Custom profile, shaving heels & heel turn?

[SolarWind 23]

Ok - not so long ago I've got STEP steel with 7/14 profile (decided to gamble for the heck of it :))

so far so good - longer rear profile does help stride & stability, and shorter profile in front aid agility

basically my pivots, stops etc are still sharp while strides are longer & the speed has increased

now the part which I'm not sure about is heel turns - I feel that because there's not much rocker left on the rear of the blade (it's almost square) when I press dows & in for heel turns they aren't as sharp - there's not much steel contacting the ice

hence my question - did anybody else had this problem?

another question is - is this why people shave their heels?

Thanks!

[jimmy 194]

The stock Step steel has a fairly flat rear. When your steel was radiused, that part was not touched (the last 1.5-2 inches.). Usually many like the flatter heel radius because it gives more power/stability in hard heel turns. The downside may be loss of sharpness in a turn. I've had a couple ask to have it shaved, mainly because it was different than their old blades, but this is common with many when they get new steel. If you have skated on them a while and think you are having problems, the heel radius can be shortened. I'd give it a while before you make up your mind though. The problem is not with the working area radius, you may just need a little shaving.

[SolarWind 23]

does shaving the heel change the rear radius?

I wish there was a way to try before shaving the steel off...

[frankie56 0]

My son prefers both the heel and the toe to be shaved with new steel. Quick tight heel turns during puck retrieval and escape moves are a big part of his game, and he's willing to give up some stability and push to get the agility.

[jimmy 194]

does shaving the heel change the rear radius?

I wish there was a way to try before shaving the steel off...

Shaving the heel does not change the rear radius of a combination radius. The heel has it's own radius. Once you shave it off you can't put it back.

[automorph 0]

for custom/combo radius , do you have to have it sharpened by the same place who did it?

[jimmy 194]

for custom/combo radius , do you have to have it sharpened by the same place who did it?

No you do not. Just have them sharpened as you normally would. Don't let a hack crossgrind them and you'll be fine.

[automorph 0]

anyone know who does combo radius in the Toronto area?

[Zamboni 6]

for custom/combo radius , do you have to have it sharpened by the same place who did it?

There's the fly in the ointment-doesn't have to be the same place but you need to frequent a good sharpener. There is a good LHS near me that has 2 terrible sharpeners-lot of kids around here with a rocking horse profile :P

Not usually a need to cross grind, yet some guys start their routine with the sparks flying.

Toronto area?....if your east my son loves profile he got at Crowes in Oshawa-its the combo your discussing...sort of, without giving away any trade secrets.

Be careful the profiles emphasis on the heel, talk of a combo profile doesn't get you a custom profile that takes away from the ''working radius"....the center area of the blade in contact with ice in stride.

You originally posted "I feel that because there's not much rocker left on the rear of the blade (it's almost square) when I press dows & in for heel turns they aren't as sharp - there's not much steel contacting the ice"

Before messing with your profile why not work on your skating? Kids I had out all benefitted from working hard on their 'heel shuffle' breakaway move. Skate the length of the ice, goal line to goal line with the heel stride, weight centre/back....exagerate the toe lift. I run 4 lane skating drills as a junior team practice, the heel shuffle is always one lane drill. Your calfs will hurt the next morning the first few times. Within a month your balance on heels will improve dramatically, and when you cut on heels it will no longer be a floating glide turn but rather a harder cut generating speed with the push off.

Watch Crosby accelerate on his heel cuts in tight/breakaway alone on goalie-your goal is to generate power not just direct momentum.

[SolarWind 23]

their 'heel shuffle' breakaway move. Skate the length of the ice, goal line to goal line with the heel stride, weight centre/back....exagerate the toe lift. I run 4 lane skating drills as a junior team practice, the heel shuffle is always one lane drill. Your calfs will hurt the next morning the first few times. Within a month your balance on heels will improve dramatically, and when you cut on heels it will no longer be a floating glide turn but rather a harder cut generating speed with the push off.

Watch Crosby accelerate on his heel cuts in tight/breakaway alone on goalie-your goal is to generate power not just direct momentum.

"just work harder" is generally a good advice - but people always been trying to cut corners, and sometimes that also led to good results :)

anyhow - I appreciate your advise, and will give it a few more goes for sure, my shuffle stride is solid (actually longer rear profile just aid it) - just the heel turns are lacking

what I suspect is that I need to go wider (makes it easier to press down & in on the heel turns because of the angle)... If we talk about Crosby - he does go real wide - at least twice the shoulder width - but when I do that it pull the groin :(

Generally how wide should I go to ensure effective stride & turns?

Also one thing I don't know - when you're cutting to the left let's say executing heel turn (left heel down & in, toe up) - are you still doing a c-cut at the same time with the right heel (as you said "a harder cut generating speed with the push off") or you just glide on the right?