mug25

No offense taken whatsoever. Indeed, I'm not a good skater, although I know I've improved drastically, I've only got about 6 months of on-ice experience — prior to that I had only played inline. I was told that I would really like the 100/75 by one of the LHS employees so I gave it a shot. I'm going to drop down a level tomorrow night. Skating at Incredible on "The Den" so it's definitely good ice to test it out on right? Really appreciate the honest, informed reply. Would the 100/75 effect my overall froward stride? I feel like it's making my technique sloppy and incomplete, also feel like I'm not gliding really well.

I've been skating on 100/75 FBV for the past two months or so. I feel like it might be too much bite for me. I play at 3 different rinks a week — one rink has super soft ice. Another is pretty hard (it's the sheet that the Florida Panthers practice on) and the other rink is honestly an "in-between". I feel that on the softer sheet of ice, I'm skating through mud. Lots of drag and my strides really dont feel "complete". My technique on the harder sheets of ice feels much better. I hope that makes sense. Maybe it's my actual technique? Or is 100/75 too much bite? Will dropping down a hollow help this issue or is it just my technique? BTW, I'm skating on RBK 9k's and I weigh 314lbs, 6'1". (Yeah I'm a fatso but working on it)

The new helmet with the new visor. I LOVE the way this helmet fits. Very comfortable.

Helmet: CCM V10 w/ Oakley VR-903 Shoulders: Sherwood 5030 Elbows: CCM V10 Gloves: Easton EQ50 Pants: Tackla 900 Shins: RBK 7K Fitlite Skates: RBK 9K Sticks: Bauer One100 P14 / Easton S17 Iginla

Had a few "fans" in the stand last night. Pardon the crappy cell phone pic. This is sadly the only pic I have of my playing.

I use the wax to keep water off the blade. The rink I play at the most often is very notorious resembling this year's Winter Classic's ice. The Sex Wax has been the best thus far. I've tried a few brands including the Easton stick and a few others.

Not much but here is my Christmas haul. CCM V10 Helmet (my gift to myself) Washington Caps RBK Edge Socks Blackhawks Third RBK Edge Socks Oakley Half Shield JOFA Pro Stock Shins via TBLFan Easton EQ50 Gloves black Bauer jock (needed a new one pretty bad) 3 pairs of Elite Waxed 120" laces (impossible to get local) 3 sticks of SexWax (another hard to find thing) Gonna try out the shins and shoulders tonight to see how I like the "less bulky" gear. Oh and a little treat...Derek Stepan autographed puck :D Yeah, I'm a fanboy I guess.

Having a hard time finding XL black One95 pants online...let alone in a local store to try on. Might have no choice but to check out the TO pants. We'll see. I have some more weight to lose before I buy new pants.

Oh. Good heads up. Guess I'll just pickup the One95's when they start getting cheaper. Are the TotalOne Girdles any different than the One95's?

Looking forward to seeing the TotalOne pants.

Upgraded some items. Helmet: CCM V10 + ITECH Curved Shield Shoulders: Easton Stealth S9 Elbows: CCM V10 Gloves: Easton EQ50 Pants: Tackla 900 Shins: Reebok 7K Fitlite Socks: Reebok Edge Skates: Reebok 9K Stick: Bauer One100 / Easton S19 Upgrades planned: TotalOne Girdle+Shell (or maybe the TO pants depending on how they fit) and for Xmas I am getting either a pair of Bauer 4-Rolls or Easton S19 gloves. Also going to swap the shield for one of the Oakley straight cut models. After that, I think I am done for a bit!

Very easy for them to pop out. Honestly, I think it's a kinda retarded concept. Micro-managing grams on the end of your stick to get it "just right" is gimmicky. But that's besides the point. Customers stealing stuff is fail.

and just as much good as his stick is doing that far off the ice ;)

Well, apparently people are stealing the weighted butt-ends out of EQ50's now. Just went to get my skates sharpened and noticed 5 or 6 EQ50's without the butt-ends. Notified one of the fellas working there and they were pissed...I'd take all of the butt ends out and put them behind the counter, only give them to the person when they buy the stick.

Returned the Warrior shinguards and got these bad boys :D

I'm returning the Warrior shin pads today :( I tried them on at home with my skates on and did not like the way the bottom digs into my ankles. Cant tuck my skate tongues under either. Just gonna stick with my RBK's and get them sanitized LOL

Couple of new pieces of gear. Pro Stock Bauer One95 - Matthias The stick was VERY long, much longer than a retail One95. Apparently it was a solid extension built into the stick. When they cut it, there was a double wall. Is that common in pro stock sticks? I cant wait to try it out tomorrow!!!! and needed some new shins. Got the Warrior Hitman. They're really "squeeky". Need to break em' in.

No, I play in the Tuesday league @ Glacier. I'll eventually join one of the leagues @ Saveology but my main focus is getting into shape so I'm doing open hockey a lot, a few difference clinics + the league at Glacier. Which league do you play in there? (Sorry for being off-topic)

Odd, it's definitely not the first store I've seen with sticks locked up. I cant recall exactly which stores I saw with locked racks but Saveology definitely wasn't the first. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of them being locked up since I do like to get a feel for new sticks when they come out. The only place that has the highend sticks in stock (TotalOne, S19, EQ50 etc.,) around here is Saveolgoy. :( Still, if I were working in a LHS I'd prob scold quite a few little rich kids for the dumb shit they do in stores...I'm a little older and crankier than I was in my early 20's.

The Pro Shop at Saveology Iceplex (formerly Incredible Ice), where the Panthers practice — their pro shop have all of their high end stick racks with locks. You cant remove the stick unless an employee unlocks it for you. I'm sure most higher end stores have rack locks. If I were to buy a new stick, it'd probably be from there.

It's like buying a new car...the moment you notice your first "shopping cart dent" when coming out of Target you feel different about the car :(

Few changes... Helmet: RBK 8k (original series) Cage: ITECH curved Girdle: Tackla 900 (got rid of the CCM V08s) Elbow: CCM V10 Shin: RBK 7K Gloves: Bauer Vapor XX Skates: RBK 9K Sticks: Easton S17 (Iginla 100 for wing), CCM V130 Stiff for Defense, longer length)

When I used to work part time on the weekends @ a buddy's LHS, long ago... 1. Flexing of the sticks, I wasn't even aware of this until I became guilty of it myself in the past. I did it once at a store in the Mall of America with a CCM 110....heard a little "snap" in the stick. (I was much younger and dumber back then). I put the stick back and quickly walked out of the store. Yeah, I know jackass move but I can admit it. 2. When parents try to go for the cheapest possible gear for their children. Hearing "What's the cheapest helmet you've got?" pisses me off. Granted, I used to talk parents into buying top-of-the-line Easton sticks for their kids when they only intended on buying a wooden stick when they came in. LOL (I can sell salt to a slug) 3. People bringing in soaking wet skates. That's more of a "take care of your shit" sort of thing but I hated touching skates that felt like they were dunked in a pool prior to being brought in. 4. Kids taking actual shots with sticks. I've had some kids take a stick, walk to the back of the store where a net happened to be, and take a few shots with a stick they have no intention of buying... 5. People complaining that a price is cheaper online. They forget to take into account Shipping & Handling charges too I guess.

I doubt I'd ever buy a portable machine for home BUT I recently switched to FBV sharpening and I do notice a nice difference. So much less "drag".

do you guys end up wearing these gloves? They all look brand spanking new.