Need Help Badly

[BleedBlue]

Yea, for my regular skates I used to get 7/16 sharpening, but I always had trouble with catching an edge. I'm kind of a heavy guy (hopefully hockey will change that) so I figured I could go for a more shallow hollow, so I bumped it up to 5/8. Is that unheard of, or is that a safe way to go?

[njt42]

I'm a pretty heavy guy and 5/8ths is just enough bite for me! I may go up to 1/2 though. I have vapor XXXs so the blade will always feel sharper than the rbk stainless blade.

[thrdeye]

I could always skate pretty well on inlines, but made the transition to ice hockey/goalie skates at the same time just a few weeks ago. At this point I've only been on ice about 15-20 times in my life (publice sessions and hockey). A cheap set of kneepads and something on my hands really helped my confidence to go out an learn to skate during public session.

It was tough at first because I remember never wearing anything protection wise when I was a kid and learning. Now it seems I care a little more about not getting hurt.

I personally think to learn well, you are going to have to fall quite a bit.

...and like a few have said - goalie skates are a different animal and a little harder to skate in.

[TIMMAAYY]

Originally Posted by BleedBlue

Yea, for my regular skates I used to get 7/16 sharpening, but I always had trouble with catching an edge. I'm kind of a heavy guy (hopefully hockey will change that) so I figured I could go for a more shallow hollow, so I bumped it up to 5/8. Is that unheard of, or is that a safe way to go?

5/8 should be fine. Once you get skating and learn how to push off and use your edges, sharper skates might be something you would want to try. It's all a personal preference. Do a search here for "skate sharpening" or "skate hollow" ... there are lots of discussions on the subject.

Rotsa ruck!

[BleedBlue]

Wow, okay, so that was really different............When I first stepped out, my first thought was how much smoother they were than my player skates. Then, I started to realize how all of my turns were really wide (frankly turning in general was a little difficult). Stopping was weird at first too, crossovers were okay too although I guess people have been saying that you don't really use them. My balance was getting better too, by the end i could go near faceoff circle to far goal line on one foot one stride. When I started my inside and outside edge work though, I was completely lost. I used to be able to do some good grapevines and circles, but all of my turns are just completely gone now. I guess I need more practice.....

oh yea, and when I bought my skates I went down a size more than usual. I wear a 9 shoe, and these are size 7, but I almost think that they are too loose. Especially around the ankle, it feels like a lot less support than I'm used to, and I'm wondering if that is why I couldn't turn as well. I've heard of getting better laces or taping your ankle, but I think I'll wait a couple more sessions before deciding if they are still too loose.

I've got a long way to go, it made me feel like it was my first day on the ice again.....

[paulsmachetti]

Originally Posted by njt42

I'm a pretty heavy guy and 5/8ths is just enough bite for me! I may go up to 1/2 though. I have vapor XXXs so the blade will always feel sharper than the rbk stainless blade.

I've never really understood the whole sharpening thing , and how mine should be sharpened.I have a set of Overdrive Blades on my skates and use a wide stance when the puck is down low. Any thoughts on how mine should be sharpened ?
Paul

[njt42]

Originally Posted by paulsmachetti

I've never really understood the whole sharpening thing , and how mine should be sharpened.I have a set of Overdrive Blades on my skates and use a wide stance when the puck is down low. Any thoughts on how mine should be sharpened ?
Paul

3/8ths if you like a lot of bite.

[TIMMAAYY]

Originally Posted by BleedBlue

Wow, okay, so that was really different............When I first stepped out, my first thought was how much smoother they were than my player skates. Then, I started to realize how all of my turns were really wide (frankly turning in general was a little difficult). Stopping was weird at first too, crossovers were okay too although I guess people have been saying that you don't really use them. My balance was getting better too, by the end i could go near faceoff circle to far goal line on one foot one stride. When I started my inside and outside edge work though, I was completely lost. I used to be able to do some good grapevines and circles, but all of my turns are just completely gone now. I guess I need more practice.....

oh yea, and when I bought my skates I went down a size more than usual. I wear a 9 shoe, and these are size 7, but I almost think that they are too loose. Especially around the ankle, it feels like a lot less support than I'm used to, and I'm wondering if that is why I couldn't turn as well. I've heard of getting better laces or taping your ankle, but I think I'll wait a couple more sessions before deciding if they are still too loose.

I've got a long way to go, it made me feel like it was my first day on the ice again.....

I wear and 8.5 or 9 in street shoes, and a 7 in goalie skates. But I wear an 8 in player skates. They're probably ok. They could feel more loose because your ankles are free to roam now, where with player skates, they are constricted more for support. Once you get used to having your ankles freed up, you'll be fine.

As far as crossovers, you will use them once you know how, so learn them. A little trickier to do in full gear, you just have to take wider strides around each leg to clear the pads with each step.

They feel smoother because you've got more blade on the ice, a larger profile radius. On your player skates it was probably around 9-12 feet, on goalie skates I think they come stock with around 28-30 feet. The larger the profile radius, the more blade you have on the ice, so they glide a little easier and feel smoother.

Don't worry about all that for now. Just get yourself skating, turning, stopping, shuffling, and up and down on the ice.

[paulsmachetti]

Originally Posted by njt42

3/8ths if you like a lot of bite.

By a lot of bite do you mean it's going to be harder to shuffle? Will it grab too much ice? Whatever I have now , when i'm in a wide stance sometimes as I start to push off I can feel the blade slip out a bit.
Paul

[Courage1]

Originally Posted by paulsmachetti

I've never really understood the whole sharpening thing , and how mine should be sharpened.I have a set of Overdrive Blades on my skates and use a wide stance when the puck is down low. Any thoughts on how mine should be sharpened ?
Paul

you choose your hollow after considering stance, weight, ice conditions, and style. How deep is the hollow in your skates now? Its usually best not to make huge changes in your depth, but rather little increments until you find what you like...

[Blade-Tek]

BleedBlue - best way to improve is to practice, that is get out and do it - Skate.
Skate at every opportunity you get. If you are able to get a part time job as a rink rat that can sometimes help, especially if you get the opening or close-up shift. . . an extra half hour or so with the ice all to yourself. . !
Did I mention to skate every chance you get ?

Don't worry about falling. . . this will happen - gravity is always waiting for you and if you are pushing yourself to get better, then you'll be trying things like that 6ft spray on the stop, so what if you fall ? Learn from it and go again. . .

Keep an eye out for upcoming pre-season power skate sessions. . . . Many minor hockey leagues will allow someone your age to slip into a midget age group for the 3 or 5 sessions, which might cost you about $75 or $100 but would pay off in spades.
The wider turns with your goalie skates when compared to your regular player skates is quite normal. This is likely due to the "profile" of the goalie skate which has more blade to ice contact than the player skate. That is a good thing. If the profile was similar to your player skates, then making many of the moves needed from netminders within and around the goal crease would become much more difficult.

Oh and don't forget skate skate skate forwards, backwards, side to side and everywhich way

[paulsmachetti]

Originally Posted by Courage1

you choose your hollow after considering stance, weight, ice conditions, and style. How deep is the hollow in your skates now? Its usually best not to make huge changes in your depth, but rather little increments until you find what you like...

Not sure. A buddy of mine who's a goalie also , sharpens them for me.
Paul

[Courage1]

That'd be a good place to start. I've had goalies come into my shop wanting a sharper cut and demanding 3/8 after using 7/8 their entire life. After realizing they couldnt shuffle worth a **** (and spending 20 mins dulling their skates on some wood or plastic in the arena) they come in and ask for something that is just a little sharper than what they are used to. Find out what your bud sharpens them at. go a little sharper each time until you feel like you have the bite you want. It takes longer, but you'll get the cut that is right for you.

[paulsmachetti]

Originally Posted by Courage1

That'd be a good place to start. I've had goalies come into my shop wanting a sharper cut and demanding 3/8 after using 7/8 their entire life. After realizing they couldnt shuffle worth a **** (and spending 20 mins dulling their skates on some wood or plastic in the arena) they come in and ask for something that is just a little sharper than what they are used to. Find out what your bud sharpens them at. go a little sharper each time until you feel like you have the bite you want. It takes longer, but you'll get the cut that is right for you.

I am not positive but he may have sharpened them to 1/2. What would the next increment be, and w/ wide stance might the blades slip out a little at 1/2?

[Courage1]

Pretty sharp. I usually go in 1/16 increments (some places do 1/32's) so if you came in to my shop I would move you to 7/16's. And then 3/8 after that if you still wanted more bite. But thats just me.