Youth Hockey

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Oct 25, 2017 - 3:45PM

Re: Custom Radiuses

No Icing in NH does a good job. It only helps if the skate blade is not true out of the box and impacts a younger skater or if you have good technique and just need better forward or rearward rocker.

I know of a person who took their kids skates to a place in Wilmington to get realigned, shimmed, profiled etc; the shop was wonderful and did everything to help that kid. The problem was not the skates but the kid who couldn't skate.

Bottom line, it will help if your kid has the fundamentals or is learning the fundamentals in a poor pair of skates. Do not expect miracles.

anon

Oct 25, 2017 - 5:24PM

Re: Custom Radiuses

That's true but I think it can improve a kid 10-15% in his skating which is a lot.

anon

Oct 25, 2017 - 5:32PM

Re: Custom Radiuses

The "place in Wilmington" is Cooke's, and it absolutely makes a difference for any kid. He can't skate properly if the skates don't fit him right, and if the blades are the wrong profile for his skating style. It's like trying to golf with your buddy's wife's clubs.

So, whether a kid's a good skater or a bad skater, it will still make him a better skater.

Other place to go to are Zwickers - family run, the old man used to sharpen the skates for the entire NHL, including the officials - and TSR in Salem. Lot of people don't know that TSR stands for Total Skate Repair.

Having good contacts in these three place will be really important as your kid grows up with the game. That means being nice and respecting the knowledge these folks have. Know-it-alls need not bother, they'll see through your BS in a second.

Anon

Oct 26, 2017 - 9:33AM

Re: Custom Radiuses

anon

Yes, it was Cooke's, they are great. They did a fantastic job - shimming, profile, blade alignment; trust me, the dad talked about what they did to anyone that would listen. I kept it generic because no amount of skate adjustment can help if the kid can't skate. My point was don't expect a miracle if zippy just doesn't have the stride.

I think a better analogy for custom radius is not if you're using your buddy's wife's clubs but if your driver is a 9 degree, 11 degree or 14 degree loft. The nuance is slight and the better your fundamentals, the more you can get out of the types of radius.

Agree with Cooke's and Zwickers; TSR can be hit or miss depending on who is sharpening your kids skates. The TSR remote locations can be inconsistent. I would add No Icing for those in NH.

beatcuff

Oct 26, 2017 - 10:06AM

Re: Custom Radiuses

Anon

I think a better analogy for custom radius is your driver is a 9 degree, 11 degree or 14 degree loft. The nuance is slight and the better your fundamentals, the more you can get out of the types of radius...I would add No Icing for those in NH.

agree with both. Been using No Icing for years: machine feeds the blades for a more consistent cut and he has people from across the country mail them in. you have a good shop if they tailor their cut based on the players position, size, ability. if they don't --- not a huge deal until HS: where every edge is a plus.
but why stop at radius and profiling? what about flat bottom? saucing them - save money and go to a ski shop (ski racers have been using Teflon for years).

anon

Oct 26, 2017 - 10:33AM

Re: Custom Radiuses

Son gave the 'flat bottom V' sharpening a shot a few years ago and didn't adjust to it. Seemed the edges were more fragile too so more could go wrong with them.

For me as a parent the biggest improvement is to switch-out the blades day one of the skates to better quality steel. For $50 a pair the better steel just holds up better and holds an edge longer needing less sharpening. Pays for itself in a couple months time and lasts longer.

Anon

Oct 26, 2017 - 9:21PM

Re: Custom Radiuses

totally agree. My son has been going there for a while. He's an 06 EHF White player so he needs it. Before going there his top speed was 5.2 mph. Now, a solid 5.4.

Anon

Oct 27, 2017 - 8:06AM

Re: Custom Radiuses

Anon

Do many parents have any idea on custom radiuses for the kid's skates? It would seem some skate shops would be making a killing if people only knew the difference this makes.

Parents don't have any idea that their kids skates are not tied properly. Some kids cant even tie their own skates at pee wee, you think those kids understand or will benefit from a custom radius.

please, most parents are here only for the gloves, helmet stickers, bags and warm ups and don't really care or know about their kids skates.

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