women skaters wearing brown skates

[joemauerlover]

Why do women wear brown skates. I LOVE, love Madison Hubbell, but I so wish she would wear white skates. I feel like back in the 90's you only wore brown skates if you were close to retiring from pro skating like Roz, Katarina Witt, and Caryn Kadavy. So what's the deal with brown skates? #pleasewearwhiteskatesmadi

 

[skatefan]

I really don't know why they wear them, I think they are awful.

 

[Tinami Amori]

i'd wear black if i competed, you don't have to polish them as often as white, plus black goes with everything.... every black unitard that is.. and there is no sense in having anything other then black unitard, to save on cleaning time... 1 black skates, 1 black unitard and lots of "lace, trims and decorations"..... = 25 costumes.

... if one can't do 3x3 and quads a fancy costume won't help anyway, and with 3x3 and quads you can be wearing a pillow case and win.

 

[Willin]

They were trendy for a while while some skaters (like Hubbell) were moving up through the ranks (2000-2010ish) so the skaters are used to the look? They're a way to get the over-the-boot look without over-the-boot tights? Something something about lines or something? They're pretty neutral as far as costume colors go?

TBH I don't really know. I was heavily against getting brown skates despite the trend so I guess I've never really gotten it. It should be noted that the trend was mostly in synchro and that Maddie grew up in a synchro heavy area, so perhaps that's why she started?

 

[ninjapirate]

I prefer tan skates tbh...

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

Wearing tan skates is a stylistic choice, as it helps to improve the line of a skater’s leg. Additionally, if you don’t have a strong toe point, a tan skate works really well in creating the illusion of one.

ETA: OTB tights serve a similar purpose but given the matte nature of the tight, it fails in this regard, for it makes the leg appear to look as if it lacks curves.

 

[sp555]

Tan skates look odd but they are way better than over the boot tights which look awful on anyone.

 

[VGThuy]

I think tan boots look good on some skaters and costumes than others. Or maybe I'm just used to them wearing those. Nothing beats the classic white look for me not counting the white boots that look like they have zebra stripes and even the ones with hearts on the boots. Either way, I hate the tights over the boot look. As Tanith Belbin said as she was quoting Marina Zueva, "they look like animal hooves."

 

[HSCluv]

I agree...no over the boot tights. And I prefer white boots like Jackson's, I am sure Edeas are great, but not a fan of the look at all.

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

I personally wear tan skates so I’m biased! Tan seems to help the overall appearance of Edeas, so I wouldn’t mind seeing more skaters embrace the color. Anything to stop the scourge of OTB tights.

Like I said, it’s a personal choice. If I thought my leg line looked strong, I’d go with white boots, but I’ll take any help I can get, ha.

 

[Willin]

I think tan boots look good on some skaters and costumes than others. Or maybe I'm just used to them wearing those. Nothing beats the classic white look for me not counting the white boots that look like they have zebra stripes and even the ones with hearts on the boots. Either way, I hate the tights over the boot look. As Tanith Belbin said as she was quoting Marina Zueva, "they look like animal hooves."

I don't like all the outlandishly colored skates coaches have. I've seen pink, purple, a purple/green combination, pink fake crocodile skin, etc. The guy at SP Teri told me he had a guy order his wife $3000+ real crocodile (gator?) skin boots - and then another pair were ordered a week later, but I believe those were destined to be roller skates.

Personally I don't mind the hearts and cut-outs for practice or fun. I really wanted to get my alma mater's logo on my new skates, but that would have been too complex to cut out. That being said, I prefer to see them covered up in some way for competition.

The thing I find tacky with skates that's probably the most controversial (as far as people finding it tacky) is getting your pair of skates autographed. I'm not talking about an old boot that you keep as a souvenir, I'm talking about the boots you're currently skating in. The Bay Area has several Olympic, World, and Senior National Medalists (retired and competiting) that skate and/or coach here. Some young skaters I see have 3-4+ autographs on their competition/practice boots. I just don't get it... Right after one particular OGM moved back here, I heard they'd get stopped at least 4-5 times every day at the rink, sometimes when trying to leave quietly, to sign people's skates.
Half of why I find it tacky is because I find it rude to stop people living their daily lives, no matter how famous, for an autograph (I'd be okay if they were from official autograph sessions or meet-and-greets). The other half is that I think a lot of kid trendy things in skating are tacky in general - rhinestoned tights, chloe-noel spiral pants, etc.

I agree...no over the boot tights. And I prefer white boots like Jackson's, I am sure Edeas are great, but not a fan of the look at all.

Ehh... I don't mind over-the-boot tights for young skaters. It was always easier to ask <12 year olds to put on over-the-boot tights than it was to get them to keep their boots clean, polish their boots, or tape their boots before competition. Most parents didn't want to do that and/or buy a specific competition pair.
Coming from a synchro background I expect teens to tape their skates before each competition because that's the easiest and cheapest way to make sure everyone's skates are clean and the same shade of white for every competition.

ITA about Edeas. They look so clunky and heavy and ugly.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Tan skates look odd but they are way better than over the boot tights which look awful on anyone.

Amen.

who do you think was the biggest offender of this? Surya?

Does Zag do it too?

 

[VGThuy]

I thought OTB tights were the worst look in the world until skaters started (and some thankfully stopped) doing the halfway cover-up where the tip of the boot is still exposed. It looked even more like "animal hooves".

 

[Mad for Skating]

i'd wear black if i competed, you don't have to polish them as often as white, plus black goes with everything.... every black unitard that is.. and there is no sense in having anything other then black unitard, to save on cleaning time... 1 black skates, 1 black unitard and lots of "lace, trims and decorations"..... = 25 costumes.

... if one can't do 3x3 and quads a fancy costume won't help anyway, and with 3x3 and quads you can be wearing a pillow case and win.

I'm a huge fan of the black unitard look, especially on the tiny pair girls because it makes their legs look longer. Plus you can do all kinds of sexy cutouts and add little embellishments for fun.

I think Tarasova/Morozov already tested your theory about wearing pillow cases, and it worked...I still call this the "house-elf" program.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w4NGhFFri10

 

[meggonzo]

Amen.

who do you think was the biggest offender of this? Surya?

Does Zag do it too?

I think Surya didn't wear tights. I think she had some boot covers to make it look like she did.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

For some reason I am reminded of Kathleen Turner's quote from the movie, Serial Mom, when she says, "Chip, you know how I hate the brown word."

 

[kittysk8ts]

Wearing tan skates is a stylistic choice, as it helps to improve the line of a skater’s leg. Additionally, if you don’t have a strong toe point, a tan skate works really well in creating the illusion of one.

ETA: OTB tights serve a similar purpose but given the matte nature of the tight, it fails in this regard, for it makes the leg appear to look as if it lacks curves.

This is correct. In fact, I recently watched an interview with Marie France Dubreuil wherein she said she wore them because she had short legs.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Depends on the tan colour of the boot.

Madison Hubbell is one skater who can wear them and they look good.

OTB tights are a pet hate of mine. I would much rather see boots.

 

[SmallFairy]

I hate those OTB tights! Brown skates I have no problem with, they can look very nice. One of my coaches wears brown Grafs, I think they're suede, very pretty. Didn't queen Aliona wear brown skates earlier? And Queen Pasha wore light blue/purple for the Memorial program. I remember I really liked the. (Though I agree the pink, leopard print etc is too much!)

 

[alchemy void]

I wish women could/would wear black skates.

 

[quartz]

I wish women could/would wear black skates.

cuz they go better with black fishnet stockings...

 

[SmallFairy]

I wish women could/would wear black skates.

One of the girls I practice with do (adults, like me) and another one I met at camp also did. It looks awsome, I don't see why they can't?

 

[Rukia]

I don't like tan skates on me, but I think Madi Hubbell wears them well. It's all relative. Everyone should just wear the skates they like best.

 

[aka_gerbil]

They were trendy for a while while some skaters (like Hubbell) were moving up through the ranks (2000-2010ish) so the skaters are used to the look? They're a way to get the over-the-boot look without over-the-boot tights? Something something about lines or something? They're pretty neutral as far as costume colors go?

TBH I don't really know. I was heavily against getting brown skates despite the trend so I guess I've never really gotten it. It should be noted that the trend was mostly in synchro and that Maddie grew up in a synchro heavy area, so perhaps that's why she started?

She didn’t start wearing the tan boots until half way though their first season in Montreal.

I, for one, am not a fan and wish she’d go back to white boots.

 

[soogar]

I hate a white boot. If your foot is big, it makes it look even bigger. Carolina's feet look so huge and long in those white boots. I wish she would switch to beige.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I hate a white boot. If your foot is big, it makes it look even bigger. Carolina's feet look so huge and long in those white boots. I wish she would switch to beige.

LOL, well she is probably the tallest gal so Id expect her feet to represent that.

I like her and her packaging exactly as she is.

(minus green unitard)

 

[Winnipeg]

Brown skates = ugh

Funny, I always you only had brown because there was a certain boot that you performed better in thus you had to put up with the brown ones. I never dreamed someone would actually pick them!!

 

[Guinevere]

I started watching skating during the Tonya/Nancy debacle and I remember the first time I saw the brown skates was on Oksana Baiul. I thought it looked nicer like the leg flowed better and the white didn’t clash or stand out in her costume (ie. the Black Swan program). Personally I didn’t mind them.

I prefer the white skates but, and this is just a weird quirk of mine, I prefer the brown, wooden sole look than the black one. Does that make sense? I don’t know why. The brown looks less harsh a contrast against the white than the black I guess.

I also hate hate hate tights over the boots, both the ones that completely cover the boot and the one that only cover the ankle area. Just hate it with a passion.

Also I also can’t stand the Edeas that everyone seems to be wearing now. The stripes on the side and the greyish sole take away, in my opinion, from the look of a crisp, clean skate.

 

[hanca]

Many skaters practice dressed in all black. Black leggins, black jackets or T-shirt. In my view, being all black and then the white boots looks to me seriously weird. With colourful competition dresses the white boots look fine, but day-to-day at the rink, not so good. One wouldn’t wear a black dress or black trousers and Tshirt with white boots, so why it is normal at the rink? Black colour is much more universal. Or brown.

 

[arakwafan2006]

The used to be used to indicate that a skater was professional. Tan skates blend with the tights and and create a different look. It worked for Oksana Baiul as her White Graff skates looked big and clunky. It depends on the boot to me. Harlicks are just gorgeous. Edea, i don’t care what color they are , they’re hideous.