What goes into making a skating boot?

Ever wondered how a skating boot is made? What goes into it? What are the considerations behind the design? And a little bit about Riedell's history?

All this in an interesting article on the Winona Daily News (online):
If the skate fits: Skates made in Red Wing enjoy homecoming at U.S. championships

Some interesting points...

Each layer adds weight to a boot, and while there’s a tipping point, skaters in fact want their skates to weigh a certain amount. And we mean certain in the most literal sense: Skaters want their skates to be 4.5 to 5.5 percent of their body weight, because centrifugal forces help them spin in the air.

And we thought the lighter the better?

Riedell’s top custom boot is $680 — and that’s just the price of the boot. A top-level blade can cost again as much and is attached to the boot later by a blade specialist working with the skater.

That's USD$680 - and given the rate at which top figure skaters have to change boots, it all adds up!

Kurt Browning and three-time U.S. Champion Johnny Weir. Dan Riegelman, the company’s vice president, said he expects more than 30 skaters to perform in Riedell skates during this week’s U.S. championships in St. Paul.