Oops - Ultima blades have changed.

[Query]

I previously claimed that Ultima blades are more difficult to use than similar MK blades, because they require more strength (longer spin rocker radius), and you have to control your motions more precisely because the usable blade length between the sweet spot and the toe pick is shorter.

That info was based on several Ultima runners made years ago, with factory ground edges. It is now out of date, by at least several years.

Ultima no longer sharpens blades at the factory. They add no hollow - sometimes it is slightly convex instead of concave. The factory profile is a lot different from what it was several years ago - for one thing, the toe pick is only slightly above the profile curve.

Virtually all retailers, even mail order companies, add a hollow to Ultima blades, and the good ones try to create a rocker profile that will suit the skater, especially up front.

One way of looking at this is that there no longer is a "standard" Ultima blade shape. Everything depends on the sharpener.

(Riedell doesn't sharpen at the factory either. I'm not sure about Paramount. MK/Wilson does, but many pros think they are more consistent than MK/Wilson, routinely reshape those blades too.)

[Isk8NYC]

Jackson/Ultima still gives a cursory sharpening to their skate sets, so that the skater can test the alignment.

[Query]

[See below]

[Query]

Now I'm even more confused.

Just spoke to the Ultima customer service department. They say there is a factory grind, complete with hollow. You are right.

What I said is what the "expert" sharpener I've been learning from said. "Expert", because he is the best known sharpener in my area among the coaches, and charges the highest prices.  Signed pictures from famous skaters decorate his office walls. So surely he has to be right? But if what he says doesn't get manufacturer confirmation, he may be requesting unusual equipment from suppliers.

Where would you go to get accurate info about boots and blades and their care? Boot, blade and sharpening machine manufacturers don't provide much detailed info, unless I ask very specific questions. And when it comes to blade shapes, they handle everything like a trade secret.

[Sk8tmum]

You must be dealing with a different world than we are; our sharpener, who is a master by all references (including working for several skaters who are top World and Olympic level skaters) - is very happy to discuss everything blade related with anyone who asks, and has actually been to the Jackson factory and got tons of answers from them, and was given a full tour and everything.  He likes the Ultima blades, by the way, and really likes the Matrix ones due to the reduction in weight.

Maybe you should find another sharpener who is more collegial?  I would also be a bit - surprised - by a sharpener who changes the blade profile of a skate as a common practice as it would certainly reduce the consistency of the blades as well as the expected lifetime (i.e. you'd have to take off some of the sharpening portion to reshape the blade).

[Query]

Sk8tmum, who is your wonderful sharpener?

[Isk8NYC]

Query - it's not the Ultima blades that are shipped unsharpened, it's the new Riedell Eclipse blades.

http://www.eclipseblades.com/

Eclipse Blades must be custom sharpened to skaters' desired radius of hollow (R.O.H.) prior to use.

I knew that sounded familiar, but I just saw a previous post about this.  At least they're honest.

My Ultimas' sharpening was really shallow and it felt very uneven, although I just used it to check alignment.