Need Hockey Skates? Added: Best Place to Skate

[MeanGene]

I have been looking for a while, and finally found some that fit. Great Price too!!

Check out this site for some good deals.

http://www.discounthockey.com

[Kat]

Which ones did you get, Gene?

Also, here are some more sites to check out:
http://www.hockeygiant.com
http://www.hockeymonkey.com
http://www.1800faceoff.com

-Kat

[MeanGene]

I got these.

http://www.discounthockey.com/bauer10senic.html

No more tight plastic skates from 1930 at the Rec Zone for me anymore!! :spin:

To make it even better we have a fitness reimbersment program at work, so I get my money back!! I think that I may have to get them sharpened though.

[Turbulence]

Those are some outrageous prices...I should indulge myself...

I was given a pair of 20+ year old Bauer figure skates and have yet to try them out on ice...but just trying them out on land, it seems like they have absolutely no ankle support....I don't know if the material has just gotten old and supple or if its always been that way...am I correct in assuming that this is not normal? Skating around the Icehouse, it seems like the only think holding my skates level to the ice is rigid ankle support, and I don't see how I could skate with all of that movement...

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Turby, I think figure skates have NO ankle support compared to hockey skates. Though that's just in my very limited experience.

[Guyute]

I still have a pair of almost brand new Mission Amp 8's. worn like 5 times. barely a mark on 'em. ordered online w/out trying out Missions to see how they fit. bad idea. they didn't fit my feet well. lol. decent skates though.
I have pictures of them somewhere..
think they're size 10.5. let me know if anyone is interested.


edit- and yes, hockey skates have a much sturdier 'shell' to provide a little more ankle support than just the leather of figure skates.

[Guyute]

found my pics. sorry, they're Amp 6's, not 8's.

http://www.bellsouthpwp.com/g/u/guyute/stuff/skates/amps-pair.jpg

http://www.bellsouthpwp.com/g/u/guyute/stuff/skates/amps-outside.jpg

[murda338]

I wanna ice skate so bad :(

I really wanna play hockey on ice but i live a good hour and a half from ice

[MeanGene]

I was told to stay away from Mission and Nike becasue they run small, and are narrow. I normally wear size 13, but in Bauer skates a 11.5 EE fits me right.

[Guyute]

yeah, they're not good for wide feet. definitely not for EE. lol

[caveman]

I wanna ice skate so bad :(

I really wanna play hockey on ice but i live a good hour and a half from ice

If you're a goaltender then you can even play pickup for free at the Triangle Sportsplex in Hillsborough (http://www.trianglesportsplex.com/iceArena/hockey.shtml#pickup).

[Kat]

My bf and I play in a league in Hillsborough... they have great ice. The league out there isn't very expensive, either... $200 for 28 games, and goalies play for free. They have a pickup on Saturdays at 10:15 (on days when Duke/UNC aren't playing) that we are planning to check out sometime.

I have played in Raleigh (at the Iceplex) and it isn't so good... huge ice (bigger than Olympic) that isn't taken care of very well, and $300 for like 15 games.

-Kat

[Guyute]

yeah, ice at the Iceplex is very bad, imo. I've gone for a skate several times, and 5 minutes after I hit the ice I just pack it up and go.

I've had better ice on ponds.

I have been pretty impressed with the Reczone though. it's been a couple of years since I've been to Hillsborough, but I remember that ice being pretty decent.

$200 for 28 is pretty good.

[caveman]

My bf and I play in a league in Hillsborough... they have great ice. The league out there isn't very expensive, either... $200 for 28 games, and goalies play for free. They have a pickup on Saturdays at 10:15 (on days when Duke/UNC aren't playing) that we are planning to check out sometime.
-Kat

In which league do you play in Hillsborough? Also there is pickup on Friday early evenings as well. As for me, I'm actually heading there tonight for "cheap skate" with the wife.

[Kat]

In which league do you play in Hillsborough? Also there is pickup on Friday early evenings as well. As for me, I'm actually heading there tonight for "cheap skate" with the wife.

I play in the C league. I have heard that the Fri pickup there is really high-level and a bit much for us C/D leaguers, but the Sat is a bit more balanced (like, no checking LOL).

I would love to be able to skate/play tonight, but the flu has me here and miserable on the couch. We usually play at the "Axe-Plex" on Thurs nights, as they have a beginner-level pickup. I swear that place has axes on the bottom of the Zamboni...

-Kat

[MeanGene]

I got my Skates in on Monday, and got them sharpened at Cool Sports. I am ready to hit the ice tomorrow or Saturday or both!

Here are mine

http://drs.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=Bauer+1000+ICe+Skates/v=2/l=IVS/*-http://www.dunhamssports.com/graphics/product_images/p232500nm.jpg

[Turbulence]

Let us know how they do, MG! :D

[MeanGene]

I was wondring where you think the best place to go is. The Cary Ice House is about 5 minutes for me, and that is where I last went. The Ice seemed pretty rough to me. I also went to the Rec Zone, but I don't remember much since I did not skate long due to my feet killing me. Has anyone been to the Garner Ice? All of the Public Skating sessions are only about 2 hours long it seems.

[Kat]

Gene...

The Cary Ice House has also been nicknamed the "Axe House"... another place where the Zamboni is reputed to have axes instead of a blade. I personally hate the place... small ice, really rough, too many kids. Feels like skating on peanut brittle... I feel the same about the Raleigh IcePlex, except the ice is huge. Also peanut brittle.

The Garner Ice House was pretty good the one time I made it down there (living in Durham, Garner is a haul). The RecZone also has good ice. Their daytime weekend public skates can be a bit crowded, but the evening and daytime weekday ones tend to be rather empty. I would be sure to check their web schedule at http://www.reczone.net to make sure that they are actually having a public skate... they tend to cancel them at will. I do know that they are having a ton of extra sessions during Christmas and New Year's weeks, though.

Hillsborough also has good ice but it is a bit of a haul from Raleigh/Cary. Also, their public skates can be rather kid-full from what I hear.

Hope that helps! I would also recommend a Learn to Skate at any of the rinks, if you need help in that area. I started with one of those in July 2002 and it helped a lot... they also usually come with some free public skate passes.

-Kat

[Turbulence]

The Cary IceHouse has had horrible ice every time I've been there. Not only is it 'axed up,' several times they've either had portions of the rink coned off due to rocks sticking up from the ice, or heavy ruts...or not coned off, and skaters (re: me.) falling down, or at least coming close to it. And the wild kids...I've had one girl play chicken with me, with her skating the wrong way and zooming past me every lap...
The Cary rink has also been having some renovations...the past few times I've been there it has been a mess.
The best skating experience I've had thusfar has been at the Garner IceHouse...though on weekends it can be as crowded as Cary, the ice is much, much better, as are the facilities.

I should go out to Garner on Tuesday...I've never been there on a weekday. I'm hoping things won't be too crowded. Every time I've ever gone skating (not too many times, mind you) the rinks have been packed.
Perhaps I should try to go to the RecZone...I'd like to try out that professional ice.

[goalie33]

On the upside, the ice at the IcePlex is really good for broomball games because you can practically sprint on it. As for Triangle Sportsplex, anywhere that lets goalies play for free is one of my favorites.

[Guyute]

Hillsborough also has good ice but it is a bit of a haul from Raleigh/Cary. Also, their public skates can be rather kid-full from what I hear.


Yep, when I got back into skating pre-2000 we were in chapel hill. So hillsborough is where I went. for awhile it was once a week for a few months. I always went to the weekend/daytime skates, and yes they were fairly packed with kids. but that place and the reczone are definitely the two best surfaces around, imo.

(note: if you have an NHL team in your area, ALWAYS skate at their practice facility if you have a choice. ;) lol )

[MeanGene]

I ended up going to the Cary Ice House. I had to ref basketball yesterday, so I had to wait until night to go. I liked my new skates. I just had to take them off 2 times cause my feet were hurting. I guess my feet will always hurt somewhat since I am a bug guy, but hopefully after I break them in they will feel a lot better.

Oh yeah, the Ice is bad!!

[lvscolencanes]

I guess my feet will always hurt somewhat since I am a bug guy, but hopefully after I break them in they will feel a lot better.

Sorry your feet hurt, MG, but it couldnt be cause you are a bug guy, I think you are totally sweet and awesome....hee. ;) Just kidding, I am a little cheesey sometime. But if you get somewhere with some good ice, it might not bother you as bad too. :D
BTW, I love the skates they are totally awesome!!

[Turbulence]

What kind of socks do you wear while skating? I've found that if I wear the thinnest socks I can find, my feet hurt less. You'd think it would be the other way around...

[caniac369]

I have to wear hiking boot socks w/ the reinforced padding around the foot area. Those are nice b/c they are thinner at the top so you can tie your laces up nice and tight. :)

[murda338]

im a good hour + from these facilities, i wish i could play

Its a lil much as I understand for a new ice tender you tend to slip and pull groins cause the pads actually

SLIDE

i'll end up in the boards :(

ima great roller tender though maybe some day

its a hour and 20 minutes according to rand mcnally.com

Anyone in the VA area of danville able to let a hockey crazed kid a ride?

Doubt it but im sitting out of my normal league this year cause its gone to hell

[suamme1]

I've never done any kind of skating, but it looks fun. Any suggestions anyone?

[caveman]

I've never done any kind of skating, but it looks fun. Any suggestions anyone?

Go to a $5 cheap-skate at the Triangle Sportsplex in Hillsborough or one of the area rinks. Try it for an hour, if you still like it, you can sign up near you for a "learn to skate" class, there are usually reasonably-priced programs at all the area rinks.

If classes scare you, just keep going to open skates. Watch people skate and try to emulate their movements. Heck, even ask for some pointers, most skaters are generally nice enough people.

Whatever you do, if you get on a pair of rental skates which seem really horrible -- trade them in for another pair until you get something which is better. It's worth a couple of 5-minute lacing and unlacings to make the balance of your hour worthwhile.

[suamme1]

So, apparently I'll get my chance to try it out at the employee skate that will be had soon (I just found out). Assuming I can get up the courage to go, any tips would be appreciated.

[MeanGene]

If you are going to fall backwards, put your chin to your chest. :)

[Ashleygirl]

So, apparently I'll get my chance to try it out at the employee skate that will be had soon (I just found out). Assuming I can get up the courage to go, any tips would be appreciated.

You can take a private lesson at the RecZone for $20 for 1/2 hour, plus the skate session fee of $5 and skate rental of $2 if you need them. Not a bad way to get started if you take a buddy, you can split the $20 fee!! Have fun! Maybe I'll bump into while you're out there sometime :D