Blades revisited - Coronation Ace > Pattern 99

[rd350]

Haha, glad you're enjoying it!  Someone should.   

I'm not sure, these may be my last skates.  They are custom Harlicks and I am 29 +21 years old!

You remember fairly correctly . Self taught but skated a lot as a kid.  Took a tiny bit of lessons in 20's, haven't skated for 10-12(??) years until last March and since have a coach.  Doing group at the moment just while I waited for the skates and was having a foot issue from the old ones.

[littlerain]

Oh okay, thanks.  I keep thinking I just can't pick my toe pick up off the ice enough and it (something does) stop me in my tracks from gliding forward.  I can make the turn and them boom - stop!

I have this problem too on back 3s. My coach says the turn part is a down-up-down motion in terms of bending, and when I don't have that glide forward it is bc I am doing down-up and not making that bend after. Or, the other thing is I've done something weird with my free leg or hip. Lol

Now those may not be your issue with it, but I figure I would throw it out there in case it helps.

I would like to think the others are right, that the blade wouldn't be a miracle and help us Skate better. Though it would be nice!! Perhaps your old blades are just super flat and that's why you feel a difference with the pattern 99s you tried?

I don't know though. I'm definitely not an expert here, and it seems I'm working on simile skills as you

[rd350]

Yeah I think you are right @littlerain.  I think I'm not doing the 2nd down either, thanks!  Will pay more attention to that.  I also think we are at about the same level.

I don't think my blades are flat at all.  I think Jim said they're still quite good.

[Loops]

Yes you're getting customs, but I seriously doubt they'll be your last boots (at least I hope not!!!!).  Boots, and blades do wear out after a while.  You will break in these skates, and then over time and use, the leather will lose it's stiffness, and you're going to be buying again.  How long that takes varies with each skater, so there's no way to predict how long you'll get.

It's quite possible that you'll be replacing your blades before your boots.  If you like to keep your blades sharp, then you'll be sharpening as frequently as every 20 hours (this is what I do, approximately).  Each sharpening takes off a bit of the blade, flattening it a microscopic smidge, and removing some of the metal.  Again, predicting how long it will take to go through the blades depends on your personal skating style, roh (also referred to as "grind") and how sharp you like 'em.  It also depends on your sharpener and how much metal s/he takes off each time.

So trust me!  If you keep skating, these aren't your last blades!  And sadly, because I know you dropped bank on the harlicks, these won't be your last boots either.  There's always new opportunities to experiment so you don't need to put stress on yourself to get the "right" blades now.  Plus the "right" blades now might not be the "right" blades in 3 years.  KWIM?

[Neverdull44]

The higher level blade you go, the harder it is to find the sweet spot for a spin.  The larger a toe pick you go, the more apt you are to "scratch" when going backwards.   Yes, it is easier to skate backwards if you are scratching (because you have two points of contact on the ice).  But, it will drive the coaches/judges nuts because it is so technically incorrect.   And, it's really ugly to watch someone constantly on their toe pick, going backwards, and scratching.    To keep from scratching, you are going to have to learn absolutely correct posture (bending knees deeply). 

I just went from a lower heeled Harlick with MK Professionals to a higher heeled Edea with Jackson Ultima Elites.  These changes put me more forward on the blade.   I could easily do 15-20 revolution forward spins and 5-6 revolution back spins, multiple combinations both before and after.  But, I had to watch it on skating backwards, because I'd scratch in the higher end blades.  Jump landings, scratch.    It took a few months to get the jump landings without scratching.      Now, I will consistently scratch sometimes on backwards power pulls in certain areas of the curve.  If I scratch, I have to bend my knees more.   At first, I was trying to bend from the waist, which totally screwed up my loop jumps (and all jumps).    But, my backwards figure eights (both backwards inside and backwards outside) are not scratching.   (I have been practicing them since October, when I realized I was scratching so much going backwards)  All spins are back, but my camel has been a mess.   My rotations on the camel spins are still too big of a loop, but are getting smaller.  (My Moves in the Field video has a camel at the end).  At least now, I don't fall out of the spin.  Again, higher level blades might take you down a notch in spinning, especially on a harder spin.  But, my layback is now easier to do!

The MK Professionals are a standard teaching blade.   They have a two point curve system, and a big sweet spot.  They are a little flatter, which helps in spinning.     There is a also larger bottom & top toe pick, which does help tremendously in learning fast forward and backwards scratch spins, and toe jumps.

[littlerain]

Yeah I think you are right @littlerain.  I think I'm not doing the 2nd down either, thanks!  Will pay more attention to that.  I also think we are at about the same level.

I don't think my blades are flat at all.  I think Jim said they're still quite good.

Ah that's good then I couldn't remember!

[rd350]

I decided that since I went all the way to NJ to see a specific fitter that I should take his advice, so I am going for the Pattern 99's!

Wish me luck!  Any advice on getting used to them (and new boots)?

Hope to have them on my feet next week.

[skategeek]

No advice here, but good luck!!

[rd350]

Thanks @skategeek!

[Casey]

I decided that since I went all the way to NJ to see a specific fitter that I should take his advice, so I am going for the Pattern 99's!

Wish me luck!  Any advice on getting used to them (and new boots)?

Hope to have them on my feet next week.

Awesome, hope they work out for you! Just skate as frequently as you can to break in the new boots. Once they are no longer painful, just skate as hare and fast as you can - both to further break in the boots and to feel competent on the new blades. Have fun!

[rd350]

Thanks Casey.  The fitter said the Pattern 99's I tried may not have had the ROH that is right for me and even the toe pick may not have been manicured properly.  I guess he didn't think the issues I was having should be and it may have been those particular blades so I am hoping it won't be too bad a transition and that I will at least be able to stop when I get on them at first!  Should be interesting!

[Loops]

Glad the choice is made and stress is over.  May your boots arrive soon so you can get down to the business of enjoying them!!!

Keep us posted on how you like

[rd350]

Thanks Loops!