Skate Sharpening

[FlamesPuck12]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

Yeah your rocker is the basically how much blade is on the ice when standing straight up. More blade = more speed, less agility, worse in turn etc.. Less blade = less speed but way more agility and turning ability.

So thats based on personal preference as well?

[Young Guns]

I take mine to professional skate. If you live in the deep south its the one in Midnapore beside Dixon's Pub. They always do a good job and I'm in and out of there within 5 minutes.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Young Guns

I take mine to professional skate. If you live in the deep south its the one in Midnapore beside Dixon's Pub. They always do a good job and I'm in and out of there within 5 minutes.

There's also a location in the Marda Loop area.

[soulchoice]

Skate sharpening really depends on the radius and hollow that one prefers. Most places like Sportswap, Sportchek use a general 3/8" radius of hollow, kind of a medium edge(sharpness). This is for people who like more friction and control. They usually dont vary with the sharpening, but have a standard way of sharpening skates.

If you are a beginner, you should maybe use a 5/8" or 3/4" ROH. The closer to one inch, the less bite and more gliding, so better for beginners. You wont find the skates as sharp or chatter on the ice.

That is why I prefer to go to places like Professional skate, Tuxedo or Done right as I can request a certain hollow. Though I have been skating and played hockey since I was 4 years old, so am familiar with what i like and dont like.

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Sportchek usually has some young kid with no clue what he's doing sharpening your skates. I've found that my skates have actually been worse after taking them there. In fact, I'll use one of those machines before I'll use Sportchek.

Seriously Ken; try Sportswap on 11th. I was almost afraid to stop for fear of rolling my ankle.....that's how sharp they were. They lasted through 3 games before I even thought about getting them done again.

I went to Sportmart once. I watched them take a highlighter, run it over the blade, and grind until the highlighter was gone. Needless to say, I don't go there anymore.

Rockerwise, you can get your skates rockered more forwards or backwards depending on whether your a
defenseman or a forward. As a d-man, you'll want them rockered a little bit back, as you're skating backwards more.

In regards to the hollow...I always thought that the better of a skater you are, the less of a hollow you would want, since you should be able to turn well already. The less of a hollow, the more top speed you have due to less friction, but the less acceleration, stopping power and turning abilities you'd have.

At least, that's what I've always thought. Could be wrong though

[Mayer]

The new "Adrenaline source for Sports" on McLeod by the Carriage house Inn is incredible. Like a poster mentioned above, they ask you what hollow you want, and if you're not sure what that is, they explain it to you so you have a good idea of what you want.

I prefer mine very sharp, and they last 3 icetimes at the very least. These guys know exactly what they are doing. Sportmart and Sportcheck suck (from my experiences).

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Mayer

The new "Adrenaline source for Sports" on McLeod by the Carriage house Inn is incredible. Like a poster mentioned above, they ask you what hollow you want, and if you're not sure what that is, they explain it to you so you have a good idea of what you want.

I prefer mine very sharp, and they last 3 icetimes at the very least. These guys know exactly what they are doing. Sportmart and Sportcheck suck (from my experiences).

I agree with you for sure! Tyler does a great job at Adrenaline for sharpening, very good at what he does.

[FlamesPuck12]

Man, all these locations are so far away. Any great sharpening place up in the NW? I'm planning to get it sharpened at the Crowchild Arena.

[hixxes]

Originally Posted by FlamesPuck12

Man, all these locations are so far away. Any great sharpening place up in the NW? I'm planning to get it sharpened at the Crowchild Arena.

Sorry for the old thread bump...

I have the same question. I live in Bowness and am getting tired of trekking to Pro Skate in Marda Loop every time I need a sharpening. Plus I don't like the elitist attitude you get there every time I have a question about my skates.

Any suggestions for the West-Northwest? Crowchild Arena is a decent idea. Anyone else go there?

[Jayems]

I just had mine done about 3 games ago at Pro Skate in Marda Loop. As someone who always just dumped them off at Play it Again or sportmart, I can honestly say I'll never go back. It makes such a difference to have a good machine (apparently, it's a brand new one there) and someone who actually knows what they're doing. Worth the drive.

edit: I did not read the previous post before I wrote that. hah

[hixxes]

Originally Posted by Jayems

I just had mine done about 3 games ago at Pro Skate in Marda Loop. As someone who always just dumped them off at Play it Again or sportmart, I can honestly say I'll never go back. It makes such a difference to have a good machine (apparently, it's a brand new one there) and someone who actually knows what they're doing. Worth the drive.

edit: I did not read the previous post before I wrote that. hah

I completely agree that they do a good job, mainly it's just too far of a drive to do all the time. I like my skates sharp so I get them done quite often.

[FlamesPuck12]

I get them done at Crowchild arena now and they do an awesome job.
Here's the website for their hours.

http://www.calgaryblades.com/

I think it's $7 for one sharpening, but if you're going to get them sharpened frequently, its worth getting the 5 sharpening card for $30.

[onetwo_threefour]

I used to get mine done by the proshop at the olympic oval when I was a student. Bhy far the best job I ever had done. They knew how to sharpen everything from speed skates, to figure skates to hockey skates properly and would give you recommendations based on your skating ability and needs if you asked. Most of the time they would ask about rocker and hollow when I got mine done, but sometimes I would have to say what I wanted.

[Buff]

Buy a skate honer stone. I bought one from Canadian Tire called Magic Stone. It does not replace getting your skates sharpened but it helps to keep the edge on longer. It costs about $17, and I pay $5 per sharpening. I'm always getting my skates sharpened so since I started using this stone this year I have had my skates sharpened two times less than last year at the same time.

[FlamesPuck12]

Originally Posted by Buff

Buy a skate sharpening stone. I bought one from Canadian Tire called Magic Stone. It does not replace getting your skates sharpened but it helps to keep the edge on longer. It costs about $17, and I pay $5 per sharpening. I'm always getting my skates sharpened so since I started using this stone this year I have had my skates sharpened two times less than last year at the same time.

Are you talking about the skate honer stones?

[Buff]

Uh. Yeah. Those too.

[FlamesPuck12]

Yeah those stones are good but you paid $17 for it? I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing, because I got mine for $5 at Sportswap.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by FlamesPuck12

Yeah those stones are good but you paid $17 for it? I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing, because I got mine for $5 at Sportswap.

I think hes talking about one of those y sticks. not just a regular stone. Theyre good if you get to the rink realizeing you badly needed a skate sharpening and forgot. they'll get you through a game or two but not a substitute

[Jayems]

Does anyone know of a place akin to Pro Skate in Marda Loop that actually opens on Sundays? It's my one day off, and I want my freakin skates sharpened but it seems every hockey store capable of doing it right is closed Sundays. I don't want a Sport Mart hack job. Preferably in the NW or SW.

cheers.

[WindomURL]

Adrenaline Source For Sports is open Sunday 11-5 (or 6pm?) I think.
9309 Macleod Trail South

Phone:403-640-9950



Check posts #26 & 27 for some good comments.