questions for hockey players out there - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

MonsieurFish · 10-14-2006, 12:29 PM

how often do you sharpen your skates and tape the blade of your stick? im in my first season and have no idea about any of this stuff. thanks

greyshep · 10-14-2006, 12:33 PM

Skates: Kind of a personal choice. I like to sharpen mine after about every 5 skates. I know guys who only sharpen them twice a season though. (24 ice times)

Stick: For me, every game. It usually gets pretty hacked up unless I wax the tape really good. I hate it when the tape starts to pull off during a game.

No real hard and fast rules here obviously. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. Have fun out there.

kipperfan · 10-14-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyshep

Skates: Kind of a personal choice. I like to sharpen mine after about every 5 skates. I know guys who only sharpen them twice a season though. (24 ice times)

Stick: For me, every game. It usually gets pretty hacked up unless I wax the tape really good. I hate it when the tape starts to pull off during a game.

No real hard and fast rules here obviously. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. Have fun out there.

For skates definatley depends on how well you blades keep their edges. Cheap skates I would sharpen every 3-4 ice times, nice one's that can keep their edges maybe once every 5-10 ice times.

For stick....i agree every game is the way to go.

showtime · 10-14-2006, 01:26 PM

For my skates i get them done every ice time but i like mine really sharp most people can go 4 or 5 if the person does a good job on your skates though. I tape my stick at the start of every ice time and during games i'll tape it again during intermission. But this kind of stuff is all your personal preference, find out what works for you and go with it.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 10-14-2006, 01:29 PM

You can check the sharpness of your skate blade by running your thumbnail carefully across the edge. It should scratch your nail pretty easily. If you lose one edge and not the other, you'll notice it on the ice, so that's simple enough. If the ice is really soft where you play, you'll notice it less.

As for your stick, retape it when you get holes in the tape. It'll last a bit longer if you wax it.

MonsieurFish · 10-14-2006, 01:53 PM

does it matter if the tape at the bottom of the blade is comin off? the part where the puck touches is all good, but the bottom part has worn off. retape or no?

FlamesKickAss · 10-14-2006, 01:53 PM

retape

snappyk · 10-14-2006, 01:57 PM

I find that I have to retape before every game, it's amazing how beat up your stick gets. As for my skates, I find that after about my 6 or 7 game I need to get them sharpened.

browna · 10-14-2006, 02:24 PM

Skates, depends.
If you ever go play on an outside (natural) rink/pond, they take your edge off twice as fast as playing indoors.

Sounds like you're just starting out with skating...no need (and probabnbly better) if you didn't have super sharp edges all the time. Should easily be able to go 6 or 7 ice times without worrying.

Stick taping is preference, as other then general appearance, its not going to really affect stick performance, especially if again, you're just starting up.
I've played in a summer league, and now a work league (25+ times) since last taping stick.

MattyK · 10-14-2006, 03:05 PM

The real factor in skate sharpening is how sharp you like them. Sharper skates have a lot less contact with the ice than dull skates. As a result, they dull a lot faster and need more frequent sharpening to maintain that degree of sharpness. For an analogy, think of how fast a sharp pencil wears out compared to a dull one.

My out skates, I sharpen about every ten games. My goal skates, I haven't sharpened for about 45-50 games. I like them really dull.

As far as taping the stick goes, I like to retape it as soon as it starts to get frayed on the bottom. Every three games or so. I recommend waxing the stick, especially if you like slapshots. If you don't wax, water can seep into the blade. It'll get waterlogged and swell up -- and the spongy blade will absorb a lot of the slapshot power.

IMHO, waxing isn't that much of an issue if you stick to wristshots and snapshots, though.

Taping a goal stick, OTOH, I leave it on as long as possible. Puckmarks on your goal equipment convey experience. And no waxing...a softer, waterlogged blade on your goal stick will reduce rebounds off the blade.

Jake · 10-14-2006, 04:51 PM

Both are personal preference.

I've known players (very good ones too) that sharpen them once a year (and they would play 4 times a week). I sharpen mine every 2-3 skates. If I go on an outdoor rink I'll sharpen them right away.

I barely ever tape my stick, it just doesn't make a difference to me. I tape it a couple times a season and I play about 50 games. Some guys on my team do it every game.

CaramonLS · 10-14-2006, 05:11 PM

I used to avoid sharpening my skates altogether, only would do it at the beginning of the season. But then again I was a dreadfully slow skaters, and I didn't like the feeling of sharp skates.

Probably to my deteriment.

Reaper · 10-14-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I used to avoid sharpening my skates altogether, only would do it at the beginning of the season. But then again I was a dreadfully slow skaters, and I didn't like the feeling of sharp skates.

Probably to my deteriment.

If your skates felt "too sharp" then you should consider going with a shallower hollow so you can benefit from truer edges and more glide with a sharpening rather than having to wait until your skates get "dull" so your skates bite the ice less.

Buff · 10-14-2006, 09:41 PM

With the question of skate sharpening, I'd like to ask about the wearing out of the blade due to sharpening. Basically how often does a person have to get new skates or new blades for their skates? I've been on my current skates for 2.5 years and have had them sharpened 20 to 25 times.

I'm worried that the place that sharpenes my skates runs the blades over the grindstone too many times.

Papa Gino · 10-14-2006, 09:42 PM

I go for a sharpen after every 5 ice times on my skates because I like them fairly sharp...retape my stick after everygame i dont score in ( silly superstition )

SpitFire40 · 10-14-2006, 09:56 PM

I sharpen about once every 6 or 7 skates and I usually play outdoors on bad ice which actually helps because on fresh ice i'd have no edge.

Tape? Not often at all... i'm good until the bottom of the blade starts to show.

Sylvanfan · 10-14-2006, 10:07 PM

I haven't kept up with all the latest in equipment technology, but don't they have like eversharp blades now where you swap out the blades every 15 skates or so.

Personally I used to like really sharp skates and when I was playing mens league of 50 or so games a year, I'd get them done after every two games and only played on indoor ice. Than again back in those days, skating was likely my strongest attribute. As for taping the stick, do whatever you like. I think I did that once a week as a means of entertaining myself. As a defenceman who liked to use the lumber and spent a lot of time trying to knock pucks off other guys stick my stick usually was hacked up pretty good after every game.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 10-15-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buff

With the question of skate sharpening, I'd like to ask about the wearing out of the blade due to sharpening. Basically how often does a person have to get new skates or new blades for their skates? I've been on my current skates for 2.5 years and have had them sharpened 20 to 25 times.

I'm worried that the place that sharpenes my skates runs the blades over the grindstone too many times.

They do wear out over time--but it may not be anything especially bad about the place that does your skates. I have Easton skates, and the blades eventually got so thin that one of them snapped in half in the middle of a game (that was fun). On the other hand, I had some old Bauers before that for like 12 years, and never had a problem. Don't know if it's the new steel, but it does seem like a "they don't make 'em like that anymore" situation. On my eastons I've broken a blade once and another time the blade holder broke.

Barnes · 10-15-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

They do wear out over time--but it may not be anything especially bad about the place that does your skates. I have Easton skates, and the blades eventually got so thin that one of them snapped in half in the middle of a game (that was fun). On the other hand, I had some old Bauers before that for like 12 years, and never had a problem. Don't know if it's the new steel, but it does seem like a "they don't make 'em like that anymore" situation. On my eastons I've broken a blade once and another time the blade holder broke.

Of the Stainless blades, Eastons and CCM blades wear the fastest. Any skate with the TUUK stainless last longer but if you want to change the blade, you have replace the holder as well. The Eastons do snap quite a bit. Their Parabolic system with the cut out in the middle makes them a little weak but it is a cool idea.

jonesy · 10-15-2006, 11:38 AM

I have Tuuk blades and have changed them 2x now. I like the boots, so I don't want to get new ones and break them in.
I change them when they get short enough that, you can feel the boot or holder touching the ice on a tight turn.
You can change them without changing the holder. The holders do crack though, I had to change them once, so maybe it is better to just do them while getting a new blade.