Pro's Corner: Flare Skate Blades
Hockey skates have evolved over the years, but the least changed element is the blade. The general shape, sizes, and materials used are similar from brand and model to model. Sure there have been novel concepts all aimed at reducing friction and making skates lighter. Concepts like 2007’s Therma Blade, where the blade is heated with small batteries to reduce friction (https://www.engadget.com/2007-10-02-therma-blade-heated-ice-skates-landing-soon.html) or 2008’s Rocket Runners from CCM, which fused ABS plastic to a thinner steel runner whereby reducing the skate blade weight by 30% while also reducing the friction coefficient are two prime examples.
A new kid on the market, however, has a legitimate chance of changing the way hockey players skate by changing the way a skate blade looks. That company is Flare Skate.
Flare Skate Blades were developed in Canada with over a decade of research and development. The blades feature a unique design where the blade starts at 3mm wide – the standard with of a players steel – and widens to 4.5mm wide. This increase in width results in a better attack angle, meaning you get more energy transfer sooner per stride.
The University of Calgary Human Performance Lab conducted an independent test on the Flare Skate Blades compared to traditional skates and the clear winner was the Flare Skate Blade. In their testing, they found that friction was reduced by over 20%. This reduction in friction causes an increase in glide and speed retention. There was also over 5% performance increase in every agility test – turning, acceleration, retained glide speed – when compared to traditional steel. A 5% performance increase may not seem like a lot, but in a game of half seconds, the player wearing Flare Skate Blades will win the race to the puck.
Flare Skate Blades, crafted in Canada, are made of sword-quality Swedish steel and are hardness-tested and hand-inspected before packaging. Every pair is precisely engineered to fit the major manufacturers skate holders and come profiled to each company’s standard profile. As an exclusive retailer of Flare skate blades, Binnies Skate Sharpening and Equipment repair can help you determine if Flare Skates are right for you. Whether you choose the standard polished steel or the DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) steel, know that you can still get your custom profile. When it comes to sharpening your Flare Skate Blades, the process is the same, but your hollow may change [link this to flare skate blade page], but don’t worry! Binnie’s has you covered when it comes to getting your skates ready for your next practice or game.
Are you ready to improve your game?