* As you know, there are four different PIC frame sets a skater can choose from. While your skate size may dictate how many wheels your frame has, your planned usage will determine which model you ultimately end up with.
To begin with, there are basically two levels of PIC frames – the Professional level ( 994 & P-73 models) and the Performance level (894 & P-53 models). What distinguishes these two levels from one another? Everything that goes into making them a set – the bearings, wheels, and toe pics.
Bearings - Bearings are rated on the ABEC system and are graded at the levels 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The higher the rating, the higher the precision when they are made. High precision allows for the bearings to function at higher revolutions per minute. The Performance PIC frames are equipped with ABEC-5 bearings which allow for less friction than grade 1 and 3, while the ABEC-7 bearings, which are equipped on the Professional level PIC frames, allow for an almost frictionless feel. Friction, of course, impacts not only wear and tear, but also the speed and smoothness of ride.
Wheels – Wheels impact how fast you can skate, how much grip and maneuverability you have, and the amount of rebound and responsiveness you experience. Wheels come in varying sizes and levels of hardness. Smaller wheels provide more maneuverability while larger wheels provide more speed. PIC Skates are designed for hard, smooth surfaces where a skater can basically do the same things they can do on ice all the way up to an axel. Therefore, the harder and smoother the surface, the harder the wheel should be. Softer wheels provide more grip, but also create more friction (i.e., slower) and wear down more quickly.
Hardness ratings range from 0 to 100 with practically and hardness recommendations vary widely depending on the skater and the style of skating. The Performance PIC frames come with a 70mm wheel with an 83A hardness rating while Professional PIC frames sport a 68mm wheel with a hardness greater than 84A. What does this mean? Both frame sets come with high quality wheels, but when comparing the different frame sets to one another, the Professional is going to be a little more maneuverable and stable, thanks to its smaller wheels, without necessarily losing speed (harder wheels = faster).
Toe Pics - The most obvious visual difference between the different PIC frame sets are the toe pics. The Performance frames come with the P-9 toe pic which is made of natural solid rubber. Having an oval profile, it allows for quick stops and reduced sliding when setting up for toe jumps. Professional frame sets, on the other hand, are equipped with P-11 toe pics which are ball shaped. This design, coupled with rubber formula R7, allows for high rebound, superior grip and deep edges.
So, which frame set should you go with? While both levels are extremely high quality, the Professional PIC frame sets when compared to the Performance frame sets, are going to work better for those skaters desiring more speed, deeper edges, and higher jumps. Therefore, while either level is satisfactory for any skater, a higher level, more experienced skater will benefit from the Professional PIC frames ( 994 & P-73). A newer, less experienced skater, or one looking to work more on basic footwork and less on jumps and edges, will be fully satisfied with a Performer PIC frame set ( 894 & P-53).
* 3/10/21 UPDATE --
No sooner did we publish this post than PIC Skate introduced the Jazz PIC Frame Sets that come in both 3 wheel and 4 wheel versions. These pic frame sets are the pinnacle of artistic inline skates. They feature ABEC 11 ceramic bearings, Jazz wheels and the P-14 X ball pic. The ceramic bearings exceed the industry precision standards, are light weight, rotate faster, generate less heat, and last longer than typical metal bearings. The Jazz wheels (70mm or 72mm) are extremely resilient, possess over 80% elasticity, provide excellent grip, rebound, and shock absorption while their elliptical shape allows for deep edges. Finally, the aggressive P-14 X pic is longer wearing and thanks to is ball shape, allows the skater to achieve deep edges and enhanced jumps. All this, of course, translates into a aggressive frame system that can achieve faster speeds, higher jumps, monster spins, and deeper edges. If you are a serious skater, the Jazz Frame Set is for you.