SkateScience Olympus Dance Blades

[Bill_S]

I just clicked the "Purchase" button for SkateScience Olympus Dance blades.

Look for a detailed analysis after they arrive.

Any experiences with them to share? I'd love to hear any from users before I get into the numbers.

[MCsAngel2]

YAY!! Please buy all the boots and blades and tell us all about them so we can live vicariously through you.

Are they more or less expensive than conventional blades?

[Bill_S]

They cost $444.24. As far as I know, they are not sold in any retail shops. Just online.

This makes them the most expensive blades that I've purchased so far. They are still cheaper than ~$600 Gold Seals though.

[FigureSpins]

They're nice-looking blades - saw them at a trade show 2-3 years ago.  IIRC, the sales rep said they purchased the original profiles for MK/JW blades and used them to manufacture their own line, so they're old- and new-school.

Edit: My mistake - wrong brand.  Nothing to see here.

[Bill_S]

That's interesting. They claim all sorts of "secret sauce" in their blade profiles, developed after long testing. There's no mention of them being a copies of other blades. That's a bit disappointing to hear.

Still, I've never skated on narrow dance blades before, and want to try it at least once.

Another goal with these is to see if I can use fitted brass shims in my skate sharpening holder to allow use of the Pro Filer hand sharpener on the narrow blades. I've been pondering that possibility, and I wanted to test the idea.

Life is an experiment!

[AgnesNitt]

I just clicked the "Purchase" button for SkateScience Olympus Dance blades.

Look for a detailed analysis after they arrive.

Any experiences with them to share? I'd love to hear any from users before I get into the numbers.

Has the trembling of excitement started yet? I'm buying a new car on Sunday, my hand has started trembling already.

[Bill_S]

Has the trembling of excitement started yet? I'm buying a new car on Sunday, my hand has started trembling already.

I'll start to tremble when the credit-card bill arrives.

[tstop4me]

They're nice-looking blades - saw them at a trade show 2-3 years ago.  IIRC, the sales rep said they purchased the original profiles for MK/JW blades and used them to manufacture their own line, so they're old- and new-school.

Are you sure it was Skate Science and not Paramount?  Sid Broadbent got funding from USFSA for his skate research, collaborated with MK, and got access to their templates.  I recall reading somewhere that he subsequently shared info with the founder of Paramount.  As Bill said, the Skate Science website emphasizes that the traditional Wilson and MK blades were designed ages ago; and that it was making a fresh start, based on deliberate scientific and engineering research.  So it would be odd for it to copy Wilson and MK profiles.  Paramount, on the other hand, makes no claims for new blade designs, and states that it copies the Wilson and MK profiles faithfully; its emphasis is on superior steel and superior manufacturing techniques and light weight.

[FigureSpins]

Maybe - I'd have to go through my notes.

Edit: Oops - my mistake.  It was "Step" skate blades I was thinking about.  They really were nice-looking blades, but they say they're based on the original MK/Wilson patterns.

That's the company whose fact sheet I forgot to review.  I stopped at their booth and had a nice chat during the PSA Trade Show in June.  They said that Step acquired the "original patterns" of the MK and Wilson blades.  I'm not convinced of that: their version of the Phantom has an 8' rocker radius, so how can that be original?  (Phantoms traditionally have 7' rocker radii.)

The blades were well made but they felt a little heavy to me after handling the Revolution, Paramount and Matrix blades at the various booths.  They're all-steel, which IS traditional, but there are plenty of existing options in that material.  The weld was apparent where the sole plate met the stanchions.  One of the finishes (maybe the V Steel or the Black Steel?) does not have a chrome reveal line down the blade, which is mainly cosmetic, but helps maintain proper blade sharpening.  The rep showed me the decorative edge that represents the reveal, saying that there's more hard steel on all blades beyond the reveal, so it's not needed. 

They emphasized the carbon steel model, saying they hold the sharpening longer and they glide faster.  (They said it, not me.)

ETA: No special sharpening jig needed since there's no chassis/runner involved.

The black steel look was really nice - I remember MK and Wilson offering black blades with a diamond embedded at the tip - I think that's where the idea came from.  They would look awesome with a pair of black skates and natural brown soles.

The company is out of Canada and they started out making hockey blades, so this is an expansion of their business but while they were nice people, they couldn't answer the figure skating techie questions, so YMMV.

http://stepskates.com/en/figure-skating-blades

[tstop4me]

It was "Step" skate blades I was thinking about.  They really were nice-looking blades, but they say they're based on the original MK/Wilson patterns.

Thanks for the update; that makes more sense now.  You got it partially right, though. SkateScience designs the blades, but Step manufactures them.

[tstop4me]

Bill, I assume you realize that all the SkateScience blades are fabricated from stainless steel, not plain carbon steel.  In one of your other threads, you mentioned that, based on your discussions with Tony, you were skittish about stainless steel blades.

[Bill_S]

Yeah, I knew that. However it is one of the few (only?) dance blades made of single thickness steel (as reported by some users). Other runner geometries (stepped, etc.) complicate hand sharpening.

The fitter was the one who "wrinkled his nose" at stainless because of sharpening issues with his shop equipment. He didn't go into detail, and I didn't want to be a difficult customer. I ended up with the other two blades in high-carbon steel.

FigureSpins - thanks for the information from your notes. I need to attend a show some day.

[FigureSpins]

Thanks for the update; that makes more sense now.  You got it partially right, though. SkateScience designs the blades, but Step manufactures them.

That explains my confusion, thanks.

FigureSpins - thanks for the information from your notes. I need to attend a show some day.

You'd love it; see if the ISI and PSA do another combined gig.  That attracts tons of vendors because it's two shows in one.  Plus, attendees get discounts.  (I didn't go this year.)

I'm not that outgoing, so I have make myself go up to the booths and talk to the reps.  Sometimes, just getting their attention takes effort because other people will go on and on, telling war stories and asking a million questions.  Given my well-known lack of patience, I get antsy.

[Query]

Bill, you are sure putting a lot of money into the blade research thing! Is it really worth it to you, or are you just curious, because there is so much contradictory info out there.

And yet - you are basing your measurement sizes on a sample size of 1 pair. That's a problem I've had with what Paramount claims is true of MK and Wilson blades. I'm not sure they are consistent enough for a sample size of 1 pair to be statistically significant.

[Bill_S]

I'm just curious. The money is a kind of "tuition".

I have been wondering about the SkateScience blades though. I thought that I'm not getting any younger, so I should just do it.

Yes, sample sizes are small. Not much I can do about that.

[Bill_S]

Tick-tock.

I just sent an email asking for an order update. It's been just 2 days shy of their claimed 1-3 week delivery time.

[Bill_S]

Well, rats. They don't have them in stock and they cancelled my order. 

Warren stated that he'd issue a refund.

[tstop4me]

Well, rats. They don't have them in stock and they cancelled my order. 

Warren stated that he'd issue a refund.

What?  When I saw the 1 - 3 week delivery time on their site, I assumed it would be be 1 week if the blade is in stock, and up to 3 weeks if it's not.  Some of the blades are listed as only 10" max for stock items; but other sizes available on custom order.  So I was under the impression they were setup for manufacturing on demand.  Apparently not.   

On the bright side, you can apply your refund towards the purchase of a Wissota.  :-)

[Bill_S]

The whole thing is a little "different". I know of people who use their blades and love them, but I wonder what the marketplace realities are.

[FigureSpins]

Well, rats. They don't have them in stock and they cancelled my order. 

Warren stated that he'd issue a refund.

Try asking if a distributor or retailer may have it in stock and can ship it to you.

[Bill_S]

I'll do that once the refund shows up.

[MCsAngel2]

If they were out of stock, couldn't they have just.... ordered some? Isn't that how things work?

Booo. I was very curious. I'm waiting with bated breath for your review of the MK Pros.

[tstop4me]

The whole thing is a little "different". I know of people who use their blades and love them, but I wonder what the marketplace realities are.

They didn't even give you an estimate of when the next manufacturing run would be, in case you were still interested, and not in an immediate rush?

[tstop4me]

If they were out of stock, couldn't they have just.... ordered some? Isn't that how things work?

SkateScience/Step is the manufacturer.  So if they are out of stock, there won't be any new stock until the next manufacturing run.

[Bill_S]

They didn't even give you an estimate of when the next manufacturing run would be, in case you were still interested, and not in an immediate rush?

No, Warren didn't. As Arte Johnson on TV said, "Very interesting!"