Westside

Thanks to this tutorial I decided to refresh my TF9 inline skates in hopes it'll get me to play more roller this spring/summer. New Marsblade O2 insert, new 3D printed True tongues, and carbon-look kydex 'shot blockers' around the backs to protect the heel. The Kydex and 3M tape cost a whopping $20 total so this was a cheap project to try. I even have enough material left over to make another pair. Using a jigsaw would have allowed more precision and cleaner lines, but a Dremel is what I had on hand and it worked easily enough. After cutting I sanded/beveled the edges, then used a heat gun to shape the material. Once each heel was roughly curved, I put on the 3M tape, applied more heat so the kydex was soft like play-doh, and with an oven mitt on my free hand, was able to press/conform the material to fit the odd shape of True heels pretty much perfect. If I were to do it again, I'd create a cleaner template so each piece would be identical, but whatever. Thanks again for the tips in this thread!

First roll with them was honestly shocking! Granted, I haven't skated O1s in close to 4 years, but the new inserts definitely remind me of using the O1 with the center bolt tightened as little as possible to get the most amount of rocker. When I first stood up with the R1/O2 insert, I almost lost balance which was odd because I was on the ice playing just a few hours before. Checked my skates as I thought I didn't tighten something! I've been so accustomed to the H5-T8 I forgot what more rocker felt like. It'll likely take some time to get used to, but first impressions are very positive and I would recommend anyone that wants more rocker or is an ice player to pick up the new inserts.

Was able to pick up a pair of the O2 inserts and install them on my R1s. Hope to give them a spin this weekend and see how they feel compared to the standard H5-T8 insert I’ve always used

Probably depends on how you have your boot setup, but I had to rebake mine, yes. The added volume put too much pressure on the top of my foot based on how they were previously baked/laced. Even with the amount they compress, it’s still a lot more volume

Funny, I used to do the same When I mixed durometers and people looked at me like I was crazy. Seems like most go the opposite

I’d agree. Air flow is probably the biggest, but like with CCM’s Tacks X helmet, the 3D printed lattice structure conforms to your foot the way traditional felt or memory foams can’t which also helps in the comfort department. Are they worth double the price of standard tongues? Uh…

Which is also what he stated at launch, but I still hold hope that would change. Major bummer and I wonder why?

The Velcro panel is solid material so that’s what the thread is anchored to. The lattice structure on the bottom doesn’t do much there, but well see what happens

An update on the 3D printed True tongues. Unfortunately, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the velcro patch began to pull away from the tongue. I reached out to True who sent me updated replacements that are now fully stitched, which should eliminate any issues going forward. I started using modified (shortened) 9x4 tongues on the ice skates and have put the new 3D printed tongues on my TF9 inline skates. Will try and test them out in 2 weeks when I'm back in town and able to play. Here's how the new tongue and old tongues compare. The only difference is the stitched section.

Saw this video the other day and apparently True will be dropping the blacked out versions along with these white out versions of the 9x4. I’ve been asking True to offer this for years for roller. Still don’t get why they wouldn’t make white toe caps an option as goalies can do it. I’ll definitely be buying when they become available and putting Marsblades on them I was never a fan of the colored facing on the old VH skates, but when you add the toe cap I think the louder skate suits roller perfectly. Adding the tendon guard and the rear panel is even better

Patiently waiting for the new sticks to be available on the custom configurator…

Thank you for the reply Per. Will it be possible to buy the O2 insert to use with the R1?

Just got a preorder email for the O2. Details are vague but I’d be curious to learn more. Does the new lower fit the R1 upper? They obviously look the same but maybe they’re not actually not same. If the upper is the same, does the O2 have the same amount of rocker as the O1? I thought Per said something about the effective radius of the O1 and R1 being totally different and the R1 not being possible to match the O1. The images show a green insert. Would that green insert allow for more rocker and be compatible with the R1? https://www.marsblade.com/o2-pre-access?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=202510-Email-Campaign-O2-Pre-Access-Newsletter-Us&_kx=s9PFwWVKXgcklZQMKKTjc6Hi56zy85xeHyQ8oN0-4OA.WaUmHn

Let's start bringing roller back! Been on Marsblade R1's for the last 4-ish years. Have had this pair of anodized Kryptonium frames in my closet collecting dust for I don't know how long. Decided to finally throw them on a pair of skates. We'll see if I transition back to a standard frame or stick with the R1. Surfside Hockey did the conversion.

Yes

Also strange their 2025 catalogue lists nothing new. No new Hzrdus, nothing about the new Cat line, and no new SVH

Almost bought a pair myself and planned on painting the navy black and swapping the cuff roll to make them Hawks throwbacks. Love those gloves

Got a pair of skates coming in for a roller conversion I’d like to bring in next weekend

FYI - Marsblade will sell just the lowers. Don’t know if it’s on their site or you have to reach out directly, but I did this so I could quickly/easily between two wheel setups. The color option seems like a no brainer. Both of my sets have been anodized

They're looking great IMO! Only comment would be that the lettering appears too glossy

I did not. Baked them with the felt tongues as that’s been my go-to setup. Didn’t know if the 3D printed tongues even could be baked

I feel like the current style felt t-guard true sells is thicker than the older version. I didn’t measure the two so it could be perception and not reality. 3D lattice structures can break in a bit with use, but every product breaks in differently. I’ll try to play a game of roller next weekend and test them out on the TF9

Quick update on the 3D printed tongues as I've now had 4 sessions in them. I'm still on the fence about these tongues for the long run. The tweaks I made after the first use made them work much better. I still get a little bit of pressure around the ball of my foot by about the 3rd period of a game. Socks still get soaked. I do think they'll work better in my pair of TF9 since the toe box area is much larger and this will take up some of that space without putting pressure on my foot. Since the TF9 are for roller, I think the ventilation benefits will work better too. I did end up cutting off a few inches of the stock 9X4 tongue and tried them out for a few hours on the ODR. Shortening them to the height of the felt tongues made a tremendous impact in comfort for me. If I do decide to put the 3D printed tongues on my inline, I'm going to give the stock tongues another shot on my ice skates. Can't really tell on the photos, but I threw a stitch down at the end like they come from the factory to ensure nothing unravels. At some point I'll likely shave down some of the foam so it tapers a bit and then use a nicer cross stitch so it appears more finished and less DIY

If you're referring to the spine protector, the FT6 line added a 'hinge' so that portion moved with your body and didn't stick straight up like he FT4 line. It's shown at the 3:15 mark on this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExamE_ze_aM

Welcome! Good luck with the restoration process. Guess the question comes down to if you want a faithful recreation or want to modify them to your own liking? Pics of Modano show him with black lettering https://www.gettyimages.in/detail/news-photo/mike-modano-of-the-minnesota-north-stars-skates-on-the-ice-news-photo/459182798