What's New

December 1, 2005

“Czisny has golden performance at Skate Canada"

ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland (AP) — Everybody knows who Alissa Czisny is now. The new American figure skating sensation won her first gold medal at the senior level by winning Skate Canada on Saturday.”

Since someone had the bright idea a hundred years or so ago to permanently screw a skate blade to a boot, there has been precious little advancement in the technology of ice skates. Certainly over the period I've been around skating (which by the way is a little better than half the time blades have been screwed onto boots), I've seen no significant advancement in skates – until now.

In the past couple of years, a few brave figure skating manufacturers and entrepreneurs have put their money on the line to develop new concepts in boots and blades. Alissa Czisny just finished 1st at Skate Canada in St. John's Newfoundland, skating in both the new Jackson Ultima ProFlex Hinged Boots and Matrix Interchangeable Blades. (Visit www.jacksonskates.com for a full description of these products.)

Alissa, along with a few other skating pioneers around the country, is key in the development and refinement process of this new concept in skate technology. Alissa skates at the Detroit Skating Club where Jackson officials come often to see what changes or adjustments are needed to provide the kind of boots and blades a world class skater needs.

For the unfamiliar, the maker of Jackson boots has been working for the past few years to develop a hinged boot to replace the semi-rigid boots we've used for so many years. Conceptually similar to the hinged ski boots that skiers have been using for years, this new skating boot is intended to greatly reduce the stress and strain placed on the joints and bones of the skater. For those of us who've spent years in the nearly cement like double duo multi layered leather boots, it's a bit unnerving to step out in a brand new pair of boots that will immediately flex and point more than an old pair of broken down traditional boots. However, with a little time and a positive attitude, the new boots soon demonstrate their potential.

If the proof is in the pudding, then Alissa's recent successes speak volumes on what this new technology may do for figure skating.

I ‘ve been spending time with both Alissa and Jackson representatives in an effort to see that technological development continues to be encouraged. You will be kept up to date, too!


September, 2005

...my website of course!!!
In the immediate future you'll be able to turn to this page for current information on new boots and blades, AND new services such as my on line appointment service. You'll also find information on upcoming events, or who in the skating news will be coming to Fred's. Check this out frequently!