u/ceylonblue

Can you share any experiences or opinions about taking small group skating classes run by an instructor whose background is hockey? Did it help your skating (speed, power) or hinder your skating (different habits than figure)?

I’m a relative beginner - no crossovers yet! - who intends to progress to figure skating later. Which is better:

Community rec group learn to skate classes:

*Larger 8:1 student:instructor ratio

*Cheaper

*Risk of being mixed with complete beginners as it’s all one group

*Possibly less experienced instructor? Less critique

Private group learn to skate run by hockey-focused instructor

*Smaller 5:1 student:instructor ratio

*More expensive

*More experienced main instructor w/hockey background (they said it’s fine to wear figure skates) who gives more corrections

I know hockey skaters can find lessons taught by figure skaters helpful - wondering if it works the other way too, or am I messing myself up with a hockey-biased basic skating foundation? Or is it all basically the same for low-level skaters?

Looks like CCM changed Tacks 310 helmet significantly. From what I could find online, the inside seems completely different, but I haven’t found any reviews of the updated version.

Can anyone share thoughts/reviews of it?

I’m considering the new 310, 720, or Bauer reakt 90. I tried on the old 310 but the padding seemed less sturdy than the 720 and reakt 90.

The points of the blade mount screws stick out 1-2mm through the inside of my sole, underneath the insole.

What should I do?

It’s the temp screws on Jackson Freestyles, bought at a locally recommended shop. The blades came with the boots. Definitely metal screw points, not just excess material from drilling. I thought if the screws came with them they’d be sized to not go through, but looking in the box there isn’t the little baggie of screws that come with it like other people seem to get?