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flip12

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Posts posted by flip12

  1. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, colins said:

    If you read stories on Coffey and what he used to ask Barry Stafford for, it's evident some of the greatest skaters in the history of the game were constantly looking for improvements to what we'd assume was an already perfect situation. Coffey, Bure, McDavid - they all share something in common with the way they moved their feet - they rarely took more than a couple strides before utilizing a crossover. Today's best skaters are the ones with a high crossover to stride ratio.

    colins

    I was wondering if you were thinking of this before, but it sounds like you're on the "Linear Crossover" topic. I'm actually quite skeptical that this works the way that the guy who's always pushing it describes. It is a powerful weapon for attackers, but it's not all about top end speed. If it were you'd see guys taking linear crossovers when they get their first step out in the open on a breakaway. Also, the guy with the best speed today might still be Grabner and he hardly ever takes crossovers. He just outskates everyone on the ice and with a lower stride rate to boot. Where I think this technique actually has its effect is in forcing the defense to constantly update its angles of coverage, kind of like a weaving game of "whack-a-mole" plugging holes so the shiftier skaters can't break through. Changing direction with the puck places much more demands on the coverage of the attack and this is why the biggest points producers use "linear crossovers," because they're unraveling the defense as they transition. Even Ron Francis or Pierre Turgeon were masters of this and they weren't the fastest skaters by any means, just quick and shifty. This makes sense because hockey is more a game of 2-D races, going for patches of open ice, than it is a game of linear 1-D races of just to get to a point first. The 1-D race does come up but not nearly as often as the 2-D race, and the guys who are best with the puck continually reset the table by shifting the patches that they're using to apply pressure on the defense with. This is where the linear crossover comes in: keep going down the ice with speed, but open up a little space so this defenseman comes over, then back and now by him because he's not keeping up, or pull him over then pass to the recently covered ice that's now open for the sniping winger to come in and profit from the opening. I think that the explanation needs a little more detail to make the most sense. To say that linear crossovers are the best way for speed just doesn't jive with what I see the best skaters do when there's no one in their way.

  2. Posted · Report reply

    11 hours ago, IPv6Freely said:

    At least five on that penguins list are above 1". I can't imagine, but I'm also a crap skater. 

    I prefer shallower hollows and have ended up on edges deeper than 1/2 from eBay purchases and it feels awful, like the ice is ripping my knees out of my legs on every turn and stop. I also prefer a long radius, so I think the shallow hollow goes hand in hand with that.

    The shallowest I've seen was 1.5", on a pair of Gaborik-used skates that were up for sale on eBay. He was also on a long radius: 10-20.

  3. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Cavs019 said:

    It's nearly impossible to tell based on the eye test.

    I'm pretty sure Modano used something above 1". I don't know many people (in recent memory) who use something deeper than 1/2 voluntarily.  With the taller holders/lifts making it easier to get close to the ice on turns I really don't see any reason for using a deep hollow, unless you skate on marble-esque ice. I've also seen most people be able to transition shallower and shallower over time. 

    The one thing that always made me laugh was people claiming their sharpening was "too sharp" after getting a 3/8 and deeper sharpening as that was the "house" hollow, and then going and rubbing their steel on a piece of wood to "dull" the edges. Good times. 

    I read on here Fedorov skated on 11' radius at 1" hollow. I'm not sure about the source though.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, laserrobottime said:

    Hey all,

     

    I've got some time in the Super Tacks and wanted to update you:

    Foot profile: I have a wide forefoot with a tall instep side, a medium arch, an accessory navicular and a tailor's bunion on each foot that cause major fitment and comfort problems in stock skates. 

    Super Tacks fit: The skates are really, really nice. I opted for the oversize toe cap and I'm glad I did. The width of the skate and toe cap junction combined with the moldability make for a perfect fit at the forefoot. The oversize toebox makes for an almost Mako-like anatomic profile around my toes. I have not needed to punch the navicular out on my right foot but probably will on the left as the bone sticks out far enough to affect wrap over the top of the inside of my left foot. These skates are lower cut than my VH and that makes for a bit of an awkward transition on the ice for a few minutes. The heel lock is astoundingly good -- zero slop and they actually form enough suction at the heel when taking them off that they burp.

     

    The skates feel a lot like the Graf 9035 in height and overall pitch. They do not wrap like my VH but I expected that.

    Performance: Again, very happy here. I have VH-levels of comfort in the boot and the stiffness feels very similar. My feet do not develop hot spots or ache after skating. Forward flex is a little more limited than in my VH but laterally they feel very similar. Because they're lower on the ankle than the VH I don't feel as secure on the ice during turns but that's probably a matter of getting used to this boot.

     

    Custom process: I ordered through a league rep and it was all done manually, there are no order forms for the super tacks skate yet. I'd requested the 50K Nash/Clarino liner but that wasn't possible so I got full Clarino. I did not request lacing mods but the way the boot is built it looks like they are possible. The skates took 2 weeks and were overnighted to me from Quebec when they were ready.

     

    I ended up paying slightly less than half of what I would have for a new pair VH skates all-in. 

     

    If you have more questions let me know. 

    How much lower on the ankle are they than VH? Are they also lower than the Grafs you've had?

  6. Posted · Report reply

    7 hours ago, ruffage said:

    131g including the two strips of tape on the tenon that they came with. The hosel is very short. My standard fit Reebok Pro Perron blades are ~180g. The hosel on those wasn't quite as long as the original/standard Pro Kovalev (I have one of the old Warrior ones).

    Cool. Good to hear. I have a few Kovalev blades, from Inno, Warrior and Base, and they all have that longer tenon. They range from 190-202g's. It's not so bad, since the extra length means I don't have to use an end plug in a classic standard shaft. Shafts are so long these days, that doesn't really matter so much anymore.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, ruffage said:

    Got hold of my Base BC27 Pro Kovalev tapered blades the other day. They look to be an exact duplicate of the pattern of my custom Reebok blades I had made a few years ago from a Pro Perron mold, which is good fortune. I'll be pairing these with a True A6.0 SBP shaft.

    How much does it weigh? I've got a BASE standard Kovalev that's 199g. Curious how much lighter the tapered version is.

  8. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, MrData said:

    Haven't tried the Hossa yet, but I've handled the blade in person. The Hossa is more open at the toe, and it doesn't have the heel kink that the Kovalev has. Unlike the Kovalev, it's completely straight until you get to the toe area, where the curve starts. The Kovalev lie is hard to pin down because of the huge rocker and long length. You can play it like a lie 5 by using a longer stick and stickhandling at the heel, or like a lie 6 by cutting your stick and using the toe more. The heel is somewhere in between (5.5 ish).

    I find my Kovalev blades match the rocker of a Darby/E13 almost exactly. The main difference is the heel on the Kovalev is lower and more rounded, but just a couple of cm in it starts to line up very closely. The Darby also stops up short of the Kovalev length a few cm. 5.5 seems like the perfect description to fit most of the blade.

  9. Posted · Edited by flip12 · Report reply

    13 minutes ago, IPv6Freely said:

    I read it as medial side, but the same theory applies. Heat it up and curve it out. 

    I did too, but I pictured it as lateral. I confess, I don't know what it is exactly you goalies do, but I couldn't model it in my head as medial. That would be the opposite motion and pushing with the outside edge, aka, cross-over territory. Agreed, it's the same either way: bake the range of motion into the skate and it shouldn't be a problem anymore, regardless of which side it's happening on.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, Joeysallamander said:

    Just received VH goalie skates.  The model with a Bauer cowling.

    I was 3D scanned for the fitting (via ipad) and the skates were baked once.

    I decided to try the skates without my superfeet yellows.  I skated in a practice for and 90 minutes.

    The issue I had was the top edge of the boot slicing into my leg everytime I went in a butterfly or pushed side to side.

    This is the top of the boot above the inside ankles.  I think the inside area curves in a bit too much and digs into my skin- the composite material is so so sharp.

    Or I could be over pronating and I should throw in my yellow super feet.  Anyone else have this issue?  

    I am sorta baffled there is not a cushy comfort ring over the rim of this top boot area.    Everything fits amazing except that area.  I guess I have large calfs.

    I just hope I can heat gun it and bend it out slightly or else I am going to have to wear a wrist band around my ankle or by some gel pads.

     

    If I'm following right, it sounds like it's the inside top of the boot digging into the outside (lateral) of your ankle (rather than the medial, which would be the inside of your ankle, closest to the other leg). I had that issue in my MLX (not exactly the same boot, but a sibling to the VH) where it would dig into the outside of my leg especially on starting or accelerating forward strides. Just a page back, I detailed my solution based on adapting SVH's demonstration on molding a short track boot to accommodate the full short track stride. This allows me to get the ankle aversion necessary for a good push without the skate cutting of the flexion of the muscles that enable that position.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    @FivehoIe I found I had to mold my MLX boots with my ankle flexed in forward stride position so that it wouldn't cut into my peroneous muscles for the ankle eversion needed for forward acceleration strides. Not everyone skates with their ankles flexed outward as well as forward, especially nowadays, yet it looks and sounds like others struggle with that motion in their VH, such as Puljujarvi in this backchecking sequence. Now, I don't know if Puljujarvi's at the end of a shift and dead tired there, but he didn't look that awkward when he was skipping the top eyelet in Vapors. Seeing him struggle there made me immediately recall my first experiences in MLX boots. I got the idea to mold with my peroneous group flexed from this video where SVH demonstrates molding the full range of motion into a pair of short track boots.

    I'm not sure this will address your problem, but it sounded like it might be related, so it's worth a shot. The beauty with VH is they can be remolded again and again so problem areas can be addressed.

    Hope this helps.

    • Like 2

  13. Posted · Report reply

    5 hours ago, OzziesDad said:

    We have a rink here in MA that has 7 ice surfaces (and is adding two more) that has added 4 Sparx machines to take some of the load off the guys at the pro shop for those youth tourneys on weekends, and nights where its just droves of men's leagues playing.  

    I would argue that the guys at that pro shop are some of the best at sharpening in the area.  However, for people that just want to get a quick sharpening, and not have to wait as long, those 4 machines are invaluable in cutting down the work load.  8 months of incredibly steady commercial use on all 4 machines, and reports have been stellar. 

     

    Is it like those self-checkout lines at Target?

    • Like 1

  14. Posted · Report reply

    8 hours ago, hawkeyfan said:

    P46 does not match either the PM9 from bauer or the E28...What am i missing???  Th eP46 is really more like taking the P88 and tweaking the toe by opening it and giving it a lil more toe curve.  Its really the most pro-curve a retail curve has ever been.  Now some years back (2012) the landeskog (102-2) when it was first introduced was different than the later years (2013 and later is a 196-1).  So maybe your looking at an earlier landeskog curve.

    Also, rereading my original post that you quoted @hawkeyfan, I should have been clearer on saying I was on the hunt for a hybrid of the PM9 and the E28 and that's exactly what the P46 is. (That's what I meant by "PM9/E28.")

  15. Posted · Edited by flip12 · Report reply

    5 hours ago, hawkeyfan said:

    P46 does not match either the PM9 from bauer or the E28...What am i missing???  Th eP46 is really more like taking the P88 and tweaking the toe by opening it and giving it a lil more toe curve.  Its really the most pro-curve a retail curve has ever been.  Now some years back (2012) the landeskog (102-2) when it was first introduced was different than the later years (2013 and later is a 196-1).  So maybe your looking at an earlier landeskog curve.

    Good question. I'll explain how I've been plotting it in the blade space...To be clear, I mean the current P46, the ones labeled Landeskog or Bergeron depending on the model year of the sticks I've been seeing.

    Shape: If you compare the blade faces of the PM9 and P46, they're the two closest you'll find on the retail market. P46 is just a touch longer and has a toe-shooter's launching slice removed in a gesture toward the E28 but not as drastic.

    Lie: The P46 lie is just a hair higher than the PM9 on the toe-half of the blade, but the heel rocker and lie matches up almost exactly. Compared to a P88, there isn't the second lie zone on the P88 like there is on the PM9 or P46. PM9 is deceptively more rockered than it gets credit for. You can feel it when shooting with it versus the rockered heel then flat toe blades like the P88 or W10.

    The lie and shape for me are crucial. If a blade's not low enough, I'll have to chop my sticks so short, they're extreme to shoot with, so I look very carefully at the lie profile of a blade. The shape on the other hand does a lot for how the puck feels on the stick for me. I think it has to do with counterbalancing the blade weight and it's easier for me to do with a consistent height blade. The P46 matches the PM9 in those two respects much more than it does any other blade. 

    Curve: P46 has the heel curve of the PM9, but it curves again around the mid-toe. I've curved some PM9's at home and the ones that don't break get smoothed out, with a more continuous or gradual curve, just like the P46. The blade face ends up roughly as open as well--that is, a bit, but not so much as an E28. That would really depend on how much you want to emphasize the blade opening up, though, and I personally just like it a little more neutral. Curve wise, I see why you'd put it next to the P88. There are a lot of similarities there.

    To me that sounds like what you're describing: a pro-made variant of a longer PM9. I've been wondering if it isn't originally Bergeron's pattern, actually. His pro pattern looks like a near neighbor to the P46, but I haven't been able to find many examples of game used or return sticks from him online. I know Bjugstad's supposed to be the P46's "designer," but hasn't he gotten credit for the E28 too, which also has an alternate origin story with either Kamil Kreps or Ovechkin by way of Kamil Kreps? I'm suspecting potentially another similar story.

    However, I wouldn't necessarily agree that its potential for being a pro curve that has trickled into the retail market is the same as it being more "pro" than retail. There are tons of pros who use tamer curves than retail curves. There are also many that use exact retail curves. There just aren't so many non-pros tinkering with their composite blades as there were non-pros tinkering with wood blades back in the day.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    30 minutes ago, Stephen7 said:

    We offer it in what we label lie 5. I'm gathering feedback to see if whether lie 6 or 4 would get bigger interest. 

    Can you do a side by side shot with that and your lie-5 BM09? If it's close to that, then I'd be happy with the existing BC28. But if it's like the 28's I've seen from other manufacturers, they're not a 5 on the same scale as the E4/PM9 even though they're often labeled as 5's.

    If it's labeled as a 4 and has a lie similar to the E4, then I'd happily go for that. I don't care what the number is as much as I do the actual geometry. 

  25. Posted · Report reply

    55 minutes ago, Mimizk said:

    The amount of end grip is not big. So I can't say this heavy though, also can't say light against general end grips which have been sold in local hockey shops. Because its wood core vacuumed much of epoxy resin until resin would harden. And also probably you can see babbles around top of the end grip. This is not came when I did casting, but also had taken slow times and came out from inside of wooden core instead of infiltrated epoxy resin.

    How heavy, would you say? Out of curiosity, could you measure the plug before and after, next time you make them?

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