Increasing glide

[Norm 0]

As a fairly "ample" fellow I know I'll never fly across the ice. But that doesn't mean that I don't envy the guys that simply glide across the ice with jersies rippling from the air passing over them. They seem like they're not even touching the ice, meanwhile I feel like I'm skating through sand.

From what I've read there are numerous ways to remedy this:

• Improve your skating - no doubt about that
  
• Increase your skate radius - I have the turning radius of a Mississippi River barge anyways, but I'd hate to willfully give some away
  
• Decrease your hollow - I've tend to be fairly straight legged so I don't get as much 'bite' as I should; again hate to lose what I have
  

Are there any other ways that I can maintain my speed? On the MiracleStone site they had some kind of oil. Does that work? I was thinking that a Teflon based product might be good too, but I haven't seem any. T'blades maybe?

Thanks,

[Chadd 916]

You're going to have to chip in and help yourself out a bit. There is nothing on the market that will make you glide better than the things you mentioned. That said, some of my customers could tell when I ran out of my sharpening oil. They claim they get a couple more MPH when I use it.

Before you ask, it helps put a smoother edge on the steel on the final pass. You can't apply it after the sharpening and get any improvement.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Keep the steel smooth. I have a Miracle stone and a dry soap bar. After every skate, I use the stone, dry the blades, then rub the soap on (Dry) then polish it off. The smoother the blades, the less friction, more glide.

[shute 4]

i find that you get the most glide when you stop sharping your skates.. you can use a stone to get the nits out and stuff but try sharping them once and let them be for a season. i know mike modano from the stars only sharpens his skates once a season.

[Sven 1]

Once a season ?

How nuts is that ?

[GLUhipfan 0]

i find that you get the most glide when you stop sharping your skates.. you can use a stone to get the nits out and stuff but try sharping them once and let them be for a season. i know mike modano from the stars only sharpens his skates once a season.

I don't think that's true. The Stars' former equipment manager works at a local rink now (his son is the hockey director), and I've talked to him about some of the players' quirks, and he never mentioned that.

He did mention that Modano uses a 1" hollow though.

[Jason Harris 31]

i find that you get the most glide when you stop sharping your skates.. you can use a stone to get the nits out and stuff but try sharping them once and let them be for a season.  i know mike modano from the stars only sharpens his skates once a season.

I don't think that's true. The Stars' former equipment manager works at a local rink now (his son is the hockey director), and I've talked to him about some of the players' quirks, and he never mentioned that.

He did mention that Modano uses a 1" hollow though.

Let's say it was true. It would be an interesting contrast to Bourque's every period sharpening.

In other words, what works best for each of us?

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

You have to find your optimal hollow. Use body weight, ice conditions and skating style to figure it out. If you feel that you don't have enough glide, then you have to go shallower. Also, as noted, the blade finish is important - a smooth, glass-like finish will glide bettered then a chattered finish.

The first thing I do when I start my new job will be to talk to the ice crew. Find out what temperature they keep the ice at then go from there.

[pantherfan 0]

i find that you get the most glide when you stop sharping your skates.. you can use a stone to get the nits out and stuff but try sharping them once and let them be for a season.  i know mike modano from the stars only sharpens his skates once a season.

I don't think that's true. The Stars' former equipment manager works at a local rink now (his son is the hockey director), and I've talked to him about some of the players' quirks, and he never mentioned that.

He did mention that Modano uses a 1" hollow though.

Let's say it was true. It would be an interesting contrast to Bourque's every period sharpening.

In other words, what works best for each of us?

flippin hell once a season and once a period i personally get 'em done every 3-4 weeks and am thinking of putting t-blades on my 8090's because my "sharpenist" is a load of ----!

JR are you going to a new shop/area or something?

[whbd18 0]

JR are you going to a new shop/area or something?

if you go into feedback and questions you will see that he just moved and is going to work at B&R sports

[shute 4]

nope i remember hearing on tv once them saying that modano only sharpens his skates once a season. i thought it was crazy as well until i keep on getting to lazy to bring my skates in to sharpen and i swear i could glide much better then ever. one thing i really notice is that i don't make nearly as much noise when i'm skating. i haven't sharpened my skates in almost 4 months now and i play around 2 times a week.

[Chadd 916]

nope i remember hearing on tv once them saying that modano only sharpens his skates once a season. i thought it was crazy as well until i keep on getting to lazy to bring my skates in to sharpen and i swear i could glide much better then ever. one thing i really notice is that i don't make nearly as much noise when i'm skating. i haven't sharpened my skates in almost 4 months now and i play around 2 times a week.

It's not true. Going to a more shallow hollow will provide more gltde and still give you edges. Simply stoning your skate will not work at a competitive level.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Actually there is a pro who sharpens once a season. Pavol Demitra.

[Chadd 916]

200+ ice sessions a year and one sharpening? I don't believe it.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

That is what I heard. I forgot who told me, but I remember it was a reliable source - you know I don't talk out of my ass...

[Chadd 916]

That is what I heard. I forgot who told me, but I remember it was a reliable source - you know I don't talk out of my ass...

It has nothing to do with you, I don't believe your source on this one. I'm sure he gets them sharpened much less frequently than others but that's just not plausible

Look at what happens to rental skates in a month or two and they're just skating in circles. A man that size, with that much power will have no edges left after a month (week?) of practices, morning skates and games. I'm not 1/10th the skater Demitra is but I have no edges at all left after half a dozen times on the ice. Let alone stepping on another guy's stick or figting for the puck along the boards.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I agree with you on that aspect, trust me.

I'm trying to remember who told me. Like I said - it was reliable, and as crazy as it sounded, he said it was true. The thing is, I believe it was an equipment manager - I can't remember if it was Nashville's. It'll come to me.

[GLUhipfan 0]

I'll check on it. Next time I see Dave, I'll ask him about it. I'm curious now.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Thanks.

[headonaswivel 1]

Although hard to fathom only one sharpening, remember also that the average pro uses 2-3 pairs of skates a season. So it is possible.

1 inch is incredible but it makes sense. Hardly anyone has a stride like Mo. But it takes some serious edge control and more importantly strength to dig in hard and stop on a dime with that type of hollow.

My buddy in the A uses 7/8 and I found them incredibly tough to skate with at first.

[Bruin88 0]

im 185 and i had about 40 ice times with one set of s-13 t blades ,im not sure if thats alot because theyre t blades and theyre SUPPOSED to keep an edge longer

[GLUhipfan 0]

I just got a chance to talk to Dave, and he shot down the one sharpen a season for Modano. He said they were sharpened for sure once for every game, and sometimes more during the game if he lost an edge or got a bad burr on the blade.

Confirmed the 1" hollow, too.