jsykes

Ummm... that is exactly what needs to be done because without pointing out the things that are wrong, they dont get fixed. If the current testing isnt pointing out the issues, then the new testing is needed to do just that. Then once, the problems are identified, they can be addressed, hopefully with helmets that will be safer. Years ago, many racecar drivers were being killed in accidents where they suffered from basilar skull fractures. Helmets werent the problem and further testing found that no helmet would help and that it was the decelleration of the entire head area while the body was restrained by belts, causing these fractures. After the new testing and figuring out the issue, a new device, called a HANS was developed to help slow the decelleration of the head and since that device was introduced, it has saved many, many lilves, and to my knowledge, no one has died from a basilar skull fracture while wearing the device. It goes directly to your point in that they found an issue that the current standards and tests werent accounting for. They did more testing, found the issue and fixed the problem. To sit there and say they shouldnt change or improve the testing becasue all it will do is point out the problems is absurd. That is the first step in identifying the problems and, hopefully, creating safer products.

It depends on the brand for us. If they're looking at Bauers, then no bake before buying. However, Graf, CCM and Easton say their skates can handle multiple bakes without issue and encourage us to do it before buying so the customer gets the best feel for the skate. We charge $35 for a bake on skates not purchased with us and $15 for a first sharpening for skates not purchased with us. Both are free if you buy from us.

Any shop that wont bake them should be avoided. Easton encourages shops to bake them before trying on.

Have them bake the skates before trying them on, they must be baked to get a true idea of fit. If the shop will not do this, find another shop. They should fit you well, they mold extremely well will wrap narrow feet and ankles well. Another option is that the Total One is available in a C width. TOs are built on a larger last, so the D width ones you're wearing are actually more like an E. If you like the TO, you could get the C width which should be a vast improvement if you have a narrow foot/ankle.

Since so much of the skate is moldable and they bake longer than other skates, I'd wait the 24 hours to be safe. No sense taking the chance of damaging something. I realize during some of the demos they bake and skate immediately, but those are also not skates that people are going to need to live with for the long term and they're considered basically disposable. I'd wait. What's one more day just to make sure?

This weekend one of my employees had a customer come in and ask us to fit his kid because his new skates were killing his feet. They were bought at a local outlet for one of the big retailers (we had two of them go in within a few miles of us in the last year). Kid had a wide fat foot and they had "fitted him" and sold them Vapors. My employee spent quite a long time with him trying on different skates and they finally found one that worked for him really well. The father asked what model and size they were and turned to his kid and said they'd go back to the other store and get this model for him instead, right in front of my employee that had just spent more than an hour with them.

I've had a large number of the people that bought them from me have the problem. I have three employees in them and all have had the problem, one bad enough that it actually got infected and he had to be off skates for weeks. Gel sleeves have helped everyone that had the issues. And I've sold more than a few pairs, I've had to restock several times and its by far the best selling top end skate we've had (better than both versions of the TO and APX). Its more than just a "fit" issue. I actually find it hard to believe that no one you sold them to have had the issue (maybe they just havent come back to tell you). Its well known enough that the first thing my rep said to me when showing me the II's is that they redesigned the top of the boot to fix the ankle rubbing problem.

June 20th is what I was told for Mako II.

Right now Easton is low on stock on the Mako and is out of them in several sizes. They are not planning to restock until the Mako II comes out, which is still quite a ways away at this point, so its quite possible that many stores dont have your size because they're sold out and cant get them. It makes it really tough right now. We've sold a ton of Makos (having 3 of my 5 hockey playing employees in them doesnt hurt) and I'm turning people away right now because I cant get certain sizes from Easton. Unfortunately, the Mako II release is not planned for some time at this point.

Yes, there are several people that no longer work at Graf. Lets just say its not necessarily the quality of the product, but has to do with acquiring the materials.

According to Easton's online dealer ordering page, there are CXN runners in stock right now available for order. Not tons, but some of most sizes other than 11 and 12.

Thats the entire point of the tendon guard, that it doesnt restrict any movement and its only there as a GUARD for the tendon. That part of the boot serves no skating purpose other than to protect the tendon.

Thats the entire point of the tendon guard, that it doesnt restrict any movement and its only there as a GUARD for the tendon. That part of the boot serves no skating purpose other than to protect the tendon.

Yeah, but they werent worried about the longevity of those skates as demos. If they're your personal skates I'd wait a bit longer just to be sure as you're paying out of pocket and it would suck if they were falling apart 6 months down the road just so you didnt have to wait a few more hours to skate in them.

He's saying that the study used Blademasters BFD which is a progression from a regular ROH and that when Blackstone tried that shape they found no beneficial difference, which is what the Brock study is also saying. Since Blackstone found no benefit, they continued to refine their shape till they came up with the FBV.

Shop should bake them for you. These are a skate that can be baked multiple times and really needs to be baked in order for the customer to feel what they're really like. You should ask them to, at least, partially bake them for you so you have an idea of the post bake feel. If they wont, find another shop.

I spoke with the trainer from Caps one day when he was hanging out at our rink for his son's hockey game and I specifically asked him how many guys on the Caps were using FBV and the only person on the Caps is Jason Chimera. I wonder how many pros are actually using and have stuck with it. I know the Caps are a small sample group, but I'm surprised only one actually likes FBV. Of course Chimera's main thing is his skating so I guess it makes sense.

Yeah, we got ours and thats how I tired one on. We have not received the full shipment yet though as they will come before the March 15th release date.

As far as sizing, I wear a 7EE Total One and I couldnt even begin to get my foot into a 7EE Mako. My toes were completely crushed and curled at the end. I tried an 8EE and they seemed to be right for length, still found them a little too narrow for me though before baking. I didnt try to bake them because they're just out of my retail stock. From what it sounds like, baking would likely make them wide enough for me, but I still found them to be about a full size smaller in length than my TOs unless they open up a ton in length as well during baking.

Are you sure that there was no dirt or grit or anything under the level or inside the slot in the main part? You need to make sure they're totally clean when putting them on. Also make sure the magnet part is not dragging on the main level. There needs to be a little space between them so that it will actually be free to sit flat on the blade. I like the BR100 the best when I sharpen, its simple and works.

But you also have to have the money to fight it. I'm sure Bauer has much deeper pockets to fight this than Step does.

March 15th was the launch date I was given.

Got it. That makes a bit more sense.

So do you work at a shop or not? You make statements about "us" and "we" in regards to how you work, then you go on to say you leave tips when they go out of their way and that you dont have to pay for sharpening. Getting mixed signals here. LOL

That is when its the most important. Being able to service customers on short notice like that is one of the things that can separate you from another shop. We want all those players that come here for tourneys to remember us and when its time to come back, look forward to it. We actually get a decent amount of repeat business from teams that play other places that wait to make their purchases from us when in town because we've treated them so well when they do come to town. Hope that's a joke. While tips are appreciated, it should have no bearing on the wait time or the job that you do for the customer.