FR Skates brand was born in Paris, France, back in year 2006. Considered by many to be a "daughter" of the Seba brand - the first FR skates appeared in the Seba offer as early as 2007. Founded by Sebastien Laffargue and Gregoire Pinto, two men with a vision of what freeride skates should be – efficient hardboots for comfort, versatility and durability. Thanks to the combination of all these elements, extraordinary attention to detail and a bit of French style, FR skates were born, becoming an independent brand with a worldwide success.
For season 2022, FR brand enters the aggressive skates market with its premiere product - UFR AP skates. A Belgian rider, Antony Pottier, who is also the first official aggressive rider of the FR brand, was selected to help with the project. He is one of the world's best skate park riders - during the last decade he stood on the podium of major international competitions, including:
- Winterclash 2014 - 2nd place PRO
- Winterclash 2015 - 2nd place PRO
- Blading Cup 2015 - 2nd place PRO
- Blading Cup 2016 - 1st place PRO
- Winterclash 2017 - 1st place PRO
- Winterclash 2018 - 1st place PRO
Antony's skating speaks for itself: he dominated every event he participated in for over 3 years, showcasing his extraordinary skills. Antony's dynamic and unpredictable style required the highest quality equipment which would meet his enormous requirements and allow him to break new boundaries.
Design
The design of UFR AP skates is, in short, a slightly modified shell of the popular FR freeskate boot (FR1, FR2, FR3 and FRX) which was originally made for a classic 165mm mount. In this case, it was altered to be fully compatible with the UFS mounting, de facto ruling standard in aggressive skating.
It is worth to note that, unlike other brands, where the problem of raised heel shells compatibility with the UFS system has so far been resolved by creating an appropriate soulplate, the FR brand has taken a step further and modified the shell itself. The result of this procedure is a possibility of using UFR AP skates with or without a soulplate, and in both cases the shell will be fully compatible with the UFS mount.
The dedicated FR soulplate is element worth taking a closer look at. A spacious soul kit made of hard material comes with a fairly shallow, but wide, groove both on the negative and positive side. People who have already had a chance to test them share the opinion that they are noticeably faster and more responsive than your usual soulplates. This is definitely due to the hard plastic and ergonomic shape of this element, which matches the skate shell. Although it is mounted only with two UFS screws, souplate’s lines correspond to the cutouts in the shell, providing a stiff base, removing any unwanted bending under higher impacts.
If we are attaching an UFS frame directly to the boot, skipping souplate, the result will be a lower center of gravity which contributes to best possible freeriding experience. Manufacturer recommends the use of special washers (link), though. They will fill the UFS cavities, so that even after tightening the screws, our shell and frame will not be exposed to additional stress. The FR offer includes a wide range of UFS 4x80mm or 3x125mm frames, but nothing prevents you from choosing your favorite frame made by other brands. Keep in mind that the FR soulplate will not be compatible with the older FR skate shells (FR1, FR 2, FR3, FRX) and won’t be compatible with frames created for those.
In response to customer requests, the version of UFR skates without soulplate is also offered as a complete freeskating setups. One of them comes with Intuition liners and 4x90 rockered frames, notably. If we intend to use our UFR strictly for freeriding, one of stock freeskating versions will be the most appropriate choice.
The UFR AP skate shell and its 'open' design can forgive a lot, which is why it is considered to be a universal fit boot. However, it is definitely not a shell as wide as, for example, the Razors SL or Roces 5th Element. Skate looks very compact and slim, even in the bigger sizes. The lacing system allows you to tie the skates up to the top, thanks to liners with lacing holes in cuff area. In combination with a solid 45-degree Velcro, it ensures that ankle is secured in the right way and heel remains locked in place.
The cuffs in UFR AP skates have a minimal V-cut, providing greater front to back movement range of the ankle, comes with additional buckle protection and the option of cutting the cuff 'wings' off (there are pre-made cut marks to make it easier) in case we cannot fasten it properly or want more forward flex.
Although the new UFR soulplate will not be compatible with the older FR skates shells, any FR 'Custom kit' from freestyle skates (offered in different colors) will fit with the UFR. This is a great option because, as we remember, the freestyle version of the FR cuffs has an additional position adjustment options:
- Universal, stock one – a cuff in a low position for a good range of ankle movement
- Raised position – a cuff is placed higher for greater support
- Pushed to the back – a cuff resides in the middle position when it comes to height, but there’s more space between the cuff and the shell at the back, and thus, greater flex
- "Forward" position – cuff is pressed against the back of the shell more, giving the skata e a more rigid feel
Cuffs with adjustment option also provide the possibility of 'canting', that is, adjusting tilt of the cuff to the sides, allowing to correct unwanted ankle bending by placing screws in opposite way. For example, if you bend your ankles too much inwards, try setting the position of the screw which faces the other boot down and outer one up.
Thanks to custom kits, our skates will gain not only an unique look, but also new properties – undoubtedly, much appreciated by aggressive skaters.
UFR AP variants
UFR AP skates are available in three different variants:
- Boot Only with standard FR liner
- Boot Only with high-end Intuition liner
- Complete with FLAT frames and high-end Intuition liner
The main difference between the version with the FR liner and the version with the Intuition liner is sizing - the stock version comes dedicated liners for each size, while the Intuition version has double size ranges.
This is due to the construction of the liner itself. FR stock liners are much thicker and will "break-in" over time, while the Intuition ones have more precise fit and less (but denser) padding, resulting in increased control and responsiveness. Therefore, when buying UFR skates, we get a different shel size depending on the liner inside. The EU 43 size of a basic version with FR liners uses EU 43-44 shell. In case of version with Intution liner, the dual size EU 42-43, uses the smaller, EU 41-42 shell. This can be called a factory 'downsizing' of the shell. Thinner, more precise liner allows us to 'fit into a smaller shell. We recommend to study the size chart carefully and make the choice accordingly.
Intuition liners in the FR version of the skates do not have the option of a removable collar for adjusting the thickness of the liner and amount of support in the cuff area. In UFR variant, this piece is permanently sewn to the liner. However, we still have the option of heat molding - a relatively simple method for getting a perfect fit at home. UFR comes with a custom, modified version of the Intuition liner designed specifically for their shells, so their shape and volume differ from the V.2 and Premium models or the version found in Them skates.
The third available version is the complete UFR AP model with FLAT 4x65mm frames and stock FR liners. FLAT frames were personally designed by Antony and are adapted to his skating style in 100%. They are made out of machined aluminum, housing large 65mm wheels and sport a wide center split with a replaceable, plastic H-block. It is definitely a product for skaters who know their needs. The frame is quite high, and the lack of wheel protection may pose a challenge for beginners when it comes to learning tricks. On the other hand, the large size of the wheels and the opportunities it gives us in return, may be liked by those who do not necessarily spend all day grinding ledges or rails. A complete setup of UFR AP skates can be a good alternative to something like a USD Aeon 72 skates – gear you can enjoy fast urban skating with and, if needed, take them to the skatepark to improve your vocabulary of tricks without any major difficulties regular freeskating frames would bring.
Summary
UFR AP skates are universal equipment, rooted in proven solutions and excellent workmanship. The shell, which gives a lot of configuration options, can be used either as an aggressive skate or a versatile boot for urban skating. The Boot Only version with famous Intuition liners is only 249 EUR - taking into account that the price of the Intuition liner alone is around 199 EUR, it is a great value offering. Without a shadow of doubt, a low price threshold is the greatest asset of these skates and can encourage you to try something new.
The complete version with FLAT frames require some skills, but in case of intermediate to advanced skaters, such equipment can help in broadening their horizons! FR Skates company takes its first steps in to an aggressive scene skillfully, supporting active and respected riders. Their new team acquisition is Stefan Brandow - such actions have a great impact on creating a company's positive image. We look forward to see more good stuff coming from FR Skates! As for UFR AP models – they come highly recommended!
