I no it I’d a different thing but you should try ballet I just tried it for fun when I was five years old and when I put it on I slept with it each with that I did everything it’s actually so fun and now I’m 12 years old and still doing ballet you should try it someday if you did not try it
My skating coach always urges us to point our feet IN and THROUGH the skates to have extra push and speed in cross overs, to push off on edge jumps or during extentions
Ditto. We’re suppose to be pointing our toes to elongate our lines. Also, many skaters will take ballet to help with the artistic side of skating, and not just basic position.
I'm a terrible ice skater, weak ankles and terrible balance, but I used to be an avid ice skating watcher, and they definitely point their toes. Maybe not all the time and some do it better than others (Sasha Cohen, Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, the Shibutani's on the ice dancing side, and Johnny Weir all come to mind, more as well), but they do point their toes as it affects their lines (just like in dance), which affects their scores.
I’ve been doing ballet since I was 3 and I also do horseback riding. Equestrian have to keep their heals down when they ride so it’s like opposite of pointe. I was wondering if you could fit an equestrian to see how their feet are in pointe shoes. Thanks!!!!
I was a ballet dancer from age 3 to 16 now training to be a horse riding instructor. The muscle groups are definitely different. I struggle to turn my toes in as the ballet encouraged turnout. So would definitely be a different fit
Omg same! I really wanted to be an equestrian but because of private problems, i couldnt, so i did rhythmic gymnastics, then i left, and now i do ballet! Now, i have more time to go horse riding, and I am struggling to turn my ankles to other direction, that you would do it in ballet and all other things.. I thought, that im the only one who does ballet and a little bit of horse riding 😅 Im interesting, does the riding and ballet muscles and techniques dont "fight each other".. (also, sorry for my english, is second language for me 😅)
@@njuhna heels down toes in is old-school thought in riding, not modern technique. There are some great videos here on CZcams on the topic. Check them out.
As someone who spent their entire young life on the ice, it’s so nice to hear a non skater understand the concepts of a figure skater. People usually have no idea!
Actually, with figure skates, you're suppose to point your feet! It helps with the extension of the leg through the skate, which is super important for many elements. Also, the other challenge with skates is that we very rarely skate on what's called the "flat" of the blade. We mostly skate one the inside edge (the part of the skate on the big toe side) or on the outside edge, which is the pinky toe side. So, in theory, a skater should have very strong ankles. Maybe not as strong as a ballerina's ankles, but enough strength to really be able to hang onto those edges so that we don't fall from our elements. Also, on domestic flights in the US, you can carry on your skates. They just need their hard guards on while in the carry on bag.
Similarly to ballet shoes, the different brands of ice boots are all slightly different shapes. And because they need to fit like a glove each skater needs to find the brand that works best for them, as well as getting the boot size, width and strength that is right. Too much or too little space or the wrong stiffness and you are setting yourself up for injuries. Expert fitting advice is so important.
Felicia L. 100%!!!!!! My blades are SO bad. I can’t even spin properly in them. I really need to get new ones. It’s crazy how bad blades are just SO bad
Agreed! I wanted my feet to love the Edea Ice Fly’s but they just weren’t wide enough for the ball of my foot so I went back to Jackson and so in love with my Premiere boots! I also really tried to love the John Wilson Coronation Ace blades but I didn’t like the small toe pick so I got Matrix blades and I love them so much better.
I’ve always watched Olympic ice skating and hear the commentary all “look how she points her toe here”...and all I can see is a boot with a blade. Glad to know I’m not crazy.
You do point your toe, though. Of course you can’t see it nearly as much as with ballet dancers, but there is a very noticeable difference between pointing and not pointing your foot when skating. Turnout is a major part of it, too.
Sergeant Barnes yes. Definitely! It’s just a lot more obvious (or failed) when the foot isn’t in a rigid boot. Says a person who enjoys how ski boots provide a sitting platform. 😂🤷♀️
When you don’t point in skates it’s blatantly obvious 😅 but if you aren’t used to looking at skates it won’t make sense at all. I was always rolling my eyes at Evan Lysacek because early on it really didn’t look like he pointed and used his whole extension. Forgive me everyone! I don’t mean to bad mouth! Earlier in his career it was in my opinion just not as aesthetically pleasing at anyone else’s at the time. Of course he’s improved over the years. Skaters always improve over the years, training hard or not. They just mature.
Tammy Stiletto I literally also only watch ice skating during the Olympics, so the subtleties are largely lost on me. I will say I can tell the difference when someone is attempting to point versus totally flexed, but a good point vs mediocre, I highly doubt I’d see. Lol. I’ve also only worn plastic rental skates and a leather pair that was 1.5 sizes too small. So I never got to see my own foot point despite the effort.
When I was fitted by you two weeks ago, you asked if I ice skated because I have very flexible ankles, and your best friend is an ice skater with very flexible ankles!!!
Finally someone appreciating the skate customizing process! Mine cost almost $2000 because I had to buy the boot, blades, and customized insoles 😐 hoping they'll last a year
@@abbyroad5169 unfortunately I'm working on double axels, jump a LOT, and coach. So I clock a lot of hours in my skates, it can be up to 4-6 hours a day in the summer. My last 5 pairs (Jackson and Edea) have lasted me 10-13 months a pair. Its very sad 😔
As a skater growing up who started taking ballet as an adult and aspires to pointe some day, this is the most exciting video for me yet! I have always wondered if anyone else has tried both and what differences and similarities could be noted!
I am doing both figure skating and ballet at approximately the same intensity (depending on the season, because our rink is closed in the summer I do more ballet then). And it's just really helpful to develope core as well as leg muscles and of course for the whole elegance thing. I've been doing it for three years now (started as an adult) and went on pointe after one and a half year. It has been amazing so far and I enjoy both the adult figure skating as well as the adult ballet community.
Um hi, figure skater here, we do point our feet? Like quite a lot, it makes our spirals more balanced (for one) and a bunch of other stuff. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve gotten yelled at by my coach from across the ice to point my feet.
In figure skating you actually want/can point your feet doing spirals, camel spins and sit spins. It creates better line and extension. You can do diagrams for fitting if you get custom, otherwise you should be measured lengthwise and the base of the foot. A proper fitted skate doesn't need bunga pads, but her skates look older and probably rub at the top. You also can get the leather punched so you don't rub. I fit skates so it is as fascinating process as these pointe fitting videos. I love doing it!
You definitely can point, but not to the same extent that dancers do. Though I was suprised that ankle strength in skaters is so much less; even in stiff skates you’re still working through your foot
I grew in dance, and did do pointe (I love ballet). I also do artistic roller dance skating. And, I have heard that I the strength on the outside of my legs from skating, and the strength on the inside of my legs from dance. Anyway, I am a Kinesiology major, and biomechanics truly fascinate me, especially when I can apply it to dance, music, and skating.
This was so cool to watch! My cousin studied ballet (seriously) for about ten years, and I always figure skated. It was always interesting to compare the two and find out the similarities. I danced ballet for a few years, and was told I could go on pointe if I were to take an extra technique class for it (if I wanted to pursue ballet more). She’s right about the costs. I needed to get a separate boot and blade after two years in the sport (when I was about eight or nine years old), because I needed more padding and a more customized fit at that point. My first combo was about $800 I think. My newest pair is around $1300 but I have a more expensive blade now. I’ve always been fitted to and worn the brand Riedell because I have a wider forefoot and an extremely narrow ankle. I also get the forefoot of the boots “punched” out. Once I was fitted by someone else and they told me to get a pair of boots from Jackson (in their narrowest width)... I didn’t make it past one session without my heel slipping up in the boot whenever I tried to do just basic crossovers. I went back to my old fitter after that. Lol If you know those brands then you know what happened. XD
I have exactly the same ankles and feet and associated problems that Alicia has, only I'm much older. Believe it or not, back in the 1960's a doctor prescribed ice skating lessons for me to strengthen my ankles. Reason? Back then, skates were made of glove leather (at least the ankle part was), and you strengthened your ankles by doing hours and hours of compulsory figures every day. The change came when they cut the figures out of the sport and began to emphasize jumps, which necessitated the "casts" that skaters require these days. Anyway, my ankles remain so flexible that pointe is a nightmare.
As an intermediate figure skater I can attest to the point of the sickling feet. All of my shoes are worn down on the outsides. I always thought this was a physical characteristic of mine but it makes sense if it’s also intensified through the skating. I should really practice ballet daily to counter this... thank you for the informative video. :)
Also on another note, the only part of an ice skate that you would customize, would be the toe pick, or the blade, or the shape of it, like wide ankles = molded/punched out! :) (I also love watching this!)
Před 3 lety+53
Could it be that her flexibilty towards sickling comes from the Lutz?
@@anissaleung1517 hahaha I’m doing single lutz and learning not to flutz. Oh yeah when I saw the slow mo video of the lutz edge... wow. 😭 ankle breaker. Any tips for getting 2Lz?
@@kissessaywhat Umm sorry this might not work but what helps me, letting your arms go and kinda twisting them while kicking and letting everything go to the LEFT. That is important. Also, get a good coach. Kinda expensive...
I'd love to see a video with a Snowboarder and the transition back and forth because Snowboard Boots have their own customizations too and use a lot of toe and heel pressure
So the sickling is great for rotating jumps. Even if we twist our hips one way and our shoulders the other to rotate there is still sickling going on. She may turn in naturally and that was a happy accident for her skating but it has only helped her throughout her jumping career.
The difference between the articulation in ballet vs skating is the reason why a lot of coaches are training ankle strength these days. Good injury prevention!
I did ballet from 6 to 12 and I am a former swimmer, just go sometimes to train a bit in water. I am 49 and six months ago I decided to start again ballet. It's hard but I can slowly do a few things and this gives me so much positiveness and physical strenght! Of course I cannot use pointe shoes yet but I hope to train enough so I can do it sooner or later. It seems I have the same problem of Alycia: my ankles tends inward a bit though the legs are pretty strong (that's my swimmer heritage). I wish I could talk a bit with you about that. ☺
The relationship you have with Alicia reminds me so much of my best friend, Marie. She would turn 19 today, but she died a bit over a year ago. Especially today, but actually every day I miss her more than I cam ever say...
I work at a skate shop and am getting trained as a fitter. I would love to hear a conversation between you and my boss, who is one of the best figure fitters in the country! I'm sure you would have a lot of interesting points of view to share
omg i have the same issue of having very flexible ankles but to the sickling side and i find that sometimes i roll my ankles when stepping up on pointe esp pose derriere and even when standing normally, my feet looks a bit sickled
Hello there, Figure skater here! :) Please explain what you mean with “reached olympic level”? Was she at the olympics? If so what year? (I’d like to see her performance) Because for me “olympic level” insinuates that she has competed at the olympics. Same as “national level” means nationals and “world level” means you’ve competed in the world championships.
Also, with landing jumps, we land on the toe, so we HAVE to point through the foot in order to have the proper landing technique (just like ballet). We land on the toe, then roll through the foot.
Do you have any friends who are skiers? Ski boots are absolutely built like a cast! My feet are only a little wonky, but my boot fitter has custom fit a lot of people with a variety of alignment issues and injuries. And yes, the range of motion in my ankles startled my fitter!
im an en pointe competitively figure skating equestrian (better at dance and skating than horseback), and all three of those things are practically the exact opposite and OH MY GOD- it really is torture sometimes also we do actually point our feet. its much harder in the boot but pointing feet and turning out is still super important
Can you do a fitting with a competitive dancer (I mean latin or ballroom 5-5 dances)? I never knew the proper name for this in English 😂😂 but I would be really curious 😍
I have to wear that same ankle sleeve with my skates. Pointing toes in skates is so tough, especially the more advanced you get. My skates are like cement blocks. Even though I’m trying to point, it probs doesn’t look as pointy as if I had ballet shoes on.
Figure skates are being rather bought as ready boots+blades separate and then assembled than custom-made. You can also have some supplement e.g. the jelly stocking (it's really a thing). Additionally, some of the boots may be thermoformed, and all of that adjust to the wearer in the first few weeks of wearing them and that's painful. Competitive skaters go through the process every summer, so if you see sb's feet bleeding in the middle of July it's probably a skater.
Both my worlds in one video!! 💗 I wanted to mention that ice dancers usually have very strong ankles because although we don't point their feet, we for sure have to point our ankles. We sometimes have lower cut boots in the Achilles area to help get a better point of the ankle however some people like to wear figure skating boots to have the resistance of the stiffness in the boot for even more strengthening. I found my ice dance really helped my pointe work 😊
I never got custom made skates lol they were like $200. And I also kept them for years not one year. I never did jumps larger than doubles so I didn’t need to replace them often
More like 3800 for a figure skater. My skates are 1800 dollars per year. $20 for a sharpening twice per week. That comes out to $3800. I need new skates every 9 months, so it then come out to $4400.
I recently picked up figure skating, but our rink hasn’t been open since the pandemic. I miss the ice! This was very interesting as I’ve always loved these on pointe videos but I’m not in ballet at all
I know this is old, but regarding the issue of shoes wearing on the outside, I don't know if the cause is the same (I am NOT an athlete) but I got custom orthotic inserts for my shoes, to support my arches, I actually did this for back pain, to help align my body better, but I had noticed my shoes always developed like almost a hump on the outside (worse on my right which is also the side that I have more issues with my back) and I was starting to get hammer toes. The podiatrist said that the hammer toes were from gripping with my toes to try to keep stable and the orthotics fixed both issues. They did take a bit of getting used to, like my back felt better but my feet were sore from having somthing pushing them up in the arch (I have flat wide feet, like I joke that when you get out of a swimming pool your foot prints should look like Africa with toes, and mine look like a potato with toes). So if you notice your shoes are deforming as if you are spilling over the side and the traction is wearing out on the outside, consider seeing a podiatrist or checking out a place that does orthotic shoe inserts. I wear New Balance shoes because I can take the insides out and put in my orthotic and then a flat foam cushion so the support is shaped for my foot, not the factory foam.
Okay ice dancer/coach here freestyle boots like hers have a higher back which don’t allow for good pointing! BUT ice DANCE boots have a lower cut back and do allow for good pointing ☺️
What I wouldn't give to get a pointe shoe fitting as someone who has never trained in ballet, so beautiful and personal, and a wonderful experience even if you don't choose to practice pointe
You can tell foot is pointed when the foot bends into the heel of the boot and boot bends to 120 degrees. And also toe points towards ceiling not down to ice.
Another great fun video! I’m 40 and this year started ballet and tap and recently have been ice skating a lot with my 4 year old. I also want to roller skate (like when I was a kid) and have a go at kayaking. I want to do all the things!!! (I’m probably having a weird mid-life crisis 😜) My body is very inflexible and quite weak so I am fascinated to see how I struggle in different ways to different activities. Ballet I struggle with turn out the most, my left hip is unbelievably bad and my instructor keeps reminding me to keep turned out but that is as far as it goes I’m afraid! My feet and legs feel stronger and my balance is better. I still feel a bit “clumpy” but I love it. Ice skating makes high demands on my hips, lower back and core muscles! There is nowhere local to get figure skates fitted so I bought some online and now I’m doing my best to mould/adjust the skates. They are slightly too big so it’s an expensive mistake that I will have to live with! I feel so brittle and I’m scared I’m going to break my bones when the kids are zooming around me! Thank you Josephine - you have inspired me to make going en pointe a long term goal! 🩰
I really suggest going kayaking. I have very little arm strength and am afraid of water and boats, but the few times I've kayaked, I've felt okay because I can control the boat myself. If you can find a friend with strong arms, you should book a kayak tour, preferably around a state or national park
In martial arts we don't use shoes usually, when we do they have to be extremely flexible to be able to control with what part of the foot you make contact. We need strong ankles and arches to prevent feet from breaking. We usually have no strong toes and break very easily during sparring 😅
Doing ballet for so long and transitioning to figure skating I face planted on the toe pick thinking I was going up en pointe. I also have lower level skates that feel so stiff still because my ankles are strong.
I think the two of you need to start a new channel together or a podcast where y’all compare and contrast the two sports and have fun little giggle fests! I’d totally tune into that, y’all are fun and adorable together!
I’ve realized that any high level sport is pretty costly! I was big into the equestrian sports and I don’t think you get more expensive than horses lol monthly board(if you own your own horse - 400 to 2,500 depending on the show barn), lesson fees(50-60 per lesson and people usually take 2-3 lessons a week), shows are a minimum of 1k(that includes show fees, transport of you and your horse, coaching fees, and if you have a groom) and rated shows during the season are every week. On top of that you have your monthly maintenance for your horse such as shoeing and other health related upkeep. Tack(a custom CWD saddle runs around 7k) It’s just insane.
lol I'm a roller skater and I this problem too, for me its mainly because I have gotten into the habit of using my ankle to turn by putting all my weight on it and leaningin ,which is dangerous but im working on it
My mom borrowed my shoes the other day and was talking about how I stand like that with it rolling out slightly, and I guess that's why lol (I've been ice skating for 9 years, since I was 5)
I love these videos! However I almost always have to watch on higher volume because their voices are pretty quiet, then I suddenly get a loud as hell beep from the "no signal" transition... 😅
hi Josephine!! I have a video suggestion :) : maybe you could do a video we can show our parents to explain why pointe shoes are so specific and why you can't have someone just buy them for you hahaha I'm having an issue explaining that and getting them to believe me
This was fascinating. Rock climbing shoes and pointe shoes crossover? There are quite a few parallels in how climber work with their shoes and their feet.
NO WAY! I’m a figure skater and currently cross training ballet too! I’m currently doing online classes. Buuut i used to do ballet, dance, gymnastics, competitive cheer, and tumbling. So I have the right muscles and everything, I’ve actually been training my feet for several years, i can already do double pirouettes. My mom used to be a professional ballerina and she was en pointe and my mom said I have to stay on relevè on one foot for A MINUTE to be ready for pointe shoes 😭 Is that true? Also, fun fact, you can heat mold skates as long as they don’t have any plastic on them, and it’s like getting custom skates without getting custom skates. I personally don’t heat mold my skates because I like to break in my skates slowly, and the type of skates I have break in pretty easily and molded to my foot quickly. The skates I have now are the jackson mystiques with the mark two blade, but I will be getting the jackson ultima freestyle skates with the aspire blade soon because I’m leveling up. Figure skating is so fun! And it comes natural to me. I started last year in October and i was 15 at the time. Just started ballet a few weeks ago and ballet comes pretty easy to me too, although it’s HARD on your leg muscles.
I was just reading comments on another video asking why they were watching 😂 and as a former figure skater I was wondering the same then this popped up 😂😍😍
Figure skater or ice dancer, not 'ice skater' x_x It's also incorrect that skaters don't point their feet - we do! Trust me, you'd notice if we didn't. Most skaters get their boots heat molded 2-3 times to get them to fit properly.
go and find the legendary Katherine Healy! She went back and forth between ballet and skating for years. I went back and forth, too, but not at the same time. First skating, then dance, then I stopped dancing, and went back to skating after I took a break for 6 years. Between my toes, metatarsals, ankles, ligaments and tendons, and the back of my heel? I have wrecked feet. Ah, beauty is pain.
I feel like ballerina's are the only people who can give you compliments on your feet and you wouldn't think it's weird lmao
Because they're wholesome and not dirty minded like other girls
@@xjm.00 you sure?
What if they listen to hentai?
Like you? ,🤢 gross
Balloom dancers too.
I no it I’d a different thing but you should try ballet I just tried it for fun when I was five years old and when I put it on I slept with it each with that I did everything it’s actually so fun and now I’m 12 years old and still doing ballet you should try it someday if you did not try it
" we went through all these phases together... last week" killed me🤣
SAME 😂
My skating coach always urges us to point our feet IN and THROUGH the skates to have extra push and speed in cross overs, to push off on edge jumps or during extentions
OOO that's interesting. So maybe pointe work would be a great supplement.
Ditto. We’re suppose to be pointing our toes to elongate our lines. Also, many skaters will take ballet to help with the artistic side of skating, and not just basic position.
Figure skater here and same!!!! You doooo need to point in figure skating, it’s just obviously way less obvious or intense
Yeah same because you do actually point your feet. Because if you were skating and not pointing your feet doesn't look pretty
I'm a terrible ice skater, weak ankles and terrible balance, but I used to be an avid ice skating watcher, and they definitely point their toes. Maybe not all the time and some do it better than others (Sasha Cohen, Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, the Shibutani's on the ice dancing side, and Johnny Weir all come to mind, more as well), but they do point their toes as it affects their lines (just like in dance), which affects their scores.
I’ve been doing ballet since I was 3 and I also do horseback riding. Equestrian have to keep their heals down when they ride so it’s like opposite of pointe. I was wondering if you could fit an equestrian to see how their feet are in pointe shoes. Thanks!!!!
Yes that would be amazing🤩
I was a ballet dancer from age 3 to 16 now training to be a horse riding instructor. The muscle groups are definitely different. I struggle to turn my toes in as the ballet encouraged turnout. So would definitely be a different fit
Omg same! I really wanted to be an equestrian but because of private problems, i couldnt, so i did rhythmic gymnastics, then i left, and now i do ballet! Now, i have more time to go horse riding, and I am struggling to turn my ankles to other direction, that you would do it in ballet and all other things.. I thought, that im the only one who does ballet and a little bit of horse riding 😅 Im interesting, does the riding and ballet muscles and techniques dont "fight each other".. (also, sorry for my english, is second language for me 😅)
@@njuhna heels down toes in is old-school thought in riding, not modern technique. There are some great videos here on CZcams on the topic. Check them out.
same! i get yelled at to put my heels down haha
As someone who spent their entire young life on the ice, it’s so nice to hear a non skater understand the concepts of a figure skater. People usually have no idea!
Actually, with figure skates, you're suppose to point your feet! It helps with the extension of the leg through the skate, which is super important for many elements. Also, the other challenge with skates is that we very rarely skate on what's called the "flat" of the blade. We mostly skate one the inside edge (the part of the skate on the big toe side) or on the outside edge, which is the pinky toe side. So, in theory, a skater should have very strong ankles. Maybe not as strong as a ballerina's ankles, but enough strength to really be able to hang onto those edges so that we don't fall from our elements.
Also, on domestic flights in the US, you can carry on your skates. They just need their hard guards on while in the carry on bag.
Similarly to ballet shoes, the different brands of ice boots are all slightly different shapes. And because they need to fit like a glove each skater needs to find the brand that works best for them, as well as getting the boot size, width and strength that is right. Too much or too little space or the wrong stiffness and you are setting yourself up for injuries. Expert fitting advice is so important.
Gayle Smith when I tried on Jackson’s it felt like rocks were in the boot. Then I tried Riedells and they fit perfectly, they’re just so heavy!
And just like professional ballerinas who get custom pointe shoes, professional skaters get custom boots and blades
and then you have the addition of the blade an finding the brand that works for you AND a tech that sharpens the way you like!
Felicia L. 100%!!!!!! My blades are SO bad. I can’t even spin properly in them. I really need to get new ones. It’s crazy how bad blades are just SO bad
Agreed! I wanted my feet to love the Edea Ice Fly’s but they just weren’t wide enough for the ball of my foot so I went back to Jackson and so in love with my Premiere boots! I also really tried to love the John Wilson Coronation Ace blades but I didn’t like the small toe pick so I got Matrix blades and I love them so much better.
I’ve always watched Olympic ice skating and hear the commentary all “look how she points her toe here”...and all I can see is a boot with a blade. Glad to know I’m not crazy.
You do point your toe, though. Of course you can’t see it nearly as much as with ballet dancers, but there is a very noticeable difference between pointing and not pointing your foot when skating. Turnout is a major part of it, too.
Sergeant Barnes yes. Definitely! It’s just a lot more obvious (or failed) when the foot isn’t in a rigid boot. Says a person who enjoys how ski boots provide a sitting platform. 😂🤷♀️
When you don’t point in skates it’s blatantly obvious 😅 but if you aren’t used to looking at skates it won’t make sense at all. I was always rolling my eyes at Evan Lysacek because early on it really didn’t look like he pointed and used his whole extension. Forgive me everyone! I don’t mean to bad mouth! Earlier in his career it was in my opinion just not as aesthetically pleasing at anyone else’s at the time. Of course he’s improved over the years. Skaters always improve over the years, training hard or not. They just mature.
Tammy Stiletto I literally also only watch ice skating during the Olympics, so the subtleties are largely lost on me. I will say I can tell the difference when someone is attempting to point versus totally flexed, but a good point vs mediocre, I highly doubt I’d see. Lol.
I’ve also only worn plastic rental skates and a leather pair that was 1.5 sizes too small. So I never got to see my own foot point despite the effort.
actualy you can know if the skater is pointing
my teacher always notices if i point or not
Once a figure skater, always a figure skater. Even if you quit doing shows and competing. The heart of stepping on the ice never dies.
When I was fitted by you two weeks ago, you asked if I ice skated because I have very flexible ankles, and your best friend is an ice skater with very flexible ankles!!!
Finally someone appreciating the skate customizing process! Mine cost almost $2000 because I had to buy the boot, blades, and customized insoles 😐 hoping they'll last a year
They probably should skates aren’t meant to brake down there meant to take a lot of impact
@@alikapotter7909 yeah mine last me atleast 2 years maybe more. They shouldn't die that fast.
@@abbyroad5169 unfortunately I'm working on double axels, jump a LOT, and coach. So I clock a lot of hours in my skates, it can be up to 4-6 hours a day in the summer. My last 5 pairs (Jackson and Edea) have lasted me 10-13 months a pair. Its very sad 😔
As an ice skater myself this really excites me 😍
Do you also do ballet 🩰 as well?
@@annamuller7183 yes! I don't do pointe work, though, sadly. Ballet is especially helpful for figure skaters :)
As a skater growing up who started taking ballet as an adult and aspires to pointe some day, this is the most exciting video for me yet! I have always wondered if anyone else has tried both and what differences and similarities could be noted!
I am doing both figure skating and ballet at approximately the same intensity (depending on the season, because our rink is closed in the summer I do more ballet then). And it's just really helpful to develope core as well as leg muscles and of course for the whole elegance thing. I've been doing it for three years now (started as an adult) and went on pointe after one and a half year. It has been amazing so far and I enjoy both the adult figure skating as well as the adult ballet community.
You nerding out over both your best friend and how ice skates are made is so pure and exactly what I needed during quarantine
Um hi, figure skater here, we do point our feet? Like quite a lot, it makes our spirals more balanced (for one) and a bunch of other stuff. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve gotten yelled at by my coach from across the ice to point my feet.
I think she means that you don’t articulate to stretch up to your toes because of the rigidness of the shoe... but you do bend on your ankle
Indeed, we point as much as the boot allows is too xD
The articulated movement used to go up on pointe is literally the same movement we use for takeoffs so 😅
I’ve been dancing since I was tiny and I have a friend who is a figure skater. She cannot point her feet the same way that dancers can
Well my friend’s a dancer (on pointe) and I’m a figure skater and we do point our feet in the same way. So who tf knows 🤷🏻♂️
Omg I’m a figure skater and do ballet this is amazing thank you so much
Same here
Sameee
In figure skating you actually want/can point your feet doing spirals, camel spins and sit spins. It creates better line and extension. You can do diagrams for fitting if you get custom, otherwise you should be measured lengthwise and the base of the foot. A proper fitted skate doesn't need bunga pads, but her skates look older and probably rub at the top. You also can get the leather punched so you don't rub. I fit skates so it is as fascinating process as these pointe fitting videos. I love doing it!
You definitely can point, but not to the same extent that dancers do. Though I was suprised that ankle strength in skaters is so much less; even in stiff skates you’re still working through your foot
@@mysteriousopinionatedperso1508 Ankle strength is actually very high in skaters, just in a different way compared to ballet dancers.
I grew in dance, and did do pointe (I love ballet). I also do artistic roller dance skating. And, I have heard that I the strength on the outside of my legs from skating, and the strength on the inside of my legs from dance.
Anyway, I am a Kinesiology major, and biomechanics truly fascinate me, especially when I can apply it to dance, music, and skating.
The real Snow Queen.
I am ur 69th liker 🤘
@@snxwflakes8190 I know u did no-
This was so cool to watch! My cousin studied ballet (seriously) for about ten years, and I always figure skated. It was always interesting to compare the two and find out the similarities. I danced ballet for a few years, and was told I could go on pointe if I were to take an extra technique class for it (if I wanted to pursue ballet more).
She’s right about the costs. I needed to get a separate boot and blade after two years in the sport (when I was about eight or nine years old), because I needed more padding and a more customized fit at that point. My first combo was about $800 I think. My newest pair is around $1300 but I have a more expensive blade now. I’ve always been fitted to and worn the brand Riedell because I have a wider forefoot and an extremely narrow ankle. I also get the forefoot of the boots “punched” out. Once I was fitted by someone else and they told me to get a pair of boots from Jackson (in their narrowest width)... I didn’t make it past one session without my heel slipping up in the boot whenever I tried to do just basic crossovers. I went back to my old fitter after that. Lol If you know those brands then you know what happened. XD
It was SO SO delightful to see you being Just You with a friend. What a beautiful thing to share with us. Thank you.
I have exactly the same ankles and feet and associated problems that Alicia has, only I'm much older. Believe it or not, back in the 1960's a doctor prescribed ice skating lessons for me to strengthen my ankles. Reason? Back then, skates were made of glove leather (at least the ankle part was), and you strengthened your ankles by doing hours and hours of compulsory figures every day. The change came when they cut the figures out of the sport and began to emphasize jumps, which necessitated the "casts" that skaters require these days.
Anyway, my ankles remain so flexible that pointe is a nightmare.
As an intermediate figure skater I can attest to the point of the sickling feet. All of my shoes are worn down on the outsides. I always thought this was a physical characteristic of mine but it makes sense if it’s also intensified through the skating. I should really practice ballet daily to counter this... thank you for the informative video. :)
Also on another note, the only part of an ice skate that you would customize, would be the toe pick, or the blade, or the shape of it, like wide ankles = molded/punched out! :) (I also love watching this!)
Could it be that her flexibilty towards sickling comes from the Lutz?
Yes I'm working on 3 lutz and I've seen my double in slow motion and it looks like I'm breaking my ankles when I'm doing it lol I'm fine tho
^-^
@ very true very true
@@anissaleung1517 hahaha I’m doing single lutz and learning not to flutz. Oh yeah when I saw the slow mo video of the lutz edge... wow. 😭 ankle breaker.
Any tips for getting 2Lz?
@@kissessaywhat Umm sorry this might not work but what helps me, letting your arms go and kinda twisting them while kicking and letting everything go to the LEFT. That is important. Also, get a good coach. Kinda expensive...
@@anissaleung1517 thank you so much for explaining this- I will try this week! :)
Can't wait to watch, I'm a figure skater too and I use ballet shoes (just slippers, nothing like pointe shoes) for off-ice training.
Ice skating and ballet, two amazing sports!
Loved this! So much fun and informative.
Half of the video : Her talking about her best-friends feet
Yes i love it
Look I love looking at strong feet to its so pretty (if you can't tell I do dance and figure skating)
@@abbyroad5169 as a dancer I love how out of a dance/figure skating/any sport that relies on feet context any of these statements sound VERY creepy 😂😂
I'd love to see a video with a Snowboarder and the transition back and forth because Snowboard Boots have their own customizations too and use a lot of toe and heel pressure
So the sickling is great for rotating jumps. Even if we twist our hips one way and our shoulders the other to rotate there is still sickling going on. She may turn in naturally and that was a happy accident for her skating but it has only helped her throughout her jumping career.
Thanks for doing this one! Figure skater here who enjoys watching your channel because I have always been curious about how ballet dancers get fitted.
I think you're psychic, I was just watching figure skating videos this entire past week 🤣🤣🤣 great video, thank you ❤️
The difference between the articulation in ballet vs skating is the reason why a lot of coaches are training ankle strength these days. Good injury prevention!
Your best friend dynamic is so sweet
YESSS! Finally! I do both sports and wanted you to do an ice skating ballet mashup!
I did ballet from 6 to 12 and I am a former swimmer, just go sometimes to train a bit in water. I am 49 and six months ago I decided to start again ballet. It's hard but I can slowly do a few things and this gives me so much positiveness and physical strenght! Of course I cannot use pointe shoes yet but I hope to train enough so I can do it sooner or later. It seems I have the same problem of Alycia: my ankles tends inward a bit though the legs are pretty strong (that's my swimmer heritage). I wish I could talk a bit with you about that. ☺
The relationship you have with Alicia reminds me so much of my best friend, Marie. She would turn 19 today, but she died a bit over a year ago. Especially today, but actually every day I miss her more than I cam ever say...
I LOVE how this is pretty much a little love letter to her bestie
I’m a figure skater yet I was always fascinated with ballet so this is perfect
I work at a skate shop and am getting trained as a fitter. I would love to hear a conversation between you and my boss, who is one of the best figure fitters in the country! I'm sure you would have a lot of interesting points of view to share
you should fit anna mcnulty she is a contortionist........💙💙💙💙💙
This video is perfect! I do a little bit of figure skating but mainly ballet
getting my first pair this weekend!!❤️❤️ thanks for the tips!!
omg i have the same issue of having very flexible ankles but to the sickling side and i find that sometimes i roll my ankles when stepping up on pointe esp pose derriere and even when standing normally, my feet looks a bit sickled
Hello there, Figure skater here! :)
Please explain what you mean with “reached olympic level”? Was she at the olympics? If so what year? (I’d like to see her performance)
Because for me “olympic level” insinuates that she has competed at the olympics. Same as “national level” means nationals and “world level” means you’ve competed in the world championships.
Also, with landing jumps, we land on the toe, so we HAVE to point through the foot in order to have the proper landing technique (just like ballet). We land on the toe, then roll through the foot.
Do you have any friends who are skiers? Ski boots are absolutely built like a cast! My feet are only a little wonky, but my boot fitter has custom fit a lot of people with a variety of alignment issues and injuries. And yes, the range of motion in my ankles startled my fitter!
Your passion just radiates! ❤️❤️
Aww lovely video!! You’re brilliant Josephine 💜🙏
Thank you 🙏 you’re so sweet!
im an en pointe competitively figure skating equestrian (better at dance and skating than horseback), and all three of those things are practically the exact opposite and OH MY GOD- it really is torture sometimes
also we do actually point our feet. its much harder in the boot but pointing feet and turning out is still super important
Can you do a fitting with a competitive dancer (I mean latin or ballroom 5-5 dances)? I never knew the proper name for this in English 😂😂 but I would be really curious 😍
I have to wear that same ankle sleeve with my skates. Pointing toes in skates is so tough, especially the more advanced you get. My skates are like cement blocks. Even though I’m trying to point, it probs doesn’t look as pointy as if I had ballet shoes on.
Figure skates are being rather bought as ready boots+blades separate and then assembled than custom-made. You can also have some supplement e.g. the jelly stocking (it's really a thing). Additionally, some of the boots may be thermoformed, and all of that adjust to the wearer in the first few weeks of wearing them and that's painful. Competitive skaters go through the process every summer, so if you see sb's feet bleeding in the middle of July it's probably a skater.
How awesome...! That was fun.🙂
The timing in that small toast clip was comedic. Maybe in another phase of life that should be your gig or try it out now, you never know.
Thank you.
i would love to see you fit a gymnast in pointe shoes as the disciples both require strength and flexibility
you might be interested in how custom logger boots are fitted up here in the NW. Interesting similarities
Both my worlds in one video!! 💗 I wanted to mention that ice dancers usually have very strong ankles because although we don't point their feet, we for sure have to point our ankles. We sometimes have lower cut boots in the Achilles area to help get a better point of the ankle however some people like to wear figure skating boots to have the resistance of the stiffness in the boot for even more strengthening. I found my ice dance really helped my pointe work 😊
Yes we do point but are ankles arent very strong at all because of the hard boots that are necessary to bare the impact of jumps
@@swinxfee there are no jumps in ice dance :) figure skaters might have weak ankles due to the strong boots but I was talking about ice dancers x
@@harrieellen1731 If figure skaters had weak ankles, they'd break easily. The boot doesn't do all the work for you. Speaking as a jumper.
Custom fitted ice skates: $1500 once a year
Pointe Shoes: $100, replaced every week (daily when performing), $5200/year minimum.
well at that point the company pays for shoes, right? I feel like the ice skater pays the 1500 out of pocket.
@@arianamauery9281 yes but Im not a professional so no lol I have to pay that out of pocket and have to replace them about every week-2weeks
I never got custom made skates lol they were like $200. And I also kept them for years not one year. I never did jumps larger than doubles so I didn’t need to replace them often
@@arianamauery9281 Many pro ice skaters also get support from companies.
More like 3800 for a figure skater. My skates are 1800 dollars per year. $20 for a sharpening twice per week. That comes out to $3800. I need new skates every 9 months, so it then come out to $4400.
I'm a competitive figure skater and I do ballet and can't wait for pointe
I recently picked up figure skating, but our rink hasn’t been open since the pandemic. I miss the ice! This was very interesting as I’ve always loved these on pointe videos but I’m not in ballet at all
I know this is old, but regarding the issue of shoes wearing on the outside, I don't know if the cause is the same (I am NOT an athlete) but I got custom orthotic inserts for my shoes, to support my arches, I actually did this for back pain, to help align my body better, but I had noticed my shoes always developed like almost a hump on the outside (worse on my right which is also the side that I have more issues with my back) and I was starting to get hammer toes. The podiatrist said that the hammer toes were from gripping with my toes to try to keep stable and the orthotics fixed both issues. They did take a bit of getting used to, like my back felt better but my feet were sore from having somthing pushing them up in the arch (I have flat wide feet, like I joke that when you get out of a swimming pool your foot prints should look like Africa with toes, and mine look like a potato with toes). So if you notice your shoes are deforming as if you are spilling over the side and the traction is wearing out on the outside, consider seeing a podiatrist or checking out a place that does orthotic shoe inserts. I wear New Balance shoes because I can take the insides out and put in my orthotic and then a flat foam cushion so the support is shaped for my foot, not the factory foam.
Okay ice dancer/coach here freestyle boots like hers have a higher back which don’t allow for good pointing! BUT ice DANCE boots have a lower cut back and do allow for good pointing ☺️
What I wouldn't give to get a pointe shoe fitting as someone who has never trained in ballet, so beautiful and personal, and a wonderful experience even if you don't choose to practice pointe
You can tell foot is pointed when the foot bends into the heel of the boot and boot bends to 120 degrees. And also toe points towards ceiling not down to ice.
Coming in from figure skating ballet was so hard. People tend to think they are the same thing but it is really different.
Another great fun video! I’m 40 and this year started ballet and tap and recently have been ice skating a lot with my 4 year old. I also want to roller skate (like when I was a kid) and have a go at kayaking. I want to do all the things!!! (I’m probably having a weird mid-life crisis 😜)
My body is very inflexible and quite weak so I am fascinated to see how I struggle in different ways to different activities. Ballet I struggle with turn out the most, my left hip is unbelievably bad and my instructor keeps reminding me to keep turned out but that is as far as it goes I’m afraid! My feet and legs feel stronger and my balance is better. I still feel a bit “clumpy” but I love it.
Ice skating makes high demands on my hips, lower back and core muscles! There is nowhere local to get figure skates fitted so I bought some online and now I’m doing my best to mould/adjust the skates. They are slightly too big so it’s an expensive mistake that I will have to live with!
I feel so brittle and I’m scared I’m going to break my bones when the kids are zooming around me!
Thank you Josephine - you have inspired me to make going en pointe a long term goal! 🩰
I really suggest going kayaking. I have very little arm strength and am afraid of water and boats, but the few times I've kayaked, I've felt okay because I can control the boat myself. If you can find a friend with strong arms, you should book a kayak tour, preferably around a state or national park
@@kittymcmeowmeow1 Thanks!
This is so cool cause I do professional figure skating and I’m a pointe dancer
Really interesting video! Great idea comparing ice skating and ballet!
These videos are so cool! Like the video where you fitted a K-pop dancer in pointe shoes
I was so scared for the carpet
Yola Moondaughter HAHAHA 😂
In martial arts we don't use shoes usually, when we do they have to be extremely flexible to be able to control with what part of the foot you make contact.
We need strong ankles and arches to prevent feet from breaking. We usually have no strong toes and break very easily during sparring 😅
loooooove your videos wish i was near so i could get fitted by you my feet and toes are really weird XD
Doing ballet for so long and transitioning to figure skating I face planted on the toe pick thinking I was going up en pointe. I also have lower level skates that feel so stiff still because my ankles are strong.
I think the two of you need to start a new channel together or a podcast where y’all compare and contrast the two sports and have fun little giggle fests! I’d totally tune into that, y’all are fun and adorable together!
I wanna see yuzuru hanyu on pointe IDK why but I want to see it.
I’ve realized that any high level sport is pretty costly! I was big into the equestrian sports and I don’t think you get more expensive than horses lol monthly board(if you own your own horse - 400 to 2,500 depending on the show barn), lesson fees(50-60 per lesson and people usually take 2-3 lessons a week), shows are a minimum of 1k(that includes show fees, transport of you and your horse, coaching fees, and if you have a groom) and rated shows during the season are every week.
On top of that you have your monthly maintenance for your horse such as shoeing and other health related upkeep. Tack(a custom CWD saddle runs around 7k)
It’s just insane.
I did both ballet and figure skating and the ice skates are SO EXPENSIVE!!!
lol I'm a roller skater and I this problem too, for me its mainly because I have gotten into the habit of using my ankle to turn by putting all my weight on it and leaningin ,which is dangerous but im working on it
I love the outro pic!!! 😁💕
YES YES YES! THIS IS ME! (I’m so both tho- XD)
My mom borrowed my shoes the other day and was talking about how I stand like that with it rolling out slightly, and I guess that's why lol
(I've been ice skating for 9 years, since I was 5)
I have that rug!! 😆
Hockey girl here (different skates, different technique) and I still find this interesting.
I love these videos! However I almost always have to watch on higher volume because their voices are pretty quiet, then I suddenly get a loud as hell beep from the "no signal" transition... 😅
hi Josephine!! I have a video suggestion :) : maybe you could do a video we can show our parents to explain why pointe shoes are so specific and why you can't have someone just buy them for you hahaha I'm having an issue explaining that and getting them to believe me
This was fascinating. Rock climbing shoes and pointe shoes crossover? There are quite a few parallels in how climber work with their shoes and their feet.
NO WAY! I’m a figure skater and currently cross training ballet too! I’m currently doing online classes. Buuut i used to do ballet, dance, gymnastics, competitive cheer, and tumbling. So I have the right muscles and everything, I’ve actually been training my feet for several years, i can already do double pirouettes. My mom used to be a professional ballerina and she was en pointe and my mom said I have to stay on relevè on one foot for A MINUTE to be ready for pointe shoes 😭
Is that true?
Also, fun fact, you can heat mold skates as long as they don’t have any plastic on them, and it’s like getting custom skates without getting custom skates. I personally don’t heat mold my skates because I like to break in my skates slowly, and the type of skates I have break in pretty easily and molded to my foot quickly. The skates I have now are the jackson mystiques with the mark two blade, but I will be getting the jackson ultima freestyle skates with the aspire blade soon because I’m leveling up.
Figure skating is so fun! And it comes natural to me. I started last year in October and i was 15 at the time. Just started ballet a few weeks ago and ballet comes pretty easy to me too, although it’s HARD on your leg muscles.
I was just reading comments on another video asking why they were watching 😂 and as a former figure skater I was wondering the same then this popped up 😂😍😍
I grew up taking Ballet, quit and then started ice skating!
Are you going to be coming to Arizona soon? I really want to be fitted by you!
Figure skater or ice dancer, not 'ice skater' x_x It's also incorrect that skaters don't point their feet - we do! Trust me, you'd notice if we didn't. Most skaters get their boots heat molded 2-3 times to get them to fit properly.
Right. I think her skates were rather old, so apparently last time she got fit they probably didn't have that option.
Could you do a review on the new Gaynors, differences and how to get refitted in them?
go and find the legendary Katherine Healy! She went back and forth between ballet and skating for years. I went back and forth, too, but not at the same time. First skating, then dance, then I stopped dancing, and went back to skating after I took a break for 6 years. Between my toes, metatarsals, ankles, ligaments and tendons, and the back of my heel? I have wrecked feet. Ah, beauty is pain.
Anyone else a figure skater who is literally DYING when she was just standing there in skates with no guards???? ☠️
Can I take ballet classes once a week for 3 years and then get my first pair of pointe shoes? 🩰
Omg i have the same ankle problem. But i never did ballet or skating🥲