Advantages of forward pitch

[Amazinmets73 69]

I'm 28 years old and started skating 3.5 months ago. I've used two skates: Kor shift 1 and the original Mako. It's been difficult for me to balance on the forward pitch of the Mako, however I've been told that the pitch is conducive to proper form and will make you a better skater over time.

Should I stick with the forward pitch of the Makos?

[mickz 107]

A forward pitched skate would help with a deeper knee bend. Proper form and being a better skater still relies on good technique. What type of holder are on your Kors? Custom+ or Pitch?

[Amazinmets73 69]

I actually like the forward pitch for forward and backwards skating. The issue is transitional skating. When I transition from forward to backwards the steep pitch throws me flat on my face!

Also, it's more difficult to skate upright on the forward pitch. But I suppose as a hockey player you dont want to skate upright so that's not a major concern.

Kors are pitch

[Vet88 674]

It's not the pitch that throws you on your face, it's your balance on the skates. Your muscles and brain have to learn the balance points, center of the blades, body position adjustments, weight transfers etc etc all over again for your new sport. You are wearing retail skates and remember that 1000's of skaters out there wear them with no issues at all. Putting the fit aside, anyone can learn to skate in any type of skate, it just takes time and practice.

[flip12 717]

My first experience with aggressive pitch on ice was in Grafs. The stock Graf setup is much more aggressively pitched than the Bauers I had before (1997-Supreme 4000's and 5000's, 1998 Vapor 8's), but it also is on a longer rocker: 11' compared to the 9' of the Tuuk Custom+. I liked the combination of the forward pitch and longer radius, maybe because I was coming over from roller hockey, so the balance I had from that translated better to ice than on Bauers. Today it seems a lot of stock steel is 10' radius, but not the CXN, which is 9'. I find that surprising considering its speed skating roots, where you could expect a longer radius. In any case, I imagine it would be tricky to come from a longer radius and a less forward pitch. Although, on the Pitch3's, you could potentially have a forward pitch if you adjust it to that setting as well. I know it adds another parameter to throw into the mix, but you may like a more aggressive pitch on a longer radius. I guess one way to try it out without spending more money off the bat is to try your Kor's with the Pitch3's set to the +1. The stock radius on those was 10', I believe (someone please correct me if I'm wrong), so you could see if forward pitch plus longer radius works better for you. I don't think the +1 setting on the Pitch3 corresponds exactly to the Mako's stock pitch, but it should be in that direction, so you can get another comparison point to go off of.