Archive
Bauer’s New Power Quad Skate Profile
Bauer’s Power Profile is a 4 Zoned Radii, known as a Quad profile. The blade shape is designed with 4 zones uniquely placed and designed for specific performance improvements during all types of edge work.
• The first zone, located near the toe of the runner, is shaped to maximize acceleration. As the player begins their stride, the weight shifts over the top of the toes for the initial drive into the ice, utilizing a 6 inch radius.
• The second zone, known as the transition zone, sits on a 9 inch radius, which helps transition the players stride from rapid acceleration to measured, longer striding. The center of gravity shifts slightly back from the acceleration stride.
• The third zone, is the speed zone. Leveraging an 11 inch radius, the player is now maximizing their blade to ice contact for an efficient power transfer and straight line speed.
• The final zone, towards the heel of the blade, is the stability zone. This area holds the longest radius with 13 inches to provide balance as players shift between their edges when pivoting and absorbing contact.
The Release of the Bauer Supreme 2S Pro Hockey Skate
Coming to stores on July 13 2018, Bauer will be releasing the newest skate to their Supreme line. The Bauer Supreme 2S hockey skate will include some of Bauer’s most innovative features to date. Here are some of the key highlights:
– LS5 Carbon Steel- The LS5 Carbon Steel from Bauer features a carbon chrome coating, which hardens the edges of the blades, and increases overall durability. The internal core of the LS5 Steel is also softer than a typical blade, which improves the sharpness and consistency at the edges. According to Bauer, the LS5 Carbon Steel will have an approximate 61-69% improvement in overall sharpness level compared to LS2 and other similar blades. The change is so drastic, Bauer suggests that you may need to choose a duller radius on the Bauer Supreme 2S skate. They feel that you will be able to maintain a strong bite on the ice, with a more shallow hollow because of the improvements made in the quality of the steel. A Bauer/NHL study found that most players chose a more shallow hollow after trying the LS5 Carbon Steel.
– Speedplate 2.0- The Bauer Speedplate 2.0 is a full custom footbed with multi-layer foam to help increase comfort and support. This in upgrade over the original Speedplate, which did not offer as much foam support, affecting the overall comfort of the product.
– 3 Piece 52 ounce felt tongue- The 3-piece felt tongue offers a unique blend of flexibility (3 pieces) for full range of motion, and protection with the 52 ounce felt padding throughout the tongue.
– Precision Fit Technology/Curv Composite Boot- Consistent with the high-end Supreme line over the most recent years– the 2S skate will feature a full Curv Composite boot, with an anatomical precision fit for a true custom fit around the contours of a persons foot.
Another interesting fact about the Bauer Supreme line– through 50 thousand foot scanes, the Bauer 3D Skate Lab found that 45% of players are an ideal fit for the Supreme line, over Vapor (43%), and Nexus (12%).
The Official Launch: Bauer Supreme 2S Pro Goalie Skate!
On May 18, 2018 the Bauer Supreme 2S Pro Goalie Skate will be released for sale. The new goalie skate has a new Curv Composite boot, carbon coated stainless steel, lock-fit pro liner, and a new heel lock with an eyelet comfort pad. These upgrades make the 2S Pro one of the most elite goalie skates on the market today. Here are some of the highlights:
- Carbon Curv® composite boot
- Asymmetric goalie specific boot design
- Lock Fit Pro liner
- Asymmetric recoil tongue
- VERTEXX EDGE goalie holder
- Full composite outsole with ventilation
- Goalie specific toe cap
- LS5G Carbon-Coated Stainless Steel
- Lundqvist loop
Sports Etc Performance To Value Rating– 10 out of 10– One of the best skates available for elite level goalies looking for a performance skate. The lightest goalie skate ever made.
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- Bauer Supreme 2S Goal Skate
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- Lundqvist Loop
Get The Perfect Fit! The CCM 3D Hockey Skate Scanner
CCM Hockey jumps headlong into the 3D skate scanner market with the launch of the new CCM 3D Fit Scanner. The CCM 3D Fit Scanner combines elements of other popular skate scanners resulting in the most versatile scanner on the market. The CCM 3D Fit Scanner can be used 3 ways-
- Skate Recommender- The 3D scanner interface can be used to analyze any set of feet and recommend the ideal size and line of stock CCM skates. It even gives you the second best choice.
- 3D Custom Mold- The 3D scanner interface can be used to order a set of 3D custom molded skates. In this process, a 3D model of your foot is created and a Super Tacks AS1 is pressure molded to the model giving you a perfect fit right out of the box! This process takes about 8 business days and is the best option for a custom fitted skate.
- Total Custom Skates- The 3D scanner interface can be used to create a true custom skate. The process is the same as the 3D custom skate, but your options are greater. Among the options are a choice of Super Tacks AS1, Jet Speed FT1, Ribcor 70K, different sizes for left and right foot, different tongues and many more options. Total Custom Skates take 2-4 weeks for delivery.
The CCM 3D Fit Scanner will be at Sports Etc. Follow us on social media for updates on the CCM 3D Fit Scanner!
CCM 3D Fit Scanner
Sports Etc Product Review: 2017 Bauer Vapor 1X Hockey Skate
Sports Etc Performance To Value Rating– 9 out of 10
The Bauer Vapor 1X hockey skate continues to be the best-selling high-end performance skate that we carry. The 2017 version of the 1X has had some noticeable changes, which in our opinion have been for the better. Here are some of the pros and cons:
PROS:
- New and improved tongue: The newly designed “Flex Lock Pro” tongue has heat moldable inserts that improve the overall flexibility of the tongue, while not compromising on protection. The old high-end vapor model had a thick felt tongue, which was great for comfort and protection, but it also created an extremely stiff feel when attempting to flex your foot forward. The new tongue provides the most flexible and comfortable feel of any high-end model to date.
- Realigned Inner Quarter Panel: The inside panel of the boot has been increased in overall size to help support the natural ankle position and pressure that a skater puts on the boot. The majority of time, a skater is putting most of their pressure on the inside of the skate while pushing off. The increased surface area on the inside allows for a better response, while providing more support as you drive your skate into the ice.
- Improved Skate Eyelets: The softer flex composition of the eyelets makes them more durable than last years 1X model. The 2015 Bauer 1X had some issues with eyelets cracking because of the one piece composition of the boot and eyelets. This created too much stress on the eyelet, causing them to break. Bauer has redesigned the eyelets on the 2017 model to mimic a more traditional eyelet, which reduces stress on the eyelets, in turn improving the durability.
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- New Tongue/Eyelets
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- Realigned Quarter Panel
CONS:
- Steel Cracking: Since Bauer has changed to the Lightspeed Edge trigger holder, there has definitely been an uptick in steel breaking on their skates. This may be attributed to the way the steel is held into the skate. The “trigger” piece that holds the skate blade does not secure the blade as tight as the traditional screw that used to hold the steel. With that said, the convenience of changing steel on the fly has been a major benefit to the hockey community.
Introducing the Bauer 3D Skate Lab
New to Sports Etc, the Bauer 3D Skate Lab introduces a whole new process for custom skate fitting. The custom foot scanner uses state-of-the-art, foot-to-skate data and algorithms to create a 3D image of your foot. Based on the length, width and depth characteristics of your foot profile, this foot scanner recommends a Bauer hockey skate that is most appropriate for your foot. The 3D skate imager personalizes skate specs and tracks your skate history to improve fit and performance throughout your career. The 3-step process is simple:
Scan: The process begins with a 3D scan of your foot using numerous digital cameras that capture images from every possible angle of your foot. These images take into account length, width, depth, hot spots, etc.
Analyze: This foot data is then collected and uploaded instantaneously to an iPad station that is connected to the lab. The data is used to recommend one of the 3 Bauer skate families: Vapor, Supreme & Nexus.
Fit: Last, but not least and without a doubt the most important part of the whole custom skate fitting process- the professional fit that you get from a skate expert at Sports Etc. The 3D skate machine is excellent for identifying problem areas, and providing general recommendations for a Bauer skate, but still lacks the personal experience of physically trying on the skate, and finding what is comfortable for you.
Be sure to stop by Sports Etc to experience the custom Bauer 3D Skate Lab!
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- SCAN
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- ANALYZE
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- FIT
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:
How Do You Properly Fit Hockey Skates?
When it comes to a hockey player’s performance, properly sized skates are a very important piece of the game. When a player wears a skate that is not sized correctly or is uncomfortable, it can cause blisters & discomfort. To avoid this, you want to ensure your skates are properly sized.
Having strong ankle support, with good stability, is vital to a correctly sized pair of skates. You want your skates to have a solid exterior to protect your feet from other skates & pucks. A strong boot also provides proper alignment so your ankles do not lack support. Usually, your skates should be about 1 ½ sizes smaller than your normal shoe size. As you try on skates, try to wear socks similar to the ones you would wear while playing hockey.
When fitting youth skates, you want to be able to place a finger in the middle of the heel of your foot & the boot. This allows room for growth in the skates. Next, kick your heel into the back of your boot. Keeping your foot flat on the ground, tightly lace your skates so your foot stays firmly in place.
Walk around in your skates to check the comfort of them. It is important to focus on a few things. You want to make sure that your heel is laying flat and not moving around when you walk. You should have a little bit of space in the toe (if your toe is lightly brushing the toe box that is okay). This ensures that the skate is the proper length. Likewise, it is also important to make sure that the width is not too tight or too loose. Skates come in many different widths depending on the make of the skate. The skate should fit snugly, but should not feel like it’s digging into the side of the foot.
Most skates are now heat moldable, so the break-in process has become much easier, but it can take a few wears to break in your skates.
For more questions on properly fitting your skates, you can contact us at 781-646-1600 or stop by our Arlington store.
CCM RBZ Hockey Skate Available NOW!
CCM RBZ Hockey Skate Available Now!
CCM, the legendary skate maker, launched it’s Freakishly Fast new skate CCM RBZ this July! This skate is setting the hockey world abuzz! The all new CCM RBZ skate is engineered to provide you the most extreme foot speed in hockey. Featuring new custom support insoles for greater reaction speed, the advanced SpeedCore composite quarter package for explosive turns and the all new SpeedBlade + 4.0 holder that increases your turning radius by up to 10% for the most aggressive angle of attack in hockey. This is Speed to the Extreme.
Not sure if this skate is for you? Well we have a fleet of CCM demo skates which you can try RIGHT NOW!!! Contact us for details!
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Email: info@sportsetc.net