tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61005774070374773772024-03-12T19:39:59.217-07:00Rocket SkateScott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-45638729829375599242016-03-29T20:12:00.002-07:002016-05-09T15:57:07.997-07:00Remembering Butchy<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Meeting Butch</span></b><br />
It seems like everyone who knew Butchy remembers the first time they met him. For me, I was working in my first hockey job, selling gear. The owner asked me to help this big, friendly guy find a new pair of skates. He was affable . . . nope, that doesn't even come close . . . he was enthusiastically gregarious. If I didn't know better, I would have thought I'd known him for years. Butchy told me I was fitting him for his last pair of free skates. Certain that my penny-pinching employer wasn't giving anyone <i>anything </i>for free I asked, "How's that?"<br />
Butch told me the NHL was paying for them. Given the big guy's . . . erm, decidedly non-athletic build, it didn't make sense until he told me he was an official. Working the big show is something a guy could brag about. That wasn't Butch. He just was making conversation. Having met him about 5 minutes earlier I knew he wasn't bragging. I instantly liked him, but little did I know how much I'd come to appreciate him.<br />
I've been thinking a lot about Butch these last days. I came to a realization. The presence of a referee is not unlike that of a waiter:<br />
<ul>
<li>A bad one often ruins the evening.</li>
<li>A good one is nearly invisible.</li>
<li>A great one almost always improves the event</li>
</ul>
Butch's presence on the ice made every game better. He always brought a smile. He was quick with a compliment. Somehow he made time to visit guys on the bench without missing a call on the ice. He did so much more than just that though.<br />
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<a href="http://cdn4.sportngin.com/attachments/news_article/6225/5685/Butch_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn4.sportngin.com/attachments/news_article/6225/5685/Butch_large.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="color: #6fa8dc;">He Kept Us Sane</b></div>
<div>
It's a rare referee who has such control over a game that participants never seem to lose <i>their </i>control. In several years goal-tending in a league where Butch was frequently our referee, this was certainly the case. Butch was always quick with the right word or proper question to diffuse a situation before it actually became one. Guys who were bordering on angry often ended up laughing at themselves as Butch escorted them to the sin bin.<br />
This was a phenomenon I strictly attribute to Butch. Games he didn't ref those seasons were very different. One kid, certainly a bit immature to be reffing angry adult-league players, was famous for escalating tensions on the ice. When a player questioned a call the kid tended to resort to swearing and name calling. Nothing diminishes tensions like being heckled by the official. Well perhaps nothing except having a guy return to the bench, his sentence served, answering his own question, "You know what that ref said to me? He called me a . . . " (Sorry, if you're not accustomed to sarcasm I likely lost you there . . . also I'm not actually sorry about being sarcastic).<br />
Even without that type of provocation things often went sideways without Butch. One memorable game sans Butch involved all ten skaters on the ice in an all out brawl. While ten guys pummeled one another with more than harsh words I looked on from my end. The other goalie, Al, skated to my side of center, away from the fracas. With a huge smile on his face, he tossed off his gloves. We mocked our teammates by attempting to pull the jerseys over each other's heads.<br />
When Butchy was around, things like that just didn't happen. I remember one game when Butch was partnered with a less talented partner (to protect his identity I shall call this other official Blind Mustachio). Playing defense rather than keeper that night, I was the victim of a terrible call. Mark, a guy on the other team had gotten behind me and was breaking to our net. I was so far behind him I probably couldn't have hit him with my stick if I threw it. However, as Mark drew back the puck to shoot, I lunged. This was done with the desperate hope my stick would appear in his peripheral vision and somehow terrify him. I doubt he even saw it leering at him from ten feet back. But lo and behold, he managed to trip himself up, lost the puck, lost his feet and crashed headlong into the boards. I picked up the puck; a whistle instantly blew. I skated to Mark, a longtime friend, to ask if he was OK. Blind Mustachio pointed in our general vicinity yelling, "Get in the box."<br />
Both of us looked at each other unsure to whom he was talking. In unison we asked, "Who me?"<br />
Blind Mustachio pointed to me, "Two minutes tripping."<br />
"What?!"<br />
I don't remember another call so bad that a member of the team it benefited protested, but Mark complained even more vehemently than I. "I just tripped! He wasn't anywhere near me."<br />
"Easiest call I'll make all night. I could have seen that from a hundred miles away." the ref replied.<br />
I went to the box, no doubt shaking my head. When my team managed to clear the puck, Butch skated slowly by. He showed me thumbs up, thumbs down then gave a questioning shrug. I replied with an enthusiastic thumbs down. He gave an apologetic smile and skated back to work. Later when I had returned to the bench and Butch was patrolling the blue line he told me, "I figured that was a bad one, Scotty. I never heard you complain about a call."<br />
In another instance, the other team managed to skate for almost a minute with an extra player on the ice. This wasn't the sort of thing Butch tended to miss, but it was an odd situation. Somehow the sixth guy jumped on the ice during the <i>first </i>shift. Even with the extra skater, my team kept them pinned in the other end. I was screaming, "Six skaters on white! Six skaters on white!" At the other end of the ice all anyone could have heard was Charlie Brown's dad swearing loudly. When there was a whistle and shift change I skated to my center to inform him of the missed infraction.<br />
Minutes later when the other team finally visited our end, Butchy skated to the side of my net. The action was pretty lively in our end. I was trying to focus on the game. Admittedly, I can be a bit chirpy when I'm in net. But, I tend to quietly down when giving the appropriate attention to action near my net (go figure). Nonetheless, as players and the puck were cycling around me, Butch said, "Six guys for a full minute huh? Your team just had the worst line change I ever saw. There were like eighteen guys on the ice there and I let you slide. Can we call it even?"<br />
In the midst of the action, he came to my net to essentially crack a joke. Even with imminent shots which needed to be saved, I couldn't help but laugh. That was classic Butch and it was how he kept tempers cool.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">He Kept us Safe</span></b><br />
Most of my experience on the ice with Butch was as a goalie. Even in net I'd hear him warning guys, "Heads up," or "Take it easy." He wasn't just there to enforce the rules. He was there to keep players from injuries which could be avoided. He was pretty good at it in my opinion.<br />
I was extremely thankful that he was there one night. I took point-blank snapper right in the gap between my pads and thigh guard. The bruise it created would eventually fall short of wrapping all the way around my thigh by about half an inch. Needless to say it hurt. I had come out pretty far to make the save. Immediately, the pain reduced me to crawling. The puck had rebounded toward the open side. I was far too tenacious (that's goalie lingo for stupid) to give up. I was less worried about the oddity of my current orientation, which left my ribs, legs, and neck rather exposed, than I was about the imminent threat of a goal against. I crabbed painfully toward the battle for the puck. Butch spotted my predicament at once and blew the whistle. With my relief dawned the realization that I probably would have taken a bigger thrashing if I attempted to make another save.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">We didn't always pay him back in kind</span><br />
My favorite two stories about messing with a ref involve Butch. They both go together. I attest that they both were unintentional.<br />
The first story involved a breakaway. My opponent was skating hard. He shot from pretty far out. I gloved the shot. As it should be, he continued to skate--crashing my net. So, I held up my glove. The act was about 50% "Ha! Stopped you!" and 50% "Please don't fall on me and tear my hamstring." Seeing my Statue of Liberty impression, Butch blew the whistle. The shooter threw his stick in the air yelling a single agitated obscenity. I turned around to see that the puck was actually resting a foot behind me. Without the premature whistle my opponent would have had an unimpeded path to the net.<br />
Butchy skated to my net, clearly chagrined at his bad whistle. "Why'd you hold your hand up, Scotty? I thought you had the puck."<br />
I apologized, "Sorry, I thought I had the puck too."<br />
Not coincidentally, the second story also involved a breakaway. In fact it was one week later when almost the exact same situation materialized. I faced a shot on a breakaway. It hit my glove, but as the guy crashed the net, I wasn't sure where the puck ended up. Not wanting to cause Butch another faux pas, I looked everywhere to determine the location of the evil little piece of rubber. It wasn't behind me, but I had no idea where it could have landed. After an excruciatingly long time, Butch blew the whistle. He skated over to me and asked, "Where's the puck?"<br />
I stood up. I looked in the normal places pucks try to hide. I tried to shake it out of my pads. Eventually I shrugged. "I have no idea."<br />
"Open your glove."<br />
I did. To my surprise the puck was there. Butch shook his head. "You're killing me, Scotty."<br />
<i> Yeah, sorry about that Butch.</i><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Farewell, my friend</span></b><br />
I'd say I was privileged to count Butch as a friend. But honestly, it wasn't as rare a thing as privilege implies. Butch was a friend to almost everyone he met. He was that rare person who loved everyone and found that love reciprocated. Still he was such a kindhearted, genuine person that even lacking any rarity, it <i>was </i>a privilege.<br />
A bit of light seems to have faded from this world without Butch. The smile Butch always wore leaves a void which will be impossible to fill completely. Butch's time on earth was all too brief. His departure was too sudden. Our hearts feel slow at the random, nonsensical nature of his demise. But, I don't think that our hearts have emptied nearly as much as they were previously filled from knowing Butch.<br />
I found myself breaking the news of Butch's passing to a customer as I was sharpening his skates. Like me, he found it heart wrenching. He was clearly broken up. But before I finished his skates we'd swapped several remembrances of Butch. We were both laughing. In the end he left smiling. And in the end I was smiling as well. Maybe that's the whole take away here. Yeah, if we sit and ruminate on the fact that he's gone, it's like a kick in the gut. It's going to make us sad. It might make us angry. It won't be pleasant. But if we remember him, that bit of light which seems to have faded from the world is still there. Every time we remember him with a fond smile and a chuckle, there's still a bit of Butch in the world.<br />
Farewell, my friend. I'm thankful to have been among the privileged many.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2016 Scott Noble. </span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-85977983152762001502015-04-22T15:45:00.004-07:002021-10-09T19:09:34.132-07:00I bet you didn't know you were breaking your skates!Here's a really quick tip:<br />
<br />
Most people take off their skates like they would a pair of shoes. They don't even realize that they are pushing on the weakest part of the boot: the tendon guard. It's an issue that every brand has struggled with at times. Some are better than others. Some will fall off no matter how carefully you treat them. But no matter what, <u>the tendon guard should never be used as a handle to take off your skates.</u><br />
<br />
Instead, use both hands to push on either side of the boot. That way you don't have to worry about them ending up like this:<br />
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Of course if you do manage to break a tendon guard, we can make a much prettier repair than the one pictured above . . . it's just one of the many things we fix at Rocket Skate.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2015 Scott Noble. </span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-16280993662619941632015-03-19T10:13:00.003-07:002015-03-19T10:14:38.873-07:00Basketball Size Tape Rolls and Free Sticks!?<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is an odd, hockey myth floating
about—<i>if you bring a ball of tape the size of a basketball to
the shop you get a free stick.</i> It's been going strong for at
least 8 years. That's how long I've been hearing it at least once a
month from some poor kid who has taken it for truth. I can only guess
that some older kid, perhaps a one-time believer who was pranked by
an older kid himself, hands the story down to the next generation. I
imagine the conversation goes something like this:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">FADE
IN:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">EXT: HOCKEY RINK –
DAY</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Two kids, hockey
players, are waiting for a ride. The younger one is peeling the tape
off of his stick. The older one puts away his phone, seems bored.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Hey,
don't throw that tape away.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">YOUNGER FOOLISH KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Why not? It's not
good for nothin'</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">You seriously
don't know? I'll take it if you don't</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">want it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">YOUNGER FOOLISH KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I know I can
dangle better than you if I put new</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">tape on my stick.
What do you want it for?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">You
can't even dangle in your dreams. I shouldn't</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">even
tell you how to get a free stick with old tape.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">YOUNGER FOOLISH KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> (jumping up and dancing about)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">What! A free
stick? Tell me! Tell me! You gotta tell me!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">You're an idiot.
I'm not going to tell you</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">YOUNGER FOOLISH KID
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.46in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">(drops to his
knees to beg)
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Aw come on, you
gotta tell me. Please, please, please!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Fine, but don't
tell anyone I told you about it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">YOUNGER FOOLISH KID
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OK</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">You have to
promise. I'll pulverize you if you tell.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">YOUNGER FOOLISH KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Fine. I promise.
Now tell me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OK, here's the
deal. If you bring a ball of used hockey</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">tape the size of a
basketball to the hockey shop they
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">have to give you a
free stick.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">YOUNGER FOOLISH KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.46in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">(Standing up)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Really? Which
hockey shop?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Oh, all of them do
it. It's an industry requirement.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">They have to
recycle the tape and give you a stick</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">when you bring a
ball that big. The EPA makes them</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">do it. The shops
don't like people to know about it,
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.97in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">that's why you
can't tell anyone I told you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">YOUNGER FOOLISH KID</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> (more dancing about)</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> Awesome! I'm gonna tell everyone.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">OLDER DEVIOUS KID
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> (smiles knowingly)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> Hey, just remember to leave my name
out</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">FADE
TO BLACK</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1074/5133524685_cb31c0b9b0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1074/5133524685_cb31c0b9b0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the entire community involved would make for a lot of victims in this prank</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are a couple of devious elements
to this myth. First, and most obvious: there is no hockey store
giving away a free stick for a ball of garbage. What would the
benefit be to the store? Why would they want used tape? Anyone who
thought this through, ergo anyone over the age of say 8 to 10 years,
would realize that this is a hoax.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The second element is the truly clever
one. A basketball sized roll of tape doesn't seem impossibly large. A
basketball isn't something we think of a big or heavy. However, if
you put this into perspective, the amount of tape in a thirty-inch
circumference ball is pretty staggering. My best estimate is that the
ball would take approximately 100 rolls of tape to complete. The
total length of tape in such a ball would be in the ballpark of a
mile and a half long.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So let's put all of this into a final
perspective. The end goal of this myth is to prank the younger
foolish kid into hauling around an ever growing ball of trash. If he
miraculously makes it to the end, he has a ball which takes up about
a third of his hockey bag and weighs almost twenty five pounds. When
he lugs it into the hockey shop his reward will be a blank stare
followed by the people behind the counter asking him, “Who told you
that kid?”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of course the kids can never answer the
question when they come in the shop. It's always, “I just heard,”
or “<i>someone</i> told me.” The only flaw in the prank is the
perpetrator of it misses the final letdown. For the poor kid who has
collected tape for five years, begging scraps from his teammates and
carried significant extra tonnage in his bag the only bit of grace is
that the older devious kid isn't about to laugh at him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Anyway, here's the deal from my end. We
don't give away free sticks for tape balls. However, if you bring
your old tape in the shape and size of an adult hockey stick to the
shop. We will give you a free basketball. (Please note the important
details below):</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your tape stick must feature a
shaft length of at least 52 inches</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The blade may be left or right
handed, but must feature the authentic Ovechkin curve. We will
measure the lie, depth and curve of the stick to verify</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You must unravel and re-assemble
the tape stick in the presence of a shop employee so that we can
verify the stick was indeed made completely of tape</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your tape stick must have a flex
rating of at least 65</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You must bring your sales receipts
showing purchase of at least 75 rolls of tape from Rocket Skate</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your basketball will be delivered
to your provided mailing address as we do not stock basketballs.
Shipping time will take anywhere from 5 days to 18 years. We cannot
be responsible for items lost in transit</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>As long as we're on the subject of tape, we're still carrying the same top quality tape, but our prices have been reduced. Clear and White are now $2.50 a roll and Black is only $3 a roll (those prices are even more awesome that you think because they include tax).</b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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<div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2015 Scott Noble. </span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
</div>
Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-63401991973090111182015-02-27T10:05:00.000-08:002015-02-27T15:11:52.265-08:00The Road to the DoghouseShe sat beside me in the car as it crept slowly eastward on the snow-covered tarmac of I-70. Traffic was light, but that was because of the blinding blizzard which we were braving. Only the intrepid and foolhardy were making this trek. I'd count myself among the former; she would have insisted I was the later. I'd mistakenly believed conditions would be better once we'd made our subterranean crossing of the Great Divide through the Eisenhower Tunnel. Disappointingly, the swirling barrage of white did not abate on the Atlantic side of the continent. My only real fear was that they'd close the highway before we made it though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1392/5125802595_fb0d9d542d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1392/5125802595_fb0d9d542d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
“I don't know how to make you understand,” I told her.<br />
<br />
“Maybe I don't want to understand.” she replied. “Maybe I just want to take a weekend trip without the car smelling like cat urine. . .”<br />
<br />
“Hey, my gear doesn't smell like cat urine.”<br />
<br />
“ . . . maybe I want you to think about our safety instead of about missing your game. Maybe I would have rather taken a sick day tomorrow and skied another day than ride home in a blizzard because <i>you </i>want to play hockey. And you're right, cat urine smells <i>better </i>than your gear.”<br />
<br />
“That's a lot of maybes. You don't sound too sure of what you want.” I shouldn't have said it. Even though my tone was even, I'd carefully aimed the words knowing they'd push a button.<br />
<br />
She was quiet for a moment. The only sounds were the rush of air from the Land Cruiser's defroster, the hiss of snowflakes bouncing off the windshield and the crush of snow under the tires. I always turned the music off while driving in the snow. This was partly because I enjoyed the silence of a snowstorm, partly because I wanted to concentrate on any loss of traction in the car.<br />
<br />
Almost a minute passed before she muttered, “You planned this. Otherwise you wouldn't have brought your gear. You're a jerk.”<br />
<br />
In twelve years of marriage, it certainly wasn't the worst thing she'd called me. My reply was halfhearted, “Sorry. But you are giving me too much credit if you think I control the weather. Remember, I packed my gear so we could maximize our time skiing.”<br />
<br />
“Woohoo! So we got what, an extra fifteen minutes of skiing? Explain it too me again why our personal safety is less important than a game?”<br />
<br />
I sighed. The number of times I'd explained it was beyond counting. “I don't want to fight.”<br />
<br />
“Neither do I. I just want to understand.”<br />
<br />
“A moment ago you said you <i>didn't </i>want to understand.”<br />
<br />
“I said <i>maybe </i>I didn't want to understand. Anyway, I'm allowed to change my mind.”<br />
<br />
“I don't know what there is to tell you that I haven't already said. It's about more than just me. There are twenty or thirty guys expecting me to be there. If I don't show up the game will be ruined. Those guys all paid money to play. It's unfair to everyone if I don't make it.”<br />
<br />
“And those twenty or thirty guys are more important to you than I am?”<br />
<br />
“Of course not, I didn't spend the weekend skiing with any of them.”<br />
<br />
I don't know if she accepted this answer, but she moved on. “They seriously cannot play without you?”<br />
<br />
“The game is no fun without goalies.”<br />
<br />
“I still think you're just being conceited. There's got to be someone else who can do it.”<br />
<br />
“Honey, I called eight goalies before we left and none of them could fill in. There was no one left to call.”<br />
<br />
“I know. You were on your phone every time we were riding the lift instead of talking to me.”<br />
<br />
“That's a serious exaggeration and you know it. Besides if I hadn't been on the phone you'd be mad at me for not trying to find a substitute. You need to have more realistic expectations. I planned to come home in time for my game from the start and we're just sticking to the plan. I did try to change it for you it didn't work out. It isn't like any of the guys on my team have goalie gear, you know.”<br />
<br />
She acquiesced, turning to look out the passenger window after mumbling, “I just think it would have been nice to stay one more night. I was looking forward to a good dinner, some time in the hot tub and powder covered slopes in the morning. If you'd rather play hockey until midnight then get up early for work tomorrow morning, that's your call. But clearly your priorities need some adjustments . . . whatever.”<br />
<br />
<i>Whatever</i>, it was a clear signal that we were done speaking. She said she didn't want to fight, but couldn't resist a jab at the end. There was no way for me to explain it. She didn't play; she'd never understand. It was nearly inexplicable to those who didn't love the game. She'd never even liked it as far as I knew. Honestly, she probably viewed the game as “the other woman.”<br />
<br />
I pulled up to the house an hour and a half later. The snow had let up at Idaho Springs and though it was cold when got home, the only frost was coming from the passenger seat. As the garage door slowly yawned open, I thought she might finally speak. The house rule was we never went to bed angry. Since she'd certainly be asleep before I got home from my game, an apology seemed in order. This was not the case. As soon as I pulled into the garage, she exited the car, retrieved her luggage from the back and wordlessly lugged it inside. Apparently the fact that she was going to bed and I was not, was a loophole. This night there was no <i>we</i>.<br />
<br />
It was almost ten o'clock. I wanted to go inside, to sort things out. It seemed the rational thing to do. But my game started in thirty three minutes. I was barely going to make it. I hit the steering wheel with my fist. I knew if I went in there was going to be a fight. It would be an act of God if that fight <i>only </i>took thirty minutes. There just wasn't time. How could I fix something in ten minutes that I hadn't been able to explain in twelve years?<br />
<br />
I turned up the stereo, jammed the Land Cruiser into reverse and roared out of the garage in a rage. After a near miss with my neighbor's passing car. I drove quickly, but a little more calmly, to the rink. The only solace I would find this night would be in the game. Yes, the game would clear my head. I actually hoped for a lot of action around my net. I could use some jostling in the crease. A chance to shove some people violently out of my way—yeah, that would make me feel better.<br />
<br />
I pulled up to the rink with twenty minutes until faceoff. Perfect. I'd have fifteen minutes to get dressed once I lugged my gear inside. I tossed my leg pads over my shoulder, hefted my gear bag out of the trunk and picked up my sticks. Toting fifty pounds of gear, I crossed the parking lot, my anger subsiding into thoughts of the game. I passed through the rink doors where a sleepy looking kid manned the front desk.<br />
<br />
I asked him, “What locker room for The Mighty Drunks?”<br />
<br />
He lazily scanned a sheet on the desk before asking, “The Mighty Drunks?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah.”<br />
<br />
“Sorry Dude, your team played last night.”<br />
<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2015 Scott Noble. </span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-28764298408494899962014-10-03T13:55:00.001-07:002014-10-03T13:55:21.111-07:00Holy Palms? I have all the answers here!Did you know that those annoying holes in your glove occur because of the tape on the top of your stick? Yep, the combination of the adhesive and the abrasive fibers in hockey tape is excellent for making short work of your gloves. We'd all probably agree a little extra ventilation isn't the worst thing. Less material also might mean there is less glove to smell bad. But the eventual result is that parts of your hands start sticking out of your gloves, and that's not comfortable or safe.<br />
<br />
I feel your pain. I used to blow through a pair of palms in about 9 months. This wouldn't have been so bad except that it took me 8 months to break in the typical pair. To make things worse, the hockey industry goes to great lengths to ensure they're no longer producing the gloves you like when your old ones wear out. Which forces you to try something new which takes another 8 months to break-in. It's a cycle of bitter disappointment.<br />
<br />
Of course you have several choices to fix this issue. Just playing until the gloves turn into really odd wrist bands is a common one, though not one I personally endorse. Duct tape is neither unheard of or comfortable. Buying a new pair of gloves every nine months happens, but it's expensive. Fear not! I have three better options:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Fix your worn out gloves</li>
<li>Try a Command Grip</li>
<li>Change your tape</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Fix your worn out gloves</span></b><br />
Yeah, we can fix your gloves with a brand new palm. Our typical turn-around on a full re-palm is two days. Repalming replaces the entire palm including the fingers and thumb.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_l61OtWH63TAhu4jbTxllDwAJhkZqKKVMSAQaPIjkqaHYqHPdhCPegowXAuZdF2-d03jsLpjUjDsIvmfninvD7wEkVnf7YBDPFYi2vGZ3rC8A7AqHjv_1zLnlr2AkIqIramQ2xxSMybDv/s1600/repalm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_l61OtWH63TAhu4jbTxllDwAJhkZqKKVMSAQaPIjkqaHYqHPdhCPegowXAuZdF2-d03jsLpjUjDsIvmfninvD7wEkVnf7YBDPFYi2vGZ3rC8A7AqHjv_1zLnlr2AkIqIramQ2xxSMybDv/s1600/repalm.JPG" height="400" width="287" /></a></div>
<br />
We offer a couple choices on palm material. Traditional Clarino palms with reinforcement go for $30 per glove. Clarino is the high end synthetic suede material that most gloves come with. If you're getting a year out of your original palms, you'll get about the same from this type of palm.<br />
<br />
We also offer digital leather palms. Digital leather is an engineered material which was designed in response to NATO and British Defense Ministry requirements. It is exceptionally comfortable and insanely durable. I had a pair of digital palms last two and a half years. In fact, both gloves fell apart and I still didn't have any holes in the palms. It's $36 per glove for re-palm with digital leather.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Try a Command Grip</span></b><br />
Tacki-Mac makes a product that most of you probably always thought was just for people too lazy or dumb to tape their own stick. What you didn't know is that it is made to offer excellent grip without destroying your glove palm. The Command grip wears out over a several months without putting holes in your palms. It's pretty easy to install and replace as well. They come in a vast array of colors and cost $5.99 (much cheaper than a new palm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjldxi7JpXdoO3l6UVwS9e-WEsXCTIprVsXPev_aO2Ixm2cjkdMEAZ9G7sOOrQV8XoxFktwzRVRnDwJFOLLk6Tdf_mhBqNAIiBIlxnz09-3Gxi2o3uo9i1DyFJXgaDZZ21rRsEOsbfwYE/s1600/tacki-mac.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjldxi7JpXdoO3l6UVwS9e-WEsXCTIprVsXPev_aO2Ixm2cjkdMEAZ9G7sOOrQV8XoxFktwzRVRnDwJFOLLk6Tdf_mhBqNAIiBIlxnz09-3Gxi2o3uo9i1DyFJXgaDZZ21rRsEOsbfwYE/s1600/tacki-mac.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Change your tape</span></b><br />
There are a couple options for taping the top of your stick which are much better than traditional hockey tape. Powerflex has been an option for a long time. However, the issue with Powerflex is that it gets squished in your bag and lumped into one big mess with no end to start peeling from. This makes me sad.<br />
<br />
We've started carrying cohesive gauze tape. Cohesive tape only sticks to itself and miraculously does this without adhesive. This makes it a a great choice to keep your gloves from wearing out. I'm not convinced that it works as well as the Tack-Mac grip, but it does also come in a vast array of colors and is installed with a technique which hockey players should be well accustomed to using.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtQhCnwT_JgkCelKfSKQX2tHRCdQoXgR11j50tgRWPuDEEC8Y74CybtmX3s9YTHMpZrYD4WHLUbT02o1eH2DTtqbx9xdfnGveHdAn9P-BA3EToOXfmaBW6-rsMoaSczY344YCvjNIiqRD/s1600/powerflex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtQhCnwT_JgkCelKfSKQX2tHRCdQoXgR11j50tgRWPuDEEC8Y74CybtmX3s9YTHMpZrYD4WHLUbT02o1eH2DTtqbx9xdfnGveHdAn9P-BA3EToOXfmaBW6-rsMoaSczY344YCvjNIiqRD/s1600/powerflex.jpg" height="254" width="320" /></a></div>
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So there you go. We can fix your old pair and you can save your new pair from an untimely death. There is one more possibility which came to mind . . . you could retire from hockey when your gloves wear out, but we'd all think less of you for it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay in the loop with other cool people who know what's happening by liking us on facebook -</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/rocketskate" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">www.facebook.com/rocketskate</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdBbA-PHK2UgwixTPiHUBJarpKQLOljwMZdgqyTLRJ4IO37UMBZ0WgTdcnLLTKP5edHym3mxF92p3BijUBgKb52tLNRYX7QHMPT6AnAUMy5cluBLm2FYKuIA90CVCFguuTPUbdXAVkX15/s1600/Round+logo+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdBbA-PHK2UgwixTPiHUBJarpKQLOljwMZdgqyTLRJ4IO37UMBZ0WgTdcnLLTKP5edHym3mxF92p3BijUBgKb52tLNRYX7QHMPT6AnAUMy5cluBLm2FYKuIA90CVCFguuTPUbdXAVkX15/s1600/Round+logo+small.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find us on the web at</span> <a href="http://www.rocketskate.net/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">www.rocketskate.net</a><br />
<div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2014 Scott Noble. </span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-88830233152428371652014-08-04T15:35:00.001-07:002014-08-04T15:35:51.006-07:00Change seems difficult. . . but is it really?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-5MaYOmNFqpuZmEw_D2eBmhm71PCzmg9Yrpd-Ngf8RgJ5N2vpAEEbUu7KLeuf_L6oAMhZ8yjhWLMfWZzrx74oPSRzRXl5_qm6xJ5cYsdsqzUxdfhgfxZaC4Hw461s8Na4E0T3WIhP_7r/s1600/Cooper_Helmet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-5MaYOmNFqpuZmEw_D2eBmhm71PCzmg9Yrpd-Ngf8RgJ5N2vpAEEbUu7KLeuf_L6oAMhZ8yjhWLMfWZzrx74oPSRzRXl5_qm6xJ5cYsdsqzUxdfhgfxZaC4Hw461s8Na4E0T3WIhP_7r/s1600/Cooper_Helmet.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, most of them aren't this bad . . . some are close though</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Being old school</span></b> carries its own brand of cool. There's a certain respect reserved for a guy who shows up with a Cooper helmet, Daoust Skates and a pair of all-leather Flak gloves that ride halfway to his armpits. When he falls on his head and ends his adult hockey career with a concussion abetted by his twenty-five-year-old helmet, that respect quickly turns to pity. We don't have to like it, but sometimes we have to suck it up and make a change.<br />
<br />
I'm dealing some change at Rocket Skate right now. I've had two employees who have been with me for three years each. Sophie is a recent college grad who took her first career job in Georgia (a tad too far for a commute to Lafayette, Colorado). Ally is beginning her college career majoring in music and playing women's hockey (which doesn't leave much time for work). I'm proud of both of them as they move forward in life and embrace change themselves. On the other hand, it's difficult for me to replace their six years of experience. They're also like family after three years which is even harder. So yeah, I'm feeling a bit resistant to change right now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7a0oJy96x9SsavmpVtE6ZmBFyNzclB5nxKa_4Dkb3T92D39gNcCdJxz5CApPYCwKbH8Vrl5ILCXsVoHPSTDAh98h3nUwG2vJre3BBoURZP1rjbf5Ic6XL8EelFvVWcti4sd_O-NDxWt80/s1600/Vic+gloves.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7a0oJy96x9SsavmpVtE6ZmBFyNzclB5nxKa_4Dkb3T92D39gNcCdJxz5CApPYCwKbH8Vrl5ILCXsVoHPSTDAh98h3nUwG2vJre3BBoURZP1rjbf5Ic6XL8EelFvVWcti4sd_O-NDxWt80/s1600/Vic+gloves.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If the protection in your gloves is bamboo things have changed</td></tr>
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Of course that's not the kind of change that I mean to discuss here. More relevantly, new elbow pads have been on a lot of minds lately. I've had a number of adults and kids in the last few weeks who looked at elbow pads and simply couldn't make a decision--to the point that it's even amusing. With most of them trying on half a dozen models before becoming frustrated since nothing felt like their old pair, it seems like they just might be Primadonnas, right?<br />
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Actually I can totally sympathize. We get really attached to our old gear. It's familiar, it's comfortable and, in general, humans dislike change. I myself clung to my first pair of elbow pads longer than any other piece of my worn out gear. Unlike current models, they had no bicep protection. They were literally half of what elbow pads are now. When I finally bought a newer models I quickly developed an irrational fear of this newfangled addition. They were as uncomfortable as a that pea I once endured under 15 mattresses. Thus they hung in the garage for many weeks, unused.<br />
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Eventually, I was run down by a rather large player twice in a row. On the first bump he managed to re-position my elbow pad. In an act of impressive dexterity he managed to crush me a second time as I was still readjusting that elbow pad. The second collision sent me down and knocked me on my still un-padded elbow in the process. A big fan of not having broken elbows, I wore the new pair the next time I played. I was fearful I would be a drooling pool of insanity before the game was over. I forgot that I had new gear on by the second shift.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">So what's the big deal? </span></b>Why are we so opposed to change? I have guys who refuse to try a composite stick even though some of them in the shop are as cheap as a wood stick. Do they realize they're using hundred year old technology?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHVajPanQn8E2DMur7v6Qem7LycCiUX6pRaAToSmYfXRngtzswPbUph0Nt07Ry69_F57NXkpzcvbp7KlAMiZuL8Ea9W4vdPdzzyz4J4AbSQ-KTA1rQPy6UaW5BBGF3qDqcP0s6LdugEDm/s1600/Daoust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHVajPanQn8E2DMur7v6Qem7LycCiUX6pRaAToSmYfXRngtzswPbUph0Nt07Ry69_F57NXkpzcvbp7KlAMiZuL8Ea9W4vdPdzzyz4J4AbSQ-KTA1rQPy6UaW5BBGF3qDqcP0s6LdugEDm/s1600/Daoust.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a>There are other guys clinging to the shreds of what were a nice pair of skates twenty-five years ago. I'm sure they're comfortable. So are a pair of slippers, but you cannot skate in slippers. You can barely skate in a pair of skates that are so old they offer all the support of a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor high tops.<br />
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I constantly see helmets from brands that haven't existed for ten or twenty years, shin guards that adults first used in junior high and gloves that look like they should be autographed by Rocket Richard or Gordie Howe.<br />
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The craziest part of it is many of these guys are perfectly willing to shell out $5000 for a new mountain bike. I might be old school when it comes to bikes. My thought is for that amount it should have a gas tank with the word Honda or Yamaha on it. The closest thing to a pedal you should find on a bike that expensive should be a kick starter.<br />
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We all know hockey isn't cheap. But that's just part of the problem. Fear is often the biggest factor--specifically fear of change.<br />
"But I wore that helmet in my high school championship!"<br />"Great! By all means put it in a polycarbonate box on the shelf in the den, but don't keep using it to protect your <i>brain!</i>"<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">New gear feels different</span></b> It's true. But it also has a lot of advantages over your old stuff. Here's a few things to thing about:<br />
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<ol>
<li><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Helmets have about a five year lifespan</span></b> For years they've had a sticker with an expiration date. If your old bucket doesn't have this sticker, your helmet's protective capability is significantly below par. Use your brain on this one while you're still able to decide how much your cranium is worth. If it's worth nothing, keep using an antique.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Wood sticks are actually more expensive</span></b> The last time I played with them, they lasted me three to five weeks before the blades were reduced to wood chips (it's illegal to play with a chipped blade;the ref will kick you out eventually). A middle of the road composite stick costing $99 will last me about six months--almost five times as many games as the $35 wood stick. Composite feels better and works better too.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">New protective gear is better</span></b> It's lighter, more protective, more comfortable and smells much nicer than what you're using now. It's going to take you two or three shifts to realize this, then you will wonder why you suffered through the old gear for so long.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Skates have come a long way</span></b> Even in the last last few years there have been significant advances. The softer your skates, the more of your energy is wasted. You're sacrificing mobility, agility and even stamina playing in a worn out skate. Many older skates are so worn it's impossible to turn tightly. You might not be a good skater, but you can be a better skater if your skates aren't holding you back. We even sell some phenomenal skates featuring perfect fit with <b>ZERO </b>break in time.</li>
</ol>
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Interestingly as I was driving to work on the day of Sophie's last shift, a snow white dove flew across the street right in front of my car. I've been around for a while and I've never seen a white dove in the wild (let alone in suburbia). Even if you aren't a spiritual person, you likely know that the dove is a symbol of peace. While this one didn't have an olive branch in its beak (as far as I could see), it did feel like a little reminder from the Almighty that everything was going to be alright. I've found myself reinvigorated and excited about the challenges of training and developing my new employees, who I fully believe are going to be awesome at their job.<br />
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So here's the bottom line. <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Stop being afraid!</span></b> For the sake of all that's good, you're a hockey player! Why are you afraid to try something new? I'm gonna make it easier for you too. Just mention this article during August 2014 and I'm gonna give you 10% off one piece of new gear just for acting like a hockey player by being brave. I'm pretty sure you're <i>not </i>going to regret it. Much the opposite, it might reinvigorate your tired hockey game. Personally, I seem to go on a scoring tear every time <i>I</i> get a new piece of gear.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay in the loop with other cool people who know what's happening by liking us on facebook -</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/rocketskate" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">www.facebook.com/rocketskate</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdBbA-PHK2UgwixTPiHUBJarpKQLOljwMZdgqyTLRJ4IO37UMBZ0WgTdcnLLTKP5edHym3mxF92p3BijUBgKb52tLNRYX7QHMPT6AnAUMy5cluBLm2FYKuIA90CVCFguuTPUbdXAVkX15/s1600/Round+logo+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdBbA-PHK2UgwixTPiHUBJarpKQLOljwMZdgqyTLRJ4IO37UMBZ0WgTdcnLLTKP5edHym3mxF92p3BijUBgKb52tLNRYX7QHMPT6AnAUMy5cluBLm2FYKuIA90CVCFguuTPUbdXAVkX15/s1600/Round+logo+small.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find us on the web at</span> <a href="http://www.rocketskate.net/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">www.rocketskate.net</a><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2014 Scott Noble. </span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
<br />Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-62296732428926714252014-01-27T19:03:00.001-08:002014-01-29T10:04:42.513-08:00VH Footwear: The last skates you’ll ever need to buy?Rocket Skate recently became one of the first dealers for VH Footwear’s hockey skates.<br />
I know what you’re thinking--what the heck is VH Footwear? It wasn’t long ago that I wasn’t sure either. I did some research and ordered a pair of the skates for myself. While the VH brand isn’t well known in hockey, carrying them was a no brainer decision once I spent about 5 minutes on the skates. There’s nothing on the market at any price that even comes close to these skates.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">VH What?</span></b><br />
VH Footwear founder Scott Van Horne has his master’s degree in biomechanics. His thesis was, “The Biomechanics of Skating.” He probably knows more about how your feet and legs work when skating than you might ever want to know. In case you don’t care about his education, he’s also got a great chunk of experience to go with it. VH is fairly well known for high end cycling shoes. More importantly they are the top brand for speed skate boots. In fact, more than half of current speed skating world records were attained in a pair of VH speed skate boots. That makes him a skate guru as far as I’m concerned.<br />
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You might be thinking speed skates aren’t hockey skates. You’re correct and I applaud your skills of deduction. However, in 2009 Scott Van Horne was the skate designer on the MLX project formed by David Cruikshank. As a skating coach for NHL players, Cruikshank was appalled at poor fit of even high end hockey skates which kept his NHLers from achieving their full potential. Thus MLX was created to improve the fit and performance of hockey skates. By 2010, MLX with Mario Lemieux as their spokesperson had a dozen NHLers the Van Horne designed MLX skates. By 2011 the MLX brand was purchased by Easton. After a significant decaffeination of the product’s finer points, what little was left of the MLX became their flagship Skate selling at $800.<br />
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After the MLX experiment, Van Horne launched his own hockey boot in 2013. Even introducing his skates late in a shortened the season, several NHLers were skating in them before the playoffs ended. The current 2013/14 season has at least half a dozen NHL goalies in VH skates and two or three times as many skaters.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">What’s so special about ‘em?</span></b><br />
There are a number of features VH skates boast that no other skate can match. They are the lightest boots on the market today. They are the only one-piece carbon fiber boot on the market. While other composite boots are not moldable, the VH boots are the most moldable boots ever made (and the best fitting as the result). VH features the industry’s best warranty and is the only brand offering post warranty manufacturer repairs. No other brand offers the level of customization or quick turnaround on custom boots available to the general public that VH does.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Weight</b></span><br />
With weight being championed by every brand, VH’s hockey boots are the undisputed king. They aren’t just light; they are staggeringly light. I weighed my pair of size 9 VH skates at 726 grams in a size 9 with 10% taller than standard Step Steel. Compare this to Bauer’s second place APX2 skates at 766 grams with Fusion runners to put into perspective just how amazingly light these boots are. The VH boot, one size larger that the APX2 with the same lightweight Fusion runners would be a whopping 90 grams lighter than Bauer’s best effort! If that doesn’t astound you, let me put it this way. Some entry level composite hockey sticks approach the weight of a VH skate with the Fusion runners installed.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Fit</span></b><br />
While weight is what everyone talks about in skates these days, the single most important factor in any skate is fit. If someone made a pair of skates that weighed 50 grams but fell feel tight as a vise or loose as sandals, weight is irrelevant. Nothing on the market can even come close to the fit of VH’s boots at the moment. While competitor’s composite boots fit a limited number of foot shapes, the VH skates are simply the most moldable skates ever. When heated up, they become so soft, the shape can be easily manipulated with bare hands. In fact the heat molding process is different than with any other skate. Once warmed up, the skates are laced loosely and wrapped in an ace bandage. The pressure from the ace bandage is enough to pull the entire boot into the shape the player’s feet including arch support.<br />
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After molding the skates fit perfectly. Zero break in time is great, but these go beyond that. The best description of how they fit is a sock. There is a comfortable pressure all over the foot. There are no hot spots or gaps in the fit. I bought a pair of VH goalie skates, played in them twice before getting back to my broken in, good as new Graf G35 player skates. The Grafs, which I previous thought were a nice pair of skates, suddenly felt like a pair of shoe boxes taped to my feet. They simply couldn’t compare to the fit of the VH skates. That’s why I now own two pair of VH skates (and no Grafs).<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Durablity</span></b><br />
It wasn’t easy for me to decide to buy a second pair of VH skates. I’m to the point with the rigors of age and bad knees where I don’t know if my hockey career will last another few years or another few months. While the fit sold me on the fact that I needed a new pair, the promise of durability sealed the decision. VH Footwear’s 6 month warranty is double that of all the major skate makers. The big boys tend to beg off many issues by covering only materials and workmanship; VH’s warranty is “will fix with the damage without question.” If that isn’t enough, once the warranty has expired, if anything fails, you can send a picture to the company for a repair quote.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Customization</span></b><br />
While VH doesn’t recommend custom skates for anyone without serious issues, they do make a full custom boot. The heat-molding is so good that it will perfectly encompass feet from the widest to narrowest, allow for most bunions, spurs and other freakish deformities you may have. One of the best things about the skates is the ability to heat fit them more than once. If you do have a deformity the size of a doorknob, we can always warm up a pair and let you try them on with no obligation.<br />
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In the event that they don’t fit, VH can make you a special pair to accommodate that hideous growth. Custom skates start at $899. As long as you’re at it, you can have the skates made in any color when you do customs. You know you always wanted a pair of red and yellow hockey skates, right? Turn around time is as little as two weeks on customer orders. The only other brand that offers custom orders takes two months if you’re really lucky and up to six months if you fall more in the normal range.<br />
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Another nice feature is that you can have any holder you’d like installed on the skates. Whether you’ve always been on Bauer, Graf, or CCM, your skates can be ordered with any brand of holder and runner that you’re used to skating on (even Easton). This makes the transition a little easier from your old skates to the new ones.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The Bottom Line</span></b><br />
VH is simply producing the finest hockey skate ever made. Comparing them to the next best skate on the market is like comparing a Bugatti Veyron to a 1963 Corvette. One is the most technologically advanced ever made; the other is pretty but inferior and out of date. With other brands pushing their top of the line skate prices up between $750 and $899, VH Footwear is an amazing bargain with a starting cost of $799.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay in the loop with other cool people who know what's happening by liking us on facebook -</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/rocketskate" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">www.facebook.com/rocketskate</a><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2014 Scott Noble. </span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-31486646504543294142013-07-15T16:34:00.000-07:002013-07-15T16:34:16.867-07:00Six Pieces of Hockey Gear You Didn't Know Could be RepairedGear breaks. That's just part of hockey. There's good news though. Not everything which breaks needs to be replaced. Hockey is expensive enough without having to buy new skates every time a rivet pops loose. Here's a look at some things that you might not have realized Rocket Skate can repaired. One of the best things about getting your gear fixed in our shop is our quick turn around time. Many repairs are same day, most are done in two days maximum. We're also happy to give you honest advice on whether it's better to retire Great Grandpa's hand-me-downs than to repair them.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">Busted Stuff on your skates</span></b><br />
Unfortunately there are a lot of things that break on skates. We all know it isn't fun spending a lot of money on a new pair or breaking them in. Fortunately there are a number of things on your skates that <i>can</i> be repaired. Most people do know that eyelets and rivets can be replaced, but did you know that you should fix both of these as soon as you notice a problem? The longer you wait on these two issues, the worse and more expensive the repair becomes. Here are a few items on your skates that you might <i>not </i>realize can be fixed.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">1. Tendon Guards</span><br />
The tendon guard is a pretty important part on your skates. It's that funny piece sticking up in the back which keeps people from cutting your Achilles tendon (hopefully). While I definitely don't recommend playing with broken tendon guards, I personally go a step further and wear the excellent, Swiftwick hockey socks which feature cut-resistant protection. However, we can fix broken tendon guards as well. We've got a new process that works great and is very affordable at only $29 a skate. These require sewing your lining back in place, so the turn around time on this is typically 24 to 48 hours.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M6NzeTOeDQFVpXIhZEkk3mYxxHA8YanumL6cXw16-wVNZXaI-98ZmlRv5wBWvg02138lyf1PGIr8OM0ONL1e_M6po1da6RylCvWDmB7vu56AtgU1xQDf7q8f3awA7SuHGi8QoowH0Ywj/s1600/crap+repair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M6NzeTOeDQFVpXIhZEkk3mYxxHA8YanumL6cXw16-wVNZXaI-98ZmlRv5wBWvg02138lyf1PGIr8OM0ONL1e_M6po1da6RylCvWDmB7vu56AtgU1xQDf7q8f3awA7SuHGi8QoowH0Ywj/s400/crap+repair.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is how NOT to fix your tendon guard. Our process <i>won't </i>have people wondering if pirates fixed your skates.<br />
In fact, my bet is that no one will even know they were repaired when we do them.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">2. Broken Holders/Runners</span><br />
I've heard of people replacing their skates because of a broken runner or blade holder. If you spent $50 on low end skates, this might be the logical way to go, it's never the only choice. Replacing runners is the most common repair we do here. Sometimes we're swapping out one that broke from a shot. Sometimes they old blades have just been sharpened so many times that there isn't enough steel for them to perform properly any more.<br />
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Once in a while we get a pair of skates with blades so worn down that they won't fit on the sharpening equipment anymore. Honestly, if you've gone that far, you've been skating rather poorly for a while. There comes a point where the blades are so short that it's impossible to take a sharp turn without that boot thingy they're attached to hitting the ice. When a skate boot hit the ice, it is generally quickly followed by a skater hitting the ice.<br />
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The good news is that most skates over $200 have holders which will take new runners. If you see one or two screws securing the blade in the holder, the blades are replaceable. But don't panic if you don't see them; it doesn't absolutely mean they aren't. Some Bauer holders use hidden screws which go through the sole of the boot rather than the sides of the holder to secure the blade.<br />
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If you have a broken holder, typical replacement cost is approximately $35 including installation. Holders are a pretty quick replacement. We try to have these done in a hour (as long as we don't have a bunch of other repairs on our plate). Most Bauer, CCM and Reebok sizes are in stock. We can even retrofit holders if you have an older skate with a discontinued holder or an off brand skate.<br />
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Runners are only sold by the pair. We stock all popular brands of runners. Standard stainless runners cost from $54 to $69 (depending on model). Our prices include installation and sharpening. There are a number of special order upgrades possible on runners, including lightweight Titanium runners, Black Carbon coated steel for reduced friction and Polished Stainless for a mirrored appearance. These vary in price. Runners can generally be installed while you wait as this is a pretty quick process.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">3. Skate Tongues</span><br />
A bad tongue on a new skate or a worn out one on an older one can make you crazy. There's probably nothing worse that your skate can do to you than give you lace bite. If you've ever had it, you know. If you haven't, imagine the top of your foot turning red, puffy and so tender that you don't even want socks touching it.<br />
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Replacing tongues is a relatively simple process. We remove the old ones and hand sew in a new pair of high-quality, aftermarket tongues with 48 ounce felt (that's nice and thick). If you bring us a pair of tongues, it's $29 labor. If we supply the tongues you're looking at $79 total. Turn around time is typically a couple hours on these.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">Protective Gear</span></b><br />
Protective gear is prone to breakage as well. Fortunately, we can repair most of what goes wrong with it as well.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">4. Gloves (Goalie Gloves too!)</span><br />
We also offer glove repalming and repair at Rocket Skate. Glove repairs are generally completed in 24 to 48 hours. We'll let you know when you call or drop them off how long it will be, then toil furiously to make sure we make that deadline . . . OK, we'll only toil furiously if that's what we need to do to make the deadline.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Player glove repalming</b></span><br />
Most people have heard of glove repalming, but few really seem to know how well this works. Repalming a glove entails the removal and replacement of the entire palm of a glove, as shown below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aYdBRWEMpVKHXm9FCZha6fgVl2sIqU7Gv6H8tVV5zVtHfeOVLPHZk012pABKwBld9ic7D1qjQxXeowWALIlxV2z0mCrVCpDKAIolLVfJ1Ook0gDqQz6xvpcVjWKlccKayaXBhlxHBpFf/s1600/repalm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aYdBRWEMpVKHXm9FCZha6fgVl2sIqU7Gv6H8tVV5zVtHfeOVLPHZk012pABKwBld9ic7D1qjQxXeowWALIlxV2z0mCrVCpDKAIolLVfJ1Ook0gDqQz6xvpcVjWKlccKayaXBhlxHBpFf/s640/repalm.JPG" width="459" /></a></div>
While gloves can be patched if you have small holes, a true repalm will replace entire fingers, palm, and thumb portion where the stick comes in contact with the stick. For most players, only the top hand needs to be repalmed. If the rest of the glove is in decent shape, a $29.99 re-palm will generally double the life of it.<br />
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We use reinforced, clarino palms at Rocket Skate. These are a spun polyester material with the feel of thin, glove-suede leather but a significantly greater durability than natural leathers can achieve. So repalmed gloves feel like new too (on the palm side anyway). We do include minor gusset and padding repair on gloves while repalming them as well. And of course we will let you know if they will require any additional charges before we start the work.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Goalie blockers</b></span><br />
Blockers come out great when they get repalmed. Repalming isn't even really the most accurate word for a goalie blocker. Goalies get an entire new glove attached to their blocker. Like the player palms, we use clarino goalie gloves which have an awesome combination of durability and feel. Traditional blockers cost $44.99 to repalm. TPS style blockers with padded fingers (similar to those on a player glove) are $64.99.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Goalie Catch gloves</b></span><br />
Fixing a catch glove isn't quite as straight forward as other gloves. Frankly, no two seem to break the same way. We do offer re-lacing, reinforcement and all other repairs. Most repairs on trappers will be done in a couple days. However, we might have to order materials in the proper colors for major repairs, so it's best to swing in for a quote and turn around time.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">5. Pants</span><br />
Pants wear out. It might be because you sit on them. Hopefully it's because you're playing hockey in them through. Here are some of the common ailments we can cure in hockey pants.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Suspender buttons</b></span><br />
Buttons are a pretty easy repair. We can do these while you wait. They only cost a few bucks a pop. ($4 if you want to get specific). Of course having your pants fall down in the middle of a game would be priceless.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Belts</b></span><br />
Belts are another pretty quick repair most of the time. The main thing to remember is that you shouldn't take your old belt out if you have an internal belt system like most new pants use. As long as you leave the old belt in place, this is another on the spot repair most of the time. Some pants do have sewn in belts which will require an overnight visit to the sewing machine.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Sewing</span></b><br />
We can also fix ripped seams in your pants as well as patching of worn out areas. We do stock 420 denier nylon and pant crotch material in black so most pant repairs can be completed in 24 to 48 hours.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf75Y3jo1JjC6_MH77DJUOMWsU1awm9fs493DjuOXn0RSxIBBAgaDz4V_b0tkel1mzblyUA5lTOioQaaXjhlyT-qfXUvIGGd6vBudptkRguBncdyRbBWx0M70P9MCa2rx4c6ZyWby_m4wR/s1600/singer+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf75Y3jo1JjC6_MH77DJUOMWsU1awm9fs493DjuOXn0RSxIBBAgaDz4V_b0tkel1mzblyUA5lTOioQaaXjhlyT-qfXUvIGGd6vBudptkRguBncdyRbBWx0M70P9MCa2rx4c6ZyWby_m4wR/s200/singer+29.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">6. Straps</span><br />
Gear straps are a pretty common repair as well. Velcro and elastic wears out. It's just something that Velcro and elastic does in general. Typical strap repairs run $5 to $10 a strap. Your new straps will be custom fabricated to fit your gear. Whether it's elbow pads, shoulder pads or shin guards we can keep them alive a little longer with a new set of straps. This repair will take 24 to 48 hours normally.<br />
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We also repair and replace goalie leg straps. We stock several types of leather leg straps in the shop. Most leg straps are not sewn in and can be changed in a few minutes. This style of strap runs $10 including installation. Sewn in straps are generally repaired by hand in the store. These take thirty minutes or so and cost $15 to replace.<br />
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<b style="color: #6fa8dc;">Conclusion</b><br />
If you've got broken gear, the odds are good we can fix it for you. I've listed some of the common items we fix here, but we've fixed everything from horse blankets to putting new knee cups on shin guards and augmenting shoulder pads. We love a good challenge once in a while. Feel free to swing by and try to stump us.<br />
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The prices in this article are effective as of July 2013 and may change slightly as material prices increase.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay in the loop with other cool people who know what's happening by liking us on facebook -</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/rocketskate" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">www.facebook.com/rocketskate</a><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2013 Scott Noble. </span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-86216086482375094162013-05-17T14:51:00.001-07:002013-06-14T09:44:11.889-07:00Understanding Sticks, the categories<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prepare yourself!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Years ago I wrote an eight or ten page dissertation on picking out a hockey stick. It was generally well received with only a couple people calling me names in their comments while dozens of others sent me chocolates. So you might be asking two things at this point: First--did people <i>actually </i>send me chocolates for my review? Second--why am I writing a new article on picking out a stick if the last one was so good?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In answer to the first question, nope, no one sent me chocolates, nor did they call me names. However, over 180,000 people did read it and it remains to this day, the second most popular article in sporting goods ever published on epinions.com. For those of you who are scoffing at my mere second place ranking or wondering what amazing bit of writing was more popular than my stick buying guide, well . . . it was the skate buying guide which I also wrote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the second and even more intelligent question, the answer is pretty simple. First off, I wanted to write a paragraph that displayed both how amazing and how arrogant I am (nailed it!). Second, and more importantly, a lot of things have changed about sticks since I wrote that article nine years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But if I can be serious here for a moment (I'm not asking permission, I'm apologizing for my normal lack of ability to do) I've also had an epiphany about how to make picking out your next stick a lot easier. This epiphany is pretty much what I'm going to cover in this article.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the previous article I discussed three types of sticks: wood, two-piece and one-piece. I'm not even going to spend time on wood sticks or two-piece sticks. The wood stick is practically extinct with only two major brands still manufacturing them. The two-piece is definitely in serious decline as well. However, I still think there are three stick categories, all within in the composite stick market. That will be the focus of this article. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd like to say that my epiphany came to me in a dream, or on the thundering voice of God, but for some reason, it came to me in the shower. Oddly, I wasn't even thinking about sticks or hockey. I was still actually half asleep and wondering if I'd already put shampoo in my hair or not. Suddenly, it dawned on me that there are three categories of composite sticks: economy, durability and performance.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Economy Sticks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first category of one piece sticks is what I call the economy stick. These are your sticks which range in price from approximately $40 to $80. Almost every stick in this price range has the same ingredients of 10% carbon fiber and 90% fiberglass. By comparison to the more expensive sticks they are heavy and not as well balanced. They are however, still much better than the antique wood stick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When composite sticks first hit the market, you needed to drop at least $150 bucks to get one. If you were using a good ol' piece of lumber made from Aspen and hickory, the prevailing thought was along the lines of, "I could get five or six sticks for that price!" It made sense that wood sticks were still hot selling items with that sort of price differential. However, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've got entry level one-piece sticks on closeout in my shop for $34 right now. Prices just keep falling on the lower end composite sticks. Suddenly a $29 wood stick doesn't make sense.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the worst composite stick is likely to outlast the best wood sticks on the market. If you're still pining for lumber you should consider making the switch </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(feel free to bean me in the head with a puck for that pun, I deserve it)</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sticks in this category are going to be the heaviest of the composite sticks. However they will typically be lighter than wood sticks. Some models might lack feel on the puck. However, they should all shoot a little better than their wood counterparts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the best choice for new players as well as old players who are transitioning from a wood stick. New players shouldn't spend a lot on their sticks until they figure out what curve works best for them. Old curmudgeons who still want wood will have less to gripe about when their newfangled contraption cost about the same as the old one.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Durability Sticks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of my epiphany came with the destruction of the most expensive stick I'd ever owned. As a defensive player with a mediocre shot ( and yes, I might be giving myself a lot of credit calling it mediocre), I still enjoyed the feel of my $175 stick. I did <i>not </i>like how it split in two when I blocked a hard slapshot with it. I realized that while the durability category didn't feel as nice or perform as well as the really high end sticks, they had a nice blend of performance and longevity . . . perfect for a player who likes to block shots as much as taking them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sticks in this category typically run from about $90 to $140. There is a pretty wide variety of construction options here. More importantly, this is where the manufacturers start keeping the composition of their twigs to themselves. Sticks in this price range are going to feature top secret combinations of carbon fiber, graphite and aramid as their main ingredients. Some might have a bit of fiberglass, but you're going to find significantly better materials in this class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a rule the weight of these sticks will be significantly lower than in the Economy selections. Some brands are offering true-one piece sticks in this category (as opposed to the norm of a bonded one-piece which is actually built like a two-piece but permanently assembled). Most sticks will have a middle of the road 3k construction blade, but some will feature a 12k or even pro quality woven construction, which makes the blade significantly more durable.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hwJCMl0agXyP_5uiheDsX_9PCsFrfxEXJm9u9rDw0Gn7tC236wp14SWgIBaaxnk0e73LTMLlsrqsPoJhOxa2PnHx01vmlavL3gO5oFx0nIabLrnyk5SSUdy17fwF_7IqXoTHKMjMEo1_/s1600/carbonfiber.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hwJCMl0agXyP_5uiheDsX_9PCsFrfxEXJm9u9rDw0Gn7tC236wp14SWgIBaaxnk0e73LTMLlsrqsPoJhOxa2PnHx01vmlavL3gO5oFx0nIabLrnyk5SSUdy17fwF_7IqXoTHKMjMEo1_/s400/carbonfiber.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These sticks are going to perform better than economy sticks and last longer than performance sticks. For my personal style of play which features the, "I can block that shot and I don't care if it hurts," method, these are the only best choice. They also go well with the, "I don't shoot well enough to justify a $200 stick" part of my game. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Performance Sticks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a price point that is constantly trending upward, the performance stick should have GPS with advanced goalie avoidance software built in. It doesn't. Sticks in this category, ranging from $150 to $250, probably won't make you a better player. However, when you pick one up for the first time, it's hard not to emit some sort of sound expressing your surprise at just how good it feels. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With impeccable balance and exceptionally light weight, these twigs can make people wonder someone filled their current stick with lead or concrete as a prank. The blend of lightness and balance makes for quick puck handling and effortless poke checks. If you're vain, it also has the possibility of making your teammates jealous of your super expensive stick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The performance category often features new technology, such as extra long tapers for better pop on quick shots, holes to make them more aerodynamic (yeah right) or shafts designed by golf club makers. Blades are going to typically be woven for maximum durability and stiffness. Multiple densities of foam in the blade will allow for great puck feel without loss of shot power.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you can afford a performance stick and have a high level shooting ability, owning one isn't going to hurt your sniper skills. The downside of these is they simply don't seem to hold up quite as well as the mid-level sticks. So unfortunately the price you pay is higher and the quantity will be higher in the long run as well. Still for elite level snipers with quick hands, these are a great choice.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Winding down</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first part of making your decision comes down to determining your needs as a player. It's a lot easier to figure out your price range when you know what you're looking for a stick to do. Certainly there is a bit of overlap sometimes. Often you can find an older model stick priced down a full category. It's not always the case, but it might mean that if your needs don't fit your budget, you aren't going to always have to settle. There is even some blending of categories with brands that are offering higher features at more reasonable prices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your helpful hockey shop employees can certainly help you narrow down your search further, but hopefully this article has pointed you in the right direction to start your search.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4nx6WvZgjJYYrCbS5_f1yH-ELZNYkZxuXbUT1IggMOzMpvXRHscVltd7QfzjHYRNKnbyNXUXfRHYU-eTl9qLop2NWzXkFlKUGo5spbgYshHFfRS30JAk0VEMqPB9tG_6DghQSTZ1W3S9/s1600/FB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay in the loop with other cool people who know what's happening by liking us on facebook -</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/rocketskate" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">www.facebook.com/rocketskate</a><br />
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<br />Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-51530777087852115782013-02-25T18:35:00.000-08:002019-08-07T16:27:32.116-07:00Why new skates almost always feel weird<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Just what is muscle memory?</b></span><br />
I spent a fair amount of time talking to a customer today about muscle memory. It was clear when I was done that that they didn't get it. Hopefully I'm a better writer than orator, because I'm going to try to make sense of it here.<br />
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While in skating we tend to call the adaptation to new skates or adjustments to old skates <i>muscle memory</i>, the more clinical term would be <i>gross motor skill</i>. Essentially we have two sets of motor skills which we use to complete physical tasks: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Let's quickly talk about what fine motor skills are and be done with that. Tasks such as writing, feeding ourselves and getting dressed involve the use of small muscle groups and hand eye coordination. These are fine motor skills. Another term for this is manual dexterity.<br />
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Gross motor skills, on the other hand are things that we do with minimal thought. These are actions such as standing, walking, even jumping and kicking. While fine motor skills require a conscious thought and planning, gross motor skills happen pretty much automatically. These are almost as automatic as breathing and blinking the normal person.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>How does it factor into skating?</b></span><br />
Unless you were that rare mutant individual born with metal blades protruding from your feet, skating wasn't exactly natural when you first started, remember? But now that you've been doing it for a while it's developed to something that's pretty much as simple as walking. Don't get me wrong, it will always take a lot of thought for a figure skater to launch and land a triple axel or a hockey player to carry the puck through the defense with a spin move. But just going out and taking a few laps around the rink doesn't require watching your feet I hope.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUKjdZ9_cgeicgKlrYV_DmvQu2dP47p3PT8Uyk9fCupgHqzgBed_ylZpTWjkmfe7xCiM5Pl170ADEK3rAv1NY51oW8rxyEImmQiQRnBH17jSLaFZq2gHachevSRDswCU058SqL0rCM-2c/s1600/falling+kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUKjdZ9_cgeicgKlrYV_DmvQu2dP47p3PT8Uyk9fCupgHqzgBed_ylZpTWjkmfe7xCiM5Pl170ADEK3rAv1NY51oW8rxyEImmQiQRnBH17jSLaFZq2gHachevSRDswCU058SqL0rCM-2c/s320/falling+kid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is here just in case you didn't believe that kids can<br />
be uncoordinated at times. See, I told you!</td></tr>
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So let's back up a second and talk about how gross motor skills and how they change. We've all seen growing kids go through crazy awkward states where they are so uncoordinated their limbs seem like their mortal enemies at times. And yes, even though<i> </i>I remember my young self as the acme of athletic grace, apparently we were<i> all </i>that kid at one point. So just what is the issue with the poor kids in this state? Simple they are growing so fast they they have to readjust their gross motor skills to adapt to bigger feet, and longer legs, arms, torsos and heavier heads (It's possible that I made up that last one).<br />
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If your skates fit properly, they are an extension of your body. This means that when you get a new pair of skates, you're essentially going to go through that brief awkward growth spurt where you need to readjust your gross motor skills. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail on what might be different from one skate to the next as I did that in two previous blog entries here. But I will point you in that direction in case you missed them. Check out - <a class="GDACNK3CPB" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6100577407037477377#editor/target=post;postID=8152739991793964580;onPublishedMenu=overview;onClosedMenu=overview;postNum=7;src=postname" style="border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Decaffeinating the Horror of New Figure Skates</a> and/or <a class="GDACNK3CPB" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6100577407037477377#editor/target=post;postID=1526151791716819376;onPublishedMenu=overview;onClosedMenu=overview;postNum=7;src=postname" style="border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">New Hockey Skates, tougher than your feet?</a> if you want more info on what changes from one skate to the next.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>So what should I expect?</b></span><br />
One of the amazing things is that even putting on the same exact model and size of skate is going to often require adjustments to your gross motor skills. Skates are still primarily made by hand. As a result, no two skate boots are exactly the same. The blades, also installed by hand on every pair of skates, aren't always in the same place. This means, that while the adjustments are going to be smaller when staying in the same model and size, there will still be some.<br />
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Perhaps a better way to explain this for an adult would be to compare it to an injury. Let's say you've broken your foot. In fact let's say you've done such a number on it that the only way they can set the bones results in your foot being turned outward, off by 90 degrees from where it should point. Yes, once you've gone through rehab and learned to walk again, you look like half a Charlie Chaplin impersonator. Then after a many years go by and you're tired of people pointing their finger at you and laughing, you find someone with an actual medical degree who can fix your foot so it points the proper way. The adjustment to walking on your foot which now points in the proper direction might take less time than it did after the first injury, but there will still be an adjustment. Your gross motor skills would take weeks, or even months to re-map your newly aligned foot and walk naturally.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4s3NzNZTXIlB0Hn9K0-wIrrBtLehsf2G_WOuXPgKNG6EXdQYcZ_enWgXMfi4XzjgmXKk8bBtX0resaIDTq5uVjwJHTKFqzkl7pfss2r2s43P0CWfVEWAHFDsWth5fCVMz0Lx8D9A-EqW/s1600/falling+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4s3NzNZTXIlB0Hn9K0-wIrrBtLehsf2G_WOuXPgKNG6EXdQYcZ_enWgXMfi4XzjgmXKk8bBtX0resaIDTq5uVjwJHTKFqzkl7pfss2r2s43P0CWfVEWAHFDsWth5fCVMz0Lx8D9A-EqW/s320/falling+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While it looks painful, this is actually a new exercise class<br />
combining yoga and pairs skating.</td></tr>
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On skates we balance on a blade which is a mere eighth inch wide for hockey or three sixteenths inch wide for figure skating. The tipping point between your foot being neutral and off balance can be as little as half the width of that blade. Think about that. If your blade is off by a mere sixteenth of an inch it could mess up your skating. Further, the older we get, the less adaptable we become to these changes. I'm chalking it up to the fact that we haven't had a growth spurt for a long time, but I'm guessing there are other factors involved.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>The Verdict</b></span><br />
Don't get frustrated if your new skates don't feel perfect right away. Anyone who has bought a few pair knows this is the case. Just like you'd have to adjust if I replaced your feet with a different pair (not that I'm qualified or interested in doing that) you won't entirely have to re-learn how to skate. Sometimes the gross motor skill adjustments will be slight and this is typically how it should be. However, even slight adjustments can take weeks to make. It took six weeks before my last pair felt natural on my feet, but I did switch skate brands.<br />
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If the adjustments are serious you're probably going to need some help from your friendly pro shop staff. Blade alignments can help both figure skaters and hockey players. Sometimes it's just a matter of shifting the blade. Of course if you bought your skates from us, we're going to take care of getting that fixed for you. If you bought them elsewhere, we can help with that too, it just isn't included in the price.<br />
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-61158356303684285632013-02-08T09:26:00.001-08:002013-06-14T09:44:53.169-07:00Ten mistakes you didn't know you were making by buying your skates online<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b>Buying Skates on the internet is a great idea right?</b></span><br />
Recently, a customer showed up in my shop with a pair of skates he had purchased online. I try not to take it personally when people do this and it's usually easy enough. I don't mind losing a sale to price once in a while. The economy is crap, we all do what we have to do to get by. However, In this case, I was appalled. He attempted to save $26 by buying online. But what he really did was purchased a much lower level skate ($100 cheaper retail price) with none of the services I include for free on new skates and saved exactly TWO dollars.<br />
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The simple fact is, unless your nearest hockey shop is in another state, there's only one reason to buy skates online--price. I'll be honest with you, sometimes that's enough of a reason in itself. But that's the exception rather than the rule. If you're trying to save twenty or thirty or even fifty bucks, you're at risk for shooting yourself in the foot. If you found a pair that's on closeout at a hundred bucks or more off retail, it might be a good deal.<br />
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The following is a list of ten things that just may go very badly for online skate purchasers<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>1 - Those aren't the skates you tried on (assuming you tried some on)</b></span><br />
The single most important factor in purchasing a pair of skates is fit. It's a simple premise, if the skates don't fit right, they aren't comfortable, they don't work properly, skating is a miserable experience. While most skates in the same model and size are going to offer a very similar fit, no two skates are exactly the same. The problem here is that much of the skate assembly process is still done by hand.<br />
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I had a customer years ago who came in, tried on a pair of skates and decided that he wanted to mull it over before making the purchase. He came back the next day and I grabbed a pair in the model and size he'd tried on the previous day. Once they were on his feet he told me, "There's no way this is the right pair, the top of the toecap feels like it's cutting into my foot." In fact he tried on the second of the three pair and had the same sensation. When we got to the last pair in his size he said they felt great and bought them.<br />
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Figure skaters have known for years that you cannot order skates online. While they are all similar, no two pair fit exactly the same.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">2 - Those aren't <i>really </i>on clearance, they are defective</span></b><br />
We've all heard the saying, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." While most brands of skates are on a redevelopment cycle, not all of the skates on sale are there because they were last year's model. One of the problems with the hockey industry is that they are notoriously cheap when it comes to R&D of new products. The end result of this means that the majority of product testing falls in the lap of unwary consumers. It also means that skate brands typically have leaders and losers.<br />
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A common deal a few years back was a free high end stick with a pair of skates (which were heavily discounted). Here's how that deal translated:<br />
<ul>
<li>People bought the skates and weren't happy with them. </li>
<li>People bought the stick and weren't happy with it. </li>
<li>Major retailers realizing they were carrying a bunch of inventory that people hated asked the manufacturer to help them out with the garbage they produced. </li>
<li>Manufacturer, pressured by their biggest dealers made them a nice offer to keep them happy.</li>
<li>Retailer bundled two horrible products into "the deal of the century"</li>
<li>Unwary consumer got stuck with two products they were unhappy with for a low price</li>
</ul>
The only way to make sure you know exactly what you're getting is to buy it in person.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>3 - Sneaky Skates</b></span><br />
The big online retailers have enough buying clout to order SMU (Special Make Up) and Limited Edition skates. These essentially are skates that are produced in such limited runs that only the biggest two or three online retailers sell them. The problem with these skates is that the online retailers control all the information and pricing on many of them. While most of the Limited Edition skates are in the brand catalogs, the SMUs are always going to be a skate that you cannot see in person.<br />
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Often these skates cut corners and lack features that you would expect to see in the price point they are being sold in. There's no way to know until you get them. While the price might seem good, be prepared for disappointment.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>4 - You don't understand the real price</b></span><br />
The individual I mentioned at the start of the article had been looking at a pair of closeout skates in my shop that were marked down to $85 below retail cost. We spent a fair amount of time talking about skates, fitting him the proper size and discussing the bonuses he'd get by buying them from me. A week later he showed up with a pair of skates that were $26 cheaper online.<br />
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Somehow, he forgot that every skate we sell include the first three sharpenings which come to a $24 value. So, in reality he saved only $2 on the purchase price. We also throw in the heat fitting with skates we sell which is normally $19. The most important detail he failed to understand is that we stand behind what we sell with lifetime boot punching, free blade alignments if required and free labor on customization such as heel lifts. The online retailer was done helping him with his skates the moment they put the shipping label on the box. Even worse, he was duped into buying a model with a $100 lower retail price, so rather than saving $2, he bought an entry level skate for the same price he would have had an elite level skate.<br />
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So remember you get $43 worth of free services right up front when you buy skates at Rocket Skate. Down the road, you're going to get our support to make sure that your skates fit and work properly for as long as possible.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">5 - Murphy's Law</span></b><br />
Sometimes skates just aren't put together right. The case of another customer who bought a pair of high end skates online comes to mind. When he came to me looking for them, he asked if I could match the price. On the particular skates he was interested in, I couldn't even come close to the online closeout deal he found of about $100 below wholesale. I told him he should take that deal online.<br />
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When his skates arrived he struggled skating in them for weeks. Eventually he brought them in to me concerned that the blade had been installed incorrectly. In fact, the entire skate had a significant manufacturing flaw; the outsole had been installed about a half of an inch off center. This put the blade impossibly out of alignment to the point where they couldn't be corrected without a serious amount of work.<br />
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He contacted the manufacturer, who told him the online retailer would have to determine if it was a defect. After sending it back to them at his cost, they shipped the skates back to him (again at his cost) claiming there was nothing wrong with them. He was left with a pair of skates that needed a repair costing more than the skates were worth as well as some headaches he shouldn't have had.<br />
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I've also had customers break a skate under warranty that I was able to repair on the spot. Sometimes the manufacturer warranties the repair sometimes they don't. But if you bought them online, you'd have to ship your skates to the retailer and wait for them to fix them and ship them back. That generally takes longer than a few hours.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>6 - The two size down rule is a lie</b></span><br />
If there's one piece of gear that has to fit you properly it's your skates. Online retailers give you a rule of thumb telling you to calculate your skate size by deducting anywhere from 1 to 2 sizes from your shoe size. Even if I hadn't been fitting skates since 2001 I could tell you there's a flaw in their guidelines--they cannot agree on a number. Aside from that consider the obvious, do you buy shoes without trying them on? Do you always wear the exact same size shoe? I don't. Further, width, instep height, arch height and foot shape are all important factors in determining which skate will fit you best.<br />
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I've fit thousands of people for skates and the only rule I can tell you is that the measuring stick is just a starting point. I've had people that had perfect fits four and a half sizes smaller than their shoe size, and people who had a perfect fit a half size smaller. The only way to know for sure is to have a professional fit you. But, don't be the guy who wastes their time getting fit so you can buy online. If you don't value the service they offer enough to at least consider buying skates from them, don't take advantage of it. Best Buy is about to close almost a quarter of their stores claiming internet show rooming as the issue; think how much harder it must be on the small business you rely on to sharpen your skates.<br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>7 - Blade alignments</b></span><br />
Even when a pair of skates is put together right for the average person, it doesn't mean that they are going to work for every person. I've seen enough feet in my lifetime to tell you there aren't two the same (even on the same person). Thus, a pair of perfectly set up skates might not be perfectly set up for the individual using them.<br />
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What does that mean? It means you might not have to pronate (that's the horrible feeling that your ankles are too weak to keep your skates from tipping in). For most people pronating is the result of either wearing skates that are too big or lacing them too loosely. However for about 10% of hockey skaters, it's because their skates aren't set up properly for their feet.<br />
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We can fix that and if you bought skates from us, we'll do it for free. If you didn't, it's $50.<br />
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></b>
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">8 - Customer support</span></b><br />
If you were considering two electronic products at pretty much the same price, customer support might be the major determining factor in the decision. I just picked up a new cell phone at Best Buy even though it was a few bucks cheaper on Amazon. Why? It was worth it to have them migrate all the data and apps from the old phone.<br />
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Skates can be as big a nightmare as electronics if you're on your own breaking them in. The difference is that electronics give you mental distress when they don't work while skates give you physical pain AND mental distress when they don't work. Most people need a little more help than they get from just a heat fit. Skate buyers average 2 to 4 punches on new boots (punching is an isolated boot stretching technique which customizes the fit of the boots).<br />
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Four boot punches is going to set you back $20 to $40 for skates purchased elsewhere. Of course there is no guarantee that four punches is going to do it. I had a young skater who came in so frequently that she would have spent over $200 in boot fitting services had she <i>not </i>bought the skates from me. <br />
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I've also helped people by adjusting the pitch of their skates on new boots. Pitch is the angle of the skate boot relative to the ice and it's one of the most difficult things to adjust to when switching skate brands. It's pretty easy to correct, but if you didn't buy the skates from me, it's going to set you back $26 instead of $10.<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>9 - The same price isn't as good as our price</b></span><br />
Rocket Skate can special order most skates priced over $450 and match the prices on the internet. We can fit you for the skate you're interested in and have them here in less than a week. Add in our $42 worth of free services, professional fitting, the assurance that your skates will be comfortable and our support for the life of the skates and tell me who has the better deal now, us or them?<br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>10 - Because it feels good</b></span><br />
So let me see, we have better value, better service, you know what you're actually getting, we're going to take care of fitting and warranty issues and we actually care if your skates work for you <i>after </i>you've paid for them. If for some reason that isn't enough, maybe you should just buy them at a small local retailer because it's just feels better to do. The odds are pretty good that your friendly hockey shop owner isn't in the business for the money. If he is, I feel sad for him. Personally I do this because I love what I do. If I was in it for the money, I would have boarded up the shop a long time ago. Don't get me wrong, it's hardly lucrative but I don't love it enough to move into a cardboard box when things go bad.<br />
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If you feel good supporting a faceless out of state corporation that actually does make a lot of money selling hockey gear, by all means, do spend your money there. Personally I feel much better spending my money a small businesses who provides local jobs and outstanding service to their customers. I like keeping my cash in the local economy when I can. I don't mind that my sales tax supports local programs either.<br />
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Here's another bonus for you. Did you know that the first 10% of all Rocket Skate profit goes to charities that feed the hungry, help people afford housing and take care of orphans? Probably not, since we don't talk about it much. We don't do it so we can brag about it, we do it because it's the right thing to do. I'm talking about it now because you help us to continue doing it with your patronage and feel good about that too.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">So what's a skater to do?</span></b><br />
You'll have to figure that one out. You can gamble on the possibility of a better deal on the net or you can have a conversation with your local small business owner. To me it comes down to who you want to trust. I'd personally pick the guy who is going to see you regularly and sharpen your skates. I'd pick the guy who you've known for years over the voice on the telephone.<br />
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The bottom line is that no one is going to work harder than Rocket Skate to make sure that you have the best experience in your new skates that you possibly can. If you do the math, our prices are almost always better than the online shops. Bring in your best deal and if it's really that good, we'll let you know that you should take it. But at least do yourself the favor of checking first.<br />
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If I can leave you with some math, here is the deal the guy from the first story ended up with by trying to save $26:<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Rocket Skate Deal - Total price $275 +tax</b></span><br />
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<ol>
<li>Elite level skates ($359 retail value) - $275</li>
<li>New Skate Sharpening - Free</li>
<li>Two sharpenings for later - Free</li>
<li>Heat fitting - Free</li>
<li>Boot punching - Free for the life of the skates</li>
<li>Peace of mind - Free</li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Deal he took - Total price - $307 +shipping</b></span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Recreational level skates ($249 retail value) - $249</li>
<li>New Skate Sharpening - $12</li>
<li>Two Sharpenings later - $12</li>
<li>Heat fitting - $19</li>
<li>Boot Punching - $15/average</li>
<li>Peace of mind - unavailable</li>
</ol>
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© 2013 Scott Noble</div>
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All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-52983892818626692692012-10-12T14:06:00.000-07:002013-06-14T09:45:10.329-07:00Never Buy Used Hockey Skates (but if you do, read this first)<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Never say Never</span></h3>
Generally, it’s tough to find a good pair of used skates. Kids skates tend to go both directions. While they can sometimes find a pair that hasn’t been beaten to within a hair of their life, many used skates have been handed down so many times they should have hit the scrap heap 10 years ago. For adults it’s pretty rare to find a decent pair. While it makes slightly more sense for kids than adults, I don’t generally recommend buying a pair of used skates for anyone. The problem is that someone else’s feet have been in there. Used footwear is one of the reasons that I gave up bowling for hockey (that and apparently body checking opponents while bowling isn't acceptable).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9dKdPyV2j2tT5udvcxrUVLcE-Xbz55suTKqR_ePz6yurj0Y1ScojO-1fivZFR0Zm9rt4UPCW3WtPnG_TZ1sqh5nhWt4R-9hwEC2Vn6V048F8s-lX9GB7HRcp3rlDrWPplWzpX-zYnx76/s1600/ruskie+skates2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9dKdPyV2j2tT5udvcxrUVLcE-Xbz55suTKqR_ePz6yurj0Y1ScojO-1fivZFR0Zm9rt4UPCW3WtPnG_TZ1sqh5nhWt4R-9hwEC2Vn6V048F8s-lX9GB7HRcp3rlDrWPplWzpX-zYnx76/s320/ruskie+skates2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avoid skates made in the Soviet Union. </td></tr>
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But even if you don’t care what sort of foot fungus or flesh eating toe jam the previous user of a pair of skates might have left in your newly acquired used skates, there is the problem that a pair of used skate often doesn’t fit properly. You see skates form to a player’s feet over time. Once broken in, they aren’t going to fit a second pair of feet as well. This is one of the reasons that rental skates are one of the most evil instruments of torture the world has ever devised. The aforementioned toe jam and foot fungus would be another.<br />
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Now that I’ve mentioned a couple of the bad things that about used skates, I will say that once in a while there actually is a killer deal available. A guy recently offered to sell me a pair of skates he'd owned a week. I almost bought them because they were the model I wanted at less than wholesale price and he hadn't broken them in. You might find a pair that someone use two or three times before realizing that all their athletic ability resided in their imagination. You could find a pair that was incorrectly sized and returned. You might find the pair that belonged to the guy who was horribly injured from running into the guy who imagined he had athletic ability. The goal of this article is to help you determine what is important in a pair of used skates and how to judge their condition.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Fit </span></h3>
Anytime that you look at skates, new or used, fit is the single most important factor to consider. Different brands and models of skates have unique boots that will fit certain foot shapes best. This is even more important in a pair of used skates. You don’t want to end up in a pair that was broken in for someone who has vastly different feet than your own. I’m not going into the details here of how to fit your skates as that’s an article’s worth in itself (one that I already wrote). Please read my previous blog entry Hockey Skates Demystified if you haven’t already.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Judging the Condition </span></h2>
Sometimes it’s pretty easy to tell that a pair of skates has done a few laps around the rink. Other times, it can be difficult. The bulk of the remainder of this article will focus on how to judge the condition of a pair of skates. I’m going to break the skates down, part by part and tell you things you should look for.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcW44Skjt1XnoV6bEAhyphenhyphenIcMG6xeXnyuhdNduPUZpDYpl19PG0-wJWR_Uncy3Cg32VMPp5lqzv7P_jOJzJIVApezVwNJy9-hz1EA6LSL1qxb550vQZ5lwdq_cPisQjpw1vaXfHJQIR5H6-/s1600/KNight's+skates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcW44Skjt1XnoV6bEAhyphenhyphenIcMG6xeXnyuhdNduPUZpDYpl19PG0-wJWR_Uncy3Cg32VMPp5lqzv7P_jOJzJIVApezVwNJy9-hz1EA6LSL1qxb550vQZ5lwdq_cPisQjpw1vaXfHJQIR5H6-/s320/KNight's+skates.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Something like this might be worth a lot of money, but likely won't skate very well (even if you do need extra ankle support)</td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Runners </span></h3>
Replacement runners cost about $25 each for hockey skates. So not judging the condition of the runners properly on a pair of used skates could drive the price up quite a bit. Another thing to consider is the type of runners as they are normally an indication of the original quality and price of the skates.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Runner Type </span></b><br />
There are two basic types of steel used in hockey skate runners. These are carbon steel and stainless steel. Stainless is harder and generally found on the more expensive skates. I wouldn’t bother with a pair of used skates that have carbon steel runners as they were likely under $100 anyway. If you can buy a new pair for $50 or $75, why bother with used? Or maybe that’s just me. Another factor is that most carbon steel runners are not replaceable. Once they are worn out, it’s time for a new pair of skates.<br />
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Telling which type of steel is on a pair of skates can be a little tricky sometimes. Many brands stamp “stainless” right on the runner. While this is a pretty good indication, the lack of the obvious doesn’t really mean they aren’t stainless. Often with sharpening and use, the logos and text on the side of the steel runner wear off. The more telling sign is that carbon steel blades have a chrome finish on them. Sometimes the chrome is even flaking off around the bottom of the blade which makes them very easy to identify. Sometimes the chrome has a brushed appearance to it. Once you compare a few pair you shouldn’t have too much trouble identifying what type of steel is on a pair of skates.<br />
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If you do have issues identifying the steel, you can probably hire a welder to come along with you. They’d be able to tell you which is stainless and carbon steel. Of course at the cost of $100 an hour or so, you might not do as well on the used skate price as you hope. Maybe you have a friend who works in a steel mill, that might help too.<br />
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Alternatively, you can look for screws that attach the runner to the plastic blade holder. CCM, Reebok and Easton all have two screws that are pretty obvious. Graf skates have a single screw in the heel of the holder. Bauer is the trickiest as they hide the screws. Bauer’s screws go through the sole of the boot. You can check these by looking under the insole for a small plastic access cap in the heel of the skate. In most cases stainless runners are attached with screws and carbon steel runners are permanently bonded to the holder.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Runner Condition </span></b><br />
Some factors are more obvious than others when looking at the condition of the steel. Obviously you don’t want any cracks or breaks in a pair of runners. Rust can be a problem as well. Even stainless runners can rust if they aren’t properly cared for as most skates do not feature marine grade stainless. Still, stainless won’t typically reach the cancerous levels of rust that might plague a pair of carbon steel runners.<br />
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A small amount of rust on a pair of stainless blades will normally come off once they are sharpened. However, pay attention to the sides of the runner. If there are small dark dots on the side and the bottom of a runner, it can be an indication that rust has penetrated the entire runner. While this isn’t the end of the world as far as runners go, it will slow you down slightly on the ice and could lead to premature breakage of the runner. More importantly it can be an indication of how the skates were cared for.<br />
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Perhaps the most important and tricky part of judging the runner quality is determining how much steel is left. Each time a pair of skates is sharpened some of the runner gets used up. There are two problems which eventually occur as the runners get shorter. First, on hard turns the boots will hit the ice. When boots hit the ice in a turn, the player wearing them falls down the players on the near bench tend to make some sort of wise remark, like, “Careful, there’s some ice there.” The second issue is that eventually the skates can no longer be sharpened. Of course if you wait until they can no longer physically be sharpened, you’ve been spending a lot of time falling down on the turns.<br />
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Another thing that you can tell by the runners is how much use the skates have seen. If the steel is down to about half of its original height, the skates are probably pretty well used. It is possible that they were just sharpened quite often, but generally players who sharpen their skates are doing it because they are using their skates.<br />
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The best way to tell how much steel is left is to compare the used skates to a new pair with the same type of runner. Most skates within the same brand use the same type of runners. If the difference is significant, you might consider a different pair of skates. Things start getting marginal somewhere around the point where 2/3 or less of the steel is remaining.<br />
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<h3>
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Holders </span></b></h3>
The holder is the plastic piece that attaches the boot to the blade. Holders sometimes break and, like runners typically cost about $25 to $35 each to replace. Look for any cracks along the holder and around all of the rivets. Check to make sure that the holder appears to be square to the bottom of the boot as sometimes the holders are improperly installed or replaced. If you can see that it isn’t square, it’s pretty bad.<br />
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It’s also a good idea to make sure that the blade isn’t loose in the holder. While having your runner fall out on the ice is always good for a laugh, it’s a laugh at your expense my friend. If a runner is loose, check to see if you can fix the problem by tightening the hardware. (You will need a special tool for some Bauer skates to do this). A little blade looseness will often occur over time and can cause issues with skating. However, both Bauer and Graf skate holders do sometimes have issues as the result of over-tightening which cannot be corrected without replacing parts.<br />
<br />
The overall condition of the holder can tell you something about how much use the skates have had as well. If it looks like a doggie chew toy that you’d find in your neighbor’s yard, the skates have probably been used pretty long and hard (or chewed on my a dog). A few scuffs and nicks are normal for even a short amount of use, but major deterioration, numerous gouges on the steel and chunks of missing plastic indicate a skate that has seen many, many hours on the ice.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Rivets </span></h3>
There are two types of rivets in most skates: steel and copper. Some skates only use steel rivets, but I don’t know of any that use only copper. Rivets are relatively inexpensive and quick to replace. They typically run about $1 each and can be done while you wait. However, most skates have 14 rivets each. So, if all of them are bad, it’s going to run around $28 a pair to fix them. Further the rivets can be another good indication of how well the previous own took care of their skates.<br />
<br />
Check the copper rivets on the bottom of the skate. Make sure that the washer (technically called the burr) is in place on each of them and isn’t loose. Sometimes you can see that some of the steel rivets are popping up. If a steel rivet isn’t flush, it is bad. The best way to tell the quality of the steel rivets is to look under the insole of the skate though. Once you pull out the insole, you can see the “flowers” of the steel rivets. A small amount of rust here is normal. But skates that have seen better days will often have a gob of rust where the flower used to be.<br />
<br />
Skates with more rust than metal indicate two issues to me. First, the insoles were likely never removed after use. Taking out the insoles is easy and the best way to take care of your skates. It allows things to dry out. Significant rust on rivets that will likely need to be replaced soon is just one of the issues it creates. The accelerated breakdown of the boot through trapped moisture is another.<br />
<br />
As long as you have those insoles out, take a look at what was under them. If the plastic footbed inside the skate is cracked, the odds are good that the skates are on their last legs. Once the plastic starts cracking, repairs are often difficult to impossible on everything below that portion of the skate. Also check the insoles themselves how are they? Is that something you want to have your feet on? I once had a customer drop off a pair of skates to have new holders and steel installed. When I took out the insole there were dozens of tiny centipede-like worms crawling around under it. I told him we couldn’t fix his skates. If you see centipedes, you might want to look for a different pair (or it’s possible that I’m just squeamish when it comes to sharing my footwear with dozens of bugs). Still, it it were me I might shop at another used skate store.<br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Outsoles</span></h3>
Many skates currently use composite outsoles. These tend to look like fiberglass (and often are). Some contain graphite, carbon fiber or some other top secret compounds. While these are lightweight and strong materials, they also tend to break without any sort of warning once in a while. However the main issue that you will find in composite outsoles is splintering edges. If the edges are pretty badly frayed, the skates might have serious mileage on them. Minor fraying can be checked with a small amount of clear silicon caulk. Serious fraying is going to be impossible to repair and will continue to deteriorate.<br />
<br />
Other issues to check are gaps between the outsole and the boot. Many models of skates tend to separate here when they get older. This can be a little tricky to determine since the skate blade holder and rivets often hold things in place. However, if there are major gaps at the toe or around the arch of the skate it is a potential problem. Large gaps might indicate that the outsole is ready to completely separate from the boot. Small gaps aren’t uncommon in new skates, so don’t worry if there are small gaps and everything seems tight. Again, I recommend a little bit of silicon caulk to keep moisture out and help keep things in check here.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Eyelets </span></h3>
The laces aren’t something that I’d worry too much as about $4 will get you a new pair. The only important thing with the laces is to make sure you know what size you need. If the pair in the skates are the proper size, measure them so you know what you need when you pick up a new pair. They come in 1 foot increments and the most common sizes are 120, 108, 96 and 84 inches.<br />
<br />
While laces are cheap, a lot of eyelets are not. You should check all the eyelets. Make sure to check both side of them as well. The back should have a flat washer. I’ve seen some skates where the inside of the eyelet had completely disintegrated on every single eyelet. Also make sure that there are no sharp edges as these will shred your laces (which is inconvenient and expenseive). New eyelets will run about three bucks each. Count how many you need and do the math. With 20 eyelets on most adult skates, you could spend more than the cost of a new pair of entry level skates on repairs.<br />
<br />
If eyelets are missing or torn out I’d probably skip the skates. While replacing a couple eyelets isn’t a big deal, if a skate has been used without the eyelet for a while, the hole is often stretched out and will no longer hold an eyelet. Eventually the hole will tear out without the reinforcement of an eyelet and the repair will cost anywhere from $20 to $50 to repair. Even if the hole isn’t stretched, it takes a lot of miles and moisture before eyelets pop on most skates. A missing eyelet is an indication that a pair of skates has seen either considerable use or was poorly treated.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lining</span></h3>
<br />
Check the lining of the skates carefully. Tears and holes in the liner are only going to get bigger. Any type of hole or tear has the potential to be a very annoying issue as well. These will repeatedly rub you and can cause blisters, bleeding and even profuse swearing.<br />
<br />
In one pair of skates that I owned, the lining tore because the plastic support inside the skate had poked through it. It literally stabbed me the last couple times I wore them and ended up bleeding both times. The scary thing is that at only three months old the skates looked (and were) almost new. With a $450 retail price tag on a new pair, a skate like this might make the market and sell for a pretty high price. It would be sad to not notice the tear only to have their new-used skates stab them repeatedly and painfully in the foot.<br />
<br />
If you end up with a pair of skates that needs to be re-lined, the cost is well over $100. I charge $160 to do this at my shop. Again, it doesn’t make much sense to do on a used pair of skates.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">General Breakdown</span></h3>
<br />
Look for any serious creases in the skates. These are most common in the ankle area. If there is a crease where someone might have wrapped the laces, it’s a good bet that most of the support in the skates is shot there. (By the way wrapping your laces is one of the worst things you can do to your skates). Creases anywhere in the skate indicate that the skate is going to bend there more easily then it should, essentially the boot is worn out if it has creases. Skip any skates that have any creases in them. The only way to repair these is a rebuild and re-stiffen which will cost over $120.<br />
<br />
Large bulges or indentations are signs that the skates have been heavily punched (fitted) for an odd shaped foot. These indications may or may not have a bearing on how well used the skates are. However, they do indicate that the skate might not fit you as well as it should. Certainly, there isn’t going to be much left to break-in to your feet if they’ve been punched to where you can see them. Break in makes your skates bigger in spots, nothing I know of can make them smaller.<br />
<br />
Check the tongues for creases as well. Many players fold their tongues down to fit shin guards under them. If the tongue creases, it can create a pressure point and lead to a painful skating condition called lace bite. It’s essentially where the tongue digs in to your foot and causes it to swell painfully. It isn’t something that normal people want or enjoy. You can replace tongues on skates, but again it isn’t cheap. A new pair of tongues is about $70, labor to install them another $20.<br />
<br />
Check the stitching all around the skates. The stitching around the top edges of the boot isn’t too hard to fix, but lower areas can range from difficult to impossible. The areas just behind the toecap on either side of the skate are problematic in some models of skates and nearly impossible to fix, so pay particular attention there.<br />
<br />
Tendon guards can be another major issue on skates. The stitching around tendon guards is an area to check carefully. Also check the bottom of the tendon guards for any tears. There are a lot of skates where this is a weak spot. The lining and the outside of the skate are prone to tearing at the tendon guard. Most importantly, check to make sure the tendon guard is still stiff. While a small amount of flexibility is inherent, the tendon guard shouldn’t be floppy by any stretch of the imagination. Most importantly make sure the edges of the tendon guards are not torn. Depending on the skate design and extent of damage, repairing a tendon guard will typically range from $20 to $50 a skate. If there is just a little stitching of the boot liner around the tendon guard, the repair might not be too bad. If the tendon guard is broken or there is tearing, it may be prohibitively expensive to fix.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Parting Thoughts </span></h3>
If you buy a decent used pair of skates there are a few things you should do to get them ready to go. First, spray them with copious amounts of disinfectant. You don’t know where those things were or who perspired in them and you’re going to put your feet in there.<br />
<br />
Next, have your skates sharpened before you use them. The odds are that used skates weren’t sharpened recently. Even if they were, who knows where they were last sharpened? Further, if there is any rust on them, a quick sharpen will take care of it. If you found a pair in good shape, I see many used skates that were never sharpened (I wonder why they gave up?)<br />
<br />
Take care of your skates by picking up a pair of terrycloth blade guards. When you’re done playing, wipe the snow off the runners and put the terrycloth guards on the skates. These will help to wick the moisture off the runners and keep them rust free. Rubber guards are for walking in, not storing skates in as they promote rust.<br />
<br />
Lastly, remember to take out the insoles when you’re done playing. This is the single best way to take care of your skates and to keep them free of centipedes.<br />
<br />
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-62811156700343269562012-09-15T10:29:00.000-07:002013-06-14T09:46:24.331-07:00Hockey Skates Demystified<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">A previously published version of this article has had over a quarter million page views, enjoy.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Arguably,
skates are the most important part of any hockey player’s gear.
They are also the most mystifying piece of equipment to buy. Skates
have to fit properly and be of the appropriate level or the
experience will simply be miserable.<br /><br /><b>In this article I
will review the following, </b></span></span></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">How to pick a skate that fits
properly </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Some things you should know about used
skates</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Modern techniques to make skates more
comfortable </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">What sort of feet different brands of skates
fit best </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">How to select the proper level of boot
stiffness </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">When and how to get skates
sharpened </span></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Selecting
Skates That Fit Properly</b></span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />One
of the hardest things to understand for players who are new to the
game of hockey is the way that their skates should fit. Unlike shoes,
skates should offer a snug fit, tight but not painfully so. The worst
thing that a skater can do is purchase skates that are too big. If
they are too big, they will only get worse as they stretch. Skates
that are a little small </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>can
be easily fixed.</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> Most
hockey shops employ a couple of fitting techniques to enlarge skates.
These include: punching – a quick process in which a small and very
specific portion of the boot is stretched out; and power-stretching –
an overnight process where the boots can be lengthened sometimes up
to a size or more and widened by at least a full width.<br /><br />Skates
that are too big are almost impossible to fix. Most people think a
second pair of socks will help here. Contrary to what our mothers
taught all of us, wearing an extra pair of socks is one of the worst
things you can do in a pair of skates. The more room you have for
your foot to move about, the more likely you are to develop blisters
and even painful, semi-permanent bone spurs on your feet. Serious
figure skaters never wear socks. Most wear thin tights no thicker
than heavy panty hose would be. Many hockey players and figure
skaters forego socks altogether in favor of bare feet. While this
ensures a better feel for the ice, it is very hard on your skates.
They will eventually smell like rotten, stinky feet and actually wear
out faster as they soak up all the perspiration from your feet. I
prefer a very thin pair of socks, think dress sock thin.<br /><br />So
the question is how do you determine proper skate size? The first and
most important rule in buying skates is to </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>never</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> buy
a pair that you cannot try on first. As internet shoppers this
probably isn’t what you hoped to hear. Nonetheless, it is possible
to buy skates online, but I’d never recommend doing so without
finding them in a shop to try them on first. That said, your
local shop should be willing to order a pair at no obligation to you
if they don’t have what you’re looking for in stock.<br /><br />Having
fitted hundreds of people for skates, I can tell you that it is
annoying to have people come in and take up a long period of your
time only to tell you they are going to buy the skates on the
internet. If you do try skates on at a local shop, you might ask what
services they include in the price. I still spend on average at least
half an hour with each skate customer. Rocket Skate offers the first
3 free sharpenings, a heat fit and lifetime comfort adjustments (free
boot punching). Even when our prices are slightly above the average
internet price on skates, by the time you do the math you’re
getting a much </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>better</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> at
Rocket Skate. We also guaranteed the fit of our skates. Most
importantly, if there are issues with your skates we will fix them
quickly rather than forcing you to send them back and wait several
weeks while it is sorted out.<br /><br />Often times when you
factor in free sharpenings and a heat mold of the boot, the price
with shipping on the internet isn’t very different. I charge $12 to
sharpen a brand new pair of skates and $15 for a heat fit in my shop,
but throw these in for free if you buy the skates for me. Try to
factor in the amount of time and service you’re getting before
saving a few dollars. If these benefits don’t appeal to you,
remember that your local retail shop is NOT a showroom for Hockey
Monkey or Hockey Giant. <br /><br />All of that said, there are
sometimes killer deals on the net, and not all players will benefit
from all of the services offered by local retail shops. Obviously if
you find a pair of $450 skates on clearance for $199, you will be
hard pressed to beat that deal anywhere. However, it never hurts to
ask your local shop if they can meet the price. If someone find a
deal that’s that good, I’m never opposed to them taking it. In
fact, if you find a deal that good, I’m going to tell you it’s a
good deal and you that you should take it.<br /><br />So back to trying
on skates, it isn’t like trying on shoes. If you put on a pair of
skates and they feel as comfortable as slippers, I can almost
guarantee that you will have serious issues skating in them. It is
important that you can feel the end of the skates with your toes. A
perfect fitting on a hockey skate is best described as this:<br /><br />When
sitting with the boots first on and not laced, they might feel
uncomfortably short. Don’t panic. First you should kick back into
the boot. Kick the heel of the skate on the floor a couple of times
to make sure your heel is settled back. Next lace the skates up and
make sure they are tight. The forefoot area should be snug, but not
crushing. As you get to where the eyelets start to turn towards the
vertical portion of the boot, tighten these up a little tighter. This
will pull your heel back into the proper position. When laced and
still sitting, you might still feel like the skates are too short.
Don’t make your judgment yet. With both skates on and laced tight,
stand up. You should notice a little less pressure on your toes at
this point. Pay close attention though as they should still touch the
end of the skate. Now the important part, bend your knees so they are
over your toes. You should feel your toes pull off the toecap or
still be just lightly brushing against them. This is the perfect
length of boot for you.<br /><br />Keep in mind two things if this
type of fit seems a little too short. First the heel pockets of the
boots will compress as they break in and actually give you a little
more room for length. Second, if by some chance the boots are
uncomfortably short after breaking them in, you can still have them
stretched for length. Had you erred on the side of buying a pair that
was too long, you would have to replace your skates.<br /><br />If
you are unsure of the length even after trying skates on, a good way
to double check is by simply taking out the insoles of the skate and
standing on them. An adult’s toes should come right to the end of
the insole. A child who needs room for growth should never have more
than about a finger’s width of toe space. This will get them
through about a year without having skates so loose that they cannot
skate without their ankles bent. I highly recommend this method of
sizing skates for younger children who often do not express how the
skates fit in any certain terms.<br /><br />Now the other factors
of width and foot shape are a little more abstract. If you have a
full service hockey shop, (by this I mean a place where they fit you
instead of handing you a box) competent sales people will be able to
recommend skates based on the width of your foot and height of your
instep.<br /><br />The skate fitter should know what questions to
ask you to determine the proper fit. If they don’t, this will be up
to you as the purchaser to determine this part of the fit. Again,
make sure that your skates are snug, but not uncomfortable. Pay
attention to the fit of your heel, does it move? Try on another pair.
Do the laces feel like they are digging in to the top of your feet?
Try another pair. Does the forefoot feel loose? Try another pair.
Eventually one will likely feel significantly better than the others
did.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Used
Skates</b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I
am generally not a fan of putting my feet into something that other
people have worn and sweated in profusely. No amount of Lysol can
make a pair of hockey skates seem clean enough for my comfort.
Nonetheless, there is a pretty large market for used skates. Even if
you aren’t worried about some exotic, new foot fungus that you
might develop, there are a lot of other reasons to buy a new pair of
skates rather than used. If you are thinking about buying used skates
there are some factors to consider. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The biggest reason
to buy a new pair of skates is simple. Unless a used pair has only
been used for a few hours, it is already broken into to someone
else’s feet. Everyone has different shaped feet. In fact, you might
be surprised how unique feet can be. The problem with a pair of
skates that someone else broke in is that they will never fit you as
well as they should. Think about rental skates, they never fit. The
simple fact is, dozens of different shaped feet have broken them
down. While a pair of used skates will not be quite as bad, they will
likely have a number of spots that fit loosely and shouldn’t. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The
steel is another factor. How many sharpenings will you get out of the
runners on a used pair of skates before you have to replace the
steel? On most brands, new steel will cost you in the ballpark of
$50. There are a number of skates out there where it will cost closer
to $100. Often times used skates are being sold </span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>because</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> they
need new steel.<br /><br />The boot might be broken down. Stiffness
is a major factor in hockey skates. Without the appropriate level of
stiffness, a boot cannot and will not perform properly. Many used
skates on the used market have outlived their usefulness and become
soft. If the support is gone, the boot is worthless.<br /><br />All
this said, I have seen some very good deals on used skates. Some
shops will exchange a boot that a skater wasn’t satisfied with and
then sell the slightly used skates at cost. If you can get a pair
that has only a couple of hours on it for half the price of new, it
is certainly a good deal. Used kids skates can also be worthwhile.
With growing feet, kids are less likely to be affected by the less
perfect fit of a broken in skate. Do pay close attention to the other
factors, such as the stiffness of the boot and the amount of steel
left on the blades though.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>How
Major Brands Fit</b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Bauer</b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">has
three lines:</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The
Supreme</span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
line skates fit average to slightly wide feet. They are wider in the
mid-foot than CCM, but similar in the forefoot. Instep height is low
to average. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The
Vapor</span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
line runs a little narrower, fitting narrow and average feet best.
Instep height on the Vapors is average.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The
Nexus (formerly Flexlite)</span> </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">i</span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">s
still the widest boot on the market. The Nexus will fit an average
instep height, but even in the D width has been a favorite for
skaters with Fred Flilntstone feet.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Graf</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">skates
come in a number of different styles which will accommodate numerous
foot shapes. The Graf number system designates the stiffness and
shape of the skate boot. The first digit on the skate is the boot
level. A G or 7 describe an elite level skate. A 6 would be advanced,
5 intermediate, etc. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The
second part of the model number designates the </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>last</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">,
or shape, of the foot the boot fits. The 3 is the narrowest skate
while the 5 is the same last but 2 millimeters wider. The 35 has the
wider forefoot of the 5 and the narrower heel of the 3. The 9 is a
high volume skate for players with thick, wide feet. Lastly, the 7 is
a special skate originally designed for players wearing an ankle
brace. The ankle and foot of the skate are almost independent
allowing for the highest level of forward and lateral flex on the
market today.<br /><br />Thus a Graf 709 is an elite level skate
for wide, thick feet. A 503 is an intermediate skate for people with
narrow to average width feet and a G35 is an elite skate for players
with a wide forefoot and narrow heel. Further setting Graf apart is
the fact that they are one of the only companies offering most of
their skates in 3 different widths, so if you find Bauer Vapors too
wide, Grafs in a narrow width might be the best bet.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">CCM's</span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> current U+ and CL line is something of an intermediate width skate which will cover a
fair range of foot shapes. It uses a similar last to the Vector line
but fits more narrowly than the discontinued Tacks line
did.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Easton</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">skates
are best for average width feet. The Easton models have a little bit
narrower toes than do some wide models of skates. Their skates aren’t
great for players with higher insteps. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Reebok</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">makes
some of their models in three widths becoming only the second major
skate maker (after Graf) to do so. Reebok skates fit more like the
traditional CCM line. (As confusing as this might seem as Reebok owns
CCM and seemed to claim the next generation of would-be -Tack as
their flagship skates when they bought the company). </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Modern
Skate Fitting</b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b> </b></span><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Up
until recently there was a common feeling that hockey skates simply
weren’t comfortable until you had quite a few hours of break-in
time on them. This was more or less the truth of it. However, in
recent years there have been a number of developments that have
decreased the break in time of skates. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Heat-fitting is a
process in which the skates are actually baked in a special oven
(don’t try to bake your skates at home, </span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>they
will melt</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">).
By heating approved skate models up to approximately 200 degrees,
then lacing them very tightly on the skater’s feet, it actually
helps to round out the stiff sides and upper of the boot. The boots
conform to the shape of the player’s feet. Heat-fitting shortens
the break-in period often times by about half. Heat-fitting
will </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>not</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">change
the size of a boot significantly. A heat fit will cost $20 - $30 and
takes about half an hour. Obviously the skater will need to be there
for the process.<br /><br />Punching is a term used to describe the
process for expanding a localized portion of the boot. This method
can help with the fit by eliminating hot spots in a boot. If you have
a bone spur or a toe that is a bit too tight, punching your boots can
eliminate these problems. Punching is done on a manually operated
machine. It basically entails a small ball or finger shaped piece
inserted into the boot with a cup on the outside of it. By pulling a
lever, the skate tech applies pressure and loosens up the localized
area. Due to the nature of the equipment used, not all areas of the
boot are addressable with punching. Most notably, areas that are
right on the edge of the boot (i.e. the eye stays and the cuff), and
the top and ends of the toecap are difficult or impossible to fix.
Also, the heel of the boot is a very critical part of the skate and
great care has to be taken to not over do punching in this area.
Punch jobs usually range from $5 to $10 a session and are done while
the player waits. It is very important for the player to be available
during punching sessions as they will have to try the skates on and
it might take several tries to get the punch just
right.<br /><br />Power-stretching entails heating up the boots as
for a heat-fit and putting them on a device similar to a professional
shoe stretcher. This process can deliver remarkable results, and is
often the best-case scenario for people with different sized feet.
Power-stretching can easily increase a quality boot by a full size in
length, sometimes more. While power-stretching of a boot can also add
a full width or more to a skate, it only adds width to the middle and
front portion of the boot. The nature of the equipment does not widen
the heel. This process usually cost $20 to $35 and takes about 12
hours.<br /><br />CCM’s FIT system is very similar to the
conventional heat-fit, but uses a somewhat odd-looking device to
apply pressure to the outside of the boot during the boot’s cooling
period. The player, with skates on, puts their feet into the top of
the FIT system (a large fiberglass box). When turned on the FIT
system inflates air bladders that press against the boots to help
shape them to the player’s feet.<br /><br />Custom insoles are
another option that help solve some problems. These can range from
$30 to $100 or more and come in a number of forms. The less expensive
option would be a heat-molded insole that some shops offer. The more
expensive would be the orthotic inserts that a podiatrist might
recommend. These work fairly well to put player’s feet in a proper
neutral position, lowering fatigue and actually increasing stride
length. Insoles will often help with players who have a hard time
keeping their skates perpendicular to the ice </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>if
their boots fit properly</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">.<br /><br />There
are several models of skates that offer a “soft boot” now. A soft
boot, contrary to the name, is a very hard outer boot shell with a
soft lining. The advantage to this type of skate is that break in is
very short. Rather than the player having to break down thick
leather, the softer lining molds to their feet. Nike was the first to
create this style of skate and still makes all their models soft
boots. CCM Vector and Externo skates have been very popular and are
also soft boots. Most recently, Easton introduced the SBX which is a
soft boot. All of these are quality skates that are comfortable right
out of the box.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Selecting
the Level of Boot Stiffness</b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">There
are two tendencies in buying skates that are simply incorrect. One is
that the more money spent, the better the skate. While this is true
in the purest sense, it might not be the best skate for a given
player. The other tendency is much the opposite, in thinking that all
skates are more or less the same, so the cheapest one is
best. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Skate price is generally proportionate to the
level of stiffness in the boot. Novice skates will generally cost in
the ballpark of $150 for a name brand senior size skate. Elite level
skates will run $500 or more. Most skate makers use a numbering
system to designate their skates by stiffness. The higher the number,
the stiffer the skate is. Note that CCM Powerline and Bauer Impact
skates are </span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>hockey
style</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> recreational
skates. These are more appropriate to learning to skate than actually
using to play hockey in.<br /><br />The three most important
factors in determining the proper level of boot to purchase are
player weight, ability level and average hours of weekly ice time. Of
these three, weight is probably the most important factor. A child
who wears size 6 (senior) skates but is just pushing 100 pounds would
never be able to flex a pair of top end skates no matter how often
they are using them or what ability level they play at. Conversely, a
275-pound man will destroy a pair of low-end skates in under a year
skating only once or twice a week.<br /><br />Buying too much skate
will result in a miserable experience in which the skate will take a
very long time to break in, or possibly never break in. A reasonable
break in time for skates is 2 to 5 hours of ice time. This can be cut
in half by heat-fitting and is highly recommended for top tier skates
such as Bauer 8090s and CCM Pro Tacks.<br /><br />Buying skates
that not stiff enough will cause premature breakdown. The boots will
actually flex in areas that they should not. In a matter of months or
even weeks a boot can degrade to the point where the skater is
getting little or no support. Explosive skating is all but impossible
in a boot that has broken down. Pinching and soreness sometimes
occurs as well.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Sharpening
of Skates</b></span></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Skates
are </span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>not</i></span><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> sharpened
by the manufacturer. This is one downside to internet skate sales. I
have literally seen dozens of skates a year that players used, but
never sharpened. How anyone even steps on the ice without realizing
this is hard for me to understand, yet I had one mother tell me her
son skated for several months on a pair that was never sharpened. She
came back a week later to tell me how much better he was with an
actual edge on his skates. Make sure to get your skates sharpened if
you buy them online!<br /><br />Sharpening is something of a
personal feel. While some grinds are more common, there are half a
dozen different hollows regularly used by various hockey players. The
most commonly requested grinds are 3/8” and 7/16”.<br /><br />The
way a skate is sharpened is a little bit confusing at first.
Essentially there are two edges on the steel (figure skaters will
claim there are four, but that would be like arguing there are two
edges on a knife, the right and left . . . semantics). The sharpener
actually hollows out the very center of the skate blade leaving high
spots on the two outside edges of the blade. The hollow is the size
diameter that the section removed from the blade would be if it were
a complete circle. Thus, the smaller this number is, the deeper the
hollow in the blade and the more pronounced the edges on the skate
are.<br /><br />Goalies are the most varied in sharpening of their
skates. A good starting spot for goalie skates is ¾”. However I
have sharpened goal skates from 1” all the way to 7/16”. (3/8”
is a practical impossibility on goal skates for technical reasons).
If ¾” grind doesn’t suit you after trying it I would make
adjustments, 1/8” at a time until you find one you like. (i.e. 5/8”
if you want more edge control, 7/8” if they feel too
sharp).<br /><br />Player skates are much more consistent with the
vast majority of players in my area using a 7/16” grind. Again this
is a good starting spot for a new player. It is very rare that new
skaters will have problems with this grind as their only point of
reference might be the very dull rental skates they used previously.
However, if it feels odd, I would suggest the same process as I did
for goalies, except in 1/16” increments. (3/8” if you want them
sharper, and ½” if you want a little less bite).<br /><br />Another
thing to consider is that a deeper hollow starts sharper, but it is
also the quickest to need re-sharpening. Since there is a thinner
piece of material remaining on either edge, deeper hollows are more
prone to burrs and wear. The deeper hollows also use more steel
during sharpening and will shorten blade life somewhat. If the shop
sharpening your skates uses the European method and cross-grinds
before sharpening, a 3/8” hollow will yield approximately 60 to 80
sharpenings before you need new steel. If they do not cross grind,
expect up to twice that amount.<br /><br />Sharpening frequency is
another personal preference. Much of how often you sharpen your
skates will be determined by such factors as things you might step
on, accidentally kicking the goal posts and even the quality of ice
you are skating on. As a general rule of thumb, you will want to
think about sharpening your skates after five hours on the ice.
Rarely will you go more than 10 hours before noticing that the edges
aren’t what they once were.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Summary</b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Hopefully,
this has been helpful in addressing some of the questions about
purchasing your next pair of skates. As a former manager for one of
the busiest hockey retailers in the United States and someone who
loves to play the sport, I want everyone who plays to have the best
experience that they possibly can. Skates that don’t work right are
probably the most frustrating thing that can happen. Don’t let the
wrong pair ruin your experience. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">If you have
personalized questions about skates, please drop me an email.
Questions in the comment section may not be answered for several
months as sometimes I don't get alerts when they are posted and
sometimes I do. </span><br /><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
© 2012 Scott Noble</div>
</div>
<span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
</div>
Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-77997111751568196812012-08-14T19:52:00.001-07:002013-06-14T09:46:49.946-07:00Ten things you didn't know you should have in your hockey bag<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before you head off to another state or even out of town for that big game or tournament, you probably do certain things. Making sure your skates are sharp, that you have at least one backup stick and double checking that you've packed all of your gear before hitting the road is obvious. But the odds are you're forgetting to pack a little insurance. There are ten things you might not have thought about. Having everything on this list won't assure a victory for your team, but it could eliminate a lot of frustration and disappointment for you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1. A spare set of skate blades</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one might be the least obvious and possibly the most important. There are a few reasons why sixty bucks to keep a spare set of runners in your bag is a great investment:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh7hlb4yZoxQYfbhu3hMYBwtE4PRQCuYTNOCp_CKqy5QgM8afnWXIcfStZN5NXQko98gfkp9G4izjK4FfBstuyHcpyrj7l2r2aIuWNqCoRNh1GCwHLvbdyuf4ygFygHJVDTHudVTt4UsO/s1600/runners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh7hlb4yZoxQYfbhu3hMYBwtE4PRQCuYTNOCp_CKqy5QgM8afnWXIcfStZN5NXQko98gfkp9G4izjK4FfBstuyHcpyrj7l2r2aIuWNqCoRNh1GCwHLvbdyuf4ygFygHJVDTHudVTt4UsO/s400/runners.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocket Skate stocks Step Steel, the #1 choice of NHL teams. We carry runners for Bauer, CCM and Graf. Titanium blades (pictured), goalie and Easton runners are also available by special order (approximately 5 day turn time).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, it's no fun to be on the road, amped up for a big tournament just to break a runner in the first period of the tourney. It's even less fun if the two shops within an hour of the rink don't have proper size in stock. Years ago, I was working at another rink side shop when a kid broke his runner on the first day of a weekend tourney. We didn't stock replacements for his brand of skates there. Having flown in from California to skate they weren't too happy about being forced to decide whether to miss his games or break in a new pair of skates during a four game weekend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Second</b></span>, when you step on something and lose your edge, you don't want to end up at the mercy of the fifteen-year-old who sharpens skates two days a month. Blown edges in hockey are pretty common, often as the result of bumping another player's skate blade on the ice. However, a bad sharpening can be worse than a blown edge and there's no guarantee you're getting a good sharpening at enemy ice. Buy an extra pair of runners, keep both pair sharpened up by someone you trust. You can change the blades on most skates in about 10 minutes and you're good to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Third</b></span>, Most skates outlast at least one set of blades. By having a spare, you can rotate between the two pair of blades. This way you don't have to worry about suddenly being taller on the ice when you do have to replace your blades. It's amazing how difficult adapting to 3/8-inch of height can be for many skaters.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2. Skate Hardware</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6FN2ymdzmPiLJgjWJTb8yaPznyObCTKAaw4ePjkQQOZbK89KAPBKQfRbQwxUVYeuKRkFYOTfZBc4M6zxmr4CvElkXprePdTW2LmQaPcbzdvX-GcJ4ToKiPCo_KIiZvWx1-dLUVY3GdEt/s1600/screw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6FN2ymdzmPiLJgjWJTb8yaPznyObCTKAaw4ePjkQQOZbK89KAPBKQfRbQwxUVYeuKRkFYOTfZBc4M6zxmr4CvElkXprePdTW2LmQaPcbzdvX-GcJ4ToKiPCo_KIiZvWx1-dLUVY3GdEt/s200/screw.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bauer, CCM and Graf Screws always in stock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>A broken runner</b></span> is a sad reason to miss a game. Something as small as a missing or broken screw is even sadder. Keeping a couple of the appropriate screws in a repair kit in your bag is an excellent idea. I'd recommend a little box with the tools you need to replace your runners as well as the hardware. At a few bucks, this investment is a no-brainer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">3. Helmet Repair Kit</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGRwzGjLjLJ1k4lJfiWVs34e_luPQ-yXeFXagpimlOIxwmgZTUcKX7JfaHkC6fmUAicWgfSLnKdvr1lydAdpS8xcVXC5C9KAwGvbvK6K2H14UJiWCYfwPhhunB2xC4DVQa8TCPDt2vwdi/s1600/helmet_repair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGRwzGjLjLJ1k4lJfiWVs34e_luPQ-yXeFXagpimlOIxwmgZTUcKX7JfaHkC6fmUAicWgfSLnKdvr1lydAdpS8xcVXC5C9KAwGvbvK6K2H14UJiWCYfwPhhunB2xC4DVQa8TCPDt2vwdi/s200/helmet_repair.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're fans of Sport Mate's<br />
Helmet repair kit - $9.99</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Loose screws</span></b> don't only affect your skates, there's also your helmet to consider. My first helmet was literally one screw from completely falling into two pieces by the time I realized that there was an issue with it. At Rocket Skate, replacing helmet screws is second only to skate sharpening in the services that I provide. It's just one of the facts of hockey--helmet screws fall out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some helmet repair kits are better than others, but they typically have one or two of each part and some tools. A repair kit is something that everyone should have in their bag.</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">4. A helmet with current HECC CSA Stickers</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>These Stickers </b></span>are imperative. If you're playing in Canada they won't let you on the ice unless your helmet has a current CSA sticker on it. Any USA Hockey sanctioned event will also require every player under the age of 21 to an HECC certification sticker. Many leagues outside of USA hockey also require one of these stickers for play in the US.The most important, and overlooked portion of this equation is that the stickers have dates on them. HECC stickers are most important for events played in the U.S. and have an expiration date on them. CSA stickers are most relevant for Canadian events and will have a date of manufacture on them.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-UtOpECq6ka9QrvikSEeN3gNokQWrV6zrRNFOCskrT_WpdQayVQh7Ymxqs-EgSa_cbvDtXJWcq8PlVRVIW-upi7nG6clEfbLwRU6dYjKyw2kjSQpqUGNTZEbi-A5ej4VPcWeZhE-M61X/s1600/stickers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-UtOpECq6ka9QrvikSEeN3gNokQWrV6zrRNFOCskrT_WpdQayVQh7Ymxqs-EgSa_cbvDtXJWcq8PlVRVIW-upi7nG6clEfbLwRU6dYjKyw2kjSQpqUGNTZEbi-A5ej4VPcWeZhE-M61X/s320/stickers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll need to get a new helmet if your stickers are expired or missing. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now call me crazy, but having a helmet that isn't certified seems like a dumb idea anyway. That's your brain in there. Check your helmet's expiration date and get a new bucket if you need to do so.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1NBY-JrIi1yU_C2Xf5yK8KLS9a8zstWUWdk6waY7eecfhyphenhyphenzxPmYcOMahovPkJw3Y6eWpeHCOo9vWmL5Y0cknb9rm3KCQlmru6FtnoNARIFBZOERsvF5O66p5UAMS8_aTOPpA9D4L8IDW/s1600/laces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1NBY-JrIi1yU_C2Xf5yK8KLS9a8zstWUWdk6waY7eecfhyphenhyphenzxPmYcOMahovPkJw3Y6eWpeHCOo9vWmL5Y0cknb9rm3KCQlmru6FtnoNARIFBZOERsvF5O66p5UAMS8_aTOPpA9D4L8IDW/s1600/laces.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howie's Laces are as good as they<br />
come. That's why we sell them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>5. </b></span><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spare Laces</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Laces break</b></span>, and usually seem to do so at the most inopportune times. the odds are good that the local shop has your size. Of course that doesn't mean that the local shop is conveniently located in the rink, or that you have your wallet handy when you snap one right before the game, or that you have time to stand in line re-lace your skates and get on the ice before warm-ups are over. Last time I broke one it was literally as I was thinking, "These are great laces. I cannot believe how long they've lasted." Had anyone else broken a lace just then they might have been out of luck. As it was, I happen to have the key to Rocket Skate, which <i>is </i>conveniently located rink side.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kn7ZVshxyesGH9c3-eB7R6Nurp33uWyCk1SaLpjVohTKUUfVPAXykV6TJ6WesVXWo5Vz7Wmk4wUn5cL_FAAHxQE-v8kOBkxo6hRLBevKOBFa3mUPN3wXDWGgrJwEDmX9Pa0SNNSa0iKV/s1600/tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kn7ZVshxyesGH9c3-eB7R6Nurp33uWyCk1SaLpjVohTKUUfVPAXykV6TJ6WesVXWo5Vz7Wmk4wUn5cL_FAAHxQE-v8kOBkxo6hRLBevKOBFa3mUPN3wXDWGgrJwEDmX9Pa0SNNSa0iKV/s200/tape.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've got a multitude of colors in Howie's<br />
tape available. Only the best!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>6. Tape</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: bold;">Tape is essential</span>, this you know. You probably also know the guys on your team are tired of you borrowing their tape. Even if you don't care about being <i>that guy</i>, there are a lot of tape brands out there and the quality of the stuff varies frighteningly. Without dropping names of the offenders, the top couple brands commonly stocked at shops, are there because they can be sold at a higher profit margin, not because they are good quality. Grab a few extra rolls before you hit the road so you know what you're getting into instead of once again being at the mercy of the selection where you're playing.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3Rkz_1FmGymSeDJO8AITnrMOWKU4Ech8z084GxR9MWrstZZWb63rP9dbegjyJSEIDn9l2FKEd7nZ5daS0-z7BP4zyKIqhhFvyUhXpwSZULw43OW_eYpdvSIltfLp_ejnzVIiLDq8DlwO/s1600/jock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3Rkz_1FmGymSeDJO8AITnrMOWKU4Ech8z084GxR9MWrstZZWb63rP9dbegjyJSEIDn9l2FKEd7nZ5daS0-z7BP4zyKIqhhFvyUhXpwSZULw43OW_eYpdvSIltfLp_ejnzVIiLDq8DlwO/s1600/jock.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All-in-one jock shorts starting<br />
at $21.99 jr, $23.99 sr. Or go old <br />
school with a cup and <br />
supporter - $11.99</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b></b></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>7. Undies</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Remember</b></span> the advice your mother gave you and always wear clean undies in case you're in an accident? . . . OK, this has nothing to do with that sage advice. Owning a rink-side shop, the most common emergency purchase is made after uttering the words, "I forgot my cup," or "I forgot my supporter." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two things here: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1.</b></span> This isn't something that you want to borrow (or loan). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>2. </b></span>T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his isn't something that you want to play without . . . just saying.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahaQDvEHmuOZ-hv3AisbNOnHsnqKlJwpcwDh8o-Mn9vutd0qTCjNvWAPFb3_w0CgnIKPH5ixHnc9kWW-G89RGQz3VAMZA5tB2hRmhYZuc-Zi4IvfXM09VJkAsWGLoMBIQR7GE4t4CDJwX/s1600/neck2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahaQDvEHmuOZ-hv3AisbNOnHsnqKlJwpcwDh8o-Mn9vutd0qTCjNvWAPFb3_w0CgnIKPH5ixHnc9kWW-G89RGQz3VAMZA5tB2hRmhYZuc-Zi4IvfXM09VJkAsWGLoMBIQR7GE4t4CDJwX/s1600/neck2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make sure your neck guard is<br />
BNQ approved</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>8. Neck Guard</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>If you're playing in Canada</b></span> you will absolutely need one of these. While USA hockey doesn't yet mandate the use of neck guards, many US events may still require the use of a cut resistant neck guard. Further, USA hockey does highly recommend the use of a neck guard. It only makes sense too. While a skate blade cut to the neck is a rare occurrence, it has the potential to be life threatening. A $20 investment will not only assure that you won't be scrambling to make sure you can participate, it could literally save your life. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>9. Tape Tiger</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWsq9mPPwB6A_MQsKwx1JQa7n48ZZkY-r1XcZl3Tr1emU2HWcstFMOj0KIfJPGT_Z-tOuJvu_T3x2QOkqDBkSlWM2hZS-Rl0ZWHKB8Vc3WH_DShNXeMgxY0I_xxeBMcoLg-x5ePbgDEvr/s1600/tiger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWsq9mPPwB6A_MQsKwx1JQa7n48ZZkY-r1XcZl3Tr1emU2HWcstFMOj0KIfJPGT_Z-tOuJvu_T3x2QOkqDBkSlWM2hZS-Rl0ZWHKB8Vc3WH_DShNXeMgxY0I_xxeBMcoLg-x5ePbgDEvr/s320/tiger2.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, this is easily the most clever hockey<br />
invention since ice. At $9.99, there<br />
really isn't a good reason to not own one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>The Tape Tiger</b></span> is just about the coolest hockey invention in the rather large, but otherwise mundane, "doodad" category. This handy little device offers several helpful tools that you should have at your disposal. Its main purpose is to cut the tape off your stick, this it does amazingly well. It will cut through blade tape like butter and with a small effort even the thickest knob comes off in seconds. The best part is that it actually curls the tape back making removal of the old tape incredibly simple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
As if this feature wasn't cool enough by itself, the tape tiger has a built in edge stone. I don't recommend any of the hand-held "sharpeners" on the market as all of them work much better at un-sharpening skates. However a side hone can be very handy to take out burrs if you kick a skate blade or step on something. There is also a screw driver built in. Rounding out the utility of the Tape Tiger is a lace hook (which you probably won't need unless you break a finger) and a bottle opener, which might come in handy for post game . . . er, soda pops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>10. Spare mouthguard</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Another required item</b></span>, if you're under 18, the odds are good that you're <i>not </i>going to sneak on the ice without a mouthguard. This is another item that has people running into my shop at the last second in a panic. This seems to be due to the tendency of mouthguards to escape from hockey bags when no one is looking. A spare mouthguard in the bag makes pretty good sense. Again, it's not something you're going to want to borrow and even more importantly, it is something that you're going to want to fit first. You might be able to find a new mouthguard 5 minutes before your game, but are you going to be able to find boiling water to mold it?</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFX0ysvZ8CDn9O3hNuZYplpk_aj8atuohOTDKe2-Sl_MRLfWkhl-ysmC0KEpM0i8sDbgFRM_3gEHrYqpp0ZD0hIptBRoQkZfFyrFFYxDmko6TNXfJar7bTe3tOxeW9ZPjl-BTs06vFbdb/s1600/mouthguard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFX0ysvZ8CDn9O3hNuZYplpk_aj8atuohOTDKe2-Sl_MRLfWkhl-ysmC0KEpM0i8sDbgFRM_3gEHrYqpp0ZD0hIptBRoQkZfFyrFFYxDmko6TNXfJar7bTe3tOxeW9ZPjl-BTs06vFbdb/s320/mouthguard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouthguards from XO, which feature the highest level both custom fit and style on the market. These feature 8 color chips which can be inserted to match your team color - $11.99. We also stock selected Shock Doctor styles - $18 and up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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© 2013 Scott Noble</div>
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All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-19035576505583694772012-06-29T10:15:00.001-07:002013-06-14T09:47:19.256-07:00Too Disgusting to "Stay in the Room"<div>
The locker room is supposed to be a hallowed place where guys can be guys and not worry about the repercussions of their actions. There's a saying, "What's said in the room, stays in the room." Really depending on the context of that, it isn't a bad thing. If we're looking at hockey as therapy being able to vent your frustrations without fear of having someone tell your boss you want to punch him in the eye, it's kinda like doctor/patient confidentiality. Honestly, we're hockey players. A broken foot or knocked out tooth is only worth missing a few minutes of hockey (even if we're only watching on television). If we're gonna just tape up a major physical injury to get back on the ice why would we go see an actual therapist for our mental issues when we can just grouse about them to our peers? In that context, "what's said in the room stays in the room," only seems like common sense.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMEDVh34uW-ypO36GB9Qv02MjqGfRkUe9jtF4wH_wH8gOaCbOH-AMqysEc11Ald98JjVPAtb-dIBpuQAX8a6mgbaQRZiFIG65Z9Y56nqsk3BnoWM-M5FD4Bl0vinDO2hxoi_AcZG_QArA/s1600/bathroom-urinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMEDVh34uW-ypO36GB9Qv02MjqGfRkUe9jtF4wH_wH8gOaCbOH-AMqysEc11Ald98JjVPAtb-dIBpuQAX8a6mgbaQRZiFIG65Z9Y56nqsk3BnoWM-M5FD4Bl0vinDO2hxoi_AcZG_QArA/s320/bathroom-urinal.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pee here, not in the shower please!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That in mind, I'm not going to break the rules. Instead I'm going to address the elephants in the room. I'm not gonna name any names, but you know who you are and maybe there's more than one of you. So take this to heart: hockey players, we can be a disgusting bunch, but you've taken it too far.<br />
<br />
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<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Disgusting Guy #1</span></b><span style="text-align: left;"> - There's a urinal 15 feet from the shower. It's that thing mounted to the wall that you pass on your way to the shower, in fact. It's white, made of porcelain and if by chance it is being used, there is a toilet right next to it. The shower is not a urinal. Are you so lazy you feel like you need to multitask? Do you think that it's OK to pee in the shower because you do it at home? Do you think we just don't notice the smell of urine and the yellow tint to the water? The three other guys in the shower would appreciate if you acted less like a three-year-old. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSngKZJjS1zOvOG01WWvbFwPX4OoE1OAF8oj9BvapcjeIK0kfhotD7dP1Bo60_c8u630RFzvcrLBucBfEScBWVm2TEL-cogIEXczIvGm8ZR6dO-XOR9OoPmvSo4du6pH1LPPSyQDJV-mk1/s1600/poster_spitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSngKZJjS1zOvOG01WWvbFwPX4OoE1OAF8oj9BvapcjeIK0kfhotD7dP1Bo60_c8u630RFzvcrLBucBfEScBWVm2TEL-cogIEXczIvGm8ZR6dO-XOR9OoPmvSo4du6pH1LPPSyQDJV-mk1/s320/poster_spitting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Disgusting Guy #2</b></span> - Spitting goes in sports for some reason (especially if you count baseball as a sport). In hockey spitting on the ice is apparently kosher. The floor of the team bench is a pretty gross place for it . . . but you, Disgusting Guy #2 have taken spitting to a new level. You're the guy who hocks loogies on the locker room floor. Do <i>you </i>like stepping someone else's phlegm? Do you spit on the floor in <i>your </i>bathroom? Ever heard of meningitis? Think man! There are people walking about in bare feet and somehow you think spitting on the floor is okay. We'd almost rather have you hit us upside the head with a hockey stick than spit on the floor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbScE6nGIwNgH1jt6Tzd1JNWnVm0lb9yDukY8xWkXX1DJAf4XsgD7qhW3QoUiCcGTZOla12yWwT3sKK4dnXkU8ePh4ButkM3XgwT01MIw4oP5Ocz5Kl-IyEK6uwpHCf68Mn0OYHXH5YMQJ/s1600/frank-the-flasher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbScE6nGIwNgH1jt6Tzd1JNWnVm0lb9yDukY8xWkXX1DJAf4XsgD7qhW3QoUiCcGTZOla12yWwT3sKK4dnXkU8ePh4ButkM3XgwT01MIw4oP5Ocz5Kl-IyEK6uwpHCf68Mn0OYHXH5YMQJ/s200/frank-the-flasher.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Disgusting Guy #3</b></span> - The only good thing is that you leave the room to engage in your odd behavior. It's also the bad thing. The street behind your car in broad daylight is not the proper place for you to change your clothing after hockey. Did someone pee on you in the shower? Did you step in some spittle in the locker room? Are you actually <i>trying </i>to be tagged a sex offender for flashing children and women with your odd decision to change your clothes in public? There's a private locker room which you can use if you have issues with the people and/or actions taking place in the public rooms. Don't terrorize the locals please!</div>
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Guys, please think about where you pee and spit please! I'm pretty much the last guy to get angry, I've never punched anyone in all my years of hockey, but Disgusting Guys #1 and #2 make me understand why people get punched. If you don't think that your bodily fluids are disgusting (even though they are), the last thing the world needs is a bunch of old men getting dressed in the street after hockey. Disgusting Guy #3, as long as you didn't tell someone's boss they were about to get hit in the eye, the locker room should soon be safe for you again.</div>
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This has been a public service announcement. It might save your life . . . probably not.<br />
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-15261517917168193762012-06-02T16:50:00.000-07:002013-06-14T09:47:29.298-07:00New Hockey Skates, tougher than your feet?OK hockey players, you might have felt left out when I posted about the horrors of breaking in a new pair of figure skates. We all know that breaking in a pair of hockey skates isn't a picnic either. So if you were thinking, "Hey! Where's our article? I wanna know how to make breaking in hockey skates go smoother," well, sob no more. Here it is:<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Das Boots</span></h3>
OK, so that's probably grammatically incorrect German for <i>boats</i>, but hey as far as some of your feet go boats is accurate. Yeah, I've seen you out there in your size 13 skates and it's like a pair of kayaks on the rink. But I digress here . . . we're talking about that part of the skate that troubles almost everyone--the boots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpSNchxEbshfiUFFv-pXkM2CrO-mY_-WFyhVCSBWOrn_m4nDm8OxWMPWeYywoY5BAH3iHOOD-zycCzyPiR4QDbND8vNW4NK50nUBervsaOlKEgEKworlunWanVXUxSVWLJwzaGnYMXSx1/s1600/Bauer+Vapor+X-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpSNchxEbshfiUFFv-pXkM2CrO-mY_-WFyhVCSBWOrn_m4nDm8OxWMPWeYywoY5BAH3iHOOD-zycCzyPiR4QDbND8vNW4NK50nUBervsaOlKEgEKworlunWanVXUxSVWLJwzaGnYMXSx1/s320/Bauer+Vapor+X-05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">Bauer Vapor X:05 - In stock at Rocket Skate</span></td></tr>
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The conundrum of hockey boots is that if they start out comfortable, they're likely to brutalize your feet for a long time thereafter. Comfortable generally translates to one of too things in skate boots: too big, or too cheap. Here are the issues: Skates have to fit tight to perform properly and they have to offer the appropriate level of stiffness.<br />
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So yes, you can find a pair of skates that feel like slippers right out of the box. However, they are going to probably going to be about 2 sizes too big for that to be the case. Skates this big will allow your feet to move around. When your feet move around in the boots, you spend a lot of money on blister pads and a lot of time using the belt sander to remove callous build-ups in odd places on your feet. I have no idea how you're going to treat your bone spurs when they develop. On top of having really ugly feet, your skating is going to suffer since a huge portion of your stride energy will dissipate in the wrenching, twisting motion of your boots as they oscillate in protest on your swollen red feet.<br />
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So, the first step in making life easier it to buy the<u> right size of skates</u>. If you're an adult, you need to make sure that your toe touches the end of skate when you're standing straight up. With your knees bent, a perfect fit will have you just lightly brushing the toe cap or pulling slightly off or if. Kid's should be up 1/2 to 3/4 size from a perfect fit so they have room to grow while keeping the skates from completely spinning around their feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nN-rWVHtDv_ttCCzXul2y7cuDl0xqKbHxK_rn2COabw2HnIe6jRkq7GQJtWe4K8-ZOhNIjMlkLt2FHAg4RKTt84cnH0Jf8bad7tirPMDM8BMrvQSSn7KYeyABqH75zG2xp_UzQNKlH13/s1600/reebok_8k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nN-rWVHtDv_ttCCzXul2y7cuDl0xqKbHxK_rn2COabw2HnIe6jRkq7GQJtWe4K8-ZOhNIjMlkLt2FHAg4RKTt84cnH0Jf8bad7tirPMDM8BMrvQSSn7KYeyABqH75zG2xp_UzQNKlH13/s320/reebok_8k.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">Reebok 8K - Great heatmodable skates in stock</span></td></tr>
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The other fitting issue is width. You should have some pressure on the sides of your feet, but you definitely don't want to have so much pressure that it feels like the ball of your foot is scrunched up. Make sure that the new skates lock your heel in place. If there is some ankle discomfort, that's not normally an issue. Most people need to have the ankles punched out and it's pretty easy to do. Just make sure you're buying a skate that <i>can </i>be punched out.<br />
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Any decent hockey skate these days is heat-moldable (or at least claims to be heat-moldalble). Don't try to bake your skates at home. I've seen a pair that someone melted in their oven--not only was it ugly, but they ruined the batch of cookies they were trying to bake at the same time. Odds are that you're going to get your skates too hot and ruin them, or not hot enough and waste your time. Buy your skates somewhere that fits you properly and have them baked there. Any shop worth their salt offers a free heat-fit with skate purchase. Rocket Skate offers that <i>and </i>lifetime boot punching. (I had a customer a couple weeks ago who would have spent about $180 on skate fitting alone if they hadn't bought their skates from me).<br />
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Punching and heat-molding aren't going to complete the break-in process for you. However, they will knock a great deal of time off the process. You should still expect at <u>least</u> 4 or 5 hours of skating before the boots move from mildly annoying to somewhat comfortable.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Holder and Runner</span></h3>
Pretty much every brand of skate has their own blade holder and runner. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but they are all slightly different. Graf Cobra Holders have the most aggressive forward pitch of any brand on the market today while Bauer's TUUK Lightspeed puts the player back on their heels more than its competitors. CCM/Reebok products fall right in the middle. Runners vary as well with different rockers. Rocker describes the average radius of the curve on the bottom of the blade from toe to heel. The three major brands on the market all use different rockers: Bauer - 9-foot, CCM 10-foot, Graf 11-foot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66vkoZcn44ny2M2EZPj8K9-oNLrbX6ZU2yukVYWUYyWOI3n-3jWXpYFKP-qcDbUI0ne4erUpzfXL-kE4Xfo4HAuVjslLCH81H5LLxFG4-v4OvprPN33tmnUgY4iQ4HofEBUvMAYo4stm-/s1600/graf-blade-holder-nt3000-cobra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66vkoZcn44ny2M2EZPj8K9-oNLrbX6ZU2yukVYWUYyWOI3n-3jWXpYFKP-qcDbUI0ne4erUpzfXL-kE4Xfo4HAuVjslLCH81H5LLxFG4-v4OvprPN33tmnUgY4iQ4HofEBUvMAYo4stm-/s200/graf-blade-holder-nt3000-cobra.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
This translates to a number of issues that you're going to have to face as a hockey player. Your legs develop muscle memory (gross motor skills) that become a natural part of your skating motion. You don't have to think about how it works, you just do it. When you change the blade and holder combination, it takes some time for your gross motor skills to adjust. The pitch issue is the big issue for a lot of players, especially those moving from a forward pitch to a more rearward one. This issue is pretty easy to fix and is one of the most common customizations that I do in the shop. A pair of heel lifts between the holder and outsole of the skate have improved or flat out corrected the issue for dozens of skaters that I've installed them for.<br />
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The rocker isn't as big a deal for most skaters, but expect the performance of your skates to vary slightly with a rocker change. A longer rocker is going to glide better. A shorter one will turn and accelerate faster. None of these rocker lengths offer significant advantages or disadvantages. If you're currently the slowest thing on ice, switching from an 9-foot rocker to an 11-foot rocker isn't going to suddenly turn you into Marian Gaborik.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Insoles can make a huge difference</span></b></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDore8Su_RmImb4YbHc4dwDM1N5d20dJdwWW-JEHtOQ8_PFlGDV2umVbH1ItV0NvwZs4OtxC6ph9-zYQHPUf8XvagkQpwdnFCrEqGDDV-BhIrsW9y6EarTsdOHvZjWQt13RKl0DzYttJES/s1600/solethin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDore8Su_RmImb4YbHc4dwDM1N5d20dJdwWW-JEHtOQ8_PFlGDV2umVbH1ItV0NvwZs4OtxC6ph9-zYQHPUf8XvagkQpwdnFCrEqGDDV-BhIrsW9y6EarTsdOHvZjWQt13RKl0DzYttJES/s200/solethin.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sole custom insoles - $39 </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">heat molding & adjustments</span></td></tr>
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Insoles can also change the way your skate feels. An increase or decrease in the arch support height may or may not be uncomfortable. However, it <i>will</i> change the relationship between your foot and blade. An arch that is too low can cause pronation (where the skate tilts inward). One that is too high can cause supination (skate tilting outward). Even if these issues don't manifest, we're right back to the muscle memory issue--you've adapted your skating to compensate and other things will feel odd. A pair of orthotics or custom insoles can knock a huge amount of time off your adjustment period to new skates.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb8KX4kR6lJfraQ5IA9nnC8nNDGGgakH6u4Z6mfr8VmFiVGfA_jKXqGwUe6ubDPYzqgHGTXpu_puN6uFYhW9E_3Um5CXN0FPHqQ2WqpLSTRuwt2s2jz9lFSEJ4vBCKunXANt-msS8QNKN/s1600/sdinsole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb8KX4kR6lJfraQ5IA9nnC8nNDGGgakH6u4Z6mfr8VmFiVGfA_jKXqGwUe6ubDPYzqgHGTXpu_puN6uFYhW9E_3Um5CXN0FPHqQ2WqpLSTRuwt2s2jz9lFSEJ4vBCKunXANt-msS8QNKN/s200/sdinsole.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In a sport that punishes the competitor's feet between the requisite tight fit of the boots and quick direction changes there's nothing that I can recommend more highly than a quality set of insoles. I've used custom insoles for the last 10 years personally. When you're spending $300+ for skate that come with 10 cent insoles, this is a no-brainer upgrade.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shock Doctor insoles - $25 at Rocket Skate. These are a nice upgrade from stock insoles.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Alignment Issues</b></span></h3>
Alignment isn't a common problem with hockey skates. About one pair of skates out of every 20 to 30 has the blade mounted improperly. Further the vast majority of skates that need corrections are the cheapest models. Still, once in a while even a skate that is set up properly might cause alignment issues for players with um . . . unique feet (that's my nice way of calling your feet freakishly deformed).<br />
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A blade that's out of alignment can cause several issues: supination, pronation or yawing (slipping sideways).<br />
If you're experiencing any of these issues you might need your blade adjusted. However in hockey it's always important to put at least 5 hours on the new skates before jumping to this conclusion. If you have serious concerns after you've put some hours on the skates, it's best if the skate technician can observe you skating.<br />
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Most shops will look at you like you have carrots in your ears if you walk in talking about needing a blade alignment on your new hockey skates. I've been doing blade alignments for more than ten years. If you have an alignment issue I haven't fixed in the past I would be amazed beyond words.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bottom line</span></b></h3>
Breaking in a good pair of skates is probably the most unpleasant thing about skating. Keep plugging away at it and they will get more comfortable. Most skates will take at LEAST 5 hours of skating, but the time frame may be significantly longer with a skater's skill level, aggressiveness during break-in and weight. I generally recommend minimal boot punching and fitting until a couple hours of break-in are completed, but if you are having severe pain, you should have your skates worked on sooner than that.<br />
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Most importantly, buy your skates somewhere convenient to have them worked on. If you have to drive an hour to get your boots punched you might as well be on your own. Any good shop will offer free boot punching at purchase. I personally offer free boot punching for life. If you decide you'd like heel lifts or major alignment work, I offer considerable discounts when the skates were purchased from me. Does it make sense to drive across town to have your skates worked on by someone with little or no experience?<br />
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Hopefully understanding better what's going on when you are skating in a new pair can contribute to a less agonizing experience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdBbA-PHK2UgwixTPiHUBJarpKQLOljwMZdgqyTLRJ4IO37UMBZ0WgTdcnLLTKP5edHym3mxF92p3BijUBgKb52tLNRYX7QHMPT6AnAUMy5cluBLm2FYKuIA90CVCFguuTPUbdXAVkX15/s1600/Round+logo+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdBbA-PHK2UgwixTPiHUBJarpKQLOljwMZdgqyTLRJ4IO37UMBZ0WgTdcnLLTKP5edHym3mxF92p3BijUBgKb52tLNRYX7QHMPT6AnAUMy5cluBLm2FYKuIA90CVCFguuTPUbdXAVkX15/s1600/Round+logo+small.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Find us on the web at</span> <a href="http://www.rocketskate.net/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">www.rocketskate.net</a></div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-81527399917939645802012-05-16T18:37:00.000-07:002013-06-14T09:48:53.474-07:00Decaffeinating the Horror of New Figure SkatesGetting new skates is a terrifying experience for most people. Anyone who has had a pair of decent skates is well aware that they take some break-in time. Sadly, sometime after your skates become comfortable, they start wearing out and need to be replaced. High level figure skaters commonly replace their boots at least once a year. But beyond breaking in boots, there are a number of other factors you should be aware of when getting a new pair of skates, boots or blades. When you're aware of these factors, you can make the transition much less horrifying.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The boots are the worst part, get some help</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31Y3bJAxl4KKdos-El27S3obQxU2XFt3yeAFcqkwutLM2TyfBIildV4H61LSLhCnQgSoACydSkbRz7-lyvSD_ui1Y83nEOsZ36tmUn4jQ35LBc1ADy0PChwW14jxBzbET8-BQkd8uMNRi/s1600/gold+star.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31Y3bJAxl4KKdos-El27S3obQxU2XFt3yeAFcqkwutLM2TyfBIildV4H61LSLhCnQgSoACydSkbRz7-lyvSD_ui1Y83nEOsZ36tmUn4jQ35LBc1ADy0PChwW14jxBzbET8-BQkd8uMNRi/s200/gold+star.png" width="200" /></a>Obviously breaking in new boots is inescapable. Even if you buy the same model boot you just wore out, you're going to have some level of break-in time. Heat-fitting and boot punching can help to make them comfortable in a reasonably short time. Heat-fittting helps the overall shape of the boot conform a little more quickly to the shape of your foot. Punching is especially effective in fitting of small area such as ankles, toes and ball of the foot. But even if you get the same model you've skated in for the last 10 years, you've got a bit of work ahead of you.<br />
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With a heat-fit, expect a minimum of five hours skating time in new boots before they start feeling like something you can live with. That might not sound like good news, but you can pretty much double that amount of time if your boots skip the oven. Make sure you are lacing the skates tight whenever you are on the ice. It's not uncommon to have to stop and lace them up tighter during a session until they start to form to your feet a little better.<br />
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Even custom boots costing twice as much as off the shelf models are brutal to break in. Many skaters have had a harder time breaking in a custom lasted boot than they have with name brand models like Jackson and Riedell. With long wait times, low customer satisfaction levels and exorbitant prices, it's no wonder that custom brands like Klingbeil and Harlick have struggled to stay afloat in recent years.<br />
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Stiffness is an issue you should consider carefully in selecting new boots. It takes ice time to get your skates to flex forward to accommodate your stride. If you're moving into a stiffer boot, this will take more time. Selecting the proper boot is almost as important as the fit. If you pick a boot that is too stiff it might never break in properly. A boot that isn't stiff enough will break down prematurely. Your coach and pro shop can help with selection, but the major factors weighing into this selection are your weight, what jumps you are working on and how frequently you are skating.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9WqKN_9AyPP7Sfwh6uFNZa7ZiemP4puzt4d40PWCYgr-wp6czpGWe8g1P1iq8gtxUIGPTb8wL665GbDdfOteCqgAMVDjXgADM_0uqAp5mfBn8QkW1W488S-u424qd8aqJpDYZwvE93_S/s1600/elite_supreme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9WqKN_9AyPP7Sfwh6uFNZa7ZiemP4puzt4d40PWCYgr-wp6czpGWe8g1P1iq8gtxUIGPTb8wL665GbDdfOteCqgAMVDjXgADM_0uqAp5mfBn8QkW1W488S-u424qd8aqJpDYZwvE93_S/s200/elite_supreme.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Lastly heel height should be considered. If you've been skating in one brand for a long time, switching is going to add new challenges. Different skate boots have different heel heights, varying by as much as a 1/4-inch. This differential changes the pitch of your skates on the ice. While a 1/4-inch might not seem like a big deal, it can be a huge adjustment. In fact I've done dozens of pitch adjustments for skaters who were struggling with new skates. A correction of 1/8-inch has almost always fixed the problem so consider what a difference twice that might make in a negative way.<br />
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The reason this heel height/pitch is such a big deal is motor skills, specifically muscle memory. When you're skating you develop muscle memory. Essentially, parts of skating become second nature, like walking. Boot flex is going to cause some issues with muscle memory as well. However, changes cause muscle confusion. It's not unlike those poor kids who grow a foot in three months and spend half a year looking awkward and off balance in their own body (not to mention that their pants are all too short). Some people adapt to skate changes in a few days or weeks. Others might take months.<br />
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Beyond utilizing your skate shop to make sure that your boots fit as well as possible, there's not much you can do to expedite the issues caused by changes in boot pitch. You can wear your skates around the house with your guards on in order to get used to the boot and accelerate the break in process. However, the biggest tool I can offer here is the knowledge that there will be some adjustment time. You might have some issues skating, but rest assured you are not losing your mind or your ability. You're just adjusting.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Insoles can make a huge difference</span></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDore8Su_RmImb4YbHc4dwDM1N5d20dJdwWW-JEHtOQ8_PFlGDV2umVbH1ItV0NvwZs4OtxC6ph9-zYQHPUf8XvagkQpwdnFCrEqGDDV-BhIrsW9y6EarTsdOHvZjWQt13RKl0DzYttJES/s1600/solethin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDore8Su_RmImb4YbHc4dwDM1N5d20dJdwWW-JEHtOQ8_PFlGDV2umVbH1ItV0NvwZs4OtxC6ph9-zYQHPUf8XvagkQpwdnFCrEqGDDV-BhIrsW9y6EarTsdOHvZjWQt13RKl0DzYttJES/s200/solethin.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sole custom insoles - $39<br />
at Rocket Skate, including<br />
heat molding & adjustments</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Insoles can also change the way your skate feels. An increase or decrease in the arch support height may or may not be uncomfortable. However, it <i>will</i> change the relationship between your foot and blade. An arch that is too low can cause pronation (where the skate tilts inward). One that is too high can cause supination (skate tilting outward). Even if these issues don't manifest, we're right back to the muscle memory issue--you've adapted your skating to compensate and other things will feel odd. A pair of orthotics or custom insoles can knock a huge amount of time off your adjustment period to new skates.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb8KX4kR6lJfraQ5IA9nnC8nNDGGgakH6u4Z6mfr8VmFiVGfA_jKXqGwUe6ubDPYzqgHGTXpu_puN6uFYhW9E_3Um5CXN0FPHqQ2WqpLSTRuwt2s2jz9lFSEJ4vBCKunXANt-msS8QNKN/s1600/sdinsole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb8KX4kR6lJfraQ5IA9nnC8nNDGGgakH6u4Z6mfr8VmFiVGfA_jKXqGwUe6ubDPYzqgHGTXpu_puN6uFYhW9E_3Um5CXN0FPHqQ2WqpLSTRuwt2s2jz9lFSEJ4vBCKunXANt-msS8QNKN/s200/sdinsole.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In a sport that punishes the competitor's feet between the requisite tight fit of the boots and repeated impact of landing jumps there's nothing that I can recommend more highly than a quality set of insoles. When you're spending $300+ for skate that come with 10 cent insoles, this is a no-brainer upgrade.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Shock Doctor insoles - $25 at Rocket Skate. These are a nice upgrade from stock insoles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>More things change with Blades than you might expect</b></span><br />
There is one "no-duh" item when switching blades--a bigger toe pick is going to increase your odds of face planting. But do you know there are three other major factors that will take adjustment in a new blade? These are: rocker, bulge and toe lift. You might not have a lot of control over these factors when you're moving to a new blade, but at least you can feel a little better about knowing what's going on when you have a few tough days.<br />
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The rocker of a blade describes the average radius of a blade from toe to heel. A shorter rocker will make the blades feel less stable from front to back . . . more rocky if you will. A long rocker is more stable. Most figure skate blades feature either a 7-foot or 8-foot rocker. However, while the average radius might be the same as your old blade, the areas where it is most curved may vary. Changes in rocker will require slight muscle memory retaining. Which brings us to the bulge . . .<br />
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The bulge is the raised area about two inches behind the toe pick. This is sometimes also referred to as the "sweet spot." The bulge is the area you balance on while spinning. While the rocker of two given blades might be the same, the aggressiveness of the toe pick can significantly change the bulge. A bigger toe pick tends to make the bulge much smaller, while a smaller toe pick offers a bigger area for spinning. The exact placement of the bulge will also vary slightly from blade to blade changing you center of balance slightly on a new blade.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmRjKb089cY8J2WziV22AS4vSKk8uhFwA4_xbEfnZCmTxfqL-uIRxpgcww12klWm10cFGdWLes977hqlnUHNS4MUQ43kFnhRKHyHk9_EwfoM4ApH472lBPV6yNl1AV3Af-aEnhTTq1H_U/s1600/Infinity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmRjKb089cY8J2WziV22AS4vSKk8uhFwA4_xbEfnZCmTxfqL-uIRxpgcww12klWm10cFGdWLes977hqlnUHNS4MUQ43kFnhRKHyHk9_EwfoM4ApH472lBPV6yNl1AV3Af-aEnhTTq1H_U/s320/Infinity.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Toe lift can be a big adjustment as well. Toe lift describes how far forward the blade can lean before the pick contacts the ice. It is measured by tilting the blade forward on a flat surface until the pick touches. With the blade in this position, the measurement from the flat surface to the heel of the blade is the amount of toe lift. Toe lift will vary with the length and model of blade. Further than that, most brands of blades are at least partially handmade and the toe lift vary slightly even within the same model and size (sometimes you will even find two different measurements on the same pair). Eclipse is the only blade band I know of that has standardized this for each of it's blade models. So, if you buy the same size and model Eclipse blade, the toe lift will always be exactly the same.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Alignment Issues</b></span><br />
Alignment can be a tricky issue. In most cases the blade is simply put where the center of the skater's foot will be in the boot. But all feet are not the same. I've looked at enough to tell you that if yours are normal, that's an anomaly. While 95% of the blades that I mount don't need any adjustments, you might be a five-percenter. That doesn't mean you're weird, it means your special.<br />
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A blade that's out of alignment can cause several issues: supination, pronation or yawing (slipping sideways).<br />
If you're experiencing any of these issues you should have your blade adjusted. It's always best if the skate technician can observe you while skating, but if that isn't possible, your coach should be able to give you enough information on what is happening to get adjustments on the right track.<br />
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Most skaters who are proficient enough to require separate boots and blades will adjust for a small variance in center of gravity on the skates almost immediately. Larger issues will require an adjustment (this is why we always start with a temporary mount). Extreme issues might require some sanding of the boot to adjust the angle of the blade to the boot.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bottom line</span></b><br />
Breaking in a good pair of skates is probably the most unpleasant thing about skating. Keep plugging away at it and they will get more comfortable. Most skates will take at LEAST 5 hours of skating, but the time frame may be significantly longer with a skater's skill level, aggressiveness during break-in and weight. I generally recommend minimal boot punching and fitting until a couple hours of break-in are completed, but if you are having severe pain, you should have your skates worked on sooner than that.<br />
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Most importantly, buy your skates somewhere convenient to have them worked on. If you have to drive an hour to get your boots punched you might as well be on your own. Any good shop will offer free boot punching at purchase. I personally offer free boot punching for life. Expect to make a minimum of three trips to the pro shop for your skates, one for fitting and ordering, one for pickup after mounting and one for your final mount. Between blade alignments and boot punching, it's not unlikely to make six visits.<br />
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Hopefully understanding better what's going on when you are skating in a new pair can contribute to a less agonizing experience.<br />
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© 2013 Scott Noble</div>
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<br />Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-85948598966486811952012-04-05T20:19:00.000-07:002013-06-14T09:49:04.347-07:005 ways you didn't know you were going to get hurtIf you play hockey long enough, you're going to get hurt. I don't want to discourage anyone. That's not just the nature of the game, it's the nature of things--Murphy's law if you prefer. Even if you merely played chess, I suspect if you did it long enough, you'd be bound to have some sort of injury. Perhaps, you'd have a contusion from an angry opponent beaning you with their king or you might end up accidentally poked in the eye with the chess board.<br />
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Regardless of how safe or <i>unsafe </i>chess might be, there are things you do in hockey to lower your odds of ending up in the ER. Many of these are common sense. Only a daredevil or moron would play without shin guards and elbow pads. Helmets are simply required. Anyone who enjoys the use of their hands once in a while wouldn't play without gloves. While we know the basics, there are some ways to get hurt that maybe you haven't considered.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1. Lindrosed</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzXM4P58BbQ-Ssfq5s_mvlOt8EVscygPEE_vbv3iMHg_6GdFRv5ATOzYmrqjUbOv134ZylloFV0JTNzYPQDtU71qth4YJH64CLIslAdUqs3YCHSnTUB5m_yh2acsQo99H84PNa9Kqbv4Z/s1600/Lindros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzXM4P58BbQ-Ssfq5s_mvlOt8EVscygPEE_vbv3iMHg_6GdFRv5ATOzYmrqjUbOv134ZylloFV0JTNzYPQDtU71qth4YJH64CLIslAdUqs3YCHSnTUB5m_yh2acsQo99H84PNa9Kqbv4Z/s200/Lindros.jpg" width="200" /></a>How good is your Helmet really? Both Eric Lindros and his brother, Brett, were forced to leave the NHL early as the result of post concussion syndrome. Many believe if they'd played with their heads up, they would have had longer careers. Maybe a better helmet might have helped as well. Certainly avoiding Scott Stevens would have been a good idea for at least one of them.<br />
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Even with the likelihood of being bulldozed by Scott Sevens being pretty low the use of a helmet in itself is pretty obvious. Still, there are some details that you might not know about helmets. Perhaps the most overlooked of these details is the fact that your helmet has an expiration date. There are two stickers on the back of approved hockey helmets today. These stickers indicate the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC) approval.<br />
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The HECC sticker is found on every approved hockey helmet sold in the United States and has an expiration date approximating when the helmet will no longer offer an approved level of protection. This is 6 and 1/2 years from production date for all helmets, but typically ranges about 4 or 5 years from consumer purchase to expiration. You probably didn't know that anyone under twenty-one years old could be barred from participating in a game as the result of an expired HECC sticker. All players in leagues and venues following USA Hockey rules are required to wear an HECC approved helmet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdzT25iA2Vx8Bfh1C3iwZghlQP8zqhPa1XNE5RBcYrZNwUqResSaP64kUWELeQO4u2diiSccHzqmB7nR3YaSItoVT8BJnNpY6CaPGA8OqvctjmWa-kfRxB_8mUMIf8dUXOTK6e_DIOL1F/s1600/stickers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdzT25iA2Vx8Bfh1C3iwZghlQP8zqhPa1XNE5RBcYrZNwUqResSaP64kUWELeQO4u2diiSccHzqmB7nR3YaSItoVT8BJnNpY6CaPGA8OqvctjmWa-kfRxB_8mUMIf8dUXOTK6e_DIOL1F/s200/stickers.jpg" width="200" /></a>The CSA sticker indicates the year that the helmet was produced and is found on all helmets sold in Canada. The lack of the CSA sticker will automatically preclude a player from participating in a youth hockey game in Canada. While CSA stickers do <i>not </i>have an expiration date, the 6 year rule is still a good one to follow.<br />
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If your helmet doesn't have either of these stickers it is probably close to fifteen years old. For the last ten years HECC has been putting the expiration date on their stickers, so if you have an HECC sticker without an expiration date, your helmet is definitely expired. The CSA stickers have only shown the manufacture year since 2008. While some of the items below are pick and choose, I cannot think of a single good reason to play in an expired helmet or to skimp when buying a new one.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2. Sakiced</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S2YpbpFuXi7FJKnyvEWcCVocOiD4S9TXchFZMBP4HnRo8gRT1-CellW6zejl9Be_IBHKiomXRdMGnm3F5CBfp0OB9TjlANXsCC-Hbpmseo-90eVpeCM-PbHWFEX6OoIAy8mu1r67Ub3z/s1600/snowblower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S2YpbpFuXi7FJKnyvEWcCVocOiD4S9TXchFZMBP4HnRo8gRT1-CellW6zejl9Be_IBHKiomXRdMGnm3F5CBfp0OB9TjlANXsCC-Hbpmseo-90eVpeCM-PbHWFEX6OoIAy8mu1r67Ub3z/s1600/snowblower.jpg" /></a>You might not remember Joe Sakic missing almost half the season the year after the Avalanche won their first Stanley Cup. My reference here has nothing to do with the notorious snow blower incident. Rather, it was the result of a skate blade cutting his calf nearly to the bone. Whether you remember or not, pro players are aware of this and numerous similar injuries. Over the last several years many NHL players started wearing socks made from Kevlar, the same stuff as bulletproof vests.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSWVG0H4JnEQg_yYeQ1T2ww_Lp1jENkJBfa98q50eg42UmJ0gXgSOsbYskPzoC6IbmmKc3CgIZt5c7esp5JyA1bd4czOPX_LDvkfAL2PYACWoTy-sPta7SXWpya1FddMS5THQv4sUOQtp/s1600/Swiftwick_sock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSWVG0H4JnEQg_yYeQ1T2ww_Lp1jENkJBfa98q50eg42UmJ0gXgSOsbYskPzoC6IbmmKc3CgIZt5c7esp5JyA1bd4czOPX_LDvkfAL2PYACWoTy-sPta7SXWpya1FddMS5THQv4sUOQtp/s320/Swiftwick_sock.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
Again, I know you don't play NHL hockey. But here's a tip: even a total novice can step on your leg with sharp skates. Lucky for us, there are a couple types of Kevlar socks on the market today. One is a skate sock with Kevlar protection from the ankle to the knee. Despite my pessimism about how comfortable a bulletproof skate sock might be, the Swiftwick pair I own is far and away the best pair of socks I've ever owned.<br />
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The other type is a cut resistant hockey sock (over the shin guards). There are a few brands making these. <br />
Because Kevlar cannot be dyed, these socks feature either a traditional, yarn-knit exterior or a polyester shell. While you can get pretty much any team colors, I find that the Kevlar skate sock makes more sense than the Kevlar hockey sock. The exterior section of your Kevlar lined hockey socks is going to get torn up and you're going to have to drop $40 to replace them. Your skate socks, made mostly of Kevlar are going to last longer and cost less.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Maltbyed</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShUAJY09FAyFk0gA7t-833tEZRmTODCwyGVWDbtjfznc_wXSC66ecYmeKu08Ncx0TNQFL9yuLtBCpkaIxycQ2lpEylkFcuWbqKv7OyCvZJ4AI2AdP0zmZWEiJxVZy9wz_a3ocL5XIKAY2/s1600/maltby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShUAJY09FAyFk0gA7t-833tEZRmTODCwyGVWDbtjfznc_wXSC66ecYmeKu08Ncx0TNQFL9yuLtBCpkaIxycQ2lpEylkFcuWbqKv7OyCvZJ4AI2AdP0zmZWEiJxVZy9wz_a3ocL5XIKAY2/s200/maltby.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In the glory days of the Avalanche/Wings rivalry (go ahead Wings fans, email me how it wasn't a rivalry since your team was too good to have rivals. It won't dampen my opinion that they hated each other) . . . Kirk Maltby gave Valerie Kamensky a hard whack with the lumber and broke his wrist. I remember watching that game and finding it one of the most gruesome sports injuries I ever saw.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnOFiuxDJXzZOGbHcTFo5kZhzDI6ExdTbFcuL_7N_So9ae8m4z4Z5UNb_YuLTtUzKndpx_a8Ro-4o7-zUy8iT_u3t-8FY_Szoof4__W5he3-tQ8NX3y2CV8pd85oSrXK9Rd9o4_qK2q7d/s1600/wrist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnOFiuxDJXzZOGbHcTFo5kZhzDI6ExdTbFcuL_7N_So9ae8m4z4Z5UNb_YuLTtUzKndpx_a8Ro-4o7-zUy8iT_u3t-8FY_Szoof4__W5he3-tQ8NX3y2CV8pd85oSrXK9Rd9o4_qK2q7d/s1600/wrist.jpg" /></a><br />
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Slash guards are a great piece of gear to bridge the gap between gloves and elbow pads. Would they have saved Kamensky from missing two months of hockey? Is someone going to get mad and slash you like that? Got me, but after seeing Kamensky's forearm folding up in a rather unnatural way around Maltby's stick, I don't care. There are angry guys playing hockey at every level I've seen. Slash guards are a good idea. A pair of slash guards goes for about fifteen bucks. I'd guess a trip to the ER for a broken wrist goes for at least 100 times that much.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4. Malarchucked</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaDpEQbbEcdiHYntUj7KXEamWpTgBmcObyDK3wD5O97PeBMpLj9R_2ifyhvp3NK_Tv84MWB8HREDjl7WJDGIG4ROLPoeV1V_vMiFVmaUl6xWOc-MzWoWtdl4URapb-kBX6gEXegvxjZgI/s1600/malarchuck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaDpEQbbEcdiHYntUj7KXEamWpTgBmcObyDK3wD5O97PeBMpLj9R_2ifyhvp3NK_Tv84MWB8HREDjl7WJDGIG4ROLPoeV1V_vMiFVmaUl6xWOc-MzWoWtdl4URapb-kBX6gEXegvxjZgI/s200/malarchuck.JPG" width="200" /></a>Our friends north of the border (I'm talkin' about Canada, not Wyoming) require all youth hockey players to wear a throat guard. There's a reason for this. If you didn't believe that skates cut skin when I was mentioning Kevlar socks, you should google Clint Malarchuck (don't say I didn't warn you, the pictures and video are graphic. They show a former NHL goalie nearly bleeding to death on the ice). Miraculously Malarchuck survived, but how many army, combat-trained paramedics are hanging around your game to save you?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN8ag1aXvuXAYYQWli1Krb2cHVDOB09V8eP4kd-S6I7T80QQuVr1TtXnLgMpQ3g3PQd0Mww-2zWSjWT9f7m82bpd_qZWzkrOda5ibqsMmtnKlgC2cLt-0iPTGG9gp7AqWG2Yg8FN4FqI1/s1600/neck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN8ag1aXvuXAYYQWli1Krb2cHVDOB09V8eP4kd-S6I7T80QQuVr1TtXnLgMpQ3g3PQd0Mww-2zWSjWT9f7m82bpd_qZWzkrOda5ibqsMmtnKlgC2cLt-0iPTGG9gp7AqWG2Yg8FN4FqI1/s200/neck.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Yes, that's a plastic toy in the picture above commemorating Malarchuck's near death experience. There are plenty of pictures on the net of the actual event, but frankly I think they are a bit to graphic for my purposes. My goal is to educate, not horrify. I've actually met two people who have had near death experiences with huge gashes just missing their carotid artery or jugular while playing recreational hockey. Ten to Twenty dollars for a Kevlar neck guard could literally save your neck. Seems like a tiny price to pay.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>5. Sedined</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTdmkvDlo-_sQ0vIzPzhTmVlGgXcmmgs-nXI4AjshUFVRMhTMe5JgRYW1fawC1bTuK4e_w_7KlOUueoGsnjP-PQMZ147KY1V5FDcKsedJGfokhZf9UbibIP_ISWk2Hr6U6uIoxEef-DqO/s1600/sedin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTdmkvDlo-_sQ0vIzPzhTmVlGgXcmmgs-nXI4AjshUFVRMhTMe5JgRYW1fawC1bTuK4e_w_7KlOUueoGsnjP-PQMZ147KY1V5FDcKsedJGfokhZf9UbibIP_ISWk2Hr6U6uIoxEef-DqO/s200/sedin.jpg" width="200" /></a>Skates have never been great for absorbing or deflecting the force of a fast moving puck. Daniel Sedin (the funny looking of the Sedin twins) missed several games in 2007 with a foot injury after being struck by a puck. In 2009 a slapshot from teammate, Alex Elder, broke his foot. (Who needs opponents with a teammate like that, right?) In true hockey player fashion, Sedin <i>did </i>finish the game with 3 assists after the injury, but then missed five weeks while it healed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ngHrotYlGJ3_yXpRLCVAlQMyY2rmZvU4vAm2JXAQ1cq-gCEI7753vm6vETHgudIHX_FZJiN77mgvHyHIAAaZ-LAg8FgyDVi19LbSk6s4EJqL2HxTXZBVzYmjPyl-dNErZzMiFnTUQ2kc/s1600/Fenders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ngHrotYlGJ3_yXpRLCVAlQMyY2rmZvU4vAm2JXAQ1cq-gCEI7753vm6vETHgudIHX_FZJiN77mgvHyHIAAaZ-LAg8FgyDVi19LbSk6s4EJqL2HxTXZBVzYmjPyl-dNErZzMiFnTUQ2kc/s200/Fenders.jpg" width="200" /></a>Skate fenders are a pretty new invention. They've become increasingly popular in the NHL over the last few years, with skyrocketing numbers of players this season. Just google, "NHL broken foot" and you'll get an idea why everyone is running out to buy a pair. After three weeks in a row of taking a slapshot off the laces, I sprung for a pair. They are well worth the $80 price. Made of lightweight Lexan, it's impossible to tell they are even on my feet when I'm skating. More importantly, I haven't felt the sting of a puck on my feet since picking them up.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Do I really need all that?</b></span><br />
I'll be the first to admit that not everyone needs everything on this list. I use Kevlar socks and a neck guard when I play goalie. I'm loving the skate fenders when I skate out. I do have a $180 helmet which I will replace before it expires. There's no excuse for not having a good helmet.<br />
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My advice is to consider how you play and be preemptive. If you block a lot of shots, pick up some boot fenders. If you make a lot of people angry you might invest in wrist guards. If you lay down at center ice for frequent naps, you might want everything on the list. But consider this, if you spent the money for everything on this list, it still wouldn't cost 10% of what an ER visit might. Further, there just isn't enough good television to keep anyone properly entertained while they convalesce for several weeks on the couch. Just a thought.<br />
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© 2013 Scott Noble</div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-79486988504391367522012-03-05T18:11:00.000-08:002013-06-14T09:52:02.005-07:00Take care of your skates, you know you hate breaking in a new pair!<span class="d-r" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Do you like your skates?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Let’s face it, skates aren’t cheap. A good pair of hockey skates sells for up to $800 and a pair of competitive figure skates can easily top $1000. Even at these prices, skates that aren’t carefully maintained will deteriorate in a very short period of time. I have seen a pair of $450 skates last less than six months; that has to be a painful investment. Even if the cost of the skates doesn’t make you blink, breaking in a new pair in that period probably should.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><b>So what can you do to make your skates last longer? Read on, the answers for both hockey players and figure skaters lie below. (For easy reference, <span style="color: red;">figure skating info is in red</span>, <span style="color: #3d85c6;">hockey in blue</span> and info that applies to all skates is white).</b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Take care of your blades </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBizgm41royBNedFkq0dRrntJRE8o3ZcFtEioMjkZVncVylkVWfncv0J-9e3lSOAouVFEPM8tRuNECUQr90QScPChOEMN39VKpoHA4fwUdNGOdvYZ4liT8YloJxL1t8fQrtDHVQyOwBEcD/s1600/Revolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBizgm41royBNedFkq0dRrntJRE8o3ZcFtEioMjkZVncVylkVWfncv0J-9e3lSOAouVFEPM8tRuNECUQr90QScPChOEMN39VKpoHA4fwUdNGOdvYZ4liT8YloJxL1t8fQrtDHVQyOwBEcD/s320/Revolution.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The cheapest hockey runners costs about $50 a pair with the most expensive topping $120 a pair these days. Some hockey skates entail replacing the carrier with the steel at $50 each plus installation. Even with broken holders featuring bonded steel, you will normally have to purchase them by the pair. Unless you break a blade after only a couple of sharpenings, they will be different heights.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">For a figure skater, a pair of inexpensive blades is over $100. The price can easily be $300 to $500 for a pair of blades and the most expensive blades on the market are close to $1000 these days. </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Clearly it's an expensive proposition replacing blades for either type of skate. </b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what can you do to keep your blades in prime condition?</span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">First and most importantly, dry your blades. Any time you are done skating get the steel as dry as you can with a towel and put them in terrycloth blade guards (aka soakers). This is the only way you should ever store your skates, in terrycloth. Terrycloth soakers will wick the moisture away from the steel.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Plastic blade guards are for walking in, not storage. Any moisture left on the blade gets trapped by plastic guards further promoting rust. Even if your blades are dry, condensation can become trapped in the plastic later. While these are highly recommended for walking in, they should never be used for storing skates. Figure skaters should use plastic guards when walking to the ice and back in their skates. <i>Anyone </i>skating outdoors should use a pair of plastic guards to keep their blades from getting dinged up.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Once blades start to rust, there is often no stopping it until the steel resembles dirty, metallic Swiss cheese. No matter how many times you sharpen a blade permeated by rust, it will be rusty. This gives the blades a much slower glide and makes the edges rough no mater how many times they are sharpened. If you do get rust on your blades, you will need to have them sharpened and the sides of the blades stoned as soon as you can. Wiping your blades with a towel saturated with WD40 can help to stop the rusting process if you cannot get them sharpened promtly.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Keep your steel tight on hockey skates, but don’t over tighten it. Almost all types of hockey carriers are prone to stripping out if over-tightened. As a general rule on TUUKs, TUUK Light speeds, and Graf Cobras, tighten the blade until you feel it seat and then no more than one turn further. If the screw turns inside the carrier the blade can call out while skating. Further you might damage the holder to the extent it needs to be replaced. CCM and Easton carriers are not prone to this particular problem, however the screws <i>will </i>break if over tightened. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Don’t over-sharpen your skates</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I have some customers who get their blades sharpened every week even though they might only put an hour on them. I'm not complaining mind you, if it makes you happy to pay me weekly, please feel free. However, as a rule, most people don't need anywhere near this frequency. Of course if you lose an edge before that, get them sharpened. (If you aren't sure if your skates are dull, feel free to ask and I will give you my honest opinion).</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>As a general rule of thumb, you don’t want to even think about sharpening hockey skates until you have skated for five to ten hours on indoor ice. Cut that in half for outdoor ice which will chew up your steel more quickly.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Figure skates generally use carbon steel blades which are softer than the stainless in most hockey skates. However with a wider blade, less sticks, goals and other skates to strike, most figure skaters will go 10 to 20 hours between sharpening on indoor ice. Once again, outdoor ice will make your skates dull in 3 to 6 hours of skating time.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Choose who sharpens your skates carefully </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This brings us to the next item on caring for your blades--choosing a good tech to sharpen them. It takes most people a year of consistent practice to become a mediocre skate sharpener. I've been doing it for 11 years and as far as I'm concerned there isn't anyone aside from myself and my employees qualified to touch my skates. The only way to figure out if a potential shop has the experience to sharpen your skates is to ask some questions.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do they use an automatic or vertical sharpener? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If so, RUN! Automatic sharpeners seem like a good idea as consistent pressure is an important aspect of a quality sharpening. However, automatic sharpeners are the quickest and most effective way to ruin a pair of blades. Pressure while sharpening needs to be varied carefully to avoid changing the rocker. Automatic and vertical sharpeners use gravity to provide pressure which is consistent, actually ruining the contour by rounding off the blades. This method can destroy your steel in a matter of a dozen sharpenings. It's not a sharpener you should find outside of Dick's Sporting goods or Play it Again. Any competent sharpener is going to use a tabletop sharpener.</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGh9QRgU1T2ye5_jEO60-kxjfJ-zQihs6mGXQgLS1-0XAFLsUa7v_a7SfWnw6ZAzKny3jxH4YqIwt5nDP0ckmt_UoxKWVgr4LMUx2zEJvkcuFbkieepPQ77AzlGgfxaQZ796qlhLRn6Q4/s1600/BlackStone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGh9QRgU1T2ye5_jEO60-kxjfJ-zQihs6mGXQgLS1-0XAFLsUa7v_a7SfWnw6ZAzKny3jxH4YqIwt5nDP0ckmt_UoxKWVgr4LMUx2zEJvkcuFbkieepPQ77AzlGgfxaQZ796qlhLRn6Q4/s400/BlackStone.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackstone table top. This along with the Blademaster (pictured below) comprise the best quality skate sharpener brands on the market today and are the preferred sharpeners of pros everywhere.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do they cross grind skates? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is, at best, a questionable method which ruins skates quickly. Skates are ground nearly flat for a reference marker before putting the hollow on. The advantage to this method is that a mediocre tech can get the hollow centered (assuming things are calibrated properly). However, this is done at the cost of your blades. Cross grinding will take an average of ten time as much steel off the blade as conventional sharpening and drastically change your skate rocker very quickly. I would avoid shops that cross grind. Rocket Skate never cross grinds. Heck! We don't even own a cross grinder.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What other skate services do they offer?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A full service shop is often more likely to offer quality sharpening. Techs that are more experienced in other aspects of skate repair are generally a little more conscientious when sharpening. Look for a shop that can mount and align hockey and figure skate blades, repair boots, and offers custom-fitting services before you settle for one that only sharpens. We offer full skate fitting, alignment, mounting and repair services at Rocket Skate.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How many skates do they sharpen a day? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Are lots of people bringing in skates to sharpen? A busy shop is going to have more sharpening experience than a slow one. The more practice a sharpener has, the better they get at sharpening. Doing a few pair of skates a week isn't enough practice to improve most people's skills no matter how long they sharpen. On the other hand, if they are so busy that they have to rush their work, it could be a problem. Sharpening skates should normally take about 5 minutes a pair at most. I typically sharpen an average of 120 pair of skates weekly, and can finish most skates in 3 minutes without rushing. Even my part time employees average at least fifty pair of skates a week, which is more than many small sharpeners will do in a month.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Maintain Your Mountings </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Loose rivets on hockey skates and loose screws on figure skates can wreak havoc on the rest of the boot and blade.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>One or two loose rivets on a hockey skate might not seem like a major issue. However, the forces that one loose rivet normally takes have to be redistributed throughout the entire carrier and boot. Where there is one loose rivet, more will follow. With each successive loose one, the force on the others increases. Next thing you know, you're falling down and have no idea why.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Now I’ve never seen a carrier actually fall off, though I suspect it has happened on rare occasions. With a large number of loose rivets something eventually has to go. Most skaters will feel like their blades are not sharp when they have enough rivets loose that the carrier begins to tilt. Make sure to check your rivets regularly so this doesn't happen. Once a month, or more often, simply wiggle your carriers to make sure that they are firmly in place. If any movement is detected you will need some rivets replaced. Any rivets sticking out are bad. Rivets are about $1 or $2 apiece. </b></span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">You should also check for cracks in the plastic holder on a regular basis. If a holder is cracked, replace it.</b><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>On figure skates, screws will sometimes fall out. Most blades will have more screw holes than required to firmly attach them, so don’t panic if you have a few holes on your mount that don’t have a screw in them. Typically the toe plate will have 4 or 5 screws and the heel will have 3. (This is done to preserve the possibility of making blade adjustments in the future if needed). However, if there is a hole in the base of your boot with no screw, that is an indication that one is missing and should be replaced.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Just as in hockey skates, a missing screw will cause forces to be distributed to the remaining ones Increasing the possibility of more screws pulling out. With a leather sole, you’re also looking at increased issue with the sole rotting if you do not replace a screw in a timely manner. Further, if the blade is loose, it creates forces on the boot in directions that the boot isn’t designed to take stresses which can contribute to premature breakdown of the boots. If a screw is missing because the hole is stripped out, be sure to add another screw to a nearby empty hole on the mounting plate if possible. Taking it to your local skate professional so they can plug the hole is a good idea as well. (Make sure to pre-drill a small hole on Graf figure skates and other composite sole brands before putting a screw in). Be careful to never over-tighten the screws, they strip out fairly easily.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Care for your Boots </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Many competitive skaters in both hockey and figure skating don’t wear socks when skating. While I won’t try to talk anyone out of this, it is much harder on skates than wearing even a thin pair of socks is. Any type of sock will absorb some of the moisture from your feet and keep it from entering your boots. Moisture is the number one enemy of skates.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For anyone, but <i>especially </i>barefoot skaters, I recommend always removing the insoles from skates as soon as they are taken off after skating. In dry climates, leaving the skates out of the bag between uses will normally be enough to allow them to dry. In humid places or for skaters on the ice so often that boots do not dry out, I highly recommend the use of a boot dryer. Those without heat are best to keep your skates in top shape; heat will actually cause the boots to break down more quickly. This site has a half a dozen types ranging from $30 to $700 - http://www.cozywinters.com/bootdryers</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Drying your boots out will lower the stink factor and protect the materials from premature decomposition.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In hockey skates drying your boots will greatly lengthen the life of your rivets. It also keeps the inside of the boots including the liner and padding drier and in better shape. I have even seen cases in hockey skates were the amount of perspiration in the skates actually caused TUUK hardware to rust and seize.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Leather soles on figure skates should always be snow sealed to keep moisture out. If using a wax snow seal, this should be re-applied every 6 to 12 months. If you have a spar varnish or other marine grade finish, you should not need to re-coat your skates. However, make sure to put a dab of silicon caulk on any screws you replace so moisture doesn't sneak in from the screw hole.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Another good practice is to tape the toes of your skates. You can do this yourself with SK8tape. If you prefer a nicer finish, the skates can be taped with a special clear tape by many figure skate shops including Rocket Skate for a fee. Either type of tape will protect the leather from both scuffs and moisture.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>On that note, it is good practice to wipe the outside of the boot after each session. Especially important for figure skates and the rare, real-leather hockey skate, this ensures that the moisture on the outside does not penetrate the boots. Leather that remains wet will eventually rot. Waterlogged leather can harden and even crack when it dies.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you have a loose eyelet in hockey skates, get it fixed right away. Waiting to get a repair made will almost always make it worse. Eyelets that are not repaired quickly cause the hole to become enlarged to where they will not hold a new eyelet any longer. At about $3 an eyelet and two minutes to fix, there is no reason to wait. If you have to have your eyestay rebuilt because the hole is too big, you are looking at $30 or more and not having your skates for a couple days at least.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tears in any pair of skates will continue to grow until repaired. I have seen people wait until the entire portion of their skate was ready to fall off before bringing it to the shop. What might have been $5, in stitching the initial tear, runs $60 to replace and re-stiffen part of the boot. Rocket Skate does boot repairs for both hockey and figure skates on our industrial shoe patching machine.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most new hockey skates have a solid plastic toe. Some brands still use a fabric-covered toecap on their boots. This is one of the weakest links on the entire skate, prone to cutting and tearing from other people stepping on them. I highly recommend a toe paint (Protect Toe) to keep them looking nice.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lastly, never ever wrap your laces around your ankles. This creates a pressure point on the boot that will cause a crease to form there. If you aren’t getting enough support from your skates, buy a new pair. If your laces are too long, buy a shorter pair. Wrapping the laces is a common cause for hockey tendon guards to break and will invariably shorten the life of any boot upper. Watch the pros some time - none of them wraps their laces.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most hockey players will get at least a few years out of their skates if properly cared for. Figure skaters doing double jumps might only get six months to a year before a boot starts to break down, but blades should last for years. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The most important thing for any skater wishing to keep their skates in top condition is to keep the them dry and don’t let them fall into any disrepair. With skates, one problem begets another. While it might be difficult to part with your skates for a few days for minor repairs, it is always easier than breaking in new skates and much cheaper as well. </b></span><br />
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<i><b>Experience counts</b> . . . sharpening, mounting and aligning skates since 2001, owner of Rocket Skate since 2006, Scott Noble, has worked with and learned from several highly regarded skate sharpeners. These include the assistant equipment manager for the Colorado Avalanche on the hockey front. On the figure skating side he worked with the Technical Sales Representative of GAM skates and the lead technician for Fleming Gray Skate Sharpeners (who sharpened for several Canadian Olympic skaters). Two of Scott’s articles on skate sharpening are part of the permanent collection in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.</i></div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6100577407037477377.post-11812866513180659182012-02-07T21:32:00.000-08:002017-11-29T16:56:08.873-08:00Figure Skate sharpening myths<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As a skate sharpener since 2001, I’m often surprised by the criteria skaters use to gauge the quality of a sharpening. In this article I’m going to focus specifically on figure skaters. Why? two reasons: </div>
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<b>First,</b> figure skaters generally have higher expectations for their sharpening, and rightly so. A pair of figure skate blades alone can easily cost as much as a really nice pair of hockey skates. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to be a little squeamish about a stranger putting your $400 blades on a grinding wheel. Also figure skaters spend their time on the ice focusing exclusively on skating. Hockey players have the distraction of team strategy, stick handling and hitting one another (sometimes for no particular reason). All of this waters down the hockey player’s focus on skating practice. Any thoughts on who is more aware of their edges? (If you guessed the hockey player, give yourself a big, red <span style="color: red;">F</span> for your grade on that question).</div>
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<b>Second,</b> figure skaters seem to have a greater level of confusion when it comes to the sharpening process, which is rather contrary to the fact they are generally more aware of their edges on the ice. I don’t mean that as a jibe. Strange as it seems, it’s more common for a hockey player to have an entire conversation about their depth of hollow and whether they should adjust it for the current ice conditions than it is for a figure skater to even know what depth of hollow they prefer. This is very much at odds with the fact that a figure skater is far more likely to notice an imperfection in their sharpening than a hockey player. Perhaps it’s just hockey players grasping for an excuse, I don’t know.</div>
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Regardless, below are some of the common misconceptions I’ve run across in my years. Hopefully they will help.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> 1. If the chrome relief section of your blade isn’t consistent, the rocker is ruined.</span></i></span></b></div>
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I’m not sure where the idea came from that de-chromed portion (that less shiny part) on a figure skate blade is there to gauge the rocker. Not only is this NOT the reason for the lack of gleaming silver close to the ice, it’s also a terrible gauge of your rocker. To understand why it doesn’t work you need to know why it’s there and the process used to put it there.</div>
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All but a very few figure skate blades (such as Paramount and Ultima Matrix) are made from carbon steel. Because carbon steel is rather ugly, blade makers chrome plate them to make them, well . . . pretty. One problem with this beautification process is that chrome is prone to chipping when placed under the rigors of things such as sharpening and skating. In order to minimize chipping, blade makers remove approximately ¼-inch of chrome from the bottom of the blade. This helps to protect the finish on the rest of the blade.</div>
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It’s very important to realize that with the exception of Eclipse brand blades, the de-chroming process is completed by hand on a belt sander. This means that you’re judging your skate rocker by a mark that was placed on your blade freehand using a tool about as precise as a chainsaw. In fact if you look at many pair of brand new MK, Wilson, Graf or Ultima blades you can see that chrome relief is significantly inconsistent even from one side of a blade to the other.</div>
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So, clearly, this is not a good way to gauge your rocker. Unfortunately, there isn’t a really solid way to do this short of measuring your blades with a micrometer every time you have them sharpened and keeping the measurements a detailed log book (that’s not a recommendation, it’s an illustration). The most important thing is finding a highly experienced sharpener. A less experienced sharpener is going to take significantly more material off your blades and apply less consistent pressure while doing so.</div>
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It typically takes me three to five passes to sharpen a pair of figure skates (unless you’ve been walking on gravel or pond skating). Four passes is going to take about 2 to 3 thousands of an inch of material from your blade. To put that into perspective, it would take me nearly 100 sharpenings to go through the quarter inch of chrome relief on a typical figure blade.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> 2. It is possible to sharpen figure blades all the way to the toe pick</span></i></span></b><br />
This one isn’t as simple as yes or no, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t simple. Yes, it is possible. NO, you don’t <u>ever</u> want it to happen. The only way to sharpen all the way to the toe-pick of a figure skate is to use a cross grinder, which is a vertical wheel of 6-inches in diameter. The use of a cross grinder can completely alter the rocker of a pair of blades in even a single sharpening. Cross-grinding before sharpening takes off 10 to 20 thousands, giving your blade a life expectancy of about 20 sharpenings even if you aren’t particularly concerned about your rocker being destroyed.<br />
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I don’t even own a cross grinder nor do I understand why some shops use them for every sharpening. The only reason that comes to mind is that they’d like to sell you a new set of blades as soon as possible. I use only a finish wheel for all sharpening. With a finish wheel, it isn’t possible to get all the way to the toe-pick on a figure skating blade because the toe-pick is in the way. While removing the toe pick would remedy this situation, I think we’re all in agreement—this is a pretty bad idea. Nonetheless, the finish wheel sharpens much closer to the toe pick than the ice ever can reach.<br />
Here are a couple examples: The toe pick on a Coronation Ace allows the sharpener to get to within approximately 3/8-inch and the Pattern 99 allows the sharpener to get to within about 1/2-inch of the toe pick. Comparatively, a flat surface, such as say ice, cannot touch this un-sharpened section at all. In fact, on the Coronation Ace there is a full inch behind the toe pick which you cannot skate on without the toe pick hitting the ice. On the Pattern 99 there is an inch and a half of unusable space behind the toe pick.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">3. Sharpening figure skates is more difficult than sharpening hockey skates</span></i></span></b></div>
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Both types of skates offer their own challenges. However the primary goals of sharpening remain the same:</div>
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Ensure the sharpening is square and parallel</div>
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Create a mirror smooth finish</div>
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Preserve the rocker</div>
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Select the proper hollow</div>
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While these goals are the same and the sharpening techniques are essentially the same, the challenges are different. Hockey skates are generally stainless steel while figure skates are generally carbon steel. As carbon steel is softer than stainless, creating a mirror smooth finish on a pair of figure skates is much easier than it is on hockey skates. Also somewhat more challenging is protecting the rocker on a pair of hockey skates. The challenge here lies in the rounded hockey toe and heel. It requires a significantly more pronounced twisting motion to sharpen hockey skates. Inexperienced sharpeners will round off the toe and heel of hockey skates more quickly, dramatically changing the rocker of the blade. It takes a lot more practice to maintain proper pressure on hockey skates.<br />
Of course the toe-pick on figure skates creates its own challenge as an obstacle to sharpening and a small challenge to the front of the rocker. These issues are easily addressed with a toe pick guard and the same techniques used to avoid destroying a hockey skate rocker. A toe pick guard literally makes it impossible to accidentally nick a toe pick while also allowing the technician to keep proper speed and pressure from tip to toe on the skates.<br />
Bottom line: it takes skill and loads of practice to sharpen any skate, but figure skates are actually slightly easier to sharpen once the skills are honed and the sharpener understands the variables involved.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> 4. The thumbnail test is a good way to tell if you have a sharp edge</span></i></span></b><br />
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Ah, the age-old tradition of rubbing a thumbnail across the skate blade—the theory is that if the blade is sharp enough to scrape off a little bit of your thumbnail it’s sharp enough to skate on. As great as that sounds, you can do this with a skate blade that has NO hollow on it. Granted, this is a test more often used by hockey players than figure skaters (yes, we hockey players are too dumb to tell if our skates are dull by actually using them) . . . but once in a while I see a figure skater attempting this trick.The only way to gauge sharpness, other than by skating, is to use the other side of your thumb to check them. This takes practice.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">5. Someone </span></i></span></b><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>with a $500 sharpener can do the best job sharpening skates</i></span></b></div>
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It’s true, sharpening is more about practice and skill than it is about the equipment. So is skating. Just as a sharpener on a $500 piece of equipment won’t do well, a great skater in a pair of fifty dollar skates isn’t going to perform at their peak. The converse is true as well. They don't make a pair of skates that will allow a novice to go out and land double axels. Nor do they make a sharpener which will make a novice sharpener as capable as one who has years of practice and thousands of pair sharpened under his belt.<br />
Taking your skates to a novice sharpener or someone who sharpens two or three pair of skates a week is about as wise as believing you can make nationals by practicing your axel a couple times week. An experienced sharpener with quality equipment who sharpens regularly is going to do a much better job on your skates than someone sharpening 10 pair of skates a month. I sharpen at least twice that number of skates in a slow day. Heck, my trainees get more practice in their first month (long before they’re allowed to touch <u>any</u> customer skates) than a most people sharpening at home likely do in a year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0Qq_gE2qyn9dA3p-vhB-DkN55CJDhBHN0GO4tZsHwG3mrY-NFeoKPXPMM-Jh6rjlKTrMND02qTIUM_zJvxU3oW-exeMXWj6AcUrj_S0l9oxskHM5p-PcCnpK8eSpVymG06UcoVN2qYlc/s1600/fleming-gray-b2-skate-sharpener_5037270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0Qq_gE2qyn9dA3p-vhB-DkN55CJDhBHN0GO4tZsHwG3mrY-NFeoKPXPMM-Jh6rjlKTrMND02qTIUM_zJvxU3oW-exeMXWj6AcUrj_S0l9oxskHM5p-PcCnpK8eSpVymG06UcoVN2qYlc/s1600/fleming-gray-b2-skate-sharpener_5037270.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>The Fleming Gray B-2 (above), a 1960's design, is a common sharpener found in home based businesses. These are commonly sold for $200 to $500 and used by at least one local sharpener focusing on the figure skate market.</i><br />
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Let’s put this into perspective. At Rocket Skate we use a Blackstone turbo, the state of the art skate sharpener. It’s a $10,000 piece of equipment, perfectly balanced with a 10% higher RPM compared to other machines. I match the machine with the best sharpening wheels on the market. Sharpening is the most important product we offer. It only makes sense to use the best technology on the market.</div>
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I also use a $600 dedicated figure skate holder (yes, I paid more for the device that clamps your skates during sharpening than your typical off the grid guy paid for all of his equipment). A dedicated figure skate holder is important because it is calibrated precisely to the wider blades on figure skates. Some shops use their hockey holder on figure skates; this will require more passes in order to adjust the sharpening. It’s also a more expensive single pitch adjustment holder which is significantly better than the dual adjustment holders. This type of holder ensures that your skate sharpening will be not only square, but will be square from toe to heel.</div>
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A couple other important items of note are the toe pick guard and the skate gauge. A good sharpener should use both of these on every pair of figure skates. The toe pick guard enables the tech to sharpen as close to the pick as possible without striking it. The gauge ensures that every pair of skates is sharpened square. Most shops don’t use either of these tools.</div>
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It’s important to know what sort of sharpener your skates are being sharpened on. A bad machine is like a pair of broken down pair of boots. A good skater could probably still land doubles on worn out boots. But they will not perform at their peak or be consistent. Likewise, a good sharpener will do a better job with bad equipment than a novice, but the results are always best when the machine and the skill are both at high levels.<br />
Blackstone or Blademaster are the premium brands on the market right now. Fleming Gray makes some good machines, as well. The floor model machines from these three brands are all capable of delivering excellent results. There are some archaic Fleming Gray models being used still that I wouldn’t let touch my hockey skates. Likewise, Blackstone and Blademaster make portable machines that aren't meant for serious sharpening. Look for a free standing machine with a hood and dust collection system.<br />
Wisota and EZ Sharp are hobbyist machines that only give mediocre results. These as well as the portable machines offered by other brands with no hood or dust collector are meant for personal use. They make perfect sense if you live in Alaska and want to sharpen your own. The don't make much sense at all if you're going to charge people.<br />
On the other side of the spectrum, there are a few brands that should <b>NEVER</b> <b>EVER </b>touch your figure skates. The worst of these is the Dupliskate machine. This is a top loading machine designed for use in stores were there is no plan to ever have a skilled sharpening technician. The Dupliskate ruins the rocker on figure skates in a matter of just a few sharpenings due to it's constant pressure on the blade. It will destroy the bulge (the area behind the toe pick where you spin) and round off the heel very quickly and there is no way to prevent this.</div>
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Some other poor machines for figure skates are the Incredible Edger and Blackstone X series machines which use a very small sharpening stone. When using a smaller stone the linear feet per second is much lower. This is one huge advantage of the 10% higher RPM rate and larger stone on Rocket Skate's Blackstone Turbo. Without a high linear feet per second rate, it's impossible to attain the proper finish on a skate. Your figure skates should always have a polished finish that is practically mirror smooth. You won't get this with a small wheel machine. </div>
The Incredible Edger is oddly popular with figure skate shops despite its horrible design. I can only guess this is because it is very inexpensive. It features a rack design, that like the Dupliskate, doesn't allow the tech to properly pivot the skate to protect the rocker of your blade. One of the selling points the company makes is the actually smaller wheel, <i>what</i>?! They claim their small wheel allows you to sharpen closer to the toe pick (true, but pointless). If you've forgotten how irrelevant this is go, re-read point #2 in this article. Sacrificing your rocker and a quality finish for a good hollow on the un-skateable portion of your blade doesn't make sense. </div>
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How about a few questions you should ask: Does your tech allow you to watch when they sharpen your skates? If not, what are they hiding? How long have they been sharpening skates? How many skate do they sharpen in a week? What sharpener are they using? How many passes does it take? (more than 12 is pretty much always too many, Most skates take me four or five passes). Do they use a pick guard and a gauge to make sure your skates are perfect? I love to talk to people about sharpening and always encourage anyone interested to watch. There’s a reason I don’t have a curtain or a wall between my customers and my sharpener.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">6. You have to pay more to make sure you’re getting a good sharpening</span></span></i></b></div>
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Hogwash! (That might well be the first time, I’ve ever used that term!) There’s also a term for charging extra to sharpen figure skates. It’s, “gouging.” Charging more doesn’t make anyone better at sharpening. It makes them greedy.<br />
There’s absolutely no reason to charge more for figure skate sharpening. Those who do are propagating the myth that it’s harder to sharpen figure skates. If it makes you feel better to pay more, rest assured, I’m happy to take your $12 and donate half of it to charity, but it will always be the same price to sharpen figure or hockey skates at Rocket Skate. Anything else is just stupid. Why punish figure skaters by charging them double for the same work?<br />
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<i><b>Experience counts</b> . . . sharpening, mounting and aligning figure and hockey skates since 2001, Rocket Skate owner, Scott Noble, has worked with and learned from several highly regarded skate sharpeners. These include the assistant equipment manager for the Colorado Avalanche on the hockey front. On the figure skating side he worked with the Technical Sales Representative of GAM skates and the lead technician for Fleming Gray Skate Sharpeners (who sharpened for several Canadian Olympic skaters). Two of Scott’s articles on skate sharpening are part of the permanent collection in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.</i><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br />© 2012 Scott Noble</span><span style="text-align: center;">All Rights reserved. Reproduction of this article in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the author's prior express written permission.</span></div>
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Scott Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12401597163323413362noreply@blogger.com2