A review of my (Competing Member Athlete) Obbligatorio Complete Skate Package.
My Complete Skate Package includes the Risport Electra Bianca boot mounted to a Spin frame with the Azzurro elastomer cushions (Partial Skate Pairing/PSP) and 63MM 53D Giotto Obbligatorio wheels with 7MM Speed Max bearings (Combo Obbligatorio).
The soft, comfortable lining in the boot helps as I adjust to the stiffness of the boot, which is a 45 compared to my freestyle boot,* which is a 35. Giotto figure wheels are a dream: I've tried them on my freestyle boot before and it makes all the difference in figure skating to have the right hardness and wheel size (compared to wearing freestyle wheels while skating figure circles). I typically skate in a rink with a wood floor, so I use the 53D hardness wheels for medium surfaces (not slippery and not rough). All of the parts are sturdy and high quality, I look forward to this next part of my development as an athlete!
Continue reading to learn more about Obbligatorio discipline and equipment/solutions:
ProGuide for Understanding Obbligatorio Tech, Components, and Complete Skates
Proguide on Bearings and Wheels
Roller Louisiane Guide to Figures
*Note: I purchased my Obbligatorio skates after using my Libero/freestyle skates for 10 months. I waited due to finances, but I recommend buying the correct skates for your selected discipline as soon as you can. There are skills that translate between Libero and Obbligatorio, such as 3-turns or and skating backwards, but the execution of those moves is different for each discipline and is effected by your equipment. While practicing figures in my freestyle boot has made me a better freestyle skater, I now have to put in extra practice time to adjust to the new boot to stay on the line and execute one-footed turns.
