Jeff Azzolin Bladetech

Did you straighten it, and then re-check that player weeks/months/years after? Likely the steel could have been warped from the OEM and has always been that way. The blade is constrained in the holder and would require a huge deal of movement east west to the blade and also to the holder (ie if the blade moves, the holder must move) to generate enough force for plastic deformation like that. If i had to bet, it was from the OEM originally.

Google "linear impulse of momentum" equation. More area, more time = more power. Exactly like the clap skate. Then wikipedia all the shattered world records once clap skates came out and the typical margin records are broken in various years on "normal training" versus the "technology implementation" timing. We apply the same physics and principles as the clap skate, just to a different degree and to a different product 🙂

Contact is continuous for about 2/3 or 3/4 of the length, middle and heel. Front is free float. 🙂 Cheers!

Secured at the back, constrained in the middle, free float at the front 🙂

Exactly... want a job on the R&D team?

I guess time will tell 😉 JK haha. I would say that we are looking into it, amongst many other things, but no decisions or timelines have been made at this point. Sorry to not have full clarity yet for ya.

The blade is constrained along the side walls/faces in the holder and hence, not able to move in those planes/directions. For the loading portion and numbers, I replied on a different quote so hopefully I answered that ok. Not sure what you mean by all over the map? Our technology would be the exact same as any other piece of equipment. Example CCM saying the new stick gives you 1% more MPH on your shots, TRUE saying their helmet reducing concussion potential by 5%....etc...etc... obviously its built on averages and different players will have differences based on their body/behaviours/mechanics/skill level...etc...etc so of course any and all stats/numbers of any equipment/technology are all over any map, but like most things those individual data points can be averaged/correlated, so not sure what exactly you are starting or asking here.

The standard steel you have seen is.... "standard" steel... haha. If you read into metallurgy you will find you can stress an object infinite times without ever deforming it, so long as you keep the level of stress "low" or in the "elastic region" of the materials/geometries ability. Over-stressing a material/geometry, certainly, you can bend it plastically and it will not spring back. But elastically, you are good. Google "plastic vs elastic deformation" and that should answer your questions.... side note... we also use much better steel 😉

Honestly, I would need to see some more literature on them to give you a better detailed answer. From only what I recall, their "flex" was in the mid point? And not sure if it was up and down, or side to side? Things are a bit unclear from the little i have found. BUT, in any case, those blades are attached via 2 bolts in 2 holes and the toe and heel portion cannot move up/down into and out of the holder. Bladetech has flex up into and out of the holder on the toe, so thats a clear difference. I just never found enough literature from Easton, it was all kind of washed up when we started and you just hear rumours but cant find any hard data (and you are a startup and consumed with 1000 other things to do). Sorry to have only a half-ass answer.

Correct, stay in the elastic regime, avoid the plastic regime. 🙂

All good. Fire the questions away, thats what Im here for. I might take some time to reply, but I will get around to it. So, I will agree that different skaters have different "gait" or "foot striking" timing and placements. I will also note that the same skater will alter their foot striking placements in different skating methods, forward, backwards, cross-overs...etc. The monitors are able to show exactly the force/pressure applied, and for the exact lengths of times in all areas to understand the strides of each skater. The amount of energy, again, can vary of the skater and the mechanics, but for example 10% of the input energy, which might be 40 pounds, which might come from a 200 pound skater accelerating and applying 400 pounds of force (F=MA) could easily be taken away from the knee joints and absorbed into the blades for potential energy. Some skaters were doing a lot more, getting close to 20% and some less, and then again, dependent on the several different drills we ran and the mechanics in each drill. In terms of point 1) any energy is beneficial, the energy being absorbed would have otherwise have been wasted anyways, so anything is a positive and for 2) all energy absorbed is released AS the skate is lifted, not before, not after, AS, as the force is removed, the energy is released. I think what you are trying to say is, some skating mechanics on certain drills would result on the toe pushoff and the vector of the foot/shin to be in a much more horizontal orientation than in other drills, and hence, the spring load vector release of energy will be more beneficial in some scenarios than others, to that, completely agree, yes. The 5% was an average, and the sample size was sufficient to prove/publish the data based on the amount of impact/benefit observed.

Correct, the blade itself is a spring. Visualize a diving board. Supported and anchored at the back, and free float at the front. Any deflection or "flex" results in built up potential energy that is released when the force is removed (either the diver jumping and releasing contact, or the skaters foot pushing off, and releasing contact), allowing the item to spring back to its original position and output energy. In the case of blades, the flex is extremely stiff and minuscule to the diving board, but the same concept. Thats on the "performance or power" front. Now for the "health and injury prevention" side. Running on a grass is better on your knees than concrete, jumping on a trampoline is better on your knees than solid ground, skating on Bladetech is better on your knees than a static rigid blade. The dynamic motion adds some benefit to the user by reducing and/or elongating the impact shockwaves. Similar to many sports equipment, springs are everywhere, people just dont notice them unless they look like a coil.... think golf balls, club heads, golf shafts, hockey sticks, tennis rackets... all can build up potential energy and release it, similar to a spring. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the feedback Westside, always appreciate the leanings to help improve. I can definitely re-look into the website and touching it up to add more information there. One comment I can make is that.... no pro players uses something they dont like... and we have a good number on our product for several years - but certainly we can try and publish their actual reviews they've provided or give you more info - duly noted. Also - which forum, perhaps I can be more present there to shed some light on inquiries. Cheers!

Thanks for posting the youtube video Giltis! The video outlines a simple example of testing techniques and technology used to prove out the model. 🙂 Cheers!

Hello BenBreeg, The spring action is "absorbing" energy on the initial plant/strike/impact of the blade into the ice, and then "releasing" the potential energy at the end of the stride. The difference being that, upon foot strike, the foots/shin is much more "vertical" and a lot of vertical impact energy is lost in the joints. Instead, the blade can absorb a portion of this. Later in the stride, at the final toe pushoff, yes, the blade then releases the stored energy. The difference here is that, on the final pushoff, your foot/shin is in a much more horizontal orientation, and the energy is transmitted back along the same vector. So in summary, initially absorbing vertical wasted energy, to give you more horizontal useful energy on the pushoff. And yes, of course, the timing and shape of the force curve would be different. Cheers!

Hello Miller55, The blades themselves act as stiff leaf springs, similar to a suspension in a vehicle. No they do not need a specific holder. You simply buy "SB4" blades for the "SB4" holder, "Epro" style blades for the "Epro" holder...etc...etc for all the different styles and shapes of holders/blades out there. In terms of blade/holder damage, no issues here. We have done lots of lab testing before even launching to make sure this is a non-issue via typical high volume cyclic loading tests. To add further comfort, we have had a wide range of players on our steel, be it from your average 5 year old to your NHL player and everything in between and havent had any issues. It does not add "stress load" to the holders, as all forces are transferred through steel, to holders, to boots, to your body anyways, so the same weight/force you apply with normal blades is the same as ours. Only difference is that, the flex force in our blades actually reduces stress shock from your knees and joints by reducing the "shock" or impact initial load via the spring technology. Its meant for performance and health. Bug me if you have any other questions, happy to help 🙂 Cheers!

Hey Hills, Bauer has some patents, which yes, have caused some havoc for other steel companies who focus on quality and do have have geometrical or purposeful differences than the Bauer blade. Bladetech on the other hand owns 2 published patents, one in the USA and one in Canada which grant us rights for what we call "flex-force" technology, and our blade differences are geometrically different and purposeful, or else we would not have gotten our own patents. More likely you would feel a difference standing/walking on them, but that feeling is slightly dampened once you are on the ice skating, or at least, is the feedback subjectively provided. However, obviously pro players would be extremely in tune with their equipment and can still feel the effects. The amount varies from player to player. The black steel listed right now does act in a similar fashion as any (or most) black steel, in that it improves edge retention and glide. Right now its a matte finish, however, we are launching a new mirror-black version as well, its out for our pro teams, starting to prepare for retail now. Hope that helps shed some light! Cheers 🙂

Correct - more shops, leagues, rinks...etc are open in EU than in NA currently. They got hit a bit earlier, and essentially, are getting out of the mud earlier too.

For those interested, check out True's Instagram account for a video with Scott Van Horne on the latest from True. TF9 - Coated stainless steel - Shift Onyx - being made by True TF7 - Standard stainless steel - Shift - being made by True Launch dates are August 14th for North America and July 16th for Europe. Enjoy!