Skate radius and sharpening suggestions

[Bulawa 2]

Dear Gear enthusiasts out there,

During this nights game, was ref at a beer league, I noticed how much I actually do with my toes and forefoot. From standing still or slowly gliding I start about 75% backwards, just using about half an inch of my LS4 blade, sharpened to FBV 100/50, with a few fast steps. . Do you think there is a thing I might do on the gear side of life to maximise what I get from those starts, aside from a holder with flex (from OD1N, one heard rumors that there might be an update to the edge holder inbound).

I always had the guys doing the sharpening keep the shape of the LS4,but might be you guys now something cool to do on the blade...

[ktang 34]

I ask the sharpeners to not take anything off the toe so that I can get a better backwards crossover start. I use Step Steel, which seems to have more in the toe and heel (for the equipment managers to take off when contouring).

[60PlusWinger 82]

Custom profile is essential for any advanced level of skating in my opinion. It will change everything for you. The problem is you must be very picky with who sharpens your skates and you need to memorize the specs that work for you.

I get a 8/13 combo radius with a medium forward pitch at 5/8ths hollow for example.

[Chadd 916]

Custom profile is essential for any advanced level of skating in my opinion.

I know a lot of pros that have no idea what their profile is and just go with whatever is on their skates out of the box. A custom profile is not "essential" by any stretch of the imagination.

[60PlusWinger 82]

I know a lot of pros that have no idea what their profile is and just go with whatever is on their skates out of the box. A custom profile is not "essential" by any stretch of the imagination.

I swear you just like saying black if I say white. If someone is having trouble with their steel they should opt for a profile to fit how they skate. Sharpening/profiling can change the way a skate works for someone just like performance summer tires on a jeep in snow. Go to a big box store and have your skates sharpened by just anyone too and tell me how important it is

[JR Boucicaut 3759]

The problem with this is that when you buy your Jeep, they come with all-season tires. Which means that it may not perform the best in certain conditions, it will be good enough. Same concept applies.

Sharpening/profiling can change the way a skate works for someone just like performance summer tires on a jeep in snow.

[Gummer12 134]

Chadd is absolutely correct. And you are not completely wrong. Will profiling help some people? Sure. But all Chadd is saying is, is it "Essential" for everyone to get done, no. Not at all. Some people are good enough to adapt their skating style to fit their skates. The key thing to remember, 99% of everything in this game, is Personal Preference. What works for you, might not work for me, Chadd, or the next guy.

[Chadd 916]

I swear you just like saying black if I say white.

That should tell you something about your opinions.

[marka 518]

Howdy,

Is there a way to find out what blade profile you have now? The info pages for both pairs of skates I've used doesn't mention anything about a blade profile.

I noticed a difference in 'grip feel' for lack of a better word when I changed skates recently despite having them sharpened at the same place to the same radius, and I'm wondering if the blade profile is the difference.

Mark

[Vet88 673]

Howdy,

Is there a way to find out what blade profile you have now? The info pages for both pairs of skates I've used doesn't mention anything about a blade profile.

I noticed a difference in 'grip feel' for lack of a better word when I changed skates recently despite having them sharpened at the same place to the same radius, and I'm wondering if the blade profile is the difference.

Mark

Did you get them sharpened to the same hollow or did you get them reprofiled (and sharpened) to the same radius? I suspect the former which means the radius and the pitch of the blade and boot could be different between the skates. What skates are they and did you get them new?

[marka 518]

Howdy,

I bet I'm mixing up terms or something...

I both them both sharpened to the same radius of hollow (1/2"). First pair is CCM Tacks 2052 and the 2nd pair is CCM Ribcor 46k. Both bought new.

As far as I know, the profile radius is as new.

I noticed that the Ribcor 46k's didn't seem to have quite the same bite into the ice, particularly when doing backwards "dual c-cuts" or whatever that's called where you push both feet out to the side.

Its more a curiosity to me than anything.

Mark

[Vet88 673]

Both on SB4 holders with speedblade stainless runners that come stock with a 10' radius. Essentially the boots from the sole downwards are the same so if you are experiencing a different feeling in them when skating then possibly it's down to fit, you could have some negative space in one or the other which causes your foot to be positioned slightly different in the boot and this leads to a different feedback.

[Chadd 916]

I'm wondering if the stiffer 46k is restricting your ankle movement enough to reduce your ability to transfer power in that particular stride.

[marka 518]

Howdy,

It does seem like if I concentrate on angling my skates / whatever, I get more bite with the 46k's, so it may well be stiffer construction and/or a different ankle fit.

As I said, its a curiosity more than anything else. I'm very new, so its seriously doubtful to me that this is an equipment problem vs. a "learn to use your equipment" problem.

Mark

[Bulawa 2]

I myself like getting the most out of my equipment almost master much as actually hitting the ice.

And my best experiences with new equipment always were the moments when I tried something new and didn't have to adapt because it felt exactly the way I hoped it would and other pieces didn't allow.

I'm not saying you should not have to adapt to a new skate but if you find yourself saying "I need to get used to it" after a month, ask yourself what kind of move needs getting used to and how you would want it to be and then comes the talk to your LHS or other gear specialists.

[jimmy 194]

I swear you just like saying black if I say white. If someone is having trouble with their steel they should opt for a profile to fit how they skate. Sharpening/profiling can change the way a skate works for someone just like performance summer tires on a jeep in snow. Go to a big box store and have your skates sharpened by just anyone too and tell me how important it is

Profiling is not essential, there might be that 1% who like the stock radius, pivot points and mismatched runners that come from the factory. I liken skate profiling to sticks. There is a reason there are 120 different configurations of a stick and that they are not all same curve, flex or grip. It's because if everyone was forced to have the exact same stick patterns, there would be a lot of unhappy campers. What stick works for one skater may be terrible for another. That's why we have choices. That's why we have choices for profiles as well.

[rawkstar 45]

There's this...

http://i.imgur.com/LR4Hi9r.jpg

nothing super crazy, vast majority are on unchanged or neutral profile with a hollow of about 1/2 - 3/4. I'd say these are all pretty decent skaters.

I think most people don't grow up tinkering with profile, so whatever "feels right" is what they've grown up skating on. Which for the most part will probably be something pretty normal.

Combo profile makes total sense, and some people swear by it. However I think you will be surprised just how much more jump you will get from squats and plyometrics, even just doing it casually once a week makes a huge difference.

[Chadd 916]

Profiling is not essential, there might be that 1% who like the stock radius, pivot points and mismatched runners that come from the factory. I liken skate profiling to sticks. There is a reason there are 120 different configurations of a stick and that they are not all same curve, flex or grip. It's because if everyone was forced to have the exact same stick patterns, there would be a lot of unhappy campers. What stick works for one skater may be terrible for another. That's why we have choices. That's why we have choices for profiles as well.

Actually, we have fewer options than in the past. Over the last few years there have been more complaints about companies that don't have a clone pattern than wanting something special from a major manufacturer.

There's this...

http://i.imgur.com/LR4Hi9r.jpg

nothing super crazy, vast majority are on unchanged or neutral profile with a hollow of about 1/2 - 3/4. I'd say these are all pretty decent skaters.

I think most people don't grow up tinkering with profile, so whatever "feels right" is what they've grown up skating on. Which for the most part will probably be something pretty normal.

Combo profile makes total sense, and some people swear by it. However I think you will be surprised just how much more jump you will get from squats and plyometrics, even just doing it casually once a week makes a huge difference.

I'm all for making changes to your profile if you are trying to address a specific issue. However, more often than not, it seems like people are asking for it to get something "custom" or as a shortcut to improvement. Getting locked in to a particular "custom profile" can be an issue as well as you grow, gain weight or improve your mechanics.

[jimmy 194]

I agree on the reduction of stick patterns, but it's not because there aren't people out there who don't like the ones that are discontinued, it's more related to that those patterns don't sell well at the retail level and stores don't want to take the risk to book and stock them. I use to book the weird patterns. At the end of some seasons, I still had all of them left unsold and loss big money on them. Pure demand is driving the loss of some patterns.

[Chadd 916]

I agree on the reduction of stick patterns, but it's not because there aren't people out there who don't like the ones that are discontinued, it's more related to that those patterns don't sell well at the retail level and stores don't want to take the risk to book and stock them. I use to book the weird patterns. At the end of some seasons, I still had all of them left unsold and loss big money on them. Pure demand is driving the loss of some patterns.

Exactly my point, there isn't enough demand to warrant their inclusion in the retail line.