SolarWind

So what happens when you don’t get it to that balance point? Does it require any adjustment from the skating dynamics used on regular blades? I’m curious if the 6 degree flare makes it a bit harder to get a bite when rolling edge to edge?

My dry-land stick is 2” shorter I’m going to try shooting in skates off-ice, see if it mimics it better

I’m sure my technique could use refinement, so any tips on how to increase the convergence rate between dry land and on-ice shooting would be appreciated. Kick point does have some correlation to MY technique since with all other things being equal (length, flex, curve) the mid-kick loads up much better on-ice than low-kick. I’ll try to take videos and compare but was just hoping someone could point a few things that might contribute to the loading issue…

I'd really appreciate if someone could help me solve this "mystery": On ice I've always used mid-kick sticks since to me they were easier to load and produced decent shots. I've given low-kick sticks many tries before, but never could figure out how to get good velocity out of them - on ice. Recently I came across a dirt cheap near new APX stick in 77 flex, so I got it for off-ice goofing around and shooting. After cutting it down ~ 2" from my usual length (to account for skate height) it's ~ 85 flex. Off ice it quickly became my favorite sticks - shots are quick and velocity is great. So I took it on ice and in my hands it sucked the same way all low-kick sticks sucked before. Of course it's easier to load sticks off ice due to more friction + more stable surface to shoot from, but damn the difference is night and day?!! What could I do to even it out since I would like to make the low-kick perform on-ice the same way it performs off-ice. Is it just my shooting technique? I do shoot with hands in front and weight transfer, and I'm 5'11", 190 lbs so 77 flex sticks even cut down don't feel stiff. Thoughts?!

I though that blowing that fastest skater race would get him thinking twice about the new boots… as the saying goes “if it ain’t broken…”

Wonder if his enjoyment might taper off after losing the fastest skater event? His time was the worst in years, and his strides were choppy and not confident. First time I saw him gliding in corners vs running through them, so whatever benefits the new AS boot is supposed to bring aren’t apparent so far…

Makes two of us. So far True has been the best skate I’ve ever had so I’m not looking back even though it’s a nice looking skate.

Actually the original Russian text doesn’t say that at all. They ask a question “Is the retail model going to look like this or it’s a bluff? Personally I have hard time believing that there won’t be the traditional yellow colour added.”

Like up until 10 years ago I used to profile LS blades because there was no such thing as “stock profile” - everything was so inconsistent. But then STEP came along with their standard 10’ neutral profile and after adjusting to it I felt no need to fiddle with it. Coming from a forward 9’ profile the stock profile from STEP def promoted a more upright lazy skating style… now it’s been over a week of skating on Flare that PBH was kind to supply me with and I’m still adjusting to something as minor as moving the balance point back by 2mm lol I think it’s more agile but I have to work for it by staying low or I start losing the track edge over the toes. i’m really happy though I didn’t put shift on my trues and went with Edge instead since Shift is 3mm forward pitched comparing to Edge - a big adjustment to me personally.

Interestingly enough this is something that quite a few in the online community are wondering about: is Bauer focusing on flashy objects and forgetting true innovation?! Arguably One95 was the last breakthrough, and even that wasn’t all Bauer since Curv composite was supposedly developed by Samsonite.

PBH has a wealth of info, so it's always good to get the first hand insight. However one thing should not to forgotten: to each his own. I tried 2 different versions of 100K pro, and found it to be the worst skate I've ever had. There just wasn't any way to make that particular model fit my feet even via customs, so they felt uncomfortable and the performance was way worse than 10 year old custom NXGs. I also wonder re pro versions of Hyperlite: doesn't look like any pros actually use the stock outsole with that plastic piece under the heel? It's one of the selling features of the skate but it is actually a marketing gimmick? Also I seriously wonder re protection level of Hyperlite: the area where the boot connects to the toe cap the side walls seem extra thin, and can easily bend when pressed on with fingers? I can only imagine how nasty it'd feel if one caught a puck off that area? and personally I'm still puzzled about how this whole forward flex works since I feel like I have way more forward flex in custom Trues, which are pretty stiff, than in retail 100K.

Skated in my custom Trues for the first time, such a different experience wearing them vs all my other skates! I kept on thinking the skates are loose because there was zero pressure anywhere on my foot. But it wasn’t the case, the foot was locked up, but without any pressure points it must have been spread so evenly it felt like it wasn’t there. Best skate I’ve ever had, comparing with custom Bauer and CCM skates. One thing is weird though: I thought the skates were very solidly built, but just after 1 skate I see the toe separating from the boot cover? Is that normal? https://ibb.co/1mB9dPc

thanks for the insight! does this 'sandwich' make it too squishy? I also tried different insoles and always came back to stock Bauer ones with carbon fiber insert under the toes and the most responsive ones hence the question.

I totally see how speedplates would be an overkill, but what is the purpose of having 2 insoles vs 1?

quick one: what insoles do folks use in True custom skates? the stock setup with 2 different insoles sandwiched in is odd, and it doesn't look like something like superfeet is warranted since the skate is so anatomical already (including instep) so would just a basic flat insole from Bauer skates work better?

Not necessarily, when hockey is played like tennis it can be very frustrating for anyone! Somehow almost every kid feels compelled to whack the pack as soon as they get in contact with it sending in a random direction. Work in progress…

For these who are forced to wear a face mask on ice (most minor associations force coaches to wear them at all times, and even some leagues mandate masks for players) have you come across a more tolerable option? Cold environments combined with hot breath leave pretty nasty wet mask no matter what type I tried. And speaking with a mask on sucks also! Both these things combined make coaching a lot less enjoyable, as commented by even top NHL coaches. I’m not even referring to other drawbacks such as obstructed peripheral vision since it is what it is. But the damn wetness is annoying!

Red Dog Hockey Boost - Ice Hockey Equipment - ModSquadHockey mysterious shit 🙂

I'm hearing this issue is also common on one-piece CCM skates due to the outsole just being too thin to the rivets to latch to correctly? I'm also hearing that having boots sent not pre-drilled (if swapping holders) and being extra careful on the diameter of the holes drilled (go as small as possible) helps?

Looks like they’ve been making them for 23 years: https://vels76.ru/catalog/24 the reviews are mixed, it’s def not CCM or Bauer but they claim thermo-formable carbon shell and can put tuuks or their own runners so probably a solid mid-level skate at half price?

these are Russian made skates from V76 brand, model Encelad, that they've copied from other major brands.

How does this whole 'boot pitch' even work when the holder is what underpins the boot, and along with the runner these two define the overall pitch? Unless there is some pitch to the insole itself (thinner/thicker @ the toe/heel), but it appears to be pretty uniform thickness on all abovementioned boots?

Great idea, but I failed before I got going: "All coaches must be registered members of USA Hockey".

"With great power comes great responsibility" 😉 Kidding aside personally I think it's a Great position to be in, since you get to plan & execute the season according to your vision of how the team should progress. There is an unlimited number of things to work on in hockey from technical skills through individual tactics to team strategies, and it requires a methodical approach which takes time to see results from. What I find more difficult is the situation when parents, that never played the game and can barely skate, volunteer to coach not necessarily because they want to help, but to live vicariously through their kids. The game surely looks different from the stance than when you're eating the glass in the corner, so this oversimplified view doesn't translate well to coaching. Some things are just hard because they are, and players need time to break skills down and learn to apply them in a game under pressure. But to an un-initiated it would certainly look very frustrating since it's so "simple" - at least from where they sit...

Apologies for the double post (Mods - feel free to merge), but looks like the coaches forum isn't very active so I figured I might as well post the link here since it's more active. Coaching 5-6 years old: teaching the game - Coaches' Room - ModSquadHockey