Massive skates downgrade?

[Vathsdrop 0]

Hello,

I still don't have bought new skates :( I was supposed to get new ones at Christmas but when I saw all the new stuff that was gonna come out in few months I decided to wait a little (looking forward to the 08 rbk6k or nbh one 75).

My problem is that I currently have pretty old tacks 952 that kill my feet like hell (I have some wounds on my heels due to the fact that the heel archs of the skates are totally broken).

So I really need right now some new skates (with my fucking broken skates is not a pleasure anymore to be on the ice). I'm now in a semi-professional team, my coach told me that I absolutely need my power skating back :(

Knowing that all the news skates will come out very soon, I was thinking to buy some very cheap skates (vapor IX or vector 3) just waiting for the 2008 skates.

Do you think it's a good idea? Will the downgrade be lethal for me? Shall I go for some rbk 5k 06-07 instead?

Knowing that I'm really short on cash if I buy high-end skates it will be to keep them a long time like my tacks ;) that's why I wait for the 08 lines to get some serious stuff.

Thanks

See ya

[kayhat12 0]

Semi-Pro Team and you are looking to buy for yourself?!?!?! You need to call your agent buddy. And a "semi-Pro" player would know about what skate to buy. So I think there will be a lot of confusion. Im just saying...maybe a little clarification is in order.

[shifter 0]

if you downgrade then the skates will be softer and the new stuff wont becomming out in like 2 months and by the first month you might already start breaking them down just a heads up ;). You can just buy the 07 rbk or one 90s for sale. Theres not much that has been upgraded to the 08 version..

[ashtonhutch05 0]

Your "semi pro" team doesn't give you equipment?

[kayhat12 0]

Alright boys! Lets start the fantasy stories again!!

[pantherfan 0]

Semi-pro can mean alot of things, he may be on a team that gets free ice time via 30-40 supporters or something like that.

[ashtonhutch05 0]

I know what you mean, but still, you don't have your doubts?

[kayhat12 0]

30-40 supporters? Ohhhh your talking about beer league! haha!

[pantherfan 0]

:P Well, a few more then that but you get the idea.

[Vathsdrop 0]

I don't play in US but in Riga (Latvia) right now.

It's totally different here than in Us or Canada where a midjet AAA can already have free stuff and agent.

I just joined the team and done a few trainings with them for now.

And if I really want to be part of the team and not being kick off any soon I need to improve a lot.

Here I don't even think that all professional players have as much as free stuff they want.

Even if it's the national sport here, the teams and the league have not as much as money than in US or Canada.

Plus it's not a rich country like yours <_<

Anyways even if here players don't get free stuff, the level is pretty good.

All I have now, is just 50% off on the gears of the shop that sponsores the team, but the price here are high, same number but in Lat (1lats = 0,7 euros = 0.4 dollars) that's why even discount price seems expansive.

[Jake 0]

One90's, Vapor XXXX's, RBK 9K's & CCM Vectors are all pro level skates that you can find nowadays for under $350.

[DCott 0]

If you don't want to spend much while you wait you could get a used high end skate to hold you over. That would be a better choice than a new low end skate.

[Vathsdrop 0]

yep in US!

Here it costs way more just a take look here if you have time

http://www.sportslukss.lv

And you will see how privileged you are in US.

In France (where I m from) one90 costs 699euros and you have to order it. You will never find a pair in any shop. And it's like that for every high end stuff.

[kayhat12 0]

First off, let me start by saying Im sorry for ripping on you about the whole Semi pro thing.

Second, Have you thought about Ebay? Even though some people wont ship to Europe, you can convince them if you pay for the shipping and whatnot. I shipped something to Germany once and it only cost me like $20 more for shipping than what it would have been. There are a ton of the new top end skates on it these days.

[Vathsdrop 0]

kayhat12>no problem.

The shipping cost for a ''US to Riga'' is something like 80 dollars :(

And sometime you have to pay the custom fee (20%-30% of gears's value).

DCott> good idea. I will try to find something here ;)

The best would be some old vapor XX or XXX. But hard to find.

[trevor13478 1]

One90's, Vapor XXXX's, RBK 9K's & CCM Vectors are all pro level skates that you can find nowadays for under $350.

where exactly are you finding vapor xxxx's for under 350, everywhere i see they're 550

[Jarick 5]

Well if your current skates are broken or don't fit at all, try and borrow or find a used pair of skates that do fit. If you can get some second tier skates (Supreme 70, Vapor XIX or XXV, Vector 8.0, 7k, etc) for cheap, you should still be much better off. And in the mean time, you could put money aside for new equipment in the future (especially if you are getting paid to play).

[ddbowdoin 0]

whoa whoa whoa ...

has anyone taken the time to look at their skate page... I don't care how much they cost but I want a pair of those all white grafs, holy shit!

edit : researched the currency FX those all white grafs would run you 706 us dollars and who knows how much that would run for a shipment from Latvia.

[ashtonhutch05 0]

Sorry about the semi pro thing, I was just speculating. Shouldn't do that as often.

[jimmy 194]

Shipping to Europe has really gone up. The USPS no longer has the "slow" by boat method, everything is by air now. A package that use to cost me $27 to ship to Germany, now costs $80.

A lot of the price difference between US and elsewhere is the other country's taxes and import fees their gov't charges, so those are passed on to the buyer.

You have to complain to YOUR Gov't. People may find the funny, but I actually hate buying stuff from Canada because our gov't fees are ridiculous now. NAFTA has really screwed us in the US.

Vathsdrop, the skate you pick is really not going to make a huge difference in performance, so if just for a few months, go with one that fits good.

[kayhat12 0]

Sorry about the semi pro thing, I was just speculating. Shouldn't do that as often.

NO NO NO!! No need to do that! I guess what we should do is, before we start at it, we need to do a little research. I caught this one guy in a lie in this one thread about protecting skates. Ohhh, I mean, it was a highlight I tell ya. :D

[ahearn10 0]

One90's, Vapor XXXX's, RBK 9K's & CCM Vectors are all pro level skates that you can find nowadays for under $350.

Where can you find Vapor XXXX's for under $350??

[duch 0]

Hi Vathsdrop. Why don't you see if you can pick up a pair of middle of the road skates from somewhere in Europe. I know it's expensive over there ( I'm from the Netherlands originally) but it might be a little less expensive than shipping in from the North American continent. I'd go with a cheaper pair of skates for a while but don't go too low end because it will effect your performance level at your level of play and they'll break down way too fast. If you could pick up a pair of CCM Vector 6.0's or Bauer XVI's used that should hold you down for a little while until you can afford something higher end.Myself I'd go with CCM's because they seem to give you a little more in the way of practical features than some of the other brands,( A bit more in the way of support built in and a decent outsole)at the same price levels.

[Vathsdrop 0]

Hi

Thanks for the advices.

I found a 709's pair of boots for cheap (used but in good shape).

Do you think it is possible to slap a tuuk LS on it?

Have some of you already done it?

See you

[Hazard14 0]

yes its possible, you just need to drill new holes for it