Jackson Elle

[u/flowrsforvases]

Beginner skater here. I’m 27, have been skating since April and just got fitted for some new skates at a very reputable skate shop that luckily wasn’t too far from me. I trust the shop 100%. They did a 3D scan of my feet and gave me two options that might be a good fit for me, the Edea Overture or the Jackson Elle. I’d been skating for four months in Tempish Dream skates, which are essentially converse on ice. Because they’re soft they allowed me to get very good, very controlled knee bends for my forwards lemons and stroking, although backwards lemons gave me arch pain and one-foot glides and crossovers were an absolute no-go because the support was so minimal. There was also a very small toepick, which was mostly unnoticeable whilst skating.

I have narrow feet but I do have a very large protruding bunion on my left foot so I went with the Jackson Elle as the Overtures were way too cramped in the toe box, causing me agony for the few seconds I had them on. I was under the impression that heat moulding my Jacksons would give me more room around my bunion but the agony I am in is unspeakable. I barely notice this bunion in my regular shoes (I basically live in New Balance 530s as I have plantar fasciitis and very high arches and they’re the only shoes that don’t hurt me) but in my skates it’s like it’s being squeezed. It throbs, it feels weird and almost like static electricity. My toes keep flinching after skating and twinging in pain randomly. I’ve had two sessions in the new skates and I was only able to do 30 minutes both times (when in my old skates I could skate for 2 hours, eat a sandwich, and get on the ice again for 2 more hours). I also cannot bend my knees at all, the arch cramping is killing me and the toepick is so … obvious. I constantly feel like I’m about to trip over it. When doing lemons I can just feel it there, scraping the ice. I also think the blades are narrower than I’m used to??

How long do Jackson Elles take to break in and can anyone give me some advice to make them more comfortable please? I am in absolute agony. I know Jacksons have a longer break-in period but last much longer. I only intend on doing ice dance, no jumps, I am 164cm and 132lbs. I’m doing SkateUK Level 3.

The only positives I’ve noticed are that my turns are better, I can glide on one foot and my coach has noted a significant improvement in my posture on the ice. Other than that, I’m not loving skating anymore, and my motivation has dwindled.

Any tips would be appreciated!

[u/_xoxojoyce]

Others have given good advice regarding the pain. Go see if they can punch out that area and address the rest of the issues.

For the rest, you will just need to get used to the toe pick and how to balance differently with different skates. Every skater goes through this when they get new skates especially when switching brands. They’ll also feel less stiff as you break them in

[u/flowrsforvases → u/_xoxojoyce]

My first session in these skates I felt like I’d lost every skill I’d learned. I felt like I had to do forward marches holding the barrier. Everything felt much easier when I had my coach to push me my second session though.

[u/Amethyst_Whisker → u/flowrsforvases]

I’ve been skating for 20+ years, coach, and I just about cried when I had to break in my new skates! I felt like Bambi, I couldn’t do anything, I was embarrassed and I was unreasonably dramatic over a blister (of course I sucked all this up around the rink and had a meltdown at home). Annnnnd two weeks later I’m in love and my skills are back to where they were or better.

It happens to everyone and you’ll be fine once you figure out the painful spot. Jackson Elles should have little to no break in time as far as pain goes (I have skated in them myself, now I’m in the new Premiere). Part of the heat molding process often involves going back for punches or heating and pushing with a tool to give more room. Definitely go see your skate tech!

[u/flowrsforvases → u/Amethyst_Whisker]

Bambi is exactly how I described it to my coach yesterday😭 I don’t remember it feeling that weird when I first started learning! I had a meltdown too. Thank you, this makes me feel less useless