IPv6Freely

I don't know if this matters, but the first 3-4 games I played in my makos my toes touched the toe caps enough that it hurt, but now they don't at all. It was upsetting at first because they felt great during the bake, but I just had to be patient and let them break in to once again feel like they did during baking.

I wonder if Scott is going to end up making the flex tendon guard a standard feature to avoid the issues people have been having.

You guys may have seen the posts I've made in the venting thread about my current team. Well, today I finally get to post in the Sweet Spot thread instead. I don't know if the captain and his assistants had a chat or what, but not only was the superstar first liner a lot less silly with his ice time and such, but he was actually pleasant and helpful. Not to mention we only had two lines tonight (which may have had a good deal to do with it), and the "A" was on my line. I asked him if he was playing centre and he was like "I can, do you not want to?" I said I've never played center besides taking the odd faceoff while killing a penalty, and suggested I'll try it if we get up a few goals. He was like "nah, get out there and we can switch if you want later." Wow. So I played the entire game at centre. Tiring as hell and I wasn't 100% sure of my positioning or coverage (I found myself often in the way of the RW, which is my usual spot) but it was really fun. I love taking faceoffs as well. I was maybe 35-40%, which is a lot better than I had expected to be. One guy beat me every time but the other two centers it was probably 50/50 with. Anyway, I still don't plan to play with these guys beyond this season (planning on changing to the new rink opening up this fall), but at least things seem to be a bit better than they were and sticking with it through the playoffs won't be so bad after all. We'll see!

I moved to California and I decided I'd root for the local teams. I settled on the Padres (oops) and the Kings. A year later the kings won the cup. This past season I attended a number of games and only rooted against LA once (when Toronto was in town). I went to two playoff games. I basically root for the Kings unless they're playing Toronto. I'm also a Hawks fan (because I like most things Chicago). Then I have many teams I'm completely neutral about, along with some I wish well but really couldn't care less about (Winnipeg, for example). And finally there are teams I don't like (Montreal, Ottawa, Flyers, Islanders, Canucks) and then at the very end of the dislike scale you have teams I would even root for Montreal to beat (Boston - I dislike all things Boston in just about all regards). My fandom is a pretty big sliding scale, but Toronto trumps all in a positive way, and Boston trumps all in a negative way. LA is just a close second because they're an adopted team due to moving to SoCal and wanting to have a team to root for here. It just as easily could have been Anaheim, really. Hell, they would have been much closer! I didn't know much about either of them when I got here and really just picked one of them randomly.

I don't dislike them, but I don't really care about them one way or the other.

I am. But I live in Southern California so I'm also a Kings fan.

In Canada :) Makes me so happy being here. Just wish the weather was warmer. We had planned on spending some time on the lake but it's pretty windy and chilly.

Yea, UPS said they didn't have a box big enough and TBH it just wasnt worth the hassle for the $10 or less I would have made on it after shipping. For that matter, I think I'm going to take all the cheaper sticks down from this thread. Shipping a cheap stick isn't worth the money I'd get for them.

I would agree with that. The Mako is the exception, not the rule. Now that being said, if you're stuck in between two models and can't decide, I think most places will bake when asked if it means the difference between a sale, and you walking out of the store because you couldn't decide.

I just wanted it the hell out of my garage, so I really didn't mind if somebody gets something they need. :)

And I'm more than happy to pay it when I buy skates online or whatever. That should be part of the decision making process when determining whether buying online makes the most sense or not.

Despite Easton saying its necessary? I know baking before buying isn't common practice otherwise, but for Makos its necessary.

You have to bake Makos to be able to tell if they will fit because of the way they are constructed.

Mine felt too small while on my feet before baking, and perfect during baking. Then after cooling they were actually too small for the first couple skates, but then they got worked in a bit and now they're perfect. I can still touch the toecap if I try but with a knee bend I don't. They're fantastic :)

Mine are barely tight at all, until the top couple. Barely even snug. Any more than that and I get pain.

No idea on curve. I don't see it marked anywhere. May be under the grip but I don't intend on taking the tape off :)

Easily the best post I've ever made in this thread. This was sent to me by JR as a thank-you for the help getting the site back up again. He told me he was sending me something, but wouldn't say what. I was kind of expecting a Synergy or something for a LTR, especially once a stick-sized box showed up on my doorstep. But nope... what was in that stick box was FAR better. That there folks is a game-used and autographed Drew Doughty stick, used during the 2008 World Juniors. I was absolutely floored when I opened it. He hit the nail right on the head - being both Canadian and a Kings fan, this was awesome for multiple reasons. I truly can't say thank you enough to JR for this incredible gift. Wow. I'm still in shock. I had to get a stick mounting kit before I took photos because this thing absolutely has to go on the wall.

I'm sure mine are well out of warranty. Oh well.

haha wow.

I still want to try them, but I just spent a fortune on our home gym so it may be a while :)

It was a good thing in my case. During baking, the skate was perfect but once I got them home (and the first 5-6 skates) they were slightly too small. A bit painful to the tips of my toes (especially since the tongue ends right at the tip of the toe box right where my toes were rubbing). But now that they've broken in a bit they are PERFECT.

Wait, you tried them on without baking them? That seems a bit pointless. You HAVE to bake Makos to have any idea what they will fit like. Hell, I couldn't even get my foot in the boot before I baked them.

Yes, that actually sounds quite a bit like him. Nice find :)

Well, just came back from my first game after the last debacle. It was actually going well for most of it. Of course the top line was together again, and the worst 3 players were put on the 3rd line again. I kept my mouth shut for pretty much all of it. Before the game in the room and most of the time on the bench. The 2nd period ended with line 2 on the ice. You'd think that would mean line 3 should start the 3rd. But nope, out jumps line 1. Fantastic. 4 minutes left, I score to make it 5-4. Apparently somebody decided that when a line scores, they change immediately - doesn't matter if it was 10 or 50 seconds into their shift. Whatever, that's fine. So I get off the ice knowing I probably won't see another shift, if we close it out. Line 1 back on the ice. They promptly get scored on to make it 5-5 (that was their 3rd goal against this game BTW). Nearing the end of their shift, faceoff in the offensive zone. The other team calls time-out. Fantastic! That gave our top line just enough time to take a rest and go back out and play another full shift (to end the 3rd period). Overtime comes, obviously line 1 starts it off. Heaven forbid anyone else on the team gets a crack at scoring the winning goal right? They actually kept it short this time, only about 2 minutes. 2nd line was very short, maybe 40 seconds. Our line goes out, and less than 5 seconds in one of our guys takes a penalty. Line 1 jumps over the boards. 5 seconds. A goddamn 5 second shift. Captain got a hell of an earful on my way back to the bench for that. They end up killing the penalty, and captain fantastic gets off the ice in exchange for the 2nd line center, who scores with 2 seconds left in OT for the win. What a surprise. So the crappy 3rd line ends the night +2, and the superstar line ends up -2 with the captain a -3. Good thing we put them out there every shift we can! I don't know what his deal is. Why does he think he's a superstar (he's not very good, but obviously he needs to center the top line with two VERY good players)? Why does he think he should get all the ice time? Didn't we all pay the same amount for this season? How come the rest of us get the shaft all the time? Look, like I've said, if we're down a goal with 2 minutes left I will absolutely offer to let our top guys go out. But that should be an offer. If I don't offer, GFY I'm taking my shift. I couldn't believe the 5 second thing, it was truly incredible. This isn't the bloody NHL. I think I'm done. I bloody love this sport and that's why I keep going back but I just don't think its worth the frustration and anger I have after every game, regardless of whether we win or not. I'm going to ask about being put on another team, or going to another rink altogether. Hopefully I can get a team when the new (even more) local rink opens up this fall. Otherwise, I think I'm best to just play some pickup while I work on my weight loss and strength/endurance with my personal trainer. It's a shame too because I genuinely like this team, except for captain fantastic who think's he's an all-star. On the other hand, we only have two more games (plus playoffs). Phew, venting over. Now to try to sleep without thinking about it all night.

I did, but I was skating in Reeboks that were too big for me, so I'm not especially helpful there.