Sprung Hockey

[jpeaslee 30]

Skated on my sprungs for the first time today. I was just coaching, but got some pretty decent skating in. Initial impressions aren't quite as different as i thought they would be. I do like them. Definitely more grip and control with them. I'll post more impressions of them after i actually play on them tuesday.

[Chadd 916]

RE: Torspo

As for construction, they are excelent. Very high quality, like Eastons.

Knowing what the rejection rate was when someone else was using the factory, that makes me chuckle.

[Rick 0]

Speaking of Easton skates I have been skating a bunch the last week or two on my Easton (99) Z-Air/ Sprung combos and man they are really starting to come in. I had tried them late last fall but switched the Sprungs to my Tacks boots for a while. After being a Tacks guy most all my life all I can say is these 99 Easton boots are really nice. I guess I didn't really give them a chance before but after 7 or 8 skates the boots have really started to form well to my feet and the support is excellent. As for the weight of the skates I really can't tell a difference between them and the Tacks combo I was skating before. The boot actually fits alot like a Tacks boot and it kind of makes me wonder if Easton copied some of the Tacks features when the boot was designed back in 1999.

Rick Henry

[Chadd 916]

Speaking of Easton skates I have been skating a bunch the last week or two on my Easton (99) Z-Air/ Sprung combos and man they are really starting to come in. I had tried them late last fall but switched the Sprungs to my Tacks boots for a while. After being a Tacks guy most all my life all I can say is these 99 Easton boots are really nice. I guess I didn't really give them a chance before but after 7 or 8 skates the boots have really started to form well to my feet and the support is excellent. As for the weight of the skates I really can't tell a difference between them and the Tacks combo I was skating before. The boot actually fits alot like a Tacks boot and it kind of makes me wonder if Easton copied some of the Tacks features when the boot was designed back in 1999.

Rick Henry

Is that the one that was almost identical to the 952s from that era? I forget the year that happened.

[TBLfan 25]

Keith, you have an email! :D

[SickBoy 0]

Keith, you have an email! :D

And 3 from me over the past couple weeks about stripped axels. Please, I need to hear back.

[Rick 0]

Chad,

Yes they do look quite a bit like the old 952 Tacks with the sole that kind of wraps around the sides of the boot. I'm not really in love with the look of the sole but I play quite a bit on blacktop so it may actually add protection to the boots. I think those 952's may have come out the same year as the original Z-Air's. Its kind of funny I bought a book about Steve Yzerman and on the cover he is holding a pair of Z-Air skates on the end of his stick. They look almost the same as my Z-Air's but with a different sole and tongue.

Rick Henry

[Sprungster 5]

Keith, you have an email! :D

And 3 from me over the past couple weeks about stripped axels. Please, I need to hear back.

I think I'm back up with my email. Deliveries are going out today for anyone who ordered within the last week.

I've been working on my Baja Bug. Also took a bunch of the Torspos down to Joe's rink in San Diego. He'll mount them and sell some out of his pro shop. We're trying to get them priced and on the site this week, too.

While there, the best looking pair of new Eastons I've ever seen skated up to say HI. Black frames with screaming orange arms and matching laces. Died the laces with the arms. Super Killers.

[zo0k 0]

Im going to mount my sprungs tonight!

On my Torspo's!

[Rick 0]

Those Torspo's look sweet. Post some pics when you get them finished.

Rick Henry

[jpeaslee 30]

Those are some pretty sweet skates. I bet they'll go a lot faster once you mount sprungs on them :)

For a follow up on my quick review... Wow. I'm much more impressed actually playing in them. I got my laces laced up *just* right again. There were countless times when i made a sharp cut tonight that i was expecting to bit the floor, but i didn't. I just kept in a controlled turn and everything was great. I definitely see why these have gotten so popular. You just simply can do things on them that you can't on a rigid chassis. I'll also say that i got used to the extra length very quickly. When i was coaching on them the other day i probably bumped into my other foot a few times, and then never again. I'm definitely sold on sprungs. By the way, i'm 6'2" 235 (naked), and i'm running RR Hot shots, 80a in the middle and 78a in the front and back.

On a side note i have a question to other sprung users out there. Did you notice more noise coming from your skate after switching to sprungs? I have, i'm not worried about it, but just curious.

[boxhead 0]

So after skating on my sprung A8's for about hard 15 games I am starting to notice quite a bit more give in the "springs." At one point tonight I stopped very hard and pushed off the other way and the front two wheels on one skate flexed SO MUCH I looked down and expected to see the front two wheels rolling around somewhere. I love the feeling in neutral or slightly prone positions but when pushing off extremely hard they would do well to reduce the suspension travel. So here is one vote for a stiffer bushing and less overall suspension travel. That's my run down, take it for what it's worth Keith but there is some user feedback from a pretty experienced player.

[Sprungster 5]

So after skating on my sprung A8's for about hard 15 games I am starting to notice quite a bit more give in the "springs." At one point tonight I stopped very hard and pushed off the other way and the front two wheels on one skate flexed SO MUCH I looked down and expected to see the front two wheels rolling around somewhere. I love the feeling in neutral or slightly prone positions but when pushing off extremely hard they would do well to reduce the suspension travel. So here is one vote for a stiffer bushing and less overall suspension travel. That's my run down, take it for what it's worth Keith but there is some user feedback from a pretty experienced player.

The front rocker arm only moves up about an eighth of an inch, and only when it's under maximum load. We'll eventually have spring options and adjustable springs, but right now we have to go with the best overall performance curve on the spring resistance. Every vehicle out there with suspension bottoms out sometimes. Sprungs are designed to do so in the front rocker position. Maybe part of what you are feeling is the radical angle your heel can get up when you bottom out the front and roll through the toe

How would your stop and go have been on your old frames? Would you have been in position to do it any better? This is the kind of torque that breaks the top of good aluminum and mag alloy frames. And bends a sweep curve into lightweight aluminum frames. Maybe not the first time, but eventually. They don't break from straight ahead skating.

When I push off and the front two dig in, I know that if I keep loading the toes, I'll be in between the net and a very fast player with the puck at the other end of the rink. As for stopping like that, I'm incapable of doing it...yet. B)

[stock07 1]

Those Torspo's look sweet. Post some pics when you get them finished.

Rick Henry

Yea bet those will be some sweet skates...

[boxhead 0]

So after skating on my sprung A8's for about hard 15 games I am starting to notice quite a bit more give in the "springs." At one point tonight I stopped very hard and pushed off the other way and the front two wheels on one skate flexed SO MUCH I looked down and expected to see the front two wheels rolling around somewhere. I love the feeling in neutral or slightly prone positions but when pushing off extremely hard they would do well to reduce the suspension travel. So here is one vote for a stiffer bushing and less overall suspension travel. That's my run down, take it for what it's worth Keith but there is some user feedback from a pretty experienced player.

The front rocker arm only moves up about an eighth of an inch, and only when it's under maximum load. We'll eventually have spring options and adjustable springs, but right now we have to go with the best overall performance curve on the spring resistance. Every vehicle out there with suspension bottoms out sometimes. Sprungs are designed to do so in the front rocker position. Maybe part of what you are feeling is the radical angle your heel can get up when you bottom out the front and roll through the toe

How would your stop and go have been on your old frames? Would you have been in position to do it any better? This is the kind of torque that breaks the top of good aluminum and mag alloy frames. And bends a sweep curve into lightweight aluminum frames. Maybe not the first time, but eventually. They don't break from straight ahead skating.

When I push off and the front two dig in, I know that if I keep loading the toes, I'll be in between the net and a very fast player with the puck at the other end of the rink. As for stopping like that, I'm incapable of doing it...yet. B)

Don't get me wrong the stopping is great. It was just when I pushed off through my toe that the unsettling feel of balancing on my front two- or one wheel. I am a car guy and for handling purposes stiffer is almost always better. Mid turn if the suspension isn't damped well hitting little bumps or changing directions can unsettle the car and make you lose confidence and therefore speed. Since hockey players aren't offroading it there isn't much need for a ton of travel. I would love to play around with different bump travel and spring rate options. I have gone through many different combinations on my car and it took a long time to figure out what works best. Are the "springs" progressive?

BTW I say "springs" because although I have not taken them apart they are bushings, and not actual wound springs right? Forgive my ignorance.

[flyweightphantom 1]

hey sprungster have you mounted and flexlite skates yet?

[nickyb13 9]

hey sprungster have you mounted and flexlite skates yet?

on the sprung inline website there is a picture of a pair of flexlite 10's

[Sprungster 5]

hey sprungster have you mounted and flexlite skates yet?

Many, many happy pairs. But the lower end ones with the foam sole don't work good because the sole is too soft and the boot twists and you can feel the frame down the center of your foot.

[nickyb13 9]

thats the problem with the supreme's I mounted mine on. never really got a good feel for the performance cause the boot was so soft i couldnt skate comfortably. will be re mounting on a pair of code carbon boots which will be one heck of an improvement :P

[Sprungster 5]

So after skating on my sprung A8's for about hard 15 games I am starting to notice quite a bit more give in the "springs." At one point tonight I stopped very hard and pushed off the other way and the front two wheels on one skate flexed SO MUCH I looked down and expected to see the front two wheels rolling around somewhere. I love the feeling in neutral or slightly prone positions but when pushing off extremely hard they would do well to reduce the suspension travel. So here is one vote for a stiffer bushing and less overall suspension travel. That's my run down, take it for what it's worth Keith but there is some user feedback from a pretty experienced player.

The front rocker arm only moves up about an eighth of an inch, and only when it's under maximum load. We'll eventually have spring options and adjustable springs, but right now we have to go with the best overall performance curve on the spring resistance. Every vehicle out there with suspension bottoms out sometimes. Sprungs are designed to do so in the front rocker position. Maybe part of what you are feeling is the radical angle your heel can get up when you bottom out the front and roll through the toe

How would your stop and go have been on your old frames? Would you have been in position to do it any better? This is the kind of torque that breaks the top of good aluminum and mag alloy frames. And bends a sweep curve into lightweight aluminum frames. Maybe not the first time, but eventually. They don't break from straight ahead skating.

When I push off and the front two dig in, I know that if I keep loading the toes, I'll be in between the net and a very fast player with the puck at the other end of the rink. As for stopping like that, I'm incapable of doing it...yet. B)

Don't get me wrong the stopping is great. It was just when I pushed off through my toe that the unsettling feel of balancing on my front two- or one wheel. I am a car guy and for handling purposes stiffer is almost always better. Mid turn if the suspension isn't damped well hitting little bumps or changing directions can unsettle the car and make you lose confidence and therefore speed. Since hockey players aren't offroading it there isn't much need for a ton of travel. I would love to play around with different bump travel and spring rate options. I have gone through many different combinations on my car and it took a long time to figure out what works best. Are the "springs" progressive?

BTW I say "springs" because although I have not taken them apart they are bushings, and not actual wound springs right? Forgive my ignorance.

They're compound-progressive with a pending patent. The way they're used, they're springs that work like a stiff short travel racing suspension. With that said, Sprungs will have spring durometer/performance options available after we get the medium A8 done.

The first thing I've done with almost every muscle car I've ever had, collector classic or not, is put on a total monster gas shock suspension with all poly bushings, Big anti-sway bar, etc. Even a 100% matching number stock '64 Stingray with the Isky solid lifter engine and 980 Holly and 23,000 original miles. The Vette did 75 in first and the OG suspension and tires were not ready for what the car did. Suspension rules.

[boxhead 0]

Cool, I figured you had some background with cars to think up something like this!

I'm into turbo imports ;) Suspension is my favorite aspect of modifying cars.

[Spreedizzle 1]

Cool, I figured you had some background with cars to think up something like this!

I'm into turbo imports ;) Suspension is my favorite aspect of modifying cars.

I have a handful of friends that work over at Borg Warner Turbo Systems....they drive some sweet ass cars. Not to mention the new VTG's on the new Porsche 911 Turbo that they have in their "fleet" cars over there. ;)

[Sprungster 5]

Cool, I figured you had some background with cars to think up something like this!

I'm into turbo imports ;) Suspension is my favorite aspect of modifying cars.

The idea of inline suspension came as a total left field fluke while walking on my first bouncy moving walkway. Knowing how a valve train worked along with car and motorcycle suspensions gave me 6-7 different ways to do it in about as many steps.

[Rick 0]

I finally broke down and bought some new wheels and picked up some laces I had never seen before in orange. Which color laces do you guys think look better?

Thanks

Rick Henry

[Patrick67 1]

yellow ones on the right....