forward lean and balance point on skates

[cause4alarm 7]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a forward lean on your skates and what are the advantages/disadvantages of having a "balanced" skate?

I took my skates in to get repaired/reprofiled last week and the sharpener took it upon himself to alter the balance point of my skates. I believe 8090s come with a bit of a forward lean on them, and the sharpener removed that by moving the balance point of my skates back. He said that doing that would give me more blade contact with the ice, make me feel more balanced when I'm skating backwards (and forwards), and that I'd be able to cut deeper in my turns, or something like that.

I was under the impression that a forward lean might make someone a little faster, and being that I'm a forward who rarely ever has to skate backwards, I figured that that would be more desirable. (At one point, I was even considering having the lean increased.) Also, I've been skating with that forward lean for almost 2 years before the sharpener altered the balance point on my skates, so that's the feel that I'm most accustomed to right now. The sharpener said that if I had any problems with the skates, he'd take them back to alter them again, but I have a feeling he's going to try to convince me that my skates are better now than before.

What would you do in my situation?

[Reaper 0]

I'd ask him to restore your blades to where they were before and ask for a half dozen sharpenings on the house for him messing with your skates without your permission.

[hockeyherb 1]

Have you actually skated on them yet to see how it feels?

My first response to that of course it to make sure you get what you want out of your skate, not what someone else who has no idea about your game thinks you should have.

[cause4alarm 7]

I've skated once on them and I didn't fall all over the place. I had a terrible game, but I'm not sure if that had anything to do with the pitch of my skates.

I miss the way they used to feel, but I'm just wondering if this is something that I should just learn to get used to because it's for my own good (is it?), or if I should just go with my personal preference.

And normally I'd be pissed if someone messed with my skates without my permission, but this guy was trying to help and the least I could do is try it out at least once. Plus, it was right before a game so I didn't have time for him to fix it anyway.

[johnpace2 0]

I would have him fix it to what you are used to. It's pretty common for Offensive players to have a forward pitch on their skates, so if you were comfortable there, then it works just fine for you.

I also think the sharpener overstepped his bounds by doing something without running it by you first.

PS: The beauty of the Pitch 3 system...Blades detach incredibly easily, so I mail them off to a GOOD sharpener and don't worry about crap like this.

[cause4alarm 7]

I would have him fix it to what you are used to. It's pretty common for Offensive players to have a forward pitch on their skates, so if you were comfortable there, then it works just fine for you.

I also think the sharpener overstepped his bounds by doing something without running it by you first.

PS: The beauty of the Pitch 3 system...Blades detach incredibly easily, so I mail them off to a GOOD sharpener and don't worry about crap like this.

How many settings are there in the Pitch 3 holder? Which one do you use and why?

Like I said before, I was once considering getting a more aggressive lean, but I have no idea what the adverse affects might be.

[johnpace2 0]

There are three settings on the pitch. Forward, backward and neutral. The skates come with a tool that you use, which is basically just an Allen wrench.

I have Kor Shift 1's and they come with the pitch holders and steel. I had TUUKS on my Bauers and saw no reason to slap TUUKs on the Kors.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a forward lean on your skates and what are the advantages/disadvantages of having a "balanced" skate?

I took my skates in to get repaired/reprofiled last week and the sharpener took it upon himself to alter the balance point of my skates. I believe 8090s come with a bit of a forward lean on them, and the sharpener removed that by moving the balance point of my skates back. He said that doing that would give me more blade contact with the ice, make me feel more balanced when I'm skating backwards (and forwards), and that I'd be able to cut deeper in my turns, or something like that.

I was under the impression that a forward lean might make someone a little faster, and being that I'm a forward who rarely ever has to skate backwards, I figured that that would be more desirable. (At one point, I was even considering having the lean increased.) Also, I've been skating with that forward lean for almost 2 years before the sharpener altered the balance point on my skates, so that's the feel that I'm most accustomed to right now. The sharpener said that if I had any problems with the skates, he'd take them back to alter them again, but I have a feeling he's going to try to convince me that my skates are better now than before.

What would you do in my situation?

8090s do not come with a forward lean.

[gavin 0]

I have Kors now and I'm thinking about sending my blades away to someone who knows what they're doing sharpening next season. I'm kinda curious as to how that works. Do they re-attach them to another pair of skates with Pitch3 holders and then sharpen them?

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

That, or just sharpen the steel. I usually just sharpen the steel.

[cause4alarm 7]

8090s do not come with a forward lean.

He said he moved the balance point farther back on the skate, so does that mean the 8090s normally have a backward lean?

I got this quote from epinions:

CCM’s pitch is rather neutral, fitting between the aggressive forward lean of Graf’s Cobra and the backward lean of the TUUK and Lightspeed from Bauer.

Also, what are the benefits to having an 11-foot radius as opposed to 9-foot radius and vice versa?

[aoes812 0]

11-foot radius gives you the best of both speed (as it allows more of your blade to touch the ice) and turning.. 9-foot radius allows you to cut and turn better but less of your blade actually touches the ice, therefore you don't have the top-end speed you'd normally have with a 11 or 13-foot radius

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

8090s do not come with a forward lean.

He said he moved the balance point farther back on the skate, so does that mean the 8090s normally have a backward lean?

I got this quote from epinions:

CCM’s pitch is rather neutral, fitting between the aggressive forward lean of Graf’s Cobra and the backward lean of the TUUK and Lightspeed from Bauer.

Also, what are the benefits to having an 11-foot radius as opposed to 9-foot radius and vice versa?

Cause4Alarm - I can not give you an assessment without seeing it. Keep in mind that when you get the balance point, it is not dead center of the blade, but aligned to the boot. It will be further back. I am curious to know why he just shifted your balance point instead of dropping the toe down 1/32". Perhaps pictures would help. Did he mark the holder at all?

To answer your other question - the longer the radius, the better overall glide you get. Turning radius is compromised.