Hockeymac18

Is the Synergy back in name only? Or are they planning to bring back some of the Synergy design/technology for their sticks? For someone that's been pretty dissapointed in Easton sticks since they stopped making the SE16, I would be interested to know where this is headed... Especially since I've been looking for something that resembles an SE16 since then. Haven't really liked the Makos as much...they're "OK", but just don't feel as good. Warrior dolomite felt the closest to the SE16, but it wasn't 100% and it's shaft being rounder bothered me at times. As someone that's used Easton sticks since at least 2000, it's been a struggle these last few years...

Thanks for the feedback on your experience adjusting to the set up. I suppose I should clarify and say that it was possible for me to "get used" to a 76-80 set up, but I just never felt like the same player. I always felt a little awkward and more on my heels than I had liked. My turns seemed less sharp and wider (which makes sense since the wheel base is slightly longer). I suppose these minor differences aren't a factor for a lot of players, but I've always found myself to be very sensitive to the smallest adjustments in equipment. Perhaps this sensitivity came from growing up and playing ice hockey competitively before even touching roller hockey (I was in my early-20's before I played my first ever roller game). I've heard some people coming from ice have said that a hi-lo set up feels more like ice than something like a full 80's set up. That being said, I have plenty of ice hockey-playing roller friends that skate on all 80's, so who knows. I tried on the alkali CA7's at a local hockey store. I really liked the feel right out of the box, and they felt more comfortable than the Mission T8's did when I first tried those on. Just gliding around the store, I definitely felt on my heels because of the all 80 set up. I'm considering having the store order a pair of CA9's and mounting a 72-80 chassis on them. For curiosity's sake, I might try a skate with the all 80's just see how they feel before making the switch. Thanks for the information about the pitch of the skates. I guess my question was if the Alkali skates had specifically been designed with an aggressive "pitch" in the heel in order to compensate for the all 80's set up. After trying them on myself, the pitch is more aggressive (makes me bend my knees more, which I love), but it didn't do much to take away from the "on-your-heels" feel of the all 80's. It is definitely very different than a hi-lo set up (76-80 or 72-80) even if the boot's been designed with a more forward pitch. I personally love the 72-80 and feel it's perfect for my playing style (which is best for quick starts/quick turns). It also feels most like ice hockey (to me), so having played ice hockey my whole life before roller, I've always felt most comfortable in a 72-80 set up. I also have a couple of 72-80 chassis for all of my extra skates (and if one of the chassis breaks). I've never seen a full explanation as to why 72-80 hilo chassis was completely abandoned. I know the patent is owned by Mission (so other companies never really made them), but I've never seen the exact reasoning for the switch. I've read some explanations by people, and have seen the market-speak about it (better "top end speed"), but it would have been nice to see someone still make a 72-80 chassis to give people a choice. If you want the quick starting/turning power of a 72-80 chassis in today's market, you have zero options (I guess 76-80 or a Tri-D come the closest). Then again, this is a topic for another thread. Anyway, I'm definitely going to give the Alkali's a shot. I think they'll be an improvement for me over the Mission T8's I'll be coming from.

I have a few questions about the Alkali skates, and rather than start my own thread, I figured for consolidation purposes it'd be better to ask these questions here. Perhaps some people here could provide some feedback for me. I've been a very big fan of mission skates since I first tried on their pure fly ice skates around 2003. When I started playing roller hockey in 2005, I tried out mission inline skates and loved them as well. Last year I bought a pair of Mission T8 skates and have liked them ok. They're breaking down pretty badly right now (have had a lot of weird issues with them, such as sweat leaking through the bottom of the skates!) and I need something new. I was aware of the Mission buyout by Bauer when I bought the T8's, but didn't know what other brand to try. I tried on many different skates from other manufacturers, but the Missions (that is, Mission-Bauer skates) fit the best. But, there were things I immediately did not like. I did not like the change from 72-80 to 76-80 wheel configuration. I felt very awkward and lost a lot of my agility and quick turning ability. I tried the skates out in this 76-80 configuration for months, but it just never felt natural and as good as the 72-80 on my previous Mission skates. I know you're supposed to be "faster" with this wheel configuration, but I felt the loss in turning radius was greater than any gain in speed I realized (and, honestly, I didn't ever feel faster). After a while of not being able to adjust, I had the chassis from my previous skates put on the skates (72-80 hilos) and the difference was phenomenal. I felt like myself again and retained my desired level of agility and turning ability. That being said, these new Missions still never felt as good or comfortable as the Missions before the Bauer acquisition. I recently discovered Alkali and have done a lot of reading about the company. I'm very intrigued with their skates, and really like some of the stuff that's been said about the skates. Particularly, it sounds a lot like the things I read about the Pure fly skates before I bought them in 2003. The Mission ice skates are still to this day my favorite pair of ice skates ever. The thought put into the design regarding fit (e.g. realizing the fact that a foot is not a symmetrical object and that everyone's foot is different, and designing for that in mind) was what really intrigued me about the Pure Flys, and I'm liking the similar stuff that I'm reading about the Alkali inline skates. I haven't had a chance to try on a pair, but I'm thinking of trying some out at a local store when I get a chance. However, I'm a little concerned about the all 80 alignment. Considering the fact that I just never could quite adjust to the 76-80 change in the new Mission skates, I'm having serious concerns how an all 80 configuration could completely mess me up. I realize that the boot is designed with a very aggressive pitch to put the player on their toes to compensate for the all 80s, but what if I just can't adjust? How long should I really give it before I know I've tried it for long enough? And if I can't adjust to the 80's, is it very unwise to switch out chassis (say, to my old 72-80 that I know and love)? Being someone that plays pretty competitively in the highest inline leagues, I would like to minimize this kind of adjustment period, if possible. If the all 80 configuration is something that people feel I can realistically get used to, I'm willing to tough it out...but if I need to skate on it and feel awkward for months, I'm not sure how I'd feel about that. I also can't afford a super expensive experiment, so don't want to outright buy the skates and come to the conclusion that I can't wear them because I can't adjust. In short, what I'm trying to say is that while I think the T8 Missions I've used for the past year have been ok, they just don't feel up to par with the past offerings I was used to with the old Mission company. From what I'm reading, Alkali sounds like the best thing for me for fit and skate design. However, I am really concerned about the all 80 configuration considering my past sensitivity to changes in wheel configuration (from 72-80 to 76-80) and I'm not sure if I could adjust (and be a better player as a result). And if I can't adjust, I'm not sure if putting a 72-80 chassis on an Alkali skate is the best thing considering they have been designed with an aggressive pitch specifically for an all 80 chassis. Should I give Alkali's a shot?