A good quality pair of figure skates provides as much ankle support as any pair of hockey skates. You can get very stiff figure boots, (stiffer boots will be required when jumping, to provide the proper support to avoid injury on landings) but it is important to maintain some flexibility. Old style skates that go back to the early years of competitive skating were made of thin leather and required significant muscular development to hold

the body in the correct upright position. Now, as technology has advanced, the boots do part of that job for the skater. This is one reason for younger skaters being able to perform more difficult jumps. However, starting off in a boot that is too stiff or heavy plastic will impede progress. Even as a beginner, you must select boots of adequate quality and correct fit and flexibility, so that the boots help your ankles stay erect as you condition your foot position and balance to control the skates, but also allows a nice deep knee bend. Competitive or professional skaters will often say that their skates feel like an extension of their feet. Most cases of "weak ankles" are due either to cheap department store skates, or too floppy, worn-out or oversized rental skates.