Christmas skates…
Hanukkah skates…
Holiday skates…
We love them all!
We hate to be a Grinch, but we need to get a bit creative when figure skates are part of your holiday plans.
Skates are not like shoes, though they might look like shoes and eventually smell like shoes. Balancing on a 1/8” thick blade is different than balancing on your whole foot. A lot of skaters need to be “talked into” the feel of a skate. Skates are taller and stiffer than most footwear these days, and what feels too tight might actually be just right!
Because skates are such a specific fit to the skater's foot, and because the skates have different size gauges and fits between designers, we really need to do a fitting and try skates on the skater in order to sell you a pair of skates!
If you want to keep skates a surprise and get the proper fit that figure skates need you’re in luck! Here are our suggestions to help make gifting skates easier than making holiday cookies for the work party. If we could have one this year:
Tell the skater we work for Santa
Make your fitting appointment with us via email, our website, or at 716-636-3000, and let us know you'd like to keep the skates a surprise for your skater. During the fitting we can drop all sorts of hints about how we're like elves. We mention that we report to Santa (or to your preferred holiday gift source) which skates to bring so they're just right.
We can quietly and covertly handle payment and arrange a pick-up date for the skates once they're sharpened when the skater isn't along for the ride.
Imagine the skater’s surprise when the skate in the box is just like the one they tried at the skate shop!
Purchase a skate-related gift for the holiday and have the skates come afterwards
We have all sorts of accessories that go with skates. You could pick out something they might not know about and surprise them: “What are soakers? Why do I need a gel tube? What are these boot covers for??” and then TA DAAA! You’re going to Skater’s Edge for a fitting!
Also we carry a wide variety of skate jewelry, keychains, and performance hair accessories. Giving a bit of sparkly inspiration with a tag detailing the date and time of their fitting appointment after the holiday provides something to look forward to when the holiday glow fades.
Give the gift of an experience
A skate fitting is like no other appointment. We talk skating history, boot preferences, foot measurement and dynamics, and more! Yes, for beginners, too. A strong foundation is key! A fitting can be a great gift! We can help with Gift Certificates and spare skate boxes that can be wrapped and given with joy, and then schedule an appointment for after the holiday.
**This photo was taken pre-COVID and before face coverings were required.
Getting the skater fitted by trained professionals is a sure way to avoid the mess of post-holiday returns when you buy online. Also, when you purchase skates from an authorized dealer you usually receive a whole bundle of set-up services for free. Having a proper fit is also crucial to the success and comfort of the whole skating experience!
Make your appointment or call us and we'll be happy to help be your elves!
The Skater’s Edge is Buffalo and Western New York’s one-stop figure skating store for new ice skates, competitive figure skates, and skate sharpening. The skate shop carries Riedell, Jackson, and Edea skates, as well as skating apparel and accessories. With technicians trained by a master sharpener of over 30 years, trust The Skater’s Edge with your next figure skate fitting, figure skate sharpening, hockey skate sharpening or hockey skate repair, as well as shaping your hockey blade radius or profiling.