I'm thinking, we're always talking about how bigger and faster players means more injuries. Now, they are testing these heated skate blades, to see if they wanna use these new, faster blades in the NHL. Does anyone else think this sounds liek a recipe for disaster, or is it just me?
2007-10-18 20:23:57 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Hockey
My reasoning is....we are seeing more concussions since the lockout, due not to the increased size of the players, but with the new obstruction rules, they have really increased the speed of the game, and therefore the force of the collisions. It seems to me, that this "revolutionary" new blade, is just gonna compound the problem further.
2007-10-19 00:44:23 · update #1
The same thought went through my head when I read about these. LITY did a good job of explaining the fault in our logic.
With that said, the concept still doesn't sit well with me and I have read a considerable amount of literature on these blades. I equate this to the PGA restricting golf equipment (not that they have been particularly effective) or baseball using wooden bats. This particular piece of equipment has a machine built into it to increase the athlete's performance. Maybe I am simply too much of a purist, but even with the argument removed that it would not increase injury, it still doesn't sit well with me for some reason.
2007-10-19 05:02:12 · answer #1 · answered by Lubers25 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
LITY, the success of the Tuuk was primarily a result of the significantly more robust structural stability it provided versus metal holders.
The molded housing design enabled players to maximize energy return on strides and to sustain deeper turns at faster speeds. That was the huge differentiating piece vs its predecessors.
Agree with you on every other point, although I don't believe the success of the thermablade is necessarily a given. Interested to hear how the technology checks out and holds up in play.
2007-10-19 08:48:12 · answer #2 · answered by zapcity29 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It seems like another thing that hockey parents will have to spend money on. I think speed-skating, bobsledding and iceboating made the correct decision when they said no to heated blades. I mean, once everyone has them then it just becomes a more complicated and expensive even playing field.
2007-10-19 01:45:18 · answer #3 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree. And not only more injuries, I feel it changes the essence of the game. Players are using true leg power now. It's all about the stride. Creating equiment that is lighter is OK...the challenge is still with the player to be fit and agile. Yet changing the blade to one that enhances the stride is sort of wrong in my mind.
2007-10-19 00:38:45 · answer #4 · answered by Siggy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, there seem to be a LOT of stupid people on Yahoo! answers.
Will thermablades make people faster? Yes
Will Mike Gartner's 13.96s lap be broken? Possibly.....
The difference in speed will be tiny. Maybe 0.1 sec from one end of the rink to the other.
Again, the amount of extra water created by these skates will be minimal to the human eye, but from a physics standpoint, will be immense.
Yet, that makes a huge difference to the fatigue factor for a player.
There is a ton of information available on the internet about thermablades, people should start reading it.
Where were all you people when the switch from tube skates to TUUK blades took place?
One of the huge innovations behind the Tuuk blade was it allowed a greater rocker effect on the skate, which resulted in reduced friction with the ice but greater tension, which resulted in a 71% increase in the water sheet between the blade and the ice surface which in turn reduced fatigue and made players faster (by about .3s from one ened to the other)
Thermablades maintain a constant a blade temperature of 41F (as compared to the variable temp now of a couple of degrees lower) which will result in a 40% increase in the water sheet between the blade and the ice which in turn will reduce fatigue and make players faster (by about 0.1s from one end to the other).
Both innovations result in the same net effect, an effect that will not be visible to the fan's eye, but does have a noticeable effect on a player's leg.
Lubers,
Molded blades didn't sit well with me in 1976 - but I overcame that.
Molded boots didn't sit well with me a few years later - never overcame that
When I first heard about these (from Dale Tallon actually) I was skeptical. Now...I do a lap of the rink in about 25 seconds now, so I'm no threat to Gartner, Coffey, et al - but after trying these blades for a couple of hours, I definitely noticed a difference in my thighs. So, if it can help me now, imagine what it would do to people who go at maximum effort!
2007-10-19 00:41:36 · answer #5 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
I doubt that these skates are going to mean more injuries. I mean, it is not as if they have afterburners. They will help players keep up with fast paced hockey.
2007-10-19 02:42:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I disagree and don't think any of your points are valid. Why don't we go back in time and outlaw all equipment all together? The world progresses. It's not like they are going to have rockets attached to their skates.
2007-10-19 04:18:33 · answer #7 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can understand that Thermablades might cause more injuries in general, but how they can be attributed to concussions?
2007-10-18 23:53:45 · answer #8 · answered by TBL 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋