(Part 2) Top products from r/rollerderby

It's fairly easy if you are just replacing a standard plate with another standard plate. (Mounting on virgin boots, doing a short-forward mount, or things like that get a bit more technical)

Chances are you will need to drill new holes in your boot (often you can get 1 or 2 holes to line up, which is a good starting point). What you want to do is match the centerline of the old plate (kingpin-to-kingpin in the case of a non-symmetrical plate) with your new plate, and marking the axle and toe stop locations on the side of the sole is a good reference for the front-to-back placement.

I use a two-part epoxy stick to fill the old holes.

There was a good beginner's guide that was published in Five on Five a few years ago.

I basically destroyed my ankle in my first year of play, and now almost always wear a brace. I've been trying to wean off and down onto tape the last few months but I feel super insecure because of how the break was before. If you have someone who knows how to tape, try that. Otherwise, perhaps try one of these braces?

I used this one when I first came back

I use this one now (less rigid)

I like both of them and they fit in my skates without feeling bulky at all. I still go back to the first one when the weather changes and my ankle gets super painful.

Even though I now feel like my skates fit awesome, (1) I still run a piece of tape around my big toes to keep my nails firmly attached to the nail bed. And sometimes the baby toes, as well. I struggled for a long time with my previous skates, though. To help break my current ones in, while they were still tight, I also (2) used the "double helix" lacing technique and (3) skipped holes that were near the places where I seemed to be the tightest. (4) taking out the stock insole and replacing it with the memory foam inserts. (5) I also used moleskin on a couple of the most sore parts. [But I didn't put the moleskin on the spot where the callous was, but like in a donut around the sore spot (so the boot rubs on the moleskin, not the sore spot AND you're not making the boot wider at the exact spot of the pain.] Where is the pain? ANY shoe expert might be able to help you with some custom heat molding. Just make sure if they use an oven, that they take the wheels off before they heat them up. EDIT: some people suggest skating barefoot so the oils in your sweat help break down the leather so they'll "break in" faster. I don't do this, tho.

Double helix lacing: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/doublehelixlacing.htm
memory foam insert: http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Scholls-Insoles-Air-Pillo-Cushioning/dp/B00130LMVW

Some Lexol leather conditioner will do wonders for the general dryness. Nothing lasts forever, but keep high-quality leather properly conditioned (for skates, I'd say condition every 3-6 months or so) and it'll last a long long time.

Any cobbler should be able to fix little things like a broken strap. I live in a northern city so it's easy to find shops that specialize in hockey boots, but anyone who works on boots regularly would be a good choice. You could also contact the manufacturer (if they still are in business) to see if they offer a recrafting service - they usually love to see their well-worn boots come in for a little TLC.

I think insoles are your best bet.

When I run, I use 'motion control' shoes and insoles to prevent the exact same thing you are describing. When I skate, I use insoles too and it helps alot.

/u/cyanicenine is correct, custom insoles are best.
However, if you do not have custom insole specialists available, you might want to try these:

http://www.amazon.com/Spenco-Polysorb-Total-Support-Womens/dp/B000Q8NDEQ/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-21&keywords=insoles

These are what I use in my skates, and they work pretty well for me. Everyone has a different foot, so your milage may vary.

I had a arch injury a few years ago as well, and while that healed I also taped up my arch. I tried KT tape, but I could never get it work correctly. What I eventually did was use regular sports tape and this technique:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDyk7suigUw

So Im using a pair of Chicago roller skates, It was something for my big feet that I could learn on and I love them - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicago-Mens-Rink-Skate-Black/dp/B000G17FXS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1541706154&sr=8-5&keywords=chicago%2Broller%2Bskates&th=1&psc=1 - When I've been skating on them they start making a really awful noise, as if they are grinding and clicking together. Its a really awful thing to constantly hear and when I take the bearing out and spin it in my hand I can feel that something is off with it, it doesn't spin smoothly in my hand and feel like something is clicking around. It also has more drag on it and I really don't enjoy replacing bearings every skate session because of this. I'm still using the basic wheels that came with the skates, they're very hard wheels but they haven't really caused me any issues and I enjoy skating on them. And I don't tighten the wheel much, as long as it doesn't move side to side that's about as tight as I go, so that it spins and doesn't move other than that

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A colleague from work who deals with building bikes and fixing broken bikes/scooters and outdoor equipment says that the axle could be bent. I cant see any bend of deformity in them but the only things I can think to change are the wheels or the trucks. But at this point I'm probably better off just getting new skates...

Products like these toe protectors are great for toes that rub. They're reusable, and some even moisturize while you wear them!

So, a lot of issues with the outside of the right foot are caused by ill-fitting boots letting the foot slide to the right off the insole. Try this: notice what's happening to that area of your boot when you're pushing laterally, like in a hockey stop or hard crossovers. Does the side of your boot roll under the side of your foot? If it does, your boots are still too wide at the front.

What boots are you wearing?

ETA: Maybe try lowering your toe stops? If you can get up onto your stops without coming up so far, you can keep your weight just a smidge more distributed through your whole foot. If your stops are getting pretty thin, replace them and get a couple more centimeters of height too.

OOH, AND! If your foot is slipping to the side during lateral pushes, and forward during toe stop work, look for ways to get more grip between the insole and the bottom of your foot. I found I got TONS more control by going barefoot in my boot.

Is this something that you had before derby? and was it diagnosed by a podiatrist?

A few things come to mind...
Next time you have an appointment with your podiatrist bring your skates in with your socks, inserts and whatever else you put on your feet when you skate. Make sure the orthotics you are using are helping and fitting correctly in your skates.
The skates you're currently on are relatively cushy, but not that wide. If the toe box of your current skates isn't wide enough then no amount of taping/bracing/orthotics will fix the issue and cramming your feet into narrow skates is only going to make the pain worse.

I have pretty bad bunions and have struggled to find a skate boot that fits well. I've recently bought a pair of the new Antik AR-1 and have been very happy with them. The toe box is wider in the new style and I've had almost no break in time.
Beyond getting a new pair of boots/skates (which I know is expensive) here are a few cheap things to try.

• Lace your skates differently to relieve pressure on problem areas. From your photo you have a standard/normal lacing - you can relieve a lot of pressure by lacing differently. You may even need to lace each foot differently depending on what feels good to you. Most sites for this are geared for runners so experiment...
  Ian's Shoelace Site
  Top 10 lacing techniques for runners
  
  
• Buy some cushions/pads to wear under your socks - there are lots available on Amazon.
  
• Buy different socks or don't wear socks at all! I personally wear socks, but I know a good number of skaters that swear by wearing no socks.
  
• Try KT taping your problem areas before practice. Here's an option to start with
  
  
• Ice the area after practice if you have inflammation to help slow the formation of scar tissue.
  
• See a massage therapist to work on your feet and help break up the scar tissue and fascia restrictions. Myofascial Release (MFR) would help, but it can been very deep, intense work and you would benefit from multiple sessions to see results.
  
• Do self-massage on the area at home:
  These Foot massagers are awesome though you may be able to find a cheaper alternative
  
  
• Other ideas for treatment
  
  
• I wouldn't encourage you to skate through the pain for very long - if you're not able to relieve the pressure from that area you're only going to cause more trauma, inflammation and scar tissue to form and make the issue worse. Some time off skates now to rest the area and allow the inflammation to go down may be what is needed if you really want to skate in the future.
  Ultimately, you and your doctors should figure out a plan that is right for you. Good luck!

I spray my gear with a 50/50 alcohol/water mix with some tea tree oil and/or peppermint oil after all practices, and then let air dry. I also keep an activated charcoal bag in the bottom of my skate bag, along with a dryer sheet. I also tried witch hazel instead of alcohol, but it doesn't work as well.

I try to wash my gear about once a week. I put it in two laundry bags and just wash on a hot water cycle. I bought some Funk Away laundry booster, but honestly don't think it makes a huge difference.

Down and Derby is an entertaining factual history of the sport and it's modern revival.

I was the brats coach and we would get skates like this donated to us. I used a drill with a 1/16th bit and a sewing al to get them back together. It usually took about 45 minutes to get them back in service.

Absolutely do exercises to strengthen your ankles. However, if you do need braces, you can find them at most sports stores or online.

Hiking? Hiking is one of the most strenuous exercises I can think of, if you have the hills and trails for it. Hiking up a hill side till your heart is going to explode, then stopping just long enough for your heart to begin to get a handle on the situation...and then starting again...and repeating the whole thing for a half-mile upwards...good stuff.

If you don't have anything suitable in your location, any interval training that gets your heart rate up and keeps it up should be on your plate. I try to do this a couple times a week in the winter time, a surprisingly brutal workout for only being 20 minutes: http://amzn.com/B00127RAJY

I can't stand running/jogging. Boring. As. Hell. I'd rather stab my eye out with a spoon.

That all fails, just show up and skake. And skake. And skake. When it gets easier, skate faster and harder. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Oh totally! I was constantly getting wheels to the shins. I find that the real shin guards are a little restrictive, but if you get the ones that come in a pair of socks you don't even notice them.

http://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Sport-Sockr-Guard-Peewee/dp/B000WEIJ0M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376844521&sr=8-2&keywords=sock+shin+guards

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hillman-Group-180180-100-Pack/dp/B000H5OM5C/

There you go, set for life.

They're wax laces from the local skate shop. I think that these are very similar if not the same:

Derby Laces Hot Pink 72 Inch Waxed Skate Lace for Roller Derby, Hockey and Ice Skates, and Boots https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009N9EWP8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ROdqDbJDN4BQ1

Roller Derby For Beginners

bump.

For most skates, that piece of foam in your skate they call an insole does absolutely nothing to support your foot correctly. One of the first things I tell skaters is to go invest in a quality heat moldable insole. Try the Sole Softec. Well worth the investment. of course, there's lots of other things that can contribute to foot pain, but this is way more common than most people think.

Seconded. I had the same problem with my Big Bloc toe stops. Take the toe stop all the out and put a drop of blue loctite (buy at any home/hardware store, or http://amzn.com/B0002UEMZ2) on the stem of the toe stop and on the threads inside the skate. Also, which tool are you using to tighten the nut? The tool that comes with the R3's is terrible! I use a short 15/16 wrench that I bought online. (http://amzn.com/B00BI2D0H4)