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A Guide to the Recommended Skate Sharpening Radius
For most hockey players, skate sharpening is typically a matter of personal preference. Some players like to be able to dig into the ice for a firm “bite” or “grip”, while some players like a more shallow hollow for a better “glide” along the ice. There is generally no right or wrong skate sharpening radius, but below are some general guidelines to skate sharpening:
Forward/ Defenseman
The most common skate sharpening radius we see for ice hockey players is a 1/2″ inch or 5/8″ inch cut. The 1/2″ radius would be our typical recommendation because it is the perfect blend of “glide” and “bite.” Some players opt for the 3/8″ cut, but you are definitely sacrificing some “glide,” which can in turn affect your overall speed on the ice. Likewise, players that choose the 3/4″ cut can really sacrifice their “bite,” which can negatively affect quick cuts that are so common in the game of hockey.
Our recommendation: 1/2″ or 5/8″ inch radius.
Goalie
We see the biggest variety of skate sharpening cuts when dealing with ice hockey goalies. Generally, we find that the more experienced goalies opt for a very deep cut, like 3/8″ inch. This allows the goalie to really dig into the ice, and slide post to post to make reactionary saves. Sometimes this can be a difficult radius for inexperienced or younger goalies because there is too much bite, which leads to their goalie skate getting caught underneath them, often tripping them up when sliding post to post. For this reason, we recommended that a more inexperienced goalie choose a 1″ cut, so it as an effortless glide going from post to post.
Our recommendation: 3/8″ or 1/2″ for the experienced goalie, 1″ for the inexperienced goalie.
Figure Skating
Figure skaters generally like a better “glide” along the top of the ice, so we typically see a 1″ cut to maximize a smooth glide. When a figure skater wants to dig into the ice, they do so with their toe pick, so a sharper edge is not necessarily paramount.
Our recommendation: 1″ inch radius.
Seasonal Sharpening
Sometimes the time of year can play a factor in which radius hockey players choose. In the warmer summer months, the ice gets softer, so many players elect for a duller cut to avoid digging too much blade into the ice.
Likewise, in the winter months, when the ice is harder, players often opt for a sharper cut that is more capable of digging into the ice.
Our recommendation: 1/2″ inch radius in the winter. 5/8″ radius in the summer.
Below is a chart that outlines recommended skate sharpening cuts:
The Best Goalie Companies in Hockey
- When it comes to goalie equipment, three companies dominate the industry: Vaughn, CCM and Brian’s. Each company has perfected their craft in their own unique way.
- Vaughn has set the industry standard for goalie pads for decades now. Mike Vaughn has continued to stay ahead of the curve with new trends, and truly innovative technology.
- All pro pads are domestically made in Oxford, Michigan, which allows Vaughn to make THE most quality product in the goalie equipment industry. They simply do not sacrifice quality, and often use more expensive materials to construct their gear than any other company. The result is a quality goalie equipment that lasts longer and performs better. Trust us, we’ve seen it firsthand in their factory.
- A true testament to their success: a whopping 82% of pro goalies wear at least one piece of Vaughn equipment on the ice.
- NHL Goalies in Vaughn Pads: Jonathan Quick, Tuukka Rask, Jimmy Howard, Cory Schneider.
- CCM has the best variety when it comes to goalie equipment, specifically leg pads. They have two equally successful lines of pads: The E-Flex Series caters to the athletic goalie that is looking for a flexible pad to absorb rebounds, while the Premier series caters to the technically sound goalie that looks to direct and control rebounds.
- CCM has a tremendous amount of support at the NHL level, and they continue to make great strides in the goalie industry. The combination of CCM and Reebok into one entity has strengthened their brand exponentially.
- NHL Goalies in CCM Pads: Carey Price, Roberto Luongo, Corey Crawford, Marc-Andre Fleury.
- Brian’s has been making recent waves in the goalie industry with their unmatched goalie pad customization. You can transform any design, logo, and put it on the face of a Brian’s goalie pad. You name it, they can create it.
- Brian’s promotes themselves as “goalies only,” and they are just that- all of their focus and attention is catered to their goalie customers.
- Their smaller company size allows them to provide excellent customer service and attention. No change or tweak to your goalie equipment is too small for the people at Brian’s.
- NHL Goalies in Brian’s Pads: Craig Anderson, Jaroslav Halak, Eddie Lack, Scott Darling.
Goalie Gear Made Exclusively For Sports Etc!
For 35 years we have been working with goalies and goalie manufacturers to bring the best selection of quality gear to our customer base. On occasion we like to sit down with our best suppliers to come up with gear that can’t be purchased out of a catalog. This allows us to present to our goalies something unique that will give them features and advantages that would otherwise not be available without doing their own custom design. For the 2015 season we are presenting our best selection of exclusive gear ever, including the pro goalie inspired Vaughn Vision pro catcher, the throwback Brian’s G-Netik B-Star gear and the CCM Extreme Flex II leg pads featuring an exclusive graphic and a double external break not found in the catalog version. To check out these and other unique exclusives check out our Goalie Exclusives Page!
Vaughn Vision “Pro Spec” Catcher and Velocity 2200 “Tuukka” Style Blocker
Brian Vintage “B-Star” Gear
CCM E-Flex II Exclusive Leg Pads
Sports Etc. Exclusive: Pro Spec Vaughn Goalie Glove
Ever wonder what it’s like using the same equipment as your favorite NHL goalie? Well now you can experience it, with the brand new Vaughn Vision Goalie Catcher, found exclusively at Sports Etc.
On a recent visit to Vaughn in Oxford, Michigan, we were able to try on a game ready goalie glove for Tuukka Rask. The incredible feel of the glove got us thinking– why not design a Pro Spec catcher that we can sell at the retail level? The glove we customized is designed to mimic and capture all of the aspects that are important to NHL goalies.
Some of the highlights include:
- Custom “Game Ready” Palm- The break in the glove falls perfectly in the middle of the hand for an incredibly easy close. Ready for game action right off the shelf.
- Sure Grip Liner- The liner adds durability to the palm of the glove, and also prevents slippage of the hand from sweat.
- Extended “Deep” Pocket- The catch area is extended to provide a “deep pocket” for better puck control.
- Two-Piece Cuff- The split cuff allows for a flexible and comfortable fit around the wrist.
CCM Extreme Flex Pro Goalie Gear In Stock Now!
The Legendary Name In Hockey Makes It’s Return To Goalie Equipment With The New Extreme Flex Goalie Gear
The name says it all for the new CCM Extreme Flex Pro. It is both extremely flexible in the boot and has a good amount of torsional flex in the shin area. This allows the goalie to more easily load his/her push leg in a butterfly recovery as well as easily direct rebounds to the corner. The face of the pad is layered in a soft foam giving the goalie closer rebounds.
The new 90 degree boot angle is both flatter and softer than what is found on it’s Reebok counterpart, the Premier 4. The knee and calf landings are binding-less to provide maximum durability. The tight leg channel with calf Velcro allows the goalie to maintain control of the pad without having to wear the leather straps tight. The open knee cradle allows ample space for bigger knee guards as well as offering superb pad rotation and balance. Unlike the Reebok P4, the CCM E-Flex pads have an flat inside medial (inside) edge, which means that the goalie is more stable and in control when in the butterfly. The knee lock Velcro can attach to the outside of the knee cradle or to the outside calf wrap.
The new CCM Extreme Flex Pro leg pads are the perfect combination of a butterfly and hybrid style pad.
MOBILITY: 90 deg. angled soft boot for extreme mobility
REBOUND CONTROL: Low-density soft foam on the front reduces rebounds to assure improved control
STABILITY: Flat inside edge stabilizes the pad flush to the ice with binding-less knee and calf wrap for increased durability
BALANCE: Wider knee stack landing surface keep goalies balanced in the butterfly
In Stock Now for Purchase Or Let one of our goalie experts help you design your customized CCM Extreme Flex Pro gear
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Email: info@sportsetc.net