Skate design idea

[ktang 34]

I was watching some long-track speed skaters with their low-cut boots and seeing how they bend their ankles on the straightaways and in the turns.

With the higher-cut hockey boots, the eyestays go directly up the front of the skate. What if the eyestays curved slightly towards the inside of the ankle? Then, if you skate with the last eyelets loose or unlaced, you will be able to bend the ankle a little more for forward stride power and for tighter turns.

Then the skates could be modern-stiff for responsiveness, but the players would still be able to bend the ankles.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

You may have issues with comfort if there is a seam going round the side of your foot to accomodate the laces.

Also, if the eyelets are skewing instead of straight, it may cause problems with consistent lace tightness.

In the speed skates the heel disconnects from the blade also, to allow more flexibility, which wouldn't be possible in a hockey skate.

Its an interesting concept, and I am not knocking it, but just trying to apply the concept in practical terms

[Justin 1933 134]

Our inline skates have offset lacing on the top three eyelets...Most people don't notice that we do it, but it helps with stride and fit...

[ktang 34]

Only one of the long-track speed skaters had clap skates the other night... I didn't think about that for hockey, because of the tight turns' putting more force on the hinge.

I was thinking about something like a CCM lace lock to deal with the lace tightness.

I was thinking about something like a Bauer 8090 tongue to help with the comfort.

Now that I take a closer look at my ankles, the inner knobs are higher and more forward than the outer knobs. So, if the eyestays are set up so that they are more related to the angle of flexion, that might help with the power and maneuvrability for modern-stiff skates.

[ktang 34]

Our inline skates have offset lacing on the top three eyelets...Most people don't notice that we do it, but it helps with stride and fit...

I should buy some Mission inlines and put ice blades and holders on them to try them out!

[pantherfan 0]

Is the CCM Lace lock patented?

Can other manufacturers use it?

[Justin 1933 134]

No it is not patented, but it would be odd for another skate manufacturer to put it on their skates...

Go to REI and you will see tons of shoes with the exact same lace lock...

[pantherfan 0]

I think it's a good idea, although it sliced up my laces once <_< but i'm sure Mission for example could think up somthing along the same lines that wouldn't look like a complete copy.

Unless Mission has other innovative ideas......If so what are they? ;)

[Quintin 16]

My aggressive Salomon Vinny Minton inline skates have this lacelock feature. You just put the lace into it and poof! Locked.

[cobrAA 0]

Having a ''looser'' fit at the ankle could help the speed but never would it help tight turn. I can't do at all tight turn with a loose fit in my 2 last eyelet, this is why i tie them up like every period.

And when you see those fast skater, imo they don't really turn tight.

[TBLfan 25]

you can magyver a lace lock for yourself by doubling through an eyelet and tying a knot, then lacing regular. I have those tab "lace locks" on both my missions and my tacks that you simply lace out to in and it secures them nicely.

[ktang 34]

cobrAA:

That's a good observation that you make. The players who can do high-speed tight turns seem to be the ones who lace the top eyelets tightly. The players with the fastest top speeds do their top eyelets more loosely, to increase the ankle mobility, but then they can't turn as tightly at high speeds.

I'm trying to have the skate bend in a more natural way, so that there will be ankle support for the tight high-speed turns as well as ankle mobility for speed and the tight low-speed turns.

[cobrAA 0]

okay, i learn something today! I'm not an expert in high-speed skating!