Sprung Hockey

[sdh 0]

I decided to do some off ice training and mounted an A6 chassis to a pair of Bauer 5ks I had collecting dust. Based on the stuff I've read here, I had high hopes that they would feel somewhat similar to an ice skate. However, they feel completely FLAT. There isn't any give in the suspension at all. Is that normal? I was expecting a more rockered feel. Am I supposed to use different size wheels? Is there a break-in period?

anyone?

[Fletch 219]

Evan used to be involved on the roller side at Nike.

He is currently the protective product manager at Nike/Bauer.

Gotcha. Well if anyone wants to hire me as a skate designer, I'm all ears. ;)

St-Jerome is totally different than SoCal...there's a ski resort right up the road. Sure you wanna handle the winters?

My Wife would love it, that's for sure.

I decided to do some off ice training and mounted an A6 chassis to a pair of Bauer 5ks I had collecting dust. Based on the stuff I've read here, I had high hopes that they would feel somewhat similar to an ice skate. However, they feel completely FLAT. There isn't any give in the suspension at all. Is that normal? I was expecting a more rockered feel. Am I supposed to use different size wheels? Is there a break-in period?

anyone?

Hold tight....I'm sure Keith (Sprungster) will respond momentarily.

[Aussie Joe 0]

It took me 2-3 sessions before I really got a feel for the Sprungs. I also noticed I wasn't "using the rocker" in my 1st game back to roller in 9 months, over the weekend. I lowered my stance and started skating more like what I do when on the ice. It worked! I was flying again and burning guys left right and centre.

I guess my suggestion is give it some time, the Sprung is a hell of a product and some people (like me) take time to get used to it and figure out how to best use its pros in the right way. I'd suggest patience more then anything at this point, the Sprung will come through for you soon, it has for all of us! :)

[Sprungster 5]

It took me 2-3 sessions before I really got a feel for the Sprungs. I also noticed I wasn't "using the rocker" in my 1st game back to roller in 9 months, over the weekend. I lowered my stance and started skating more like what I do when on the ice. It worked! I was flying again and burning guys left right and centre.

I guess my suggestion is give it some time, the Sprung is a hell of a product and some people (like me) take time to get used to it and figure out how to best use its pros in the right way. I'd suggest patience more then anything at this point, the Sprung will come through for you soon, it has for all of us! :)

Aussie Joe, the check's in the mail. ;)

They have very stiff suspension, like a race car, so big guys can get on it without dragging parts on the pavement. The progressive aspect of the suspension allows everybody, regardless of weight, to use the initial, lower resistance with more than adequate performance, while the rest of the movement upward towards the stops, becomes increasingly stiff.

But stiff is relative. Skate on them until you trust laying into the suspension and cutting tight, along with skating through the toes for speed, and stopping too... say a week with your stick and a puck. Then skate on reg frames and you will know what stiff, and awkward and unforgiving are like. Mind you there are many players out there that are so good that they really do not need a thing in the world to make it any better, and not the worst boot or chassis or wheels or bearings or any piece of equipment is going to keep them from beating you. You don't fix what ain't broke. These people generally don't buy anything. For the rest of us, help is help.

If you still don't get it, you can send them back, for your purchase price, no problem.

[Fletch 219]

I skated on them once, and I noticed the smoothness in turning and just overall "better" feeling immediately. I was thinking "where have these been all my life?!"

They're the real deal, IMHO!

[fatwabbit 93]

Sprungs for life... am not intending to use any more rigid frames... They are by far the best I've had in terms of allowing me to stop confidently... even going hard to the boards after getting tripped hasnt stopped them.

[5HoleMadman 6]

I have to say that the first time I skated on them, meaning just rec. skating, I almost fell right on my butt. I had a hard time getting used to balancing myself on them. I thought they might be a little slow due to the fact that they felt soft when I was skating. After a few skates on them I got used to the balance and started gaining confidence turning and stopping. I say once you get the confidence to really take it to these chassis they really respond. Overall I am very happy with them. I haven't yet skated on them in a high level competitive league, but I can't wait until I do. They are the real deal!

[Aussie Joe 0]

Aussie Joe, the check's in the mail.

Only a pleasure Keith. ;)

[sdh 0]

I have to say that the first time I skated on them, meaning just rec. skating, I almost fell right on my butt. I had a hard time getting used to balancing myself on them. I thought they might be a little slow due to the fact that they felt soft when I was skating. After a few skates on them I got used to the balance and started gaining confidence turning and stopping. I say once you get the confidence to really take it to these chassis they really respond. Overall I am very happy with them. I haven't yet skated on them in a high level competitive league, but I can't wait until I do. They are the real deal!

What you describe is what I was expecting. I want that! My frames are stiff as hell to the point that there is no flex at all. They are definitely NOT soft. Keep in mind I'm coming straight from ice and haven't touched inline skates in many years.

I'll just give them some time and see if they break in.

Sprungster, you should offer springs for different player weights.

[inlnfn 0]

sdh What you describe is what I was expecting. I want that! My frames are stiff as hell to the point that there is no flex at all. They are definitely NOT soft. Keep in mind I'm coming straight from ice and haven't touched inline skates in many years.

Are you skating indoor on a court or outdoors on concrete? Also how much do you weigh and what durameter wheels are you using?

[steelperformer 0]

Hi,

here are a small impression from me while skating on SPRUNGS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-QWGYmyzA4

greetings from germany

frank

[Sprungster 5]

Hi,

here are a small impression from me while skating on SPRUNGS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-QWGYmyzA4

greetings from germany

frank

Thanks!!! We're setting up a video section on our site where we can put the links for Sprung videos. Your's is going on tonight.

[Fletch 219]

Keith, get my skates up on the site! I'm proud of my babies (as I;m sure you can all tell! ;))

[steelperformer 0]

Hi,

here are a small impression from me while skating on SPRUNGS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-QWGYmyzA4

greetings from germany

frank

Thanks!!! We're setting up a video section on our site where we can put the links for Sprung videos. Your's is going on tonight.

With pleasure ;)

frank

[saba 0]

Ditto on the keep skating on them its get better over time. For me the technique to get the most out of them took me about 5 skates, now I could not imagine skating on anything else. If I could pick some words it would be confident in all skating strides or consistancy of movement as to the greatest benifit of the Sprung's

[nomorals 0]

I seem to be having a bit of an issue on these that are just starting to pop up after about a month of use. Now that I'm getting used to them I can only assume I have become more aggressive on my maneuvering. Now when pushing off, especially while coming off a turn, when i finish off the kick and end up on the front two wheels it seems that the wheel or frame are flexing enough that it causes the wheels to hitch up and dump me on my face and/or ass. Anyone else had this or have any suggestions?

I was originally using some grey rinkrats (forget the hardness) that I thought may just have gone bad in front so i replaced the fronts with some harder red stars but it doesn't seem to have fixed the issue

[Fletch 219]

Is this the nomorals who used to play KX with us back in the day at WestCo?

[nomorals 0]

That it is... finally got my knee back in working condition in april.

[steelperformer 0]

Hi,

I have had issues ever I changed to new wheels (Hyper 250 Pro) - in this time, because i will turning or make a fast stride there will be a hard stopping on the wheels. I checked the frame and see some grinding marks. I've carve them out with a tool like Dremel. In the middle part i filled some epoxy to reenforcement.

After this, I have no issues - problems anyway ;)

Sorry for my bad english, I am german.

frank

[Fletch 219]

That it is... finally got my knee back in working condition in april.

Nice. Too bad we don't get roller games together anymore....maybe we can start trying sometime down the line.

[Sprungster 5]

Hi,

I have had issues ever I changed to new wheels (Hyper 250 Pro) - in this time, because i will turning or make a fast stride there will be a hard stopping on the wheels. I checked the frame and see some grinding marks. I've carve them out with a tool like Dremel. In the middle part i filled some epoxy to reenforcement.

After this, I have no issues - problems anyway ;)

Sorry for my bad english, I am german.

frank

I've never run into this one before unless the wheels are over sized (78mm?), but I don't see rubbing on the inside of the arms. Are there a bunch of broken pivot knuckles? Is it like that on both skates? Whatever it is, it isn't normal wear at all. I haven't even seen anything like that on our 300 lb players on A6's.

Or, you might have some A8 rocker arms in there by mistake. I don't know who would have sneaked them in there after I sent them to you, but it might be worth checking out. Remove the arms from the skate in the picture. If there are holes on both sides of the top front, that's the problem. They also hold 80mm wheels which will hit the frame for sure.

[steelperformer 0]

Hi Keith,

Iam using only 76mm wheels and I am 80 Kg. The photo shows the frames after ive carved them out with the dremel (because Ive carved something more then must be). There is a little rubbing inside the arms, but that was never a problem - the problem was the rubbing at the frame. I play always outdoor on asphalt by all weatherconditions - really hardcore materialtest (you can see it on my ugly skates :lol:) .

I dont now if the rockerarms are wrong - i bought the SPRUNGS completly from Andreas here in germany (rhein-main-eissport). Now the SPRUNGS will be fantastic and i have no more rubbing/stopping!!

frank

[Sprungster 5]

They're the right arms, and now I recognize that old devil, gravel. You've rolled a ton of rough stuff through there. The tolerance is originally very close, so there isn't a lot of room for 2-4 mm chunks sticking out from your wheels, but you fixed that for sure. The inside arm burn looks like gravel plus an off center wheel, where the bearing spacer is probably too long and the wheel sits to one side. I've seen and caused a lot of chew on beach skates, but not that much, cause sand just doesn't get that big.

[steelperformer 0]

Yes Keith - I think that will be the reason for the rubbing-problems. And also yes, they are well fixed. I am really happy with the SPRUNGS and would never go back to HiLo, TriDi or others. I ve just received some spare parts from Andreas, for the worst case ;) so i have now 2 rockerarms, 2 axles and 2 pivot pins - it is a good feeling to have this.

What kind of spacer will be good?

Thanks.

frank

[TeamTayberry 0]

I seem to be having a bit of an issue on these that are just starting to pop up after about a month of use. Now that I'm getting used to them I can only assume I have become more aggressive on my maneuvering. Now when pushing off, especially while coming off a turn, when i finish off the kick and end up on the front two wheels it seems that the wheel or frame are flexing enough that it causes the wheels to hitch up and dump me on my face and/or ass. Anyone else had this or have any suggestions?

I was originally using some grey rinkrats (forget the hardness) that I thought may just have gone bad in front so i replaced the fronts with some harder red stars but it doesn't seem to have fixed the issue

Check your front control arms for a crack where the pivot pin goes thru. You will have to remove the pin and remove the control arms to see it. I had one skate where the front wheels seemed to be locking up and a crack in the control arm was the cause. Sent Keith an e-mail and received new parts in a few days!