Profiling Boston/RI area

[Cavs019 710]

Does anyone know of an experienced, reputable profiler around these areas? I've been skating on a stock 9ft tuuk my entire life and figure I'll finally check out what all the rage is about with custom profiles/lifts/etc. If not, does anyone know of any places where I could just order a set of 263 LS2's already profiled if I provide detailed information on my skating style?

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

If you want them already profiled you can just go through anyone, myself included.

[Doctor Hook 0]

Check with Pure Hockey, I'm sure they can do it.

www.purehockey.com

Locations in MA, NH, and RI.

[Cavs019 710]

JR I may just end up buying a set of LS2s through you, I'll keep you posted as this all hinges on me finding a pair of 7C One90s in the coming weeks. Also, which pure hockey location offers the best service? Ideally I would go right to the Warwick location.

[Doctor Hook 0]

Ideally I would go right to the Warwick location.

That's my store of choice for me. Great service and prices. And they're next to a Walt's Roast Beef and a really good pizza joint.

And I challenge you to walk into that store and only spend money on what you came there for. It's like frickin' Wal-Mart!

[providencebadboy21 0]

Know for a fact that Pure in warwhack will do it for you. As for finding C width that might be tougher, but they're real accomodating about custom orders.

[Cavs019 710]

It's not custom, it's stock.

[the_game 452]

If you want your skates done right in that area, its worth it to make the trip to Zwickers. Its about a 20-25 minute drive from boston, but they do the best job around in my opinion.

[mojo122 541]

The only problem with Zwicker's is that Wayne uses his own system for profiling. Basically profiled for playing center, wing, or defense.

[jptwofive 0]

See Monty at Breakway Hockey in Needham. I know he can do it, but I can not vouch for his work.

I am done with Pure Hockey. Granted I have not been to the RI location, but both marlboro and braintree have gone to sh@t. The kids who work there essentially treat all the customers like crap. From trying to be informed about what is coming to the market and the like through sites like this, you try to ask these kids questions and they have no desire to have any interaction with the customers to help them out. The last time I was in the new Braintree location, there were 4 people at the counter, while one kid sharpened skates and you could hear 2-3 kids running aorund in the back playing grab-ass I assume.

Thank god we have places like breakaway and zwickers.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

A lot of people can do it - it's not hard. The question is, will it be good?

[Cavs019 710]

Which is what I'm worried about.

[Doctor Hook 0]

See Monty at Breakway Hockey in Needham. I know he can do it, but I can not vouch for his work.

I am done with Pure Hockey. Granted I have not been to the RI location, but both marlboro and braintree have gone to sh@t. The kids who work there essentially treat all the customers like crap. From trying to be informed about what is coming to the market and the like through sites like this, you try to ask these kids questions and they have no desire to have any interaction with the customers to help them out. The last time I was in the new Braintree location, there were 4 people at the counter, while one kid sharpened skates and you could hear 2-3 kids running aorund in the back playing grab-ass I assume.

Thank god we have places like breakaway and zwickers.

Send an email via the address on purehockey.com voicing your beef. I've sent them messages before (albeit it was praise due to my satisfaction with their skate repair service) but the powers-that-be will see it and make sure things are corrected. They won't know there's a problem unless people let them know.

I'm pimping Pure Hockey because I love this store and I'll support it, but as we all know, get some teens together to work at a business and who knows what will transpire if somebody doesn't supervise.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

I've been a Pure Hockey customer for well over a year... while I notice they have a lot of younger staff, and 90% of the time it's different kids.... you shop there enough, you tend to learn which names and faces will give you the best service you need. Sticks, and equipment-wise, I know what I'm looking for when I walk in the place. I've spent over an hour fitting with Dale (Store Manager) at the Braintree location and he was fantastic in helping me resolve my handful of skate issues. It was basically a 2 week process of them bringing in a handful of skates from different stores in the chain for me to try on, and he stressed the fact that I was "not obligated to buy" any pair except the ones that fit best.

I've been to plenty of stores in the area (some even mentioned in this thread), and was not the least bit impressed.... in fact, one left me high & dry for well over 45 days.

[stick9 903]

See Monty at Breakway Hockey in Needham. I know he can do it, but I can not vouch for his work.

I am done with Pure Hockey. Granted I have not been to the RI location, but both marlboro and braintree have gone to sh@t. The kids who work there essentially treat all the customers like crap. From trying to be informed about what is coming to the market and the like through sites like this, you try to ask these kids questions and they have no desire to have any interaction with the customers to help them out. The last time I was in the new Braintree location, there were 4 people at the counter, while one kid sharpened skates and you could hear 2-3 kids running aorund in the back playing grab-ass I assume.

Thank god we have places like breakaway and zwickers.

Send an email via the address on purehockey.com voicing your beef. I've sent them messages before (albeit it was praise due to my satisfaction with their skate repair service) but the powers-that-be will see it and make sure things are corrected. They won't know there's a problem unless people let them know.

I'm pimping Pure Hockey because I love this store and I'll support it, but as we all know, get some teens together to work at a business and who knows what will transpire if somebody doesn't supervise.

Great advice. I've talked to the owner at length on more then one occasion. He's big into repeat customers and word of mouth as well as good customer service. I know one of the former store managers and a few other employees. They spend a lot of time training their staff. So if you have an issue you should definitely send them an email and let them know.

I've been going there since the day they opened their first store. Over the years they've treated me so well I wouldn't think of going anywhere else.

[Kevin 5]

It's a little farther, but I like Bob at No Icing Sports in Hudson, NH. He is the nicest and most accommodating guy. He opened up the store at 8:30 for me on a Saturday to replace my Tuuks before the store officially opened and did it while I waited. He does all the work himself, which is rare. I live in Boston, but it's worth the trip.

http://www.noicingsports.com/

P.S. I have tried Pure Hockey in Braintree, Sports Etc. in Arlington, and Needham Sporting Goods aka "Franks", the precursor to Breakaway, among many others.

[chippa13 1844]

Ditto on No Icing. I was skeptical but gave it a shot about 2 years ago and have been going back ever since.

[Neo5370 132]

Pure Hockey Warwick customer service is average to slightly below in my opinion. Lots of product yes, lots of helpful staff, not really.

[Doctor Hook 0]

Pure Hockey Warwick customer service is average to slightly below in my opinion. Lots of product yes, lots of helpful staff, not really.

The kids who jockey the register are kind of shwag. The dudes who repaired my skates in time for a big tourney: good dudes.

[cja5150 0]

Zwicker: I would only trust Wayne, not the heavy kid during the day. He told me on several occasions that his "regular groove" sharpening was 1 inch. I had it measured and it's actually 5/8. The woman who works there can be a beast IMO, and my friend dropped his skates off the other day and they still weren't sharpened 5 hours later!

Pure Hockey: Hit or miss, store by store, hour by hour. I like the work that Jason and Matt do sharpening my skates in Marlboro. There's a kid in Nashua during the day that is pretty good. Alot of youngish kids working there who really just don't know what they're doing. I prefered when the store was in Worcester.

No Icing Sports, Hudson NH. This is probably the best place to get your blade profiled in New England. If you have the time, drive up and see Bob. He will ask the right questions, and explain the radius and pitch he's about to put on your blade. He does ALOT of mail order also, you can email or call him and he'll set you up.

Side Note: Changing your radius/profile is a precise tweaking. Done incorrectly, it can really throw you off balance. It should really be done by somebody who appreciates the precision of such an operation. Throwing it onto a "radius machine" and pressing a button doesn't cut it. Drawing a line on the blades and cross grinding until you "think" it's good doesn't cut it either.

My $0.05

-Chris

[slidingsideways 0]

Zwicker: I would only trust Wayne, not the heavy kid during the day. He told me on several occasions that his "regular groove" sharpening was 1 inch. I had it measured and it's actually 5/8. The woman who works there can be a beast IMO, and my friend dropped his skates off the other day and they still weren't sharpened 5 hours later!

I don't know who the "heavy kid" is, but I met another adult (not Wayne) who said the same thing about the 1" grind. My Grafs were riding like they were on rails and chattering over the ice instead of sliding. He worked on them while I waited, saying he would soften the edges. When he returned them, he told me he had given them a 1" grind. I had my old Missions with me, and he gestured toward them and said, "Just like those. Same groove."

What?

I've never heard of anything other than goal skates getting a 1" or over. I can't decide whether he's confused or incompetent and am wondering about myself as well. I haven't had a chance to skate since he adjusted them, but if he's serious about the 1", I'm going to spend a lot of time on my butt.

Edited to add: is a 14' radius too long for a five-foot skater, or do I just have to adjust? My Missions are madly rockered, so this is quite a change, but Google suggests a shorter radius.

[DamnLocust 0]

If you're not a very shifty skater, or you're a heavier guy (or both) you can get away with an obscenely large radius. A friend was sharpening skates for an ex-NHLer playing at Chelsea Piers, and he got something obscene like a 1 3/8" ROH. Can't remember who it was, but I wanna say it was Joey Mullen. Still, at 5 foot (unless you mean wide) I don't see a 1" being too helpful. How much do you weigh?

One of the reasons you got so much chatter may be the 14' radius. How/where did u get that? A longer radius, like a shallower hollow, is good if you're more of a straightaway skater, and don't cut all that much. Still, sounds way too long. What size skate/holder are you on?

edit: almost forgot to add, Softer ice also calls for a shallower hollow, so maybe there's really soft ice there?

[slidingsideways 0]

One of the reasons you got so much chatter may be the 14' radius. How/where did u get that?

They put it on at Zwickers when I bought the skates a few weeks ago.

Rather than run this thread off-topic (more than I have already), I'll reply privately.

[chippa13 1844]

This is a recommendation thread, not a bashing thread. While their blade work may have dropped off (unless you get Wayne, then you're hard pressed to find better), Zwickers is still where I make most of my gear purchases. Joan, Wayne and the bunch have always treated me well and it is usually the first option when looking for something.

[slidingsideways 0]

This is a recommendation thread, not a bashing thread. While their blade work may have dropped off (unless you get Wayne, then you're hard pressed to find better), Zwickers is still where I make most of my gear purchases. Joan, Wayne and the bunch have always treated me well and it is usually the first option when looking for something.

You're right. I bashed and I apologize. The people at Zwickers treated me very well when I bought my skates and seem to know their stuff. I'll try to keep my tone reportorial rather than judgmental.