Aura Figure Skates Explained: The Technology Behind a Different Kind of Skate

When choosing a new pair of figure skates, most skaters naturally focus on the things they know: stiffness, support, fit and comfort.

But what if the way a figure skate is designed could change how it provides support, responds to movement and transfers energy to the blade?

That's the thinking behind Aura Figure Skates.

Aura takes a different approach to traditional figure skate construction, combining a rigid carbon-composite shell with an independently moving collar to address one of the biggest challenges in skate design: providing consistent support without restricting ankle mobility.

At Willies, we're pleased to offer Aura figure skates and help skaters find the right model and fit for their individual requirements.

In this guide, we'll look at what makes Aura different, explain the technology behind its construction and explore the three models available.

What makes Aura different?

A figure skate has two important jobs that naturally compete with one another.

Support: The skate needs to provide stability and control against lateral, torsional and landing forces.

Mobility: The skater needs to be able to bend, extend and move the ankle effectively to perform skating movements.

Traditional skate designs generally approach this challenge in one of two ways.

Some rely on the upper structure flexing with the ankle. Over time, repeated flexing can contribute to the breakdown of the supporting structure.

Others maintain a relatively static upper structure, allowing the skater to move forward into the tongue. While this avoids repeatedly flexing the upper wall, the structure doesn't actively follow the ankle through its range of motion.

Aura approaches the problem differently.

Rather than asking one structure to provide both support and movement, Aura uses two independent structures that work together.

The Aura Shell and Collar System

The defining feature of Aura is its combination of a rigid carbon-composite shell and an independently moving collar.

1. The Shell – Consistent Structural Support

The shell provides the primary structural support of the skate.

It is designed to remain stable rather than repeatedly flexing as the ankle moves.

This helps provide:

• Medial and lateral support for edge control.

• Resistance to torsional movement.

• A stable foundation for power and precision.

• Structural support through skating movements.

2. The Collar – Support Through Movement

The collar operates independently of the rigid shell.

It extends beyond the carbon structure and is made from flexible nylon, allowing it to wrap around the ankle when the skate is laced.

As the ankle bends, the collar moves downwards relative to the shell, creating progressive resistance through the skater's range of motion.

This is an important distinction.

The shell provides the structural foundation, while the collar moves with the ankle to maintain support.

The objective is to provide support where it's needed without sacrificing the movement required for skating.

Understanding the Aura Uni-Body Shell

Another major difference is Aura's uni-body construction.

Traditional figure skates commonly use a lasted construction, with multiple components assembled together around the foot, including the upper, midsole, outsole and heel assembly.

Aura uses a continuous carbon-composite structure instead of a traditional boot assembled around a separate cork or wood sole.

Why does this matter?

More direct energy transfer

With fewer separate components and interfaces between the athlete and the blade, there is less opportunity for movement and buffering within the structure.

Aura's design aims to create a more direct connection between the skater and the blade, helping deliver a more immediate response.

Impact distribution

When a blade contacts the ice, landing forces travel upwards through the skate.

In a traditional multi-piece construction, those forces pass through several independently assembled materials and interfaces.

Aura's continuous structure allows forces to be distributed through a connected structure around the foot.

Consistent structural support

The uni-body shell is designed to maintain its structural characteristics without relying on repeated flexing of the upper to accommodate ankle movement.

Low weight

The carbon-composite construction is designed to provide high structural support with very little weight.

Heat mouldability

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the construction is that the shell itself can be shaped under controlled heat, allowing detailed adjustments around the individual athlete's foot.

How Aura's heat-mouldable construction works

Aura uses a carbon-composite structure incorporating thermopolymers between the carbon layers.

At normal temperatures, the shell is rigid and supportive.

Under controlled heat, these materials become workable, allowing the structure to be shaped around the skater's individual anatomy.

As the skate cools, the moulded structure retains the shape created during the fitting process.

Importantly, this means fitting Aura isn't simply about compressing the padding inside a conventional boot. The construction allows the structure itself to be shaped.

This is one of the reasons correct fitting and heat moulding are so important.

The Tri-Hook system

Aura also incorporates a distinctive Tri-Hook design.

Rather than three completely independent hooks, the system connects all three hooks to the collar through two attachment points.

This helps distribute forces more evenly and creates a more consistent connection between the laces, hooks and collar.

The benefits include:

• More consistent force distribution across the collar.

• More predictable engagement of the collar system.

• More consistent collar movement regardless of how tightly the skate is laced.

• Quick replacement if a hook becomes damaged.

The design is intended to help the collar work as it was designed to, rather than allowing individual hooks to load the collar differently.

Additional design features

Aura incorporates several other technologies that work together to improve the overall skate experience.

Lace Tabs

The upper lace tabs interact with the crossed laces to reduce side-to-side movement and twisting of the tongue.

The lower bar helps prevent the tongue travelling downwards, while the nylon backing helps distribute lace pressure.

Integrated Tongue Tab

The tongue slides over an integrated nylon tab extending from the toe box and is stitched into position.

This further reduces downward tongue movement and makes tongue replacement more serviceable.

Protective Toe Cap

The toe cap protects one of the highest-wear areas of a figure skate, particularly when skaters are learning advanced jumps and repeatedly make blade contact with the boot.

Milled Heel

Aura also incorporates a milled heel designed for resonance control and secondary impact dispersion.

Together, these features form a system in which each component has a specific job.

The Three Aura Models: Sky 50, Sky 100 and Sky 200

Aura offers three models, each designed around different levels of static support and resistance through movement.

It's important to understand that these are not simply three evenly spaced stiffness levels.

Aura Sky 50

The Sky 50 has:

• 55 HT collar.

• Cut-down carbon shell.

• Lowest static support of the three models.

• Lowest resistance through movement.

• More active collar system.

The cut-down shell and lower-resistance collar give this model a different support and movement characteristic from the other two models.

Aura Sky 100

The Sky 100 has:

• 65 HT collar.

• Full-height carbon shell.

• Higher static support than the Sky 50.

• Medium resistance through movement.

The taller carbon shell provides increased structural support, while the collar provides greater resistance through movement.

Aura Sky 200

The Sky 200 has:

• 75 HT collar.

• Full-height carbon shell.

• Higher resistance through movement.

The current Sky 100 and Sky 200 share the same primary shell architecture. Their main difference is the collar.

The Sky 200 therefore offers greater resistance through movement while maintaining essentially the same medial and lateral shell support as the current Sky 100.

A note on the HT ratings: The 55, 65 and 75 HT figures are material specifications for the collars. They are not a consumer stiffness scale. A difference of 10 HT does not mean the collar is 10% stiffer.

Which Aura model is right for you?

Choosing between the Sky 50, Sky 100 and Sky 200 shouldn't be based on the model number alone.

Aura's model recommendation system considers three measurable factors:

1. Foot length: A longer foot creates a different lever and changes the forces placed on the skate.

2. Weight: A heavier athlete can generate greater loads through the boot.

3. Jump level: The level of jumping provides an indication of the airtime and landing environment the athlete is generating.

These factors provide a starting recommendation, not an automatic final decision.

A skater's current equipment, preferred feel, skating development, how aggressively they use their skates and how frequently they skate should also be considered.

Two skaters with identical measurements and jump levels may still have different requirements.

This is why getting advice from a knowledgeable Aura retailer is important.

Is Aura right for you?

Aura represents a different approach to figure skate construction, with its independent collar, carbon-composite uni-body shell and heat-mouldable structure working together as one system.

For skaters considering an upgrade, understanding these differences is an important part of choosing the right model.

At Willies, we're proud to offer Aura figure skates and help customers understand the differences between the models, select the appropriate size and get the best possible fit.

Whether you're exploring the Sky 50, Sky 100 or Sky 200, we're here to help.

Explore Aura Figure Skates at Willies

SHOP AURA FIGURE SKATES

Have questions about Aura sizing, model selection or fitting? Get in touch with our team and we'll help you find the right starting point.