In 1993, I won the US Speedskating National Championship in the Women’s (15-16) Division. I set a record, in the 1000 meter distance, which held for 6 years. I skated at the national level for 4 years, before “retiring” to finish the last & hardest year at University.
Thus, the entirety of my teen years were spent in & out of rinks, skating very fast on my trusty companions…(the black skates on top!). The white skates are an early birthday present (from Dennis), a highly anticipated acquiring, years & years overdue!
With my old skates, there were numerous times where I skated around all day, skated home, then skated into bed-only to wake-up with them still on! I will dearly miss them, but I can no longer use them as they have become a safety hazard…
In searching for new skates, I came across the Bont Jet. It’s description matched the properties of my old Bont Boot, so I figured it would work out perfect. The industry has changed a lot since my old racing days, and there were several technological advancements that I had to research before making the purchase. For instance, the 3 point mounting system, Super Mold Technology, and the use of Gigantic 100 or 110 mm wheels!
Dennis ordered the Jet Boots as a birthday present, even though it’s not until June, as I was pleading with him about the broken down condition of my skates. The last time we had skated, my ankles were drooping perilously, and I was nervous about going faster than a woman pushing a stroller…
Happily, Dennis ordered the skates and they arrived a couple days before his birthday…but before I could skate on them, they had to be heat molded. So, I took them apart.
So, the dismantled Skate looked like:
Then, I placed the boots in the oven at 185 dF for 20 minutes…
When they were all done, I put them on my feet…
I assumed the skating position, and let them cool. Once they were done cooling, I took them off, and then put them back together. I couldn’t wait to try them out…!
Unfortunately, there was a windstorm in Denver on Saturday, so no skating (I went Bouldering at The Spot instead)!
But, this afternoon, in between storm fronts, Dennis & I went out for a roll. I’m glad we did because it’s snowing now!
The new Jet skates performed beautifully. My feet are secure; the new boot is rigid in all the right places-yeah! I’m sure it will take a few months for me to get used to the new length (they are a good inch longer than my old skates).
The new Bonts have 3 point mounting system, so they are very stable. I could feel more of the energy I used in my stride being transferred to the forward motion. Now, I just have to work on strength in the ankles, so I can harness the Power of the Jets! I am very excited.
Tags: Bont, Inline Skates, Jet, Super Mold Technology
I never knew that! You would laugh so hard if you could only see flailing on inline skates in 1993…
(ahem, that was see _me_)
I’m sure it was a spectacle. But I wouldn’t laugh. I’m teaching Dennis to skate on inlines, and as he says, “Everybody’s got a first day!”.