the problem. Decent skates are absolutely vital, top of the line sticks, not so much. They don't need to be $500, but they need to be decent and they need to fit well. I would still check out Pro Skate. I really don't think they'll put you in $500 skates if that isn't what you need. I haven't purchased jr skates in a long time, so it is just a guess, but you are probably looking at $200+.

I think I might save some money, by getting the right pair. In the past, I might have just bought the most expensive pair, assuming they were the best. I have been told that the most expensive pair's are not recommended for younger kids, as the Jr skates are much stiffer than the youth skates. And that the more expensive pairs tend to be stiffer.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I think I might save some money, by getting the right pair. In the past, I might have just bought the most expensive pair, assuming they were the best. I have been told that the most expensive pair's are not recommended for younger kids, as the Jr skates are much stiffer than the youth skates. And that the more expensive pairs tend to be stiffer.

I think that is right. They guys at Pro Skate would know the difference between skates. It has been many years, but the guys at Tuxedo Sport in the NW were also awesome. I just wouldn't necessarily trust Sportchek. Good luck!